Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:59:17 -0700 From: StoryDad <storydad@gmail.com> Subject: Love on the Net Part 3 ============================= Love on the Net ============================ Copyright: 2009; All rights reserved. Comments: Email can be sent to StoryDad@gmail.com Flames, hate mail, and similar things will be ignored. ========================================================================== Dedicated to a beautiful loving boy whose man doesn't appreciate what he has and is unknowningly throwing away. ========================================================================== CHAPTER 3 ========================================================================== "Is it really you?" I said in a state of shock. "I know we agreed we shouldn't meet but I couldn't stay away," said Ricky. "Please don't be mad at me." "But how did you know it was me?" I said uncomprehendingly. "There are so many other people here and so many planes going in and out. How did you find me in all of this?" "I looked up online what flights were coming from your city today and there were only two that landed near dinner time and that's when you said you would be arriving," said Ricky. "The first one was an hour ago and no one looked right. When everyone came out from this one I just knew the moment I saw you. It couldn't be anyone else but you." "We never talked about what we looked like," I said. "Am I anything like what you expected?" "Maybe not quite as tall as I imagined," admitted Ricky with a small grin. "But that doesn't matter. You're here now and I'm with you for real at last." My boy buried his face against my chest and wept tears of happiness and I put my arms around him to hold him close. Even though we were both wearing coats appropriate to the season I could feel my boy's passion pressing against me and I knew that he had not missed mine either. I knew that I should probably have made more of Ricky's decision to break our agreement not to meet but despite my concerns I was overjoyed to finally get to see the boy I had come to love. We were making a public spectacle of ourselves but neither of us had any realization of it. The ubiquitous security blanket however soon descended and made its presence known. "Is this man bothering you," said a deep voice and Ricky and I both looked up startled. "I haven't seen my uncle in a long time," said Ricky thinking quickly and saving the day. "I'm taking him out now to my mom. She's waiting with the car in the parking lot." The policeman accepted the explanation and moved away while I looked at my alert young saviour with admiration. The stress of the long day along with the seemingly endless parade of uniforms and aggressive attitudes had taken their toll on me. When the critical moment arrived I had been tongue-tied and did not know what to say. "We'd better start walking out or he'll be back and start asking more questions," suggested Ricky taking my hand in his. I agreed and let Ricky led me through the crowds. I was in too much of a daze to think clearly. I looked beside me at Ricky and could not help but smile as a feeling of joyful serenity flowed through me. I had had no idea what Ricky looked like when we had been chatting online with each other. It was a topic of discussion we had both agreed held no significance. Nevertheless as I now looked at Ricky I realized that there was absolutely no question, this was my boy. I tightened my grip on his hand for a moment and he looked back at me and we both smiled. Words were unnecessary; we both knew what the other was thinking. Such are the benefits of knowing the soul of a person before having met them in person. I came out of my reverie as the cold outdoor air blew against me. Ricky had taken me out through an exit and we were next in line at a taxi stand. We were motioned to a cab, we climbed in, the door was closed, and the driver took off. "Marriott Marquis," announced Ricky still clasping my hand between both of his and remembering the hotel I had told him that the conference was at. The cab headed towards the city and I looked again at my boy. A hundred questions ran through my mind but I had presence enough to realize that now was not the time to ask them. Someone was going to be wondering where he was, why he was not at home, and where he had gotten to. I knew also that I had to be the responsible one, the practical one, even if part of me wanted to keep Ricky with me. I was overjoyed to see my boy, touch his hand, see his face, but I also knew that I had to somehow get him back home safely and with as little fuss as possible. Despite knowing all of this however, all I could do was gaze into his eyes. I was lost in those eyes. I knew that I could drown happily in the adoring eyes that were looking back at me. Nothing was said between us but Ricky rested his head against my shoulder and I put my arm around him. We stayed like that the whole way into town. If I shifted slightly or the motion of the taxi caused us to part momentarily Ricky snuggled right back up against me not willing to allow any space at all to come between us. We finally arrived at the hotel. I paid the cab and we stepped out. Ricky still held onto my hand and we walked in together. We went up to the front desk and stood in line waiting for one of the clerks to become available. "My name is Edward Ross," I said when I finally had my turn at the front desk. "I believe you have a reservation for me." "Yes, Mr. Ross," said the clerk. "It appears from our records that the reservation was only made for one person?" "At the last minute my son decided that he wanted come along," I quickly replied in explanation. "That's no problem at all," replied the clerk rapidly making the necessary adjustment. "The room we have reserved for you has two beds." I glanced over towards Ricky and I saw him subtly shaking his head negatively as he smiled at me and I knew what he was thinking. It was not that I had specific plans in mind still being surprised by having just met Ricky but I knew that if there was any way the gods would permit it I wanted my boy to be beside me tonight. I signed where indicated, handed over my credit card to be imprinted, and shortly had a pass card in my hand that would open the door to the room. We made our way to the elevator and headed up to the thirty-fifth floor. The entire time Ricky had not let go of me. It almost felt as if he were afraid to, that perhaps this was all a dream he might suddenly awake from, and if he let go of me that I might disappear into thin air on him. I opened the door and we went through into the room closing the door behind us. I dropped my suitcase on the floor and as soon as I did Ricky wrapped his arms around me again. "It's really you," he said softly. "I can't believe it but it's really you." "It really is me Ricky," I replied as I caressed the back of Ricky's head. "What I can't believe is that it's you." "I hope you're not angry with me," said Ricky with concern in his adoring eyes. "I tried to be good but I just couldn't stay away. When it was just us together online I knew that there was no way I would ever get to see you and I could deal with that. But then when I knew that you were going to be so close, knowing that I might never get another chance to see you, I knew I just had to try. If I hadn't been able to spot you at the airport I was going to go back home again but then I found you and now everything is perfect." "Your mom will be wondering where you are," I said worriedly. "I don't want either of us to end up with trouble because you're here." "There won't be any problems," Ricky replied quickly. "She doesn't pay much attention to me. She's always happier when I'm not in the way and by the time night arrives she's already hitting the bottle pretty good. She'll never even know I'm gone more than likely. Plus I have a friend at school and sometimes when I need to stay out overnight for a sleepover he covers for me in case anything comes up. I left a note saying I'm at his place and if she calls he'll take care of it for me. I asked him to do that for me tonight so I can be here with you." "When you need to stay out overnight?" I asked not fully understanding. "When I stay out with him," said Ricky with a meaningful stress on the last word that made me finally understand what he was saying. "How are things going with that?" I asked carefully not wanting to pry too much in what I knew was a sensitive subject. "He asked me again," said Ricky softly. "He said that he wants me to go with him to his friend's place this coming weekend." "And how do you feel about that?" I asked gently. "I'm afraid," replied Ricky nervously. "I don't really want to but if I don't do it then he might not want me anymore." "You also said things have been feeling different with him for a while," I added in a questioning tone. "I think he's losing interest," said Ricky worriedly. "Once I started to get more hair I began noticing it. I tried trimming some of it off but he got mad at me when he caught me doing it one day." "That shouldn't change how he feels about you if he really cares," I said. "Do you mind that I have more hair now?" asked Ricky searching my eyes for the truth. "I don't have any anywhere else on me, other than that I'm still smooth all over." "Oh Ricky, how could that affect how I feel about you," I replied. "I fell in love with what's on the inside of you not what's on the outside." "It's still not a lot," said Ricky defensively clearly still semi-concerned but I could feel his shoulders starting to relax as his worries dissipated. "Whether it's the tiniest amount or a huge forest I don't mind either way," I said. "If it's part of you then it's beautiful just like you are." "It's not a forest," giggled Ricky now relaxed. "Not yet anyway." We had been standing in the entrance hall just inside the door while we spoke but now I navigated us into the main part of the room. It was slow going with a very possessive boy clinging to me but I would not have pulled Ricky's arms away from me for anything in the world. It felt wonderful to be held so close by my boy. I removed my coat and tossed it onto a nearby armchair and then helped Ricky out of his. As each of Ricky's arms came loose from the sleeves of his coat he wrapped it back around me. "I don't know about you but I'm hungry," I said. "There was a time when airline food was somewhat respectable but nowadays it's positively grim. Would you like it if we went somewhere and got something to eat?" "Could we have dinner here?" asked Ricky tentatively. "Tomorrow I have to get back for school so I only have tonight to be with you and I want to be close to you the whole time." "If we only have tonight then every moment of it is precious and we'll spend all of it together," I said. "Now that I'm with you I don't want you to be away from me either." I took Ricky's hand in mine and we walked over to the nightstand whereupon I picked up the room service menu. I sat down and Ricky sat in my lap with my arms surrounding him while we looked the menu over together. "What do you think you'd like?" I said after looking over the selections. "What's that?" asked Ricky pointing at one particular choice. "Perciatelli is like a really thick spaghetti noodle that's hollow," I explained. "Instead of tomato sauce this one sounds like it comes in a creamy parmesan sauce with mushrooms. Would you like that?" Ricky nodded briefly and then reached and turned the menu to the back page. He looked for a moment and then pointed and looked up at me with an unspoken question. I looked at what he was indicating and understood. Under normal circumstances it might not have been appropriate but this was to be our one and only night together. Ricky wanted it to be as special an occasion as possible and I knew that I felt exactly the same way. I picked up the phone and dialed. "Hello, Room Service?" I began. "This is room 3512 and I'd like to order dinner to be sent up please. I'd like an order of the Atlantic Salmon and one of the Perciatelli with Mushrooms. Also a half bottle of the Moet et Chandon, chilled, and two glasses please." "Can you have it arrive in about an hour and a half?" I added after Ricky whispered into my ear. I hung up the phone and looked at Ricky inquiringly not understanding why he had asked for the delay in dinner. Ricky laid the menu down on the bed, stood up, and then took my hand. He began to walk towards the bathroom taking me along with him. Ricky's intent was clear. My boy wanted time to get us ready for our evening together.