You Belong to Me – 8

 

 

Corey finally got off work around nine thirty that night. He’d put in over twelve hours because one of the other men had called in sick at the last minute. When he got home, he took the watch in its box from his jacket pocket and set it down on his dresser. “Who are you? And more to the point, why me?” He examined the box, hoping he’d missed something, like a note from the sender. He hadn’t. Nor was there any kind of inscription on the back of the watch.

 

Shades of Play Misty for Me or some such. He smiled sourly as he shoved the watch into the back of one of the dresser drawers. Damn, I hope I haven’t got a stalker like in that movie. Whoever she is—or he, because I have no clue—this had better be the beginning and the end of it.

 

With that thought in mind, Corey changed out of his work clothes into jeans and a sweatshirt before going into the kitchen to make something for supper. A fast check of the refrigerator and the cupboards told him it was time to go grocery shopping if he wanted to eat at home. Since he was hungry now, he put on his jacket, grabbed his keys and wallet from the dresser where he’d left them, and headed out to a nearby restaurant.

 

An hour later, well fed and feeling restless, he decided—even though it was a work night—to stop at one of the clubs he sometimes frequented. When he walked in, he saw, as always, a mix of couples and singles. After finding a seat at the bar, he ordered a beer, then watched the people on the dance floor. He recognized several of them, some fondly, others not so much so. One of the former turned, obviously checking who was at the bar, and waved when he saw Corey. A moment later he came over and took the vacant stool next to him.

 

“It’s been a while,” Brad said after ordering a beer.

 

Corey nodded. “I went home for Christmas.”

 

Brad smiled sardonically. “Ah, the joys of family.”

 

Chuckling, Corey replied, “It wasn’t all that bad. Good food, presents, all the normal festivities.”

 

“Bet you didn’t tell them, though.” Brad was one of the few people who knew enough about Corey to be able to say that.

 

“Nope. Someday… maybe.”

 

“When you’re old and gray.”

 

Corey laughed. “Tottering around in my walker, telling my brothers as they languish in nursing homes.”

 

“Probably better then, or not at all.” Brad had reason to say that. He’d been kicked out and disowned when his parents had found out he was gay. Luckily, his older sister had no longer lived at home and she’d taken him in. Otherwise he might well have ended up at a shelter like the one where Corey worked.

 

          They talked for a while, danced a bit after that, and by the end of the evening, decided to go home together. They’d done that a few times since they’d first met, so it wasn’t, to Corey’s way of thinking at least, too surprising when Brad suggested it. They ended up at Corey’s place, enjoyed a good bout of sex with no strings attached, and then Brad left.