Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 12:51:18 -0700 (PDT) From: Randy <usam1a2mbt@yahoo.com> Subject: Joey and Joshua Chapter 3 Joey and Joshua, Chapter 3. By Randy P. Copyright 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: These stories are a work of fiction and contain descriptions of homosexual sex. Any resemblance to real people or events is coincidental. If this type of material offends you, or if you are forbidden by law to read it, please exit the story now. Email comments may be emailed to: usam1a2mbt@yahoo.com. Flames will be deleted without comment. The usual copyright laws apply. A special thank you goes to: Banton for his editing. Please feel free to join our yahoogroup at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/randyswritings/ to receive updates, comment or give feedback on the story. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3 Six months later... Entering his apartment and dropping some mail on an end table, Josh wearily hung up his suit jacket. Muttering under his breath, "I'm glad work's over with for today," he walked into the kitchen, retrieved some leftovers from the refrigerator, and set them in the microwave to warm up. Noticing the answering machine blinking, he punched the play button. "Josh, this is Derek. I'll be at the gym a little late, about 6:30. Have to finish some lengthy reports on that accident I told you about last night. Sorry. Bye." Grunting in displeasure, Josh looked up as the microwave buzzed. Taking the leftovers out, he set up the table and retrieved his diary from the computer table. Sitting down, he took a bite of lasagna and began writing. **** Diary entry **** Today marks the six-month anniversary of Scott's passing. I miss him like hell. Not a day goes by that I see something and think, "Scott would love this!" or hear something that would make him laugh. At work today, I found a photo of him that was hidden behind a calendar he put up. I sat there for 10 minutes looking at it until my Dad came by, saw the picture and gave me a hug. I've moved the picture to my desk where I can see it all the time. I miss him terribly. Derek called and said he would be late at the gym, so I guess I get more time at the cemetery with Scott. Derek has been making some gentle advances lately, but I'm hesitant about accepting them. He stayed over last night and we made out a little while watching a movie. After about 15 minutes of holding, kissing and touching, I had to stop. I know I'm frustrating him with getting close and then backing off. It doesn't feel right for some reason. I just can't bring myself to get involved with Derek at this point. God knows I need something, but... I just cannot! He stayed the night and looked so crushed when I suggested he stay in the spare bedroom. I really need to apologize for that. He has been nothing but a rock for me the last 6 months. I enjoy his friendship and company... but I wish he would realize I'm not ready to sleep with him right now. It feels like I'm betraying Scott. I know in my mind he would want me to move on, but my heart says... no, don't. My Sign Language class at Community is going well but I'm a bit nervous about that test coming up on Friday. I'm so thankful for Jonas, he's a cool guy and I like him. I never understood what kind of problems a deaf person faces in life, but thanks to hanging around Jonas and observing him, it's easy to see things get a little complicated for him. Jonas is certainly going out of his way to help with the vocabulary and grammar for the class; he certainly makes things easier for me. I'm glad Alex introduced us. On another note, Travis was fired today for harassment. About time, he had that coming. Hitting on me was the last straw for Geoff. Ah well. Guess I'd best finish my meal and get to the cemetery. **** end entry **** Closing his diary, Josh quietly finished his meal, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts about Derek and his feelings. After putting the dishes in the sink, he changed to his gym clothes and went to the cemetery. After reaching the plot, he sat down cross-legged on the grave, facing the marble headstone and quietly talked with Scott. "Well, it's been 6 months now, love. I still can't believe sometimes that you're gone. My heart tells me you're not. I miss you so much. I found another picture of you in my cubicle today, the one you put that calendar up over. I know you never liked that one, but tough. It's in a frame on my desk where I can see it easily, so I guess I get the last word. So take that! Last night, Derek and I started making out... and I stopped. I know you would want me to go on, but I can't. Maybe it's Derek, maybe it's me. I don't know. I do know I have to decide soon what to do about this. Oh, shoot, I got to stop by our parents place and get that DVD back before I head for the gym, Trish wants to borrow it." Reaching out to touch the headstone, "I love you and always will, Scott. I'll be back tomorrow as usual to see you. Oh yeah, that bastard Travis finally got fired. I know you would have loved to see that. Love you, baby," said Josh as he kissed the headstone. Scrambling to his feet, he went back to his car and headed for his parents' place. Arriving a few minutes later, Josh pulled into the driveway and noticed his mom's car was gone. "Oh yeah, it's Tuesday, Mom and Janice's gardening club thing." Getting out of the car, he grumbled, "Flowers. All they are good for is making me sneeze." Walking quietly into Todd and Helen's house, he looked for the DVD in the living room. Finding it and picking it up, he heard a noise coming from another room. Deciding to investigate the source of the noise, he checked out his old bedroom -- and found Todd and Brad on his bed unclothed and kissing! Gasping in shock, Josh fell back against the doorjamb and hung on it for dear life. "What the hell are you two doing?" He exploded. Brad and Todd reacted with surprise, quickly grabbing their clothes and covering up. "Shit," Todd muttered. "It's not what you think, Josh!" "Yeah, right, I walk in and find my dad making out with another guy. What am I supposed to think? You're building a chicken coop?" Josh angrily asked. Todd glared back at Josh and started to retort. Brad stopped Todd with a hand on his arm. "Josh, just listen to us for a moment, please," Brad implored. "I'm listening," Josh ground out. "The last 6 months have been hell on all of us. No, that's not an excuse for now, I know. Look, you don't know what's going on around here," Brad calmly explained. "Josh, things here are bad," Todd began after Brad started to choke up. "You got that right. I find both of my daddies in bed. Certainly it's bad," Josh mocked. "Will you shut the hell up and listen?" Brad yelled. Closing his mouth in surprise at Brad's tone, Josh quietly went to the computer desk and sat down as Brad and Todd got dressed. They sat down on the bed across from Josh as Brad explained, "Janice and I have been fighting every night for the last 3 months or so. Your father has been the only one who has given me emotional support over the last few months. Janice and I don't even talk anymore except to fight. She blames me for Scott's death because I talked her into allowing him to move in and letting you two get married. She even kicked me out of our bedroom. I sleep in Scott's room now. The only one that gives me any kind of love is your dad." Frowning, Josh replied, "I'm sorry things are bad between Janice and you, Brad. But how does that justify this? Dad, mom is not going to be happy if she finds out. Neither will Janice. I'm not thrilled with this." Brad closed his eyes, hung his head and quietly stated, "I guess I should tell you that Janice has filed for divorce." Todd turned to Brad and hugged him tight. Josh groaned, "That's awful. I'm sorry, Brad." "Yeah, it is, Josh. I'm all Brad has right now. I didn't plan on this. But I can't stop loving Brad. And I'm not going to stop loving your Mom, either, despite the fact that she knows something is up with Brad and I," said Todd. "Don't tell me you two are having problems too, Daddy!" Josh whimpered. "I can't take you two having problems with me trying to get my balance back." "I know, Josh. I don't know what else to say," Todd replied, getting up to hug Josh. "This is one time the past comes back to bite you hard." "I guess," Josh softly murmured. "If you want, Josh... I'll... stop doing this with your Dad as much as I need this," Brad asked with an express of sadness. Hesitating, Josh shook his head, "How can I take away something you need? I'm not that cruel." Josh gave off a sigh. "Just promise me it isn't gonna go any further than this." Todd looked away guiltily, "I... can't, Josh." "Why not?" Josh gently asked. "Um... well..." Todd refused to meet Josh's eyes. Josh went pale and timidly said, "Don't tell me you two have..." Brad and Todd looked at each other quickly in that strange way they seemed to have of communicating with each other. Todd bit his lip and... nodded. "DAD!" Josh shouted and both men winced. "We didn't plan that, Josh. It just... happened," Todd said, his face full of shame. Brad got up and ran out of the room and Todd's expression tightened up. "Three weeks ago when Brad was extremely upset after a fight, we went out and had a few beers. We both got drunk out of our skulls. We called Alex and he brought us home. Your mom went over to stay with Janice and talk to her, heaven knows she's been trying to keep them together... Anyways, Brad slept here in your bedroom. I was too drunk to walk much so I decided to sleep in here with him. We started kissing and one thing led to another... when we woke up the next morning, we realized what we had done. Neither one of us were happy about what happened. Fortunately, I got back to my bedroom before your mom came home. We've not done anything since, just kiss and hold." Josh sit there, his expression one of shock. "I honestly don't know what to say, Dad." "Neither do I, son. I told your mother a few days ago," Todd said, sending Josh bouncing up out of the chair in shock, staggering as he lost his balance and winding up on the floor. Jumping up and pulling Josh onto the bed, Todd held his son. "I'm sorry." "What did she say?" "She was very angry at first, but when she calmed down, she forgave us. Your mother... well, things are strained between us right now. She asked me not to do this again, I agreed. Oh, she knows Brad and I kiss and cuddle, but she is keeping a very close eye on me. I can't blame her. I failed her and you, Josh. I'm sorry. I can't take back what happened, but I can try to make sure it doesn't happen again," Todd said, watching Josh's face. "Sure looked like you guys were gonna do something here today," Josh commented. "No... we hold, kiss and cuddle. We wind up jacking off watching each other, but that's as far as we go. I insisted on that," Todd replied. "Okay... geeze, this is gonna take getting used to, Dad." "Forgive me?" Hugging Todd tight, Josh nodded, "Yes, I do." "Okay then. I had better go find Brad. He's trying to deal with Scott's passing and Janice divorcing him. Damn that woman," Todd cursed. "Okay, and I need to get to the gym to meet Derek." Todd gave Josh another hug, "Okay. Call me tonight, please." Hugging back, Josh told his Dad, "I love you." Todd smiled, "Love you too", got up and trotted out of the room. Josh got to his feet, feeling very unsettled at this sudden revelation. Leaving the house, he drove the distance to the gym and met Derek in the locker room. Derek noticed Josh's quietness. "What's wrong, Josh?" Derek asked. "Nothing, just thinking about last night," Josh answered back. "Hey, about that, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have started that." "It's okay. Hey, let's talk about this later, okay?" With Derek's nod of assent, they left for the pool area and swam with Josh putting extra effort into his strokes and taking his anger and frustration out on the water. Derek noticed, but wisely said nothing. After completing their swim and workout, Josh headed back home while Derek went to his place. Arriving home, Josh parked his car in the garage and climbed the steps upstairs. Just as he arrived upstairs, the doorbell rang. Opening it with curiosity, Josh found a tall blonde woman and an average height man with slim features and short cropped red hair smiling at him. "May I help you?" Josh asked. "Hi, I'm Andrea Rogers, and this is Mark Tavers. We work for Timothy Washington and we have a proposal for you from him, assuming you are Joshua Van Riper," Ms. Rogers stated. "Yes, I am, and that name sounds familiar. Is he the one that owns the architectural firm I work for?" Josh queried. "Yes, he does," Ms. Rogers smiled. "Please, come in," Josh requested. Andrea and Mark entered the townhouse and Josh closed the door behind him. As they sat down in the living room after shaking hands, Josh asked, "Would anyone like a drink?" "No thank you," Mark politely answered. "Thank you, but no," Andrea replied. Placing a DVD case and thick envelope on the table, Andrea explained, "Mr. Washington has asked me to leave the DVD and a envelope with you, come back tomorrow evening and see if you would consider a trip out to his estate to consider his proposal," Ms. Rogers said. Josh asked, "Why me?" "All the questions you have will be answered to your satisfaction by the DVD and letter. If you have more, I will answer what I can and Mr. Washington will provide the remaining information as needed, sir," Andrea smiled at Josh. Seeing he was not going to get any further answers out of Andrea, Josh smiled back, "Okay, I must admit I'm intrigued the way you're being so... cagey." "I'm sorry if I'm coming across that way, but Mr. Washington gave some very clear and pointed instructions, Joshua," Andrea said looking at Mark. Mark looked away with an innocent expression and Andrea whacked his arm. "Oh, don't play innocent with me, Mark." "I wasn't!" Mark protested. At Josh's look of confusion, Mark informed him, "I'm Mr. Washington's chief of security. He doesn't usually send me out to do stuff like this." "I'm not surprised, Mark. You're a buffoon anyhow," Andrea teased. Growling at Andrea while Josh laughed, Mark quickly sized up Josh and grinned. Seeing that, Andrea punched Mark on the leg. Mark shot Andrea a look and then looked away uncomfortably. Josh looked from one to the other, knowing something significant had occurred, but not sure what. Andrea broke the uncomfortable silence by standing. "Well, we shall return tomorrow evening, Josh. Nice meeting you," Andrea politely said. "Likewise, Josh," Mark replied in his baritone voice as he clambered to his feet. Josh followed suit, "Yes, it was. I will look over the materials." After Andrea and Mark had left with a few words of polite conversation, Josh picked up the DVD, slid it into his computer's DVD-RW, and sat down to play it. A blonde haired man in his thirties appeared on the monitor. "Hi, Josh. I'm Tim Washington, and I have an offer for you..."