The Gay Man's Matchmaker

Chapter 20

When we went to help Chris move, I groaned most of the afternoon with the exertion my poor muscles were subjected to. I’m in fine shape, asswipe! I’m just not used to moving furniture around! Chris and Victoria had a lot of it, too. When he and Joey were moving the couch, Vic – she HATES being called Vicky for some reason but Vic seemed to be okay – quietly explained that he’d had a much bigger apartment, and in Seattle in a swanky area, too I’d bet. His living room furniture was a sleek and modern looking, black leather and shiny metal set, not at all in the style befitting the old two-family house they were renting part of. When I saw the house, I pictured an over stuffed sofa with a matching chair, maybe. Not this.

We somehow managed to get the matching love seat, couch and two sitting chairs into the living room area. It wasn’t a huge room, but I had a smaller one in my new (Lauren’s old) apartment. The two bedrooms were both around the same size. Vic said that Chris had left his old king-sized waterbed back in Washington, and I mentally congratulated him. Waterbeds are so passé! In fact, I consider them as bug a stereotype as the ones Tommy tried to label me with when he started his matchmaking catastrophe with me. I still haven’t really let go of that rage yet. At least he unintentionally brought me to where Joey could find me. That I will credit him with. And believe you me, he won’t be happy with it! Ha ha!

I asked Vic why she and Chris moved out of their place so soon and she grimaced. Vic’s a beautiful woman, let me just say right here. She’s tall and elegant looking with an innocent gaze I know she perfected way back in the day. I could tell. She was a hell of a lot smarter than she let on to the world. But I don’t blame her for that. People see a beautiful woman these days and they automatically think she gets what she wants “the old-fashioned” way instead of working for it. Though I don’t know her well yet, I can tell there’s a lot more to her story for me to get at. And that’s okay with me. She’s someone worth being patient for, as far as I can see. She’d be a good friend in time … like Lauren. Instantly, I knew I would have to get them together somehow. But before I could pursue that thought she finally answered my question.

“His ex lived there and things became … uncomfortable.”

“Of all the buildings in New York City,” I whistled.

“Tell me about it,” she sighed, rubbing her ankle, which she said she’d twisted the day before.

“This ex must be an asshole!”

Vic shook her head sadly and let out a deep breath. “No, he isn’t, really. At least he never used to be.”

“Huh?”

Chris and Joey stood back for a second, looking at the placement of the couch. Chris shook his head and the two went back to it, trying to decide how best to place it. Joey was the stronger of the two by far, but I had to give Chris credit. He wasn’t afraid of a little elbow grease when it came down to it.

“Look, it’s a long story and I don’t know if it’ll color your opinion of me,” she said quietly.

“Sweetie, as long as you don’t cross me, my opinion will stay intact.”

“I don’t know about that.” She looked skeptical.

I figured she’d played some sort of role in whatever transpired just from her demeanor. But to be honest, I more curious than bothered by the thought. But I could see that now wasn’t the time to delve into it. Instead, I asked if she wouldn’t mind coming with me in a couple of weeks to Lauren’s first dress fitting.

“But she doesn’t know me,” she protested.

“Trust me, she’ll be relieved to have a woman’s opinion for once,” I assured her. “I maybe a gay man with fabulous taste, but I’m still a man.” I sighed theatrically for effect on the last word and was pleased to see her answering grin.

“Okay then,” she chuckled. “If you’re sure.”

I was positive. Lauren had been after me for months to help her find a trustworthy female for her to pal around with. Straight guys are … well straight guys, she’d said. And gay men were just better coordinated men as far as she was concerned. That last line prompted me to kiss her. It’s rare to find a heterosexual who doesn’t fall back on stupid stereotypes! I just knew Lauren would click with Vic. My instincts, unlike Tommy’s, are rarely wrong.

“I have an idea,” Chris sighed, brushing his hands off on his jeans.

“Hmm?” I asked, glancing over to him.

“If you guys find a condo with a nice-sized living room or a living room/den area, I’m giving you this furniture.”

“Huh?” I gasped. This stuff looked like it cost a fortune.

“No, no, Chris!” Joey protested.

“Yes, yes, Joe,” Chris smirked at him. “It’s way too much for this place anyway.”

“But it looks brand new!”

“It almost is,” he shrugged, looking at it sadly.

“It also holds way too many memories,” Vic added shooting a commiserating look at her roommate.

“That too,” he sighed.

Joey and I exchanged uncertain expressions. It felt weird to be getting such an expensive gift from someone we barely knew. Yet it seemed to me that Chris was asking us to do him this favor. I quirked an eyebrow up at my partner and he picked up on it.

“Okay, but that means you get my functional Ethan Allen set in exchange.”

“Does it look anything at all like this stuff?” Chris asked.

“Not even close.”

“Deal then.”

------------------------------------------

“What do you want to do now?” Joey asked as he and I collapsed on my bed when we got back.

It was a Sunday night, so going out wasn’t really a good idea. He had to get up early for work, and I had a photo shoot with Jenna to do at 10. But I was too tired to go out anyway, and Chris and Vic had ordered lots of Italian takeout to thank us for helping them, so I wasn’t hungry.

“Can you help me plan the idiot’s bachelor party,” I whined as I draped myself over his prone form and snuggled into him. “Please? I have no clue what to do.”

I made sure I sounded as pathetic as I could. And I really didn’t know how to plan one of these things. All I did decide on was that one of the strippers was definitely going to be a … HUGE surprise the big moron would never forget! Oh, I could hardly wait! Genie had helped me with that one, too! He knew a lot of transsexuals who were in the mid-change. A lot who looked like very pretty women on top! Tommy was going to freak out! And that would be my ultimate revenge! Muahahahahahahaha! Ahem! Where was I? Oh yeah … whining pathetically on Joey’s big strong chest. I just love his chest. I sighed as I dug my hands under his tee and started running my fingers all over.

“Hey, hey!” he laughed, the rumbling in his chest vibrating against my cheek and under my fingers. “If you want me to help you, you’d better stop distracting me.”

I looked up at him to give him one of my patented remarks when he pulled me in and caught my lips in a deep, breath-stealing kiss. Have I mentioned lately how much I love this man? I adore him! I sighed into the kiss as he easily rolled my smaller body beneath his and deepened the kiss so much I thought I was becoming part of him.

“I thought you wanted me to stop distracting you!” I gasped.

“I changed my mind,” he smirked, pecking my lips between words. “Besides, you started it.”

“Big baby.”

“You have no idea,” he chuckled.

Then he leaned in again and every thought I had in my head that day escaped as I helped him undress me and himself as quickly as possible. Soon we were tangled in a mass of arms and legs as I tried my best to crawl inside his skin with him. That’s how close I wanted to be to him. That’s how close I needed to be. He took his time with me, not letting my frantic gyrations speed him up at all. Joey has an incredible and infuriating amount of self control at times like these. But as frustrated as it gets me, I’m always left completely satiated and limp in the end while he holds me close to him as we sleep. This time was no different. He prepared me fully before he entered me and when he did – slowly, mind you – I was a writhing, needy, mewling puddle of sweat. But I know he likes me that way. He told me he did. Good thing, too. Because when he gets me like this I can’t possibly control my own actions – or words. When we were done, I’d forgotten everything – including my name. Kee who?

“Didn’t you want to plan the bachelor party?” he whispered hoarsely in my ear, kissing the side of my head.

“Ungh!”

“I’ll take that as a not right now, dear,” he laughed and covered us both with the sheets.

I snuggled in closer to him to breath his scent and drift off to sleep – dreaming of him of course. That’s what I call heaven.