Frank & Menno

10.

It was a hard day, indeed. It started when the alarm went off. Frank jerked up, slightly disorientated, quickly realizing he was lying in Menno’s bed. He felt sticky all over, covered in dried up sweat and semen. His muscles were stiff, as if he’d been partying the whole night. Instead of running to the bathroom, he fell back into the pillows, covering his face with his hands. “Oh Gods…”



“What’s wrong?” Menno patted his belly, and got up. “Regrets?”



“No way…” Frank dragged his hands down, staring at the ceiling. “I’ve got no clothes here…”



“Oh, shush,” laughed Menno. “You can wear a pair of my working pants. They don’t really fit, anyway. I have a shirt for you, and I saw you were still wearing your boots, so… You’ll be fine. Hit the shower. I’ll make us coffee and breakfast. Don’t take too long now, okay?”



“Yes, dear…” Frank couldn’t resist to mock Menno. In fact, he loved being ordered around like that. Rolling rather than climbing, he left the bed and stumbled into the bathroom to take a badly needed, but quick shower.



“Feel better now?” Menno received the kiss with a smile, and handed over a cup of coffee. “Can you make lunch for us, while I take a shower? We’re a bit late…”



“Sure.” Frank took a sip and put the cup down. Menno had even set the table, he saw. It made him smile. It was like playing house… He knew he could get used to this, very easily. He was just smearing the sandwiches when Menno returned, all refreshed and dressed up. The blonde stood behind him, and embraced him.



“I love you, do you know that?”



Frank turned his head towards him. “Yes, I know,” he smiled. “I love you too, believe me. Even now you’ve taken my virginity,” he added with a smirk.



Menno chuckled. “Yeah, even then, hm? Man, you loved it…” He sat down to help Frank, and to have breakfast. “I bet my neighbors will ask me questions now. You woke up the whole flat with your screams.”



“Hum. Yes. I got carried away, I believe.” Feeling a blush coming up, Frank focused on his coffee. “It was marvelous, Menno… I feel all fuzzy and pleased, and it didn’t hurt at all. I can’t believe I never tried it before.”



“It takes some trust, I think. Like you said in bed; it’s very intimate to have someone inside your body. You were so sexy, Frank, you have no idea. Damn… Let’s change subjects or I’ll get hard again.”



“Too late. I woke up with a boner, and it’ll stay all day, I’m sure. Mm…” Frank sighed as a sudden spark went through his stomach. “Oh Gods, I will never be able to focus, today. I’m glad you don’t work with me. We’d never get the job done, as I would try and take you in every dark corner.”



“I know…” Laughing softly, Menno shook his head. “So… about that barbecue tomorrow. Should we bring something?”



“Salads, yes; green salads. We’ll go the grocery store after work, okay?”



“Yes, fine… Your place, tonight…?” Menno looked innocently as he asked it, but Frank knew better.



“My place,” he nodded. “Will you stay for the night?”



“Would you like me to?”



“Yes…” Frank nodded again, earnestly. “I would.”



“Then I’ll stay with you.” Menno reached over the table to take Frank’s hand. “For as long as you want me to stay. Now we have to go, or we’ll be late.”



They weren’t late, but they were the last to arrive, which was unusual for Frank. He tried to act his usual self. When he saw his boss looking at them, he knew he had failed. His heart skipped a beat, and he started sweating. In a last attempt to look cool, he leaned against the sink, next to Menno. They were standing too close…



“Frank! What happened to your pants?” The boss walked towards him, giving him a long, thoughtful look. “They’ve shrunk. You shouldn’t wash them with boiling water, lad… Go get another one in your size. Give these to Menno… They will fit him better.”



Frank tried to determine if the man believed his own perception, but didn’t give it too much thought. He quickly went into the stock room to get another pair of pants, and changed.

The shirt was too tight as well, but he didn’t change it. It was Menno’s… It still had his scent, and he wanted it with him the whole day.



“There. That looks better. But I can see your piercings… Jeesh, Frank, go get a wife or something, to do your laundry for you.”



“I’m working on that,” mumbled Frank, before he could think. He heard Menno’s chuckle, and felt a blush coming up. Quickly, he walked to the other boss to get his assignment for the day. He hoped he would be very busy. His head was still fuzzy…



At the end of a tiresome day, Frank returned at the office, and parked the van. His coworker ran inside, as usual, leaving him to clear up. He didn’t call him back. He saw Menno coming towards him, and moved to the back of the van, out of sight of the shop.



“Hi…” Menno pushed his hands in his trouser pockets, and smiled shyly at him.



“Hey. How was your day?” Climbing half inside, Frank pushed and pulled on some tool boxes, looking busy.



“I missed you,” said Menno softly. “I’m dying to kiss you…”



“I know the feeling. Help me with this box, will you? It’s heavy.”



Climbing inside, Menno grabbed an end of the box. He gasped surprised when Frank pulled him close, his hand behind his head, and kissed him at the side of his neck. Turning his head, he forced his lips on Frank’s mouth for a heated kiss.



Frank pulled away. “That’ll do for now. Let’s get inside and start our weekend. I don’t want to hang around longer than necessary.”



“I couldn’t agree more,” said Menno with a groan. “Fuck… I hope they won’t see my boner.”



Chuckling, Frank closed the van. “You’re such a horny piece of shit,” he laughed quietly. “Didn’t you wank today?”



“Every time I could go the bathroom. It didn’t work. I’m hard every time I think back at your ass, Frankie… How about you?”



“Don’t even start,” said Frank with another laugh. He shook his head, walking to the office. “We’ll take turns, this weekend…”



“What a nice idea. But I also want to talk… About what you said this morning.”



“What did I say?” Surprised, Frank looked at Menno as he walked to the fridge to get two bottles of cold water. “Good afternoon, all… Well?”



“About getting a wife,” said Menno as quietly as possible. “Or something.”



“Ah. That. Hm, yes.” He drank his water, and nodded. “We’ll talk about it,” he promised, winking.



“Boys!” The main boss approached them, grinning broadly. “I’m pretty pleased to see you two get along this well… You’re inseparable, aren’t you.”



“We’re neighbors,” shrugged Frank. He felt that stupid blush again, and downed his water. “That gives us more time to get to know each other, yes.” He wondered why the man brought it up, in the first place.



“Mh-mm, sure.” With gentle persuasion, he pushed the two towards the stock room. “Lads… If you want to keep it a secret, you shouldn’t do what you are doing.”



“What?” No water could keep Frank from blushing now. Menno’s face turned red as well, and he said the same. “What do you mean?”



“I mean wearing Menno’s pants and shirt, and kissing each other in the back of the van. I’m not daft, you know. I don’t mind,” he added quickly, raising his hands, “but if you don’t want to come out in the open, maybe you should keep a little more distance. Look at you two. You’re practically holding hands…”



Immediately, they both took a step aside, but they knew it was futile. Menno nodded, and stepped back, slipping an arm around Frank’s waist. “Thank you,” he said to the boss. “We’ll tell it when we’re ready for it.”



Frank wanted to pull away. It was an automatic reaction. It took a lot of willpower to stay put, to look up into the boss’ eyes, and to find a voice to answer. “I’ve been in the closet for thirty years,” he said, quietly. “I never met anyone like Menno, before. I’m sorry —“



“You shouldn’t be sorry,” said the boss with a frown. “The only thing you should be sorry about is hiding in the closet for so long. It made us wonder, you know. Now, don’t worry, my lips are sealed. I hope you guys will be happy for a very long time. Menno… Look after this silly, will you? He needs a wife. Husband. Whatever,” he waved with a hand. “Now go home. I have work to do.”



Frank was in his car before he could think about what just happened. Behind the wheel, he slapped his hands against his face. “Gods, Menno…” he groaned, muffled. “What the hell is happening? I thought my stupid closet was a safe… I kept up appearances for so long; no one ever questioned me… A few weeks with you and all my walls start crumbling down!”



“Yes.” Menno cleared his throat, and buckled up. “I hope you don’t blame me, though. Do you?”



Frank lowered his hands, sighed deeply, and started his car. “Why the hell would I blame you? You give me everything I ever dreamed about.” He began to drive. He wanted to go home, as quickly as possible, but he wasn’t mad at Menno. “You’re doing something to me. I’m changing, aren’t I? I’ve always felt being in love gives you a certain glow, and I was right. I bet I have ‘in love’ written all over my face.”



“It can do that, yes… The colors are brighter too, didn’t you notice? It’s impossible to hide it, when you’re in love. Do you want me to go away?”



Frank hit the brakes, quickly turning into a parking space at the side of the road. The car behind him had to avoid them, and the driver honked madly. “Menno!” Frank stared at his lover. “Why did you ask that? No! I don’t want you to go away, ever! Shit!” He hit the wheel, and sighed again. “Menno, I don’t blame you, and I don’t mind coming out anymore. I think it would make my life a lot easier, if people knew about you and me.”



“Hm…” Menno nodded slowly, thoughtfully. “A few weeks ago, you thought your life would be a lot harder, if people knew you were gay…”



“Yes. Yes, I thought it would be harder. You’re right.” He didn’t drive yet, and leaned back in his seat. “It has changed… In my head, I mean. Not just in my head…” His voice drifted off as he tried to determine what he was feeling. “I always thought it would take me another thirty years to come out,” he eventually continued. “I was wrong. It only takes the right guy, a few amazing experiences, and a handful of butterflies. You are to blame…”



“Of course I am… But are you mad?” Menno reached out, taking Frank’s hand.



“No, I’m not.” Frank answered the pressure, and looked at the blonde. “I’m a bit overwhelmed.” He felt better now, now he had straightened his thoughts again. “I guess I’ll have more of these ‘what the hell is happening to me’ moments in the near future. It scares me a little, but it’s okay. I can handle it, I believe.”



“Good. Just remember, Frankie… I’ll be at your side, always. You’ll be okay, and if you ever have the feeling you can’t take it anymore, we’ll buy a house some place else and start anew.”



Frank laughed. He lifted Menno’s hand to kiss it, and let go of him to start driving again. “You warned me,” he chuckled. “You’re clingy. You didn’t lie, did you?”



“No, I didn’t lie…” Menno smiled faintly, looking out of the window.



Focusing on the road, Frank shook his head. Menno was clingy, and in a hurry to claim him. He would step on the brake, sooner or later, he promised himself. As soon as he felt the pretty blonde was going too fast. At the same time, he enjoyed the speed in which his life was changing. It was like a roller coaster ride; fast and furiously… Hopefully, it wouldn’t be as short.