Second Nature (His Chance 2)

Someone entered the lobby a minute or two later, and I straightened up and tried to act normal as my friend Phoenix exclaimed, “That was so great! I had no idea Lorenzo was planning to propose this evening.”

“No one did. It seemed pretty spontaneous.”

“Let’s take our stuff upstairs. I want to freshen up before dinner,” he said, as he handed me my backpack and grabbed his duffle bag and guitar case. Our things had been abandoned at the reception desk when the commotion of the engagement took us by surprise.

“Good idea.”

As we headed for the stairs, he said, “This place is great, isn’t it? I love the fact that it’s closed to regular visitors right now. It should be nice and quiet this weekend.”

I glanced at him and asked, “So, you’re planning to relax?” It was a trick question. Phoenix didn’t actually know the meaning of the word.

“Not exactly. I have a stack of trade publications I’ve been meaning to review, a bookkeeping program I’m trying to learn, and I’ve been slacking off on my songwriting, so I hope to make some real progress over the next two days. Oh, and I really need to put out some feelers for my next job, since my contract with Will is running out in three weeks.”

Phoenix’s dream was to make it big as a singer-songwriter, a goal already achieved by his identical twin brother Dallas, which was awkward. In the meantime, he worked as an incredibly skilled personal assistant. Part of the reason he was so good at his job was because he was a total workaholic, so it was no wonder he’d filled every minute of what was supposed to be a weekend off.

When we got upstairs, we found our rooms and opened the connecting door between them. After I tossed my backpack and jacket on the bed, I leaned against the doorframe and asked, “Remember when I told you about someone I used to know named Angel?”

Phoenix paused in front of a mirror, took off his blue baseball cap, and tried to finger-comb his shaggy brown hair as he said, “The long-lost guy you’re totally in love with? How could I forget?”

“Well, about ten minutes ago, I found him.”

He turned to me with a startled expression and blurted, “Are you serious?” When I nodded, he asked, “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“Because I didn’t want one of his friends to overhear this conversation, especially the part about being in love with him.”

“Tell me everything.”

“Will introduced us when everyone was gathering in the courtyard,” I said. “All of a sudden, there he was. I didn’t know what to say or how to act. I’d dreamt of that moment for years, even though I knew finding him again would take a miracle. Well, one just happened, but I was so dazed that I might have instantly blown it.”

“I doubt that. How did you leave it?”

“We’re going to get together after dinner to catch up.”

“Okay, that’s good.”

“But how do I handle this? What do I say?”

“The most important thing is to take it slowly,” Phoenix said. “It’s been four years. The last time you saw him, you were a nineteen-year-old kid battling alcoholism and a heroin addiction. You’re not the same person you were back then, and I’m willing to bet he isn’t either. You need to get reacquainted. Also, maybe don’t lead off by telling him you’re in love with him. He doesn’t even know who you are anymore, so I doubt he’ll be able to respond to that.”

He was right. I sighed and muttered, “I thought it was going to be different when we saw each other again. I expected it to be—”

“Romantic? Like in the movies?”

“Exactly.”

“It was,” Phoenix said. “You just found this man against all odds. But that’s not the end of your story, it’s the beginning. Just enjoy yourself, and don’t try to force it to meet your preconceived ideas of how this was supposed to go. Take the time to get to know the person he is now, and let him get to know the man you’ve become.”

“You know, you give good advice.”

That made him smile. “I try. So, was he the gorgeous guy with dark hair you were talking to downstairs?”

“Yeah. Turns out his real name is Gabriel. I only knew him by his nickname, which seems odd to me now, since we were so close. Or I thought we were.”

“See what I mean about taking the time to get to know each other?”

“I do, and you’re totally right.” I chewed my lower lip for a few moments, and then I muttered, “I just hope we aren’t doomed from the start.”

“Why would you be doomed?”

“Because submissive bottoms don’t usually end up together.”

Phoenix leaned against the dresser and scratched his short beard. Then he said, “Admittedly, it’s pretty unusual. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. If you both want to be together, you’ll figure it out.”