Frank & Menno

4.

Frank woke up with a fat grin on his face. His dreams had been lively and wonderful, leaving him with a warm feeling in his chest. He wasn't too surprised to find a wet spot on his sheets. It was as if he was back to his teenage years, when he came in sleep every night.



After his shower and breakfast, he went through his kitchen to make a grocery list, like he did every Saturday. Only then he started up his pc, hoping to find a few sexy photos from Menno. There weren't photos. He had no text messages on his cell phone either. Slightly disappointed, he pulled on his shoes, and went out.

Outside, as he drove out of the garage, his cell phone rang.



'Frankie!' he hear Menno's voice coming from the speaker. 'Are you going to the shops, per chance?'



“Yes, I am...” Frank already parked at the side of the road. “Would you like to come with me?”



'Yes! I'm on my way. You don't mind, do you? Only I have no car and--”



“Just come down and come with me,” soothed Frank. He disconnected, and waited for his blond friend to emerge.



“Hi!” Menno jumped inside, and instantly kissed him full on the lips. “Did you sleep well?”



“Mm... Like a baby.” Smiling, Frank pulled him close, to give him a lingering kiss. “I came in my sleep,” he said conversationally. “And you?”



Menno chuckled, sitting straight. “I didn't. I woke up with a massive boner and jerked off under the shower. My neck is bruised,” he announced, pulling down the collar of his shirt. “It's the greatest gift.”



“I'll bruise you for real, another time,” promised Frank as he looked at the faint spot. “That's like nothing... Did you make a grocery list?”



“Yes, I did.” Menno held it up. “I saw you driving out of the garage. I didn't have time to email you yet. Are you always this early on Saturday?”



“Shopping is a necessity I rather finish quickly,” nodded Frank. “I go to the shopping center outside of the city. Is that okay with you?”



“You're driving,” shrugged Menno. “I like shopping... They have nice shops there. Can I lure you to come inside with me, you think?”



With a chuckle, Frank nodded. “I wouldn't be able to resist you anything. Oh, and I want to take a look at your place today. You've seen mine, so I want to see yours.”



“Mine's smaller than yours...”



“I'm sure it'll be sufficient.” As he heard the soft laughter, Frank looked at Menno. “We are talking about apartments, aren't we?” he asked suspiciously.



“Of course we are!” laughed the other. “I'm pretty confident mine is just as big as yours. And now I'm not talking about apartments.”



“Naughty,” mumbled Frank, grinning. The shops weren't far. Frank found a parking spot, and locked up. “First the necessities, and then fun?”



“Sounds good. I don't need much.” Each with their own cart, they went into the supermarket, and started to collect the groceries.



Frank left Menno to it, following his own list. He needed toothpaste, deodorant, shaving gear... He stopped at the shelves, and hesitated. He needed condoms. He didn't have rubbers in his house, since forever it seemed. He wondered if he should buy them now, with Menno being able to see it. What if the boy got the wrong idea? He seemed scarred enough already.



“Ah, here you are,” said Menno, standing close against him. “Rubbers?” he asked as he saw what Frank had been looking at. “We better take a large box each, just in case, hm?”



“Yes,” said Frank, relieved. “But if you use them before I get the chance to be with you, I'll chain your balls to the bed, you hear me?”



Menno laughed, taking two boxes from the shelf. “Don't be jealous, beautiful... Even if we don't sleep together, I'm yours already.”



“Can I have that in writing...?” Frank took one of the boxes, and quickly pushed it under the loaf of bread.



“No, but I can seal it with a kiss, if you want.” Menno already offered his lips.



“Everyone can see us,” muttered Frank. “I haven't come out, remember?”



“Then it's time you will. I'm not going to be your big secret, you know...” Menno crossed his arms and tilted his head, giving Frank a long, thoughtful look. “Man,” he eventually sighed, “we're quite a pair. We'll talk about it later, okay?”



“Men don't talk,” Frank mumbled under his breath. He chucked the toothpaste and razors in his cart.



“Then I'm no man,” said Menno aloud. Turning his cart, he left Frank in the alley.



Groaning, Frank walked into the other direction. Yesterday it had seemed as if Menno was the one with issues. Today, the tables were turned. He wasn't ready to come out of the closet. He wasn't prepared for the reactions of his family, his coworkers, his neighbors. With a boyfriend at his side, it would be impossible to keep up appearances, though. Especially with a boyfriend like Menno... The spontaneous kiss in the car already proved it.



They met at the cash register, where they unloaded their carts in turn. Menno had bought a lot of stuff, a lot more than Frank. “I thought you didn't need much?”



“I know,” said Menno. “But I decided to buy some more, because I have the feeling I'll cook for you more often, either at your place or mine. Hm?”



Frank looked up, blinking. “Could be,” he replied thoughtfully. So that's what he meant with clingy, he added in his thoughts.



“Could be?” chuckled the blonde. “Don't be silly. You know it will happen.”



“Maybe,” said Frank. He paid for his groceries, and helped Menno with his. He noticed the looks and smile of the cashier, especially when she held up the second box of condoms. He could swear she winked at him, too. Feeling caught, he chucked it in a bag. His coming out had started already, he thought angrily. He so wasn't ready for it...

“I should chip in,” he said to Menno, trying to look normal.



“You'll buy more next week,” shrugged Menno. “Besides, we'll go shopping next, so you can buy me something sweet to pay me back. I'm not fussed. Thank you,” he said to the cashier. “Have a nice weekend.”



“You too,” she replied, and now she winked openly. “Have fun...”



“Do you know her?” whispered Frank on their way to the exit.



“Never saw her before. Come on, let's put the bags in your car and go into the toy store. I want a large cuddle to fill the empty spot in my bed, until you decide to replace it.”



“Menno, please, keep your voice down!” Frank's whispers became more urgently. “Shit. I think I'll buy a paddle to punish you hard, when we're up to it.”



“Yes, please!” Menno laughed aloud, and patted Frank's butt on their way out. “No sex shops here,” he added, much softer. “Would you like to visit one with me?”



Frank stopped walking. “Menno,” he said sternly, with a low tone of voice, “if you decide to continue dragging me out of the closet, I won't listen to you when you feel insecure, anymore. Do you understand?”



“Let me think...” Tapping his lips with one finger, Menno pretended to give it a thought. “Yes, I understand,” he then decided. “You're saying I can kiss you in public, if I allow you to sleep with me, aren't you? Oh boy, what a difficult decision. Frankie,” he continued, more seriously, “I dreamed about you ever since I saw you. Yes, I'm scared you'll get bored of me and dump me. But I also long for you, and that feeling is stronger since last night. I'm sorry about my behavior. I'll behave myself from now on.”



“We both have stupid issues,” sighed Frank, shaking his head. “Oh. Hello...”



“Hello boys!” The boss grinned broadly, nodding at both of them. His wife was standing next to him, smiling, looking from one to the other. “Shopping?”



“As always, on a Saturday,” Frank replied with a forced smile. He silently hoped Menno would keep his promise, and behave. He wasn't ready yet. Not yet, not at all.



“Hello, boss,” said Menno, with a genuine smile. “It appears Frank is my neighbor. Isn't that convenient?”



“Very! I'm glad you two get along. Have a nice weekend, lads. See you Monday morning.”



Glad to see the two leaving, Frank quickly pushed the cart towards his car. “Thank you,” he said under his breath.



“No problem. I'm glad we are neighbors... It would've been difficult to come up with an explanation, otherwise.”



“Of course, we don't have to explain anything,” said Frank, more to himself. “We can be just friends. Every guy has a friend, right?”



“Right.” Helping with the bags, Menno went quiet for a while, until Frank closed the hatch. “Do you want to go home?”



“Home? But you wanted to...” Frank understood as soon as he saw Menno's face. “No. Let's go fun-shopping. I want to buy you a large cuddle to fill that empty spot in your bed.” As the blonde passed by, he caught him between his hands. “As soon as you are ready for it, I'll fill that spot. And as soon as I am ready, we'll tell the world how we feel for each other. Right?”



“So right, Frankie...” Menno said with passion. “I hope we'll help each other with our issues very soon.”



Frank scanned the parking lot with his eyes. When he saw they were virtually alone, and he didn't spot more coworkers or other people he knew, he leaned in to kiss Menno. He even allowed the other to embrace him, and answered the pressure. “You're my man,” he said quietly, when they parted again. “You better be.”