Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:27:54 +0000
From: hankster1430@bellsouth.net
Subject: Love Is Where You Find It Chap 5

Love Is Where You Find It
Chapter Five

On Sunday, Brad and I made love all afternoon in my apartment, but I asked
him to go home and get a good night's sleep.  He needed to open the store,
and I had to be at work by 6:00 AM the next morning before the store
opened.

I was lying in bed and brooding.  I had not heard from Carl all weekend.
It was three hours later in Ft. Lauderdale and I thought it was too late to
call, but I vowed to call his hotel first thing in the morning.  Given the
time difference it would be just the right time to call.

It was 5:30 AM on the west coast when I called.  The desk clerk informed me
that Carl Gilmore had checked out.  I was confused.  The cruise line was
paying for all his expenses, and he was supposed to stay there until his
casts were removed.  If Carl had a cell phone, I didn't know the number.

On my first break of the morning, I called the Burger King where Carl
worked.  I asked if anyone there had heard from him, and I was informed
that they didn't expect him back for another few weeks.  I was beside
myself with worry.  Brad could see how agitated I was and he wanted to know
what was wrong.

"Nothing!" I snapped at him, and he backed off.  Somehow I got through the
day.  Brad wanted to take me home, but I told him that I didn't want any
company today, and he reluctantly left me and went home.  He looked so
terribly sad, and I didn't even care.

When I got home, I found a letter slipped under my door.  I could see that
it was certified and a return receipt had been requested.  My landlord had
signed the receipt.  I saw immediately that it was from Carl and I ripped
it open.  As I did so, something fell out of the envelope and on to the
floor.  It was a key.

I began to read:

Hi Aaron:

It should not come as a surprise to you that Jorge and I have something
special going on here.  I am checking out of the hotel and moving in with
him.  I will not be returning to San Francisco.

This morning I called my landlord's rental agent and authorized him to get
a mover to pack up the stuff in my apartment and move it down to Florida.
I am on a month to month tenancy and I sent him two months rent with my
notice.  The movers were instructed that they will be paid at the other
end.

I am enclosing the key to my car.  I would appreciate it if you would find
it on my parking lot.  The registration is in the glove compartment.  It's
a 1997 blue Chevy with plates CRT23FX.  Take it to any used car dealer and
get what you can for it.  If you can't sell it, just abandon it.  If you do
sell it, keep the money for your effort.

My address here is: c/o Jorge Rodriguez, 1793 NW 23 Ave, Apt. 2B,
Ft. Lauderdale FL 33043.  The phone number is 954-555-5833.

Just to fill you in on what has been happening.  I am buying a condo for
cash.  It's right on the ocean in an upscale strip called Galt Ocean Drive.
I stole it for $425,000.00.  I figure furnishings will be another
$50,000.00.  As soon as the deal goes through, I'll send you the address
and the telephone number.  Of course, Jorge will be moving in with me.  I
also bought me some wheels.  It's a 2009 Jaguar two seater, convertible
sports car.  That set me back $89,000, but what a beauty.  Jorge and I went
on a shopping spree and we both look like Palm Beach money.  As soon as my
casts are off, we are going on an eighteen day cruise.  How cool is that?
Oh yes, Jorge quit his job.

When I get all settled down in the condo, I'll contact you again.  Maybe
you can visit us sometime.  We can have those great old three ways.  Hugs,
Carl

I was stunned.  I started to cry.  It was quite possible that I would never
see Carl again.  I cried for at least an hour and didn't have any dinner.
At about 8 PM the phone rang.  It was Brad.  I told him that I couldn't
talk to anyone just now and to please leave me alone.  I knew that I had
wounded him and I couldn't stop myself.  I would have hurt him more if I
could, but I just hung up on him.  I didn't want Brad in my life and why
couldn't he see that?

I fell asleep curled up in a fetal position, crying like a baby.  I was
awakened some time later by the harsh sound of my door bell.  I was groggy
but looked at the clock hanging over my sink.  In the moonlight, which
filled the room, I could see that it was a minute before midnight.

"Who is it?" I asked sounding drunk.  I wished I was drunk.

"It's Brad.  Open up.  I'm really worried about you."

"Go away.  I don't want to see you, ever again."

He began to bang on my door.  "You'd better open up.  I'm just going to
stand here and bang on your door until I wake up every one of your
neighbors."

Reluctantly, I opened the door.  He rushed in, closed the door, and tried
to embrace me.  I turned my face away from him.

"Who hurt you like this?" he asked.  "I'll kill him."

"Fat chance," I said.  "He's in Florida.  Believe me if he was here, I'd
kill him myself."

Suddenly I started to cry again.  "I'm such a fucking fool," I said.  "I
knew he had no feelings for me beyond having sex with me, but I kept
hoping."

"There is someone I didn't know about?" Brad asked me, sounding sad and
stunned at the same time.  He got up to leave, but I grabbed his arm.

"Please stay," I begged.  "I really need a friend right now.  I should
actually be talking to Larry and Chuck, but I have no wheels and it's too
late to call them."

Brad sat down on my bed and his head dropped almost to his knees.  I took
Carl's letter from the kitchen table and sat down next to Brad.  "Here,
read this," I said to him.

As he read, Brad's face got more confused.  "I don't understand," he said.
"You told me that Carl was your hospital room mate and nothing more.  If he
manages a Burger King, where is he getting all this money from?  And who is
this Jorge who has apparently stolen him from you?  You have to fill me
in."

I lay down on my bed.  Brad was sitting on the edge and I did not invite
him to lie down with me.  I was surprised because I wanted him next to me
desperately, but it just didn't seem right at the moment.  Still, I needed
to do something to show him that I did care for him so I took his hand in
mine.

"It's a long story," I told him.  "Are you sure you have the time?"

Then Brad said something which sounded very harsh but so wonderful at the
same time.  "I love you, you idiot.  Whatever time represents the rest of
my life, it's available to you."

I was really touched and I mumbled, "Thank you."

"Now talk," he said and he began to stroke my hair.

"I was in and out of consciousness for about the first week after the
accident.  As I began to heal and as they began to remove the drainage
tubes, the doctor ordered that the nurses get me out of bed and start
walking me around.  Jorge was my evening nurse.  One evening he got me out
of bed.  I was exhausted immediately, and he sat me on a chair between my
bed and Carl's.  I was dozing off when Carl took my hand and placed it on
his cock.  He indicated that he would like me to masturbate him.  It was
the first time I had ever felt another man's cock and when he came, it made
quite a mess.  I wiped it up as best I could.  Later that night, when the
lights were out, I worked my way out of bed and stood at Carl's bedside.
He gave me my first blow job and it was wonderful.

"Then Jorge entered the picture.  He was our evening nurse.  When he gave
me my first shower, he played with me and got me off and later on, he and
Carl sat at the edge of Carl's bed and they taught me how to give them each
blow jobs.  When we were discharged, Carl was placed in a hotel until his
casts would be removed and the doctors said he could fly home.  Instead of
coming straight home, I spent three days with Carl.  Occasionally Jorge
joined us in a three way.  Looking back on it now, I did usually feel like
a third wheel."

Brad was silent when I stopped talking, but then he said, "Carl didn't ever
love you, honey.  Obviously he was falling for Jorge.  You were a
convenient boy toy."

"I know," I said.  "Compared to you, he has no character at all.  Yet I
fell in love and I couldn't shake him.  I simply pushed you aside, because
I wanted him so badly.  I'm sorry, but I just don't love you.  I love Carl
and I know what love feels like."

I could tell that Brad was hurt.  He got off the bed and sat on a chair.

"Tell me about the money," he said.

So I told him about the settlement, and what steps I had taken to protect
my assets.  "That's how I met Larry," I told Brad.  "He's managing my
money."

"You're rich," Brad gasped.

"Yes," I said.  "I'm rich.  But I don't want to use any of it except to
make life a little easier.  I want to move to a real apartment and buy a
car.  That's all I want for right now."

Brad got up and sat next to me again.  "Do you realize that Carl has pissed
away most of the settlement.  Settlements for physical injuries are not
taxable, or else he wouldn't even have enough left to pay the federal and
state income taxes."

"How do you know that?" I asked in amazement.

"I've been taking courses on line for a few years now.  I expect to get my
bachelor's degree in accounting soon.  I might even get to be a CPA
someday.  Being a regional director for Wendy's is great, but I want more."

"Do you think I could do something like that?"  I asked.  I am a high
school graduate.

Brad gave me his beautiful smile.  "Now that's something I can help you
with.  I'll help you get started on college courses on line.  Wait, that's
silly.  You can afford to quit working and go back to school."

"No," I said.  "I want to work.  I need to work.  I'll do it your way."

"Are we cool?" Brad asked.

"Yeah, we are ice cold," I answered him.

"Could we start all over?  If we start from scratch, maybe I can win your
heart," Brad said.  I didn't want to comment on that statement.

"It's really late," I said.  "I think you should spend the night.  He
undressed quickly and crawled into my small bed with me.  He nested against
me with his arm around me, and I was aware that his cock was limp.  We fell
asleep that way.  Brad was comforting me, and neither of us had any
thoughts of sex, at least not just then.

Brad left about 4 AM to go home, shower and get ready for work.  When I
arrived at work, we smiled at each other.  I thought that Brad was the
kindest guy in the world, but still, love seemed to elude me.

We had lunch together as was becoming our habit.  At lunch I told him that
Carl lived in his building, and that I would appreciate if he drove me
there after work so I could find his car.  When we got there, it wasn't
hard to find Carl's car.  There was an empty space next to it and Brad
parked there.  We both got out of Brad's car.  I unlocked the Chevy and
Brad and I got in.

I put the key in the ignition and turned it.  The first time the car
sputtered and didn't ignite, but on the second attempt the motor roared to
attention.

"Let's test drive it," I said, and backed slowly out of the parking lot.
The car was old, but it was all souped up.  Obviously Carl had done a lot
of work on it.  I drove it around the neighborhood for awhile and then put
it back in the parking lot.

"This car is great," I declared.  "Brad can you give me a few hours off
tomorrow?  I can work the night shift if you want.  I'd like to take the
car to a mechanic and if it passes inspection, I'd like to get the
registration changed to me."

"Sure thing," he said.  "We'll manage without you for a few hours.  I think
that's a good idea.  You said that you wanted to buy a car, and this one's
an old fashioned beauty."

"I have another idea.  It's not 5 PM yet.  Do you think there's anyone in
the rental office?"

"We can find out.  What did you have in mind?"

"Maybe I can rent Carl's apartment.  It's just like yours.  He's one floor
below you."

"Well, I don't think I can talk you into moving in with me so it would be
great having you under me."  He laughed at his double entendre.

As it turned out the manager of the complex was just getting ready to leave
for the day, but he was glad to talk to a potential tenant.  I told him
that I was a friend of Carl Gilmore.  Carl had informed me of his intention
to move, and I wondered if I could rent his apartment.

"The manager thought the idea was good, but he seemed dubious about my
ability to pay until Brad vouched for me.

"OK," the manager said.  The rent is $900 a month.  I'll require a security
deposit of $900 and first and last month's rent.  I'll prepare a one year
lease.  The movers are coming the day after tomorrow and I'll need a week
to get the place ready.  You can move in on December 20th if that's all
right.  You should be all settled by Christmas."

I shook his hand and agreed to come by at 4:30 PM the day after tomorrow to
sign all the papers.  My life was moving fast.  Tomorrow I had to give my
landlord notice as well as seeing to the car.  I knew I would have to pay
January's rent because of the one month notice rule, but it took me awhile
to realize that it was merely pocket change.

When we left the manager's office, Brad threw his arms around me and said,
"Welcome neighbor.  This is going to be so great.  We can car pool to
work."  He hesitated before going on.  "I don't suppose you would like to
spend the night with me?"

"Brad," I said. "You need to give me time to get over Carl.  Let's
compromise.  Let's go to some good restaurant to celebrate my new
apartment, but after that I'll drive myself home in my new used car."

Brad could do nothing but nod.  It turned out that we had a great evening.
Brad was aware that he wasn't going to get anything this evening, and I
wasn't under any pressure to give anything, so we were both thoroughly
relaxed and enjoyed each other's company.  It seemed to me that it was
easier being Brad's friend than falling in love with him.  I remembered
that some of the great love affairs throughout history started as
friendships or feudships, and I wondered if our friendship could lead to
love.  Why couldn't I fall in love with Brad?  Whatever the reason, it
eluded me.

The first thing the next morning found me at a mechanic whom Brad had
recommended.  He was so thrilled with the car, he wanted to buy it.  That
was good enough for me.  Then I went to the MVB with Carl's letter and the
registration.  I really lucked out here.  The young clerk I finally got to
see was obviously gay.  He spotted me also, and was willing to accept
Carl's letter to be a conveyance of the car to me as a gift.  He
transferred the title for a dollar to make it legal and gave me a new
registration.  When he handed me the registration, he included his card
with it.  I seriously thought of calling him, but a vision of Carl passed
through my brain and I thrust his card in my pocket.  I wondered if I would
ever love again.

I drove my car to the bank and waited about a half hour, until I was able
to see Larry.  I told him about the car and the apartment.  He was thrilled
about my getting the car free and he had the bank transfer $2,700 from my
money market account to my checking account so that I could pay for the
rent and security deposit.  Before I left, I told Larry that I would have
him and Chuck for dinner as soon as I was settled.

"That reminds me," Larry said.  "You're invited to our place for New Year's
Eve.  We are just having a few intimate friends over.  You are always
welcome to bring a friend."

"Right now I don't have anyone I'd care to spend New Year's Eve with other
than you and Pop."

Disappointment covered Larry's face.  "Please give that careful thought,"
he said as we kissed goodbye.


I thought about it for a long time.  I reached into my pocket and carefully
removed the card the guy at the MVB had given to me.  I placed it in my
wallet, and then I went to work.  It was only 11 o'clock.  I agreed with
Brad that I would finish this shift and work the second.  Right after Brad
left, I called Gerald Thompson, the name on the card.  When I reminded him
who I was, he agreed immediately to go to the party with me.  I made a date
to go to his apartment the next evening after I gave my check to the rental
agent at my new apartment.

The next evening, I went to the rental office and exchanged my check for
copies of the lease agreement.  From there I went to Gerry's apartment.  He
greeted me in his underwear, and in minutes we were in bed together.  I
enjoyed the sex with him but didn't care to stay the night.  I made some
excuse and took off.  Before I left, I told him that I would pick him up at
9:00 PM on New Year's Eve.

"That's almost two weeks off," he reminded me.  Won't I see you sooner?"

"Probably," I mumbled.  "I'll call."

Everything I did after that caused Brad's face to register horrible pain,
and I got a perverse thrill out of inflicting that pain.  Was I crazy or
what?  Maybe I should see a shrink.  After that, I turned down every
invitation Brad offered me.  When he asked me out for New Year's Eve I told
him I had a date.  The next day he called in sick.  I exulted in the fact
that I had made him sick.  I was truly out of my mind.

The next morning at approximately 10 AM, everything began to spin around
me.  I lost the ability to stand up and I yelled Brad's name.  He came
running and he caught me, just before I collapsed.


To be continued...