The Merger – 8

 

For a few minutes, they compared notes on graphic novels they liked or didn't like. That ended when a good-looking man came up behind Mike, tapping him on the shoulder. When Mike turned to see who it was, the man said, "It's been a while since you've been in here, Mike. I missed…" He glanced at Josh then obviously revised what he was going to say. "Missed seeing your friendly face. Who's your friend?"

"My business partner, Josh. Josh, this is Ben."

"Business partner, huh?" Ben grabbed a chair from the next table, swung it around and straddled it. "So, how've you been, Mike?" he asked, blatantly ignoring Josh.

Mike gave Josh an apologetic look as he replied, "Never better. Everything's going great. And you?"

"Comme ci, comme ça. There's a new band opening at the club over on Fifth next Friday. Want to come with me to see it?"

"Won't Dan object?"

Ben snorted. "He's history. Has been for a couple of weeks."

"Sorry to hear that. Look, it sounds great, but Josh and I have something else planned."

"I thought…" If looks could kill, the one Ben gave Josh would have laid him out.

"That's always been your problem, Ben," Mike replied somewhat snidely. "When you do think, you jump to the wrong conclusions." Turning his full attention to Josh, Mike asked, "Are you ready to go?"

"Definitely." Josh stood, saying to Ben, "It was nice to meet you." Then, since Mike was already on his feet, Josh put one arm around his waist. He pointed a finger at Ben. "Next time you decide to come on to my man…don't."

"Damn, you were good," Mike said moments later when they were out on the sidewalk. "I'm sorry. He had no reason to act the way he did. We were never more than casual friends."

Josh laughed, stepping away now that they were out of Ben's sight. "That's okay. At least that little scene answered one question for me. You are gay."

"You hadn't figured that out? You could have asked, you know. In point of fact, you sort of did."

Josh shrugged. "And you avoided it, so I figured your private life was none of my business unless you wanted it to be."

"Look, I don't care who knows. I wouldn't hang out at Thirty-One Twelve if I did. Sure, there are straights there, but there are in most bars. Okay, that didn't come out quite the way I meant it. What I mean to say is, nowadays we're pretty much accepted in most bars here in the city, so you can't presume someone is gay just because a bar tends to have a larger gay clientele than straight."

"That's true. Still, it's nice to know you are."

Mike grinned. "Are you interested in my body, Mr. Aston, and now that you know we swing the same way, you're going to make a play for me?"

"Good lord, no!"

"Ouch."

"That wasn't a put-down," Josh hastened to say. "We're barely getting to know each other, and we're entering into a business arrangement together. Neither one of those facts is conducive to hopping into bed just because we can. One of the reasons I don't go to bars very often is the fact that I'm not into casual hookups."

"Neither am I, actually," Mike replied, "appearances to the contrary."

"Honestly, I didn't think you were." Josh resisted a sudden temptation to hug him, to prove he meant it. Instead, he said, "What time do we want to go running tomorrow?"

"The earlier the better to avoid the heat. The last I heard, they're predicting high seventies by noon and it's only May. Talk about climate change."

Josh laughed, replying, "Then, around seven? We can meet at Mushroom Park and go from there."

"That's fine with me. Did you walk over here? I can give you a ride home if you want."

"Thanks, but no. It's only three blocks. So I'll see you at seven, and don't be late." Josh wagged a finger at him.

Mike laughed. "I won't be. See you then."

Josh watched as Mike headed down the street, turning into a parking lot on the corner.

As he headed in the opposite direction, Josh wondered what the chances were that they might end up in bed together sometime in the future. Probably nil. I wasn't kidding when I told him that was something we should avoid since we're going to be working together. If it didn't work out, the tensions afterward could really screw things up.