Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:40:32 -0700 (PDT) From: David Higginbotham <thefuturecanadian@yahoo.ca> Subject: Paradise - Chapter 3 Paradise Chapter 3 "Change of Plans" It was about six o'clock on a Thursday evening. JD was walking into his apartment after a long, horrendously stressful day. As he drove down Grand Avenue and then Beach Street, the only thought on his mind was going into his place, taking a long, hot, shower, and then retiring to the sofa to watch Ugly Betty and go to bed. As he walked in, he sent the first of two calls from the gym to his voicemail. The second came in and got the same treatment. A third call, this time from his father, he was forced to answer. He explained that he'd fired two employees that he'd caught trying to steal equipment for which the business had paid dearly. His father then stopped yelling and told him that he'd done a good job. After hanging up the call and then going into his bedroom to strip from the shorts and t-shirt that he'd worn to work, JD turned on the shower and waited a second on the water to heat up. He looked in the mirror, and the phone rang again. He took a deep breath and went back into his bedroom to see who it was. He couldn't help but smile as he realized that it was Tyler calling. The two had talked every single evening since their date Sunday, and there wasn't a single indication that Tyler was getting weirded by the fact that he'd revealed his heritage to the man. "I'm so glad it's you and not one of the fuckers that works for me," he told Tyler in lieu of hello. "Why is that?" Tyler asked. "Because they're all fucking idiots, and I want to kill them," JD confessed. "Shit. What did they do to get you all riled up?" "Two idiots were trying to steal...now ask me what..." "What?" "Two treadmills and a stationery bike." "Holy fuck!" Tyler started laughing. "How did they think they were going to get away with that?" "They tried to tell me that they were just taking them out to get them serviced. They act like I've not been around that damn company since I was 15...and that my father doesn't own the fucking place," JD explained. "But I'm gonna stop bitching now." "You don't have to," Tyler said. "To be honest, bitching or talking dirty, I don't care, as long as you talk to me." JD smiled. "Do you know how much better I feel right now because you said that?" "If I had to guess, you're sitting on your couch in loose gym shorts developing a stiffy," Tyler guessed. "Am I right?" "No. I'm developing a stiffy, but I'm standing naked in my bedroom." "Damn. I've got to let you go for a minute, I think." "Why is that?" JD laughed. "Because I've got to go get the tweezers and enjoy some self-satisfaction," Tyler answered. JD laughed loudly into the phone. "Fuck! I think I needed that!" he told Tyler. "I'm glad I could help," Tyler smiled. "So how was your day?" "It was OK," Tyler paused. "Just OK?" JD said as he lay onto the bed. "Yeah. I called the place in Biloxi. There is no way I can afford the tickets to the show on Saturday, and I got kinda bummed." "I could..." JD started. "No! You've paid twice already. It's my turn," Tyler said, a sense of pride coming through in his voice. "OK..." JD said, not wanting to argue with him. "So what would you like to do?" "Well. I talked to my Mom this afternoon," Tyler started, "and I was telling her about you and stuff." "Oh?" "I think she wants to do you!" Tyler joked as JD laughed once more. "Seriously, though, she was telling me that there's this amateur rodeo going on in Oneonta this weekend. She was saying that if you wanted to go to that, you and I could stay at their house..." "Sure. That would be awesome. It would be nice to see that part of the country again, and to get away from this hell," JD responded. Tyler smiled. From the sound of his voice, JD seemed almost grateful that they were going north, toward Alabama's rolling hills. Tyler was excited that JD was going to meeting his family, but he was also nervous about how JD would be around his brothers. He assumed that it would all be OK, but he wasn't sure, at the time. JD turned off the water so that he could talk to Tyler for a moment without running out all the hot water. The two continued to talk through Ugly Betty; JD brushed it off since it was a rerun anyway. Between nine and ten that night, the two said their goodbyes and went about getting ready for rest. All that happened after plans were made for the next afternoon. As they went to bed, they both washed away all the shit from the day. It was nice to go to bed without having to worry about all that had happened that day. The next morning, at around 5:30, he woke and went to the gym. After an hour-and-a-half long workout, he showered and then went about work. After finishing all his office related tasks, he called all his training appointments for that day and rescheduled for the coming week. At around lunch, he packed up his things, locked his office, and left for the day. It was all done without telling any of the employees that were there. He was still pissed at them for being pissed at him for firing two of the trainers. He drove to his parents' law office and walked in the door. "Hello, JD," their secretary said as she sat at the desk typing something for them. "Hey Mary," he said with a smile, "how are you this afternoon?" "A little hot, now," she joked with him, winking. JD laughed. "Is my dad in?" "He and your mother have gone to lunch. I can call him, though," she offered, picking up the receiver of the telephone to make the call. "Nah. I'll just surprise him," JD said as he took a seat in the lobby. "So did he tell you what happened at the gym yesterday?" "He didn't have to. There were two guys waiting to see him when I got here at 7 this morning," she explained. "Your father called them into the office when he came in, before he even got his first cup of coffee. He shut the door, but I still heard them yelling." "Ouch." "Oh. One of them referred to you as an 'ass munching fag'..." "Oh shit!" JD's eyes opened wide. "I can only imagine..." "Yeah. I just walked outside and smoked a cigarette, though," she explained. "I figured it would be best if I were outside when your mother arrived to keep her from going in there and slapping somebody." "Yeah," JD smiled, imagining the reaction that his mother would have had if she'd walked in on that conversation. A moment later, the door to the office opened to the sound of a woman's laughter. It was easily recognizable as Maxima's. "Hey Mary," she said before seeing her son sitting there. "Is this what you wanted?" she said, opening a styrofoam box. "Oh yeah," Mary said as she took the box from her. "Hey, JD," Tom said as JD stood and gave his father a hug. "Hey, sweetie," Maxima said as she hugged him once Tom was finished. "How are y'all doing?" he asked. "We're OK," Maxima answered. "Had an interesting morning," Tom stated. "I heard!" "So did half the neighborhood," Maxima said as Mary giggled a little bit and took a bite of whatever it was that Maxima had brought her. "So what brings my favorite son by this afternoon?" Tom asked. "I'm here to tell you that I'm taking the rest of the day off." "Oh you are?" Tom asked. "Yeah. I'm going to Oneonta." "Why?" Maxima asked, assuming that she knew the reason. "To go to the rodeo with Tyler, and to meet his family and stuff," JD confessed. "Are you OK with doing that this soon?" Tom asked as Maxima acknowledged her own error. JD just smiled and quickly answered, "Yes." "OK," Tom said. "Y'all taking your truck?" "I dunno yet, actually. I just know that I'm supposed to call him when I get back to the condo." "OK," Maxima said. "Be careful baby," she said. "There weren't any problems at the gym were there?" Tom asked. "Nope. And Dad, I'm thinking about firing all those punks when I get back on Monday." "Just make sure you've got a good reason," Tom said. Within just a little bit, JD was pulling out of the spaces in which he'd parked the truck and headed toward his apartment. His iPod was randomly playing through the stereo as he enjoyed the beautiful afternoon on which tourists from all over were descending upon the town. 'Run' by Snow Patrol was playing through the device. It was one of Paul's favorite songs of all time, and every time he heard it before that afternoon, thoughts of his ex would come into his head. That afternoon, though, it was different. Things were different; he was different. Rather than thinking of his ex, he thought about the past. For most of their relationship, JD had been happy. Toward the end, as it changed and eventually came to an end, all he did was try his best to run away from the feeling of impending doom that surrounded the break up. As he turned onto Beach Street, and then into his complex. He saw the red F-250 sitting in the visitor's parking area, and a smile came to his face. He pulled into his space, grabbing his bag and walking toward where Tyler was parked. As the lyrics of the song still resounded in his head, JD saw Tyler. He smiled even wider as he looked at Tyler standing there, sexily, in gym shorts and a t-shirt. "Hey gorgeous," JD said as he felt compelled to hug Tyler. They hadn't seen each other since the previous weekend, and even JD was surprised by his own reaction. Tyler didn't mind, though. JD was electric. "I'm sorry I just came over," Tyler started to confess. "I'm glad you did," JD responded. The two of them walked up to the apartment as they talked. After JD showered, he packed up a few things into an overnight bag. "So...since you won't let me do anything else this weekend," JD joked, "will you at least let me drive up?" "You mean, you expect me to climb my ass up into that piece of shit Dodge..." "It's the least you could do. I've been in that shitty Ford of yours twice already," JD said as he walked into the doorway. Tyler was sexily sitting on the love seat, holding the remote in his hands as his legs were casually spread apart. He his t-shirt was loose, and he was wearing a cap, as usual. "Maybe you'll learn to appreciate superior machinery!" "I got your fucking superior machinery right here," JD said as he grabbed his crotch. "I might investigate that later," Tyler winked. JD smiled and walked back into his room to finish packing his things. "You might...or you might?" "You'll just have to wait and see, won't ya?" Tyler said as he walked out. "You got a cowboy hat?" "Oh shit! I almost forgot," JD said as he ran into his bedroom and grabbed the box in which he stored his white cowboy hat. He pulled it out and placed it on his head. He grabbed his cowboy boots from the shoe rack, too. "OK," he said. "Ready to go?" "I'm ready for something," Tyler said with a smile as he turned the TV off and stood from the loveseat. "Tyler," JD said as Tyler grabbed his suitcase. "Yeah?" "I can carry my own bag," JD said as Tyler walked toward the door. "I know," Tyler said, smiling but not setting the suitcase down. In just a moment, they were standing in the elevator, descending the tall building on their way to where JD had parked. As they went down, they kept stealing glances at each other and smiling. "You are so fucking hot," JD commented as the door opened on the main level of the building and they walked out into the parking lot. "You're not so bad yourself, JD," Tyler commented sweetly. As JD arranged his things in the back seat of his truck, Tyler grabbed his from the F-250. Among his things were a single suitcase, a plastic hat box and a leather boot bag. When Tyler said that he was serious about his rodeo wear, he wasn't kidding, JD thought as he watched Tyler walking across the parking lot. In that moment, he wished that he had a digital camera. "Do you mind if we stop and Mom and Dad's office so that I can get Mama's camera?" JD asked. "Not at all. It's right on Grand, right?" Tyler asked, having noticed the office that sat right on Grand Avenue earlier in the week. "Yeah," JD answered as Tyler put his things into the back seat. "You gonna take some naughty pictures for me for next week or something?" Tyler winked. "Maybe..." JD smiled back at him. In a few minutes, they were gone from the apartment. They'd driven up Beach Street to its intersection with Grand Avenue. After anxiously sitting through the light, they turned up the avenue, against the primary flow of traffic, and headed toward their destination. After stopping to get the camera, JD and Tyler were on their way north, out of Paradise. They travelled all through the cities in Baur County, talking about random shit. Through Robertsdale, Loxley, and Bay Minette. As they reached the interstate, JD opened up the 6.7 liter Cummins Deisel Engine that was under the hood and scooted on up the interstate. "So you got your iPod with you?" Tyler asked as they drove past the first of a couple of exits for Atmore, Alabama. "It's in the console," JD said as he lifted his arm so that Tyler could pull out the 80GB, video playing model. "The connection cord is in the glove box," he went on as Tyler pulled out the white cord and plugged it into the stereo system. "So let's see what JD really listens to," Tyler joked as he set the device to shuffle and it began to play. The first song to blast through the system was 'Online' by Brad Paisley. JD, in his cowboy hat, sang it to him as they drove up the road at a little over 80 miles per hour. Tyler laughed as JD made little gestures that accompanied the song. A couple more country songs played through the stereo before it switched to a song that made JD laugh and Tyler lift one eyebrow in JD's direction. As the Morovian version of 'Dancing Queen' came blaring through the stereo, JD turned it down and recounted the story behind that particular song. "What the hell?" Tyler asked, smiling. "Well. I do suck dick...really well," JD joked as he drove. "There is a story for real. The first song my parents ever danced to was 'Dancing Queen', so when they got married, someone wrote a Morovian version of the song and got Abba to record it as a wedding gift for them." "Awww...that was sweet!" "It was..." JD said. "So when their 25th Anniversary happened, Mr. and Mrs. Gutierro threw them a big party." "Uh huh..." Tyler paid attention, smiling. "Their gift from me and Lindsay was to perform this song for them." "Shit. I would have loved to seen that." "Don't tell my mom that," JD said. "She'll pull out the video of it!" "I'm making a mental note of that," Tyler said. "Yeah...do that, and see how fast I bend you over and spank you." "How do you know I'm not into kinky stuff like that?" Tyler asked. "Are you?" JD winked. "Never done it before. I've always been more of a dominant guy...never really been submissive." "But you're a bottom?" "Oh yeah," Tyler smiled. "But I'm always the one giving instructions and telling guys how to do it." "Yeah..." "It would be nice to just let loose and be some guy's bitch," Tyler said as he looked straight ahead. He could almost feel JD's smile as he felt his own winding in front of his face. "Anyone in particular?" "Yeah," Tyler answered. "JD?" "Yeah?" "I'm so fucking horny right now," Tyler honestly expressed as they came upon the town of Evergreen, Alabama. "Me too," JD answered. "I haven't done anything since the end of last week, though?" "Not even after the discussion on Wednesday?" Tyler asked, referring to a two-hour-long conversation the guys had about the physical side of their feelings. "Nope." "Shit. I had to clean the tweezers twice!" Tyler said. JD took his right hand from the wheel and reached over the console to Tyler's lap. Tyler didn't stop him, but he was surprised by the sudden movement. "Damn," JD said. "That's not so bad of a dick, dude." "You know, I actually had a guy tell me once that it was too small for him to do anything with?" "Fuck! Was he a whore or something?" "I don't know," Tyler said. "I've always had a complex about the size, though." "You really shouldn't," JD said as he put his hand beneath the waist of Tyler's shorts and squeezed the growing member once for good measure. "So now that you know about me," Tyler said. JD took his hand from Tyler's pants and ensured that the console was secure before lifting it up so that Tyler could have an unobstructed view. He repositioned the seat belt and reached his right hand into his pants, pulling from his underwear the part of his body that made him a man. Tyler's eyes bugged as he looked at the beast. He'd assumed that JD was big, but not that big. Most muscular men he'd seen tended to 'growers' rather than 'showers', but JD was obviously an exception to the rule. With an evil grin, though, he stuffed it back into his shorts. "So that's all I get?" Tyler asked. "For now. If you're good, I'll let you touch it later," JD explained. "So is this a dominance thing?" Tyler asked. "It is. It's your first lesson in letting go and following instructions," JD said as he lowered the console again as Tyler smiled at him. "So Mom said," Tyler changed the topic of discussion. "You were supposed to argue," JD blurted out. "So Mom said," Tyler fired back, "that they are gonna grill out tonight, but that they were going to wait on us to get there, which should be around eight...maybe seven the way you're driving." JD smiled. "And I was thinking, if you wanted, that we could go in the morning and I could show you around the property." "That would be cool," JD said. "Have you ever ridden a horse?" Tyler asked. "A few times when I was really little," JD answered. "Then I'm gonna put you on my horse. He's gentle and won't let anything happen to you." "You have a horse of your own?" "I do," Tyler answered. "You'll never guess what his name is, though." "What?" Tyler waited for a second to build up suspense. "Prince!" JD laughed as he shook his head. "Really?" "Really!" Tyler answered. "I obviously named him long before I met you, though." "Yeah..." "That's one thing I miss about being home. I used to just get up early on Saturdays, and he and I would go for a ride through the trails in the woods," Tyler remembered fondly. "I would have gone to school closer to home if any place had the program that I wanted to do." "Well," JD started, "I can say that I'm definitely winning out on that one." "Yes," Tyler smiled, "you are!" JD smiled. Before either of them realized it, they had come to Montgomery and were quickly passing through the state's capital. They stopped in Prattville for a Mountain Dew, but were quickly back on the road. The crossed through Chilton County, making remarks about the Stuckey's in Verbena and the giant Peach that was at the third Clanton exit from the direction from which they were coming. In no time, they were coming into the Birmingham Metropolitan Area. They passed through Calera and Alabaster, then Pelham and Hoover. The amount of traffic was much more then either of them had expected. "Take I-459," Tyler instructed, "north, toward Gadsden." "Yes sir," JD said as he moved into the far right hand lane just before they came up to the interchange. "I could get used to hearing you say that," Tyler joked as they came up to the Acton Road exit. They drove past Highway 280 and The Summit, a posh shopping center in Birmingham's south-of-town area. JD drove past Liberty Parkway as if he'd been there a million times before. They passed the interchange with I-20 before going through Trussville and climbing onto I-59. As JD weaved through the traffic, Tyler instructed him to travel to the Ashville exit off the interstate. It was only a few minutes when they arrived at the exit. They made one last stop, at a Texaco station just off the interstate to buy two cases of beer. As they walked back out to the truck, Tyler told JD that he should take the passenger seat for this trip. JD had already made the comment that he had never been on that side of the county, so Tyler wanted him to be able to really see the countryside without having to worry about traffic and driving. Tyler pulled out of the station and turned to go up Highway 231 toward Oneonta. JD was taken aback by the radiant beauty of that little peace of heaven. At the base of the mountain was Horse Pens 40, a really cool place in the country go and ride horses and enjoy nature. As they came to the top of the first hill, JD could see out over the valley. For miles and miles, it looked like there wasn't anything but trees, pristine and undisturbed. JD had been to the southern part of Blount County, and even to Oneonta, but he had never experienced beauty like what he was seeing right then on the western end of St. Clair County. Growing up in Paradise, he was surrounded by beautiful country, but the air was thinner. It wasn't as humid as Paradise had been as they left. As they crossed into Blount County from St. Clair, Tyler began slowing the truck. In just a few miles, he was coming to a complete stop, waiting on traffic to pass before turning left onto a small, unmarked paved road. On either side of the road were two large fields, each surrounded by freshly painted white fences. On one side were cows. A couple of them were eating grass; a couple more were drinking water from a little pond in one corner of the fenced area. The other pasture was empty at that moment. The little road cut through the woods for a about a half mile. "Holy shit," JD commented as he looked around at the virtually undisturbed piece of nature. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Tyler asked as he maneuvered the large truck down the wide drive. When they emerged from the small patch of woods, JD realized that they were smack dab on the side of the mountain. From where they were, he could see out for hundred of acres. "You grew up here?" JD asked. "I did. You hooked yet?" Tyler asked as they through an empty pasture that was broken only by the paved drive. JD responded affirmatively. They went into the woods once more and emerged facing the back of a modest two story house. It was on the right side of the drive. On the left side, in the middle of a third pasture, was a little pond. Down toward another patch of woods was a large red barn. Tyler pulled into a space next to the house, behind a slurry of Ford Trucks and his mother's dark green Expedition. There was also a silver Honda Civic parked in the parking area beside the house. "So it looks like the whole family is here for this little homecoming," Tyler expressed as they climbed from the truck. "I hope I don't forget any names or anything!" JD joked as Tyler turned off the engine to the truck and two climbed out of the car, grabbing the beer from the back floorboard. "JD. You're so amazing. I doubt you will forget anything about this weekend," Tyler joked, grinning as they walked up to the backdoor of the house. "We're here!" he said as he opened the door that led into the large kitchen. "TYLER!" Tammy said as she walked in and hugged him. A very tall and large man followed her in, walking up to JD. "I'm Bob," he said as he extended his hand to shake JD's. "It's nice to meet you," JD said. "I'm JD." "Welcome!" he said with a smile. "Would you like a cold beer or something?" Bob asked as Tammy fretted over Tyler for a second. "Sure," JD answered as he followed bob to the black refrigerator. "So Mom," Tyler said. "This is JD," he introduced as Bob opened three beers, one for each of the men. "It's very nice to meet you, ma'am," JD said as she shook his hand. "Likewise. Tyler has talked about you nonstop all week long!" "I hope it was good." "Shit," Bob said as he joined their circle, handing JD and Tyler beers. "He's been talking about you like you were a god or something." JD looked at Tyler and smiled. "My mom would probably say the same thing." "Well if ain't the big college man!" Kevin said as he came into the room. Tyler turned and smiled. "What's up, dumbass?" he asked as he turned and hugged his older brother. "Nothing, just trying to bang as many women as possible before I die!" Kevin responded. "I won't tell Ronnie you said that," Tyler joked, referring to Kevin's girlfriend, Veronica. "Hell. I tell her that shit, too," Kevin fired back. "So I'm Kevin," he introduced himself to JD. "JD." "Nice to meet you, man," Kevin said as he smiled. "Likewise." "So Tyler's been talking about you, nonstop," Kevin said as he took his little brother's beer right out of his hand and took a sip from the brown bottle. "I hope it was good." "He said he wanted to do you in the butt," Kevin joked. JD's face turned bright red as he looked at Tyler, how reached up, almost instantly, and punched his brother on the shoulder. "You little shit," Kevin said as Tyler ran out the back door. Kevin set the beer on the kitchen table and ran out after him. "And to think we wanted a third," Tammy said to Bob. "Sorry JD. They always act like this," Bob said. "Oh no. It's cool. I am an only child, so it's kinda cool to watch siblings interact and stuff," JD said with a smile. "Yeah. They're only two years apart, so they grew up together," Tammy explained. "So did y'all have a good ride up?" "Oh...it was awesome!" JD said. "I have an ex that lived in Remlap, but this place is far more beautiful than down there." "It really is," Bob said. "So sweetie," Tammy said to Bob. "Why don't you go get the grill ready?" "OK," he said. "Is there anything I can help with?" JD asked. "You can come help me with the grill...since my sons are off horsing around!" Bob said with a smile. "Alright," JD said as the men walked out of the house. "BASTARD!" they heard Tyler yell from the other side of the house as Kevin laughed hysterically. JD and Bob walked toward the barbecue area as Tyler and Kevin ran around the house. There were grass stains all over Kevin's light blue polo. JD watched as they ran around. The little smile that came across his face as a result of watching this man with whom he was becoming quite enamored enjoying the company of his brother. "So you go to Owens, too?" Bob asked as he took the charcoal from a little cabinet built into the brick barbecue. "Yes sir." "What are you studying?" he asked JD. "Morovian Language and Literature." "Nice. What do you want to do with it?" "To be completely honest, I'm not sure yet. I'll either teach or continue managing the gym that I work at." "Yeah..." Bob said as he started the fire beneath the metal grate atop which their steaks would be cooked shortly. "My parents want me to go to law school," JD said. "But you don't want to?" Bob asked with a smile. "No sir. I've seen some of the stuff they've dealt with, and I'm not sure that I could do that. I mean, at least at the gym, I know what to expect." "I think that's why Tyler's studying land management," Bob commented. "Farming and working with the land comes naturally for him. He knows what to expect and how to deal with the unexpected and such." "Yeah. You guys have a beautiful piece of property by the way," JD complimented him again. "Thank you. It was a gift from Tammy's Daddy when we got married. We started with a trailer up at the front of the property and worked our way up to this." "When we came through that final patch of woods, and I got a good look at the view, I thought it was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen." Bob smiled. "So are you grilling him yet?" Tyler asked. "Yeah," Bob answered. "I was asking him if you were as good a lay as you claim to be." "Dad," Tyler said. "He said that he loved your ass," Bob joked. "See. Now I KNOW you're fucking with me, cause JD hasn't had it yet," Tyler winked. "OH! Are you holding out until he gets rid of that piece of shit Dodge?" Bob joked. "I told you we were Ford people," Tyler said as JD laughed. "That's actually the first American car that I think we've ever had," JD recounted as he thought back to all the cars his parents had owned. "Really?" Bob asked. "Yeah. Mom has always driven Morautos cars; Dad has either had Japanese cars or German cars." "Nice," Bob said. "I've always heard that the Morautos cars are good vehicles. What model does she have?" "The Gran Reina," he said, referring to his mother's large SUV. "Nice model," Bob said. "A hunting buddy of mine just bought his kid the little sports car." "The Zh..." JD started. "The Morovians here call it 'The Bitch'. No offense to your friend or anything," JD tried to back up before he offended Bob. In his mind, he was regretting ever telling that story. "Dani?" Tyler asked. "Yeah," Bob answered. "That two-faced whore!" Tyler commented, calming JD's fears a little bit. "Yeah. She and Ty don't get along." "She let more guys fuck her before she was 16 than we've had combined," Tyler explained, "and she has the audacity to say that I'm going to hell for being gay!" "Damn. I'm sorry, babe," JD said to Tyler. 'Babe?' Bob thought to himself. "It's OK. I fuck with Kev about it all the time...he took her virginity," Tyler smiled. "So you're the evil sibling or something?" JD asked. "Very proudly so," Tyler explained. Bob snickered as he turned around, to face the grill. JD and Tyler smiled at each other. Tyler smiled as he obviously let his eyes wander to JD's crotch. He smiled widely as he formed a circle with his lips. JD blushed and smiled a little bit. "Tyler Ray?" Bob said. "Yes sir?" Tyler acted as if nothing were wrong and nothing was going on between them. "Don't tease the boy," he said as JD snickered. "I'm not teasing him," Tyler claimed as JD smiled at him. Still not looking at his son, Bob continued, "Then what do you call that face you were making?" "OK. I won't tease him anymore," Tyler said with a wink. "So where's Ricky?" "Who the hell knows?" Bob said as he turned back around. "Some girl came by about a half hour before y'all got here and he left. He didn't tell us where, though." "Oh." "Ricky is your younger brother?" JD asked Tyler. "Yeah." "If you've gotten the impression that Tyler's a handful, just wait till you meet Ricky!" Bob explained. "He's the one that everybody thinks should be the gay one," Tyler joked. There was a sound of loud thumping coming down the drive, breaking the peace of that part of the world. A car pulled into the parking area next to JD's truck. In just a second, they heard the sound of a car door shutting. In a second, the car was pulling out of the drive and speeding off. Ricky walked onto the deck and was pulling open the screen door. "You're not gonna say hello to your brother?" Tyler asked him. "What up?" he said as he walked into the house. "And that's Richard Hall," Tyler said to JD. "You know," JD started, "you and Kevin look a lot alike, but he doesn't." "Yeah. He looks like Mom, Kevin and I look like Dad." "They get their sexy from me," Bob joked. "Unfortunately we all get our miniscule penises from him." "There's nothing..." JD started, without thinking. "OK guys," Tammy said as she brought a rubber bowl with marinated steaks out to the grill. "So what's crawled up our youngest's ass today?" "Obviously it's not the same thing that's been crawling up Tyler's," Tammy joked. "MOM!" Tyler blushed as JD laughed. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I saw an opportunity and had to take it," she explained. "It's OK," she said as she hugged him. "So who was that girl that Ricky got here with?" Tyler asked. "We don't know," Tammy answered. "He just says that she's a friend, but that's it," Bob explained. "They fucking?" Tyler asked. "Probably," Tammy and Bob answered at the same time. "Holy shit, Tyler," Veronica said as she walked up, surprising them. "He is a fucking hottie!" "Hey Ronnie," Tyler said as they hugged. "This is JD." "I am Veronica, and be glad you're gay," she said to JD. "Why is that?" JD asked. "Because I'd so dump Kevin for you!" "You just made my winkie draw up!" Kevin said as he came out of the house and walked over to where they all were. "You're safe, Kevin! He's on Tyler's team!" "I'm glad, cause my life wouldn't be the same without you," Kevin said as he wrapped his arms around her. "That's so fucking sweet!" Tyler joked. "Punk. I'm gonna beat you this time," Kevin said as he moved toward Tyler. Tyler, laughing, took a few steps away. "You are not gonna mess with him," Ronnie stated. "But that's what I live for!" Kevin whined. "I thought you lived for my voluptuous bosom," she said. "I do like your tits," Kevin stated. "Don't mess with your brother, or they'll be off limits for a long time..." she told him. "Yes ma'am," Kevin complied as he kissed his woman's neck. "You know what he told me one time?" Tyler asked Ronnie. "What's that?" she asked. "He told me that he liked your tits," Tyler said as JD stood back and observed. "Yeah," Kevin said. "I like your tits more than he likes JD's ass." "JD does have a nice ass," Tammy added to their conversation. "If I were into guys," Bob started as everyone laughed. It wasn't hard to tell from where Tyler's sense of humor came. "We apologize," Tammy said for all of them to JD. "It's OK. It makes me think of my own family," JD answered honestly. "If my cousin Lindsay were here, she'd be right up in it with all of y'all." "You should have brought her, then," Tammy suggested. "Maybe next time," JD said. "So are y'all going to the rodeo tomorrow night?" Ronnie asked as her boyfriend continued to lovingly squeeze her. "That's the plan," JD answered, looking Tyler to confirm it all. "You know that JD used to do rodeo stuff, don't you?" Tammy asked as Bob minded the steaks on the grill. "Actually," JD said, "he told me that. It's one of those things that is most sexy about him." "So he thinks your ugly ass is hot, Bro," Kevin joked. "Actually," JD started, looking at Tyler but addressing Kevin, "your brother is one of the hottest people I've ever encountered." Everyone standing out at the barbecue smiled sweetly as JD continued to look at Tyler, and Tyler stood there, in a world in which only he and JD existed. Tammy rubbed Bob's back as Ronnie cocked her head so that Kevin could kiss her neck. Tyler was lost in how own world, imagining what the future held for him with this man, this man who stood before him and, for the first time, told his brother that he was hotter than the muscular, masculine man that his brother was. "I'm going out," Ricky announced as he walked out to the barbecue. "Where are you going?" Tammy asked. "Out," he answered. "Listen here," Bob said. "When you're mother asks you a question, you fucking answer it, and you answer it honestly." "Why? And why are you acting like this? Is it cause Tyler brought his fag friend up with him?" Ricky asked. The whole place was silent. Everyone around looked. "Inside," Bob said as he walked over to Ricky and took his arm and guided him back across the yard and inside the house. "I'm sorry," Tammy said to JD and Tyler as she followed them inside. "What the hell is your problem, little man?" Bob asked Ricky. "I don't have to..." Ricky commented. "Like hell you don't," Bob said. "You're not going anywhere," Tammy added. "And you're going to apologize to Tyler, and his guest," Bob added. "Like hell..." Ricky started. "Your brother has never done anything to you," Tammy added. "Where did you get all this from, Ricky?" Bob asked. Ricky just shook his head. "You don't get it," he told his father, "he might be my parents' child, but that...abomination...is not my brother..." Tammy reached her hand up and slapped her youngest child. The product of hers and her husband's love glared at her. He wanted to cry, but his masculinity wouldn't allow it. "Get out of my house," Bob said as he walked toward the interior of the house. Ricky looked at his mother. In his eyes, he was almost begging for forgiveness, but she wasn't having any of it. After a moment, he angrily stormed from the kitchen toward his room. "Maybe I should get a hotel room or something?" JD said as he looked at Tyler. "No," Kevin told him. "You're gonna stay here, and you're gonna have a great weekend. Ricky will get over himself soon enough." A moment later, the four of them stood there silently as Ricky walked out of the back of the house. He climbed into his car and sped away from the house in his silver Honda Civic. Tyler's parents came out a few minutes later a bottle of tequila and several shot glasses. Kevin had taken the steaks off the grill and placed them onto a plate that Tammy had brought out when she brought out the plastic bowl in which the steaks were marinating. Bob and Tammy poured each of them a shot. Without a word, they each took the shot. As they took their moment, Ricky drove down Highway 231 toward Oneonta. Before reaching town, he turned out toward Highland Lake. After driving around for a little bit, he ended up in at a small house from which emanated loudly pounding rock music. As he walked up to the door and knocked on it, the girl that he'd been with earlier came to the door. "Mind if I crash here for a while?" he asked. "Not at all," she said as she invited him in. Sitting in the living room were a few other girls that they knew, as well as a few guys, guys that he'd only recently met.