Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 14:54:38 -0800 (PST)
From: HR Lind <hr_lind@yahoo.com>
Subject: Meeting Love Chapter 3

Disclaimer: The following story is fiction and is not intended to imply
anything about the true sexuality of the celebrities mentioned or any
personal knowledge about their private lives. I am just a fan with what I
hope is a good imagination.

Thanks to the people who have sent e-mails.  The encouragement helps.

Bora, you are the angel that helps me make it through each day.  Thank you
for being the best friend one could have!! :)

This is my first time writing.  I hope you enjoy.  Let me know what you
think.  hr_lind@yahoo.com

Meeting Love Chapter 3

The ride to my house was a little uncomfortable, not for lack of trying.
It's just that I didn't know what to say.  I am so shy.  Why do I keep
reverting back to my insecure self?  "Jamie, I'm sorry."

"Aww, sweetie there is nothing to be sorry for.  I know that this is
awkward.  You're probably thinking what kind of relationship we're going to
have.  And you are right.  Things will be different than before, but I want
to explore what we can have together.  No matter how hard it might be to
keep it a secret." He paused, "Hey you called me Jamie."

"I'm sorry; do you not like being called that?"

"I like it, only people really close to my heart have ever called me
Jamie."

I looked over at him, and could see the joy in his face.  It was a good
thing we were stopped at a red light, because he leaned over and kissed me.
It felt so good to have his lips on mine.  Just as he was trying to push
his tongue through my lips, I heard a honking behind me.  We both laughed,
I blushed and proceeded to drive the rest of the way to my house.  It
wasn't that much longer of a drive.

I took the turn onto my street, and started to freak out.  Ok, the
apartment is clean, but I have all that dirty laundry in my room.  Although
we won't be going in my bedroom, so that should be ok.  I defrosted chicken
for dinner, but how should I make it, and what should I make to go with it?
Do I pull out wine, or beer?

I felt my shoulder being shook.

"HR, stop."

"Stop what?"

"Thinking, freaking out, worrying.  It doesn't matter what your apartment
looks like, anything would be fine for dinner, I love chicken, and we can
drink whatever goes with the meal.  I'm here to spend time with you.  The
outside world doesn't exist."

I was dumbfounded, "how did you know what I was thinking?"

"I know you pretty well."

"Yeah right."

"You were muttering to yourself."

I was so embarrassed.  It was a good thing that I had just finished parking
the car, that way I could jump out and disappear.  I had my left hand on
the door handle when James stopped me by grabbing my right hand between
both of his.  I looked at first at our hands together then up at his face,
he stared into my eyes.

"Sweetie, it's really ok.  No worries.  Like I said, I am here because of
you.  Only you."  He started rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb.

"I'm sorry."

"Stop being sorry for things that you cannot control.  I love you, don't
forget that."

"I love you too."  I reached over and kissed him.  "Ok, I'm good, I'll be
ok.  Let's head inside."

I looked up at the house; my mother had left the porch light on.  She never
does that; she must want to impress James by not making me look like a fool
as I usually do stumbling putting the key in the outside door lock.  My
eyes drifted a little higher, and I saw her poking her head through the den
window curtains.  Well, I should have expected that.  There is only so much
room my mother will give me.  I walked around the SUV, and helped James
down.  I looked down at him, smiled and pulled him into a hug.  He stood up
on his toes to kiss me.  I didn't realize how much taller I was than him,
until that moment.  I brought my head down to his, so that he didn't have
to hurt himself.  It was short but sweet.

When we broke apart I took his hand in mine, and walked up the porch steps.
I grabbed my mail, opened the outside door, then the inside one.  We were
now in my front hall.  I dropped the mail on my computer desk and showed
James into my den.

"This is my favorite room."  I said.

James looked around "I can see why, with your love of books and music."

I have two really comfy overstuffed couches and three of the four walls are
covered with floor to ceiling bookcases except for the door to the front
hall and the door that goes to the kitchen.  The fourth wall has my
television, stereo system and two bookcases for my DVDs and CDs.

I turned on the stereo, which has speakers in every room.  Then set it to
play my country mix in the kitchen and the den.  I then took James' hand
and led him into the kitchen.

"What do you prefer, grilled or baked chicken?"  I asked.

"Grilled."  He answered.

"Ok, how does grilled chicken with a wild mushroom sauce, orzo pilaf and
baby spinach sound?

"Amazing.  You don't have to go so crazy.  Plain would be fine too."

"This isn't going crazy.  It's a well-balanced meal.  I always cook like
this."

"A well-balanced meal for us is anything not from Mickey D's."

"That's just sad.  I love food.  I love experimenting with food, it's fun."

"I can see that this kitchen is used a lot.  And everything is so high
tech."  He said.

Ok, so when I bought my apartment from my parents I went a little crazy.  I
tore out the wall between the dining room and kitchen and made it one large
room.  Then I had a kitchen put in that rivals the ones I used when in
college.  (As part of my hospitality degree, I had to take culinary classes
for one year.)  My kitchen has almost anything that you could ever need,
including an open fire grill.

James sat on one of the bar stools at the island as I went to turn on the
grill. I started getting the ingredients together.  The chicken had been
marinating in rosemary and olive oil, and smelled great when I pulled it
from the fridge.  I poured James and myself a glass of my favorite
chardonnay.  It didn't take very long before everything was ready.  I
plated our dinners and brought them to the dining table.  James brought our
glasses over.

"This looks delicious."  He took a bite of the chicken, "and tastes
remarkable."

I blushed, "thanks, it wasn't hard to make."

We ate mostly in silence.  Just appreciating the time we were able to spend
together.  James was practically licking his plate clean.

"Are you still hungry?"  I asked.

"No, it's just that it was so good."

"I should make some extra meals for you to bring on the bus with you."

"You don't have to," he smiled coyly, "but that would be so cool."

"Let me clean up a bit, and then we can have dessert in den."

"I can help, and there's dessert?"

"Naw, it's ok I just need to throw everything in the dishwasher. You just
get comfy.  I'll be there in a minute."

I literally just tossed everything in the dishwasher.  I called out "do you
want coffee or anything?  I'm making myself a cappuccino."

"That would be great.  Are you sure I can't help with anything you've done
so much for me already."

"Nope.  I'm almost done."

I made the coffees and plated the tiramisu.  Put everything on a tray and
brought it into the den.

"Do you still want the music in the background, or did you want to watch a
movie or something?"  I asked.

"The music is fine for now.  I love the mix you have.  Who would have
thought a Yankee could know so much about country."

"You forget my college roommate was a Texan."

"Very true."

I sat down on the couch across from him, and put the tray on the coffee
table between the couches.

"Why are you so far away?"  He asked.

"I'm only across from you."

He smiled, "but we can't cuddle if you are across from me."

"You are too cute."  I got up, walked around and sat down on the couch next
to him.  He pushed me against the arm of the couch, crawled up against me
and pulled my right arm around him.

"Now I'm comfortable," he said.

"I'm glad you are, get up a second.  Let me get more comfortable first and
then you can crawl back up on me.  As long as you hand me my coffee."

"Sorry."  He turned his head up towards mine and gave me a quick kiss.  He
then moved.  I adjusted the throw pillow behind my back and got
comfortable.  He handed me my coffee.  Got his and climbed back up against
me.  I put my right arm across his chest.

"This is nice," I said.  "I really am happy that you are here.  That you
worked so hard to be here for me."

"I would do anything to be with you.  I'm just happy that you were so
accepting of me and my love for you."

I kissed the top of his head.  "I never imagined that we could be like
this, but I'm glad that we are."

"Me too."

We sat there for a while listening to the music and drinking our coffee.
Once James was done with his coffee, he picked up a plate of the tiramisu
and a fork.

He looked up at me and asked, "Do you mind sharing?"

"There are two pieces there you know."

"I know, but I want to share with you."

"That's fine."

He broke off a piece with the fork, and brought it up to my mouth.

"No, you first," I said.

He took the bite, and closed his eyes.  After a few moments he let out a
loud groan.

"That is amazing.  Did you make it too?"

"Yeah.  It's one of the things I learned how to make in school."

He took another bite.

"Wow, just wow!!"  He was exclaiming.

"I thought you were planning on sharing."

"Not anymore, this is too good to give up.  I think I'll eat the other
piece too."

"That's fine I have plenty more.  I always make too much.  Enjoy."

It took a while for him to finish the dessert.  And no, I did not get a
single bite, but that's ok.  I eat this stuff all the time.  I am a huge
fan of dessert.  Once he was done, he took my arm off his chest and moved
to get up.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"I'm gonna put this stuff in the dishwasher for you."

"You don't have to do that.  It can wait," I said.

"You've done everything so far tonight.  Let me do this."

He turned back to me and he kissed my forehead.  It was such a sweet
gesture.  I love him so much.  At that moment my doorbell rang.

"Damn it," I muttered.

I got up to answer the door.  It was probably my mother, but who knows.  I
opened the inside door and there was no one there.  Saved.  I went to the
outside door and opened that one.  Outside was my sister-in-law, Aimee,
with her brood.

"Hey," I said.  "Forget the key again?  You really should put them all on
one ring."

"I don't want to weight down my car key, it's supposed to be bad or
something," she said.

At that point the kids were getting restless waiting outside.  I love my
nieces and nephews but they have no patience, they are 15 and 14 years old.
My brother and his super-sperm created a set of fraternal triplets, Kayla,
Ben and Stephanie, and then a year later they had a set of identical twins
Madison and Jessica.  I feel bad for Ben, being the only boy, but he is the
straightest boy you will ever see.  Sports, girlfriends, you name it he
either plays it or dated her.

And then I remembered who was in my apartment and all I could think was,
shit. This is not good the girls are all huge 'Nsync fans.  We fawn
together anytime we see the guys on MTV.  And no I have a member of 'Nsync
in my house and the kids are pushing their way in.

"Uncle HR, I want to watch TV here with you," Jess said, as she tried
passing me.  I stuck my arm out and grabbed her around the waist.

"Don't you have homework or something?"  I asked.

"Silly, its winter vacation."

At this point the kids were all in the hallway, and Aimee had started
making her way up the stairs.

"They are all yours," she called down.

Then I heard a collective gasp and a few shrieks.  Double shit.  I slowly
turned around and saw James standing behind me.  All he did was smile.