Greg wiped his mouth and backed out of my legs.  He was still crouching, fumbling with the items he had brought for my amusement, and avoiding eye contact.

"Do you have something to tell me?" I asked him.

"Not really," Greg answered.  "You liked it, right?"

"Hell yeah."  There were compliments I could have given him, but he looked uncomfortable.  I didn't trust myself to say the right words, so I left it at that.  The reaction of my body to his touch had already fully answered that question.  I put on my boxer shorts and pants, but kept my shoes off.  I reclined the chair to a horizontal position to stay awhile.  Greg was usually not in a rush for me to leave and I didn't think this night, despite everything, would be any different.

"More bourbon?" Greg asked.

"One more glass."

"I'll have the same."  After returning with our drinks, Greg plopped in his chair, reclined to the same position as me, and muted the volume on the television.  I thought he was about to speak, but he waited for me to break the ice.

"Greg, you don't need to get off, too?"

"I already did today.  A couple of hours ago."

"We could have rescheduled, you know?"

"Regardless, I wanted you to come by tonight."

I strummed my finger on the armrest, then put my hands in my lap.  "I'm not sure I understand what happened here.  I mean, I know what we did.  I just don't know why we did it."

"Well, how much do you want to know, Mike?"

"Don't tell me anything you don't want to say."

"Somebody's been inspiring me to expand my horizons, so to speak," Greg said.  

"Who?"

"Since I know you're discrete, I'll tell you.  It's the guy who beat us in the 5K race.  Colton.  Our new neighbor."

I shifted my eyes to the ceiling and thought about what my friend Steven had said about Colton being on the app, often "on the prowl" and pursuing straight guys.  So, sure enough, he had intersected paths with Greg.  Of course, that made sense, but I hadn't considered the likelihood that Greg would ever be on that app.  I also recalled the strange way Colton was glaring at me when I bought the snow cone after the race.

"You're a tad jealous, aren't you?" Greg asked.  His tone was a bit remorseful.

"No, not at all."

"You just went into outer space."

"I recalled Colton atop the pedestal after the race squeezing our shoulders like he was better than us and I wanted to puke."

"He's not like that."

"Then what is he like?"

"An enigma," Greg answered.  "He's furtive.  He likes his secrets.  He guards himself but gives all he's got to make the person he's with plenty satisfied.  That's what he craves from hookups, at least that's what I've noticed with him."

"You've been with him several times?"

"Yeah."

"And you found him on that dating app?"

Greg shrugged and stared at his feet.  "Some nights are hard, Mike.  Terribly hard.  It's all I can do to get through them without going crazy.  I don't want to lurk around bars and I don't want to be lonely, either."

I briefly put my hand on Greg's arm.  "You don't have to justify yourself.  I understand loss and loneliness, my friend, as you perfectly well know."

"Yeah, I do."

Greg and I sat for long minutes in silence, each with our memories and feelings.  I returned my hand to Greg's arm, playfully pinched him, and smirked.  "Colton inspired this new stuff you did on me tonight, huh?"

"For once, I wanted to focus on someone else's pleasure besides my own, like Colton does, and I have to say it was enlightening."

"Are you and Colton going to date?" I asked.

"No, there's no ownership type thing between us.  His time with me is like your time with me.  Everybody has their freedom.  I want us to keep our good thing going, Mike.  Don't you?"

"I agree.  Every once in awhile.  Discretely.  We're fine."

"I'd love to watch Colton servicing you," Greg said.

"Servicing?"

"You know, like what I just did.  Jacking you off and stuff.  But he'll do much more."  Greg laughed, recalling something he didn't mention.  "He'll rock your world.  He really will."

"Sorry to burst your bubble.  Colton irritates me.  I don't want anything to do with him.  I'd appreciate it if you'd never mention anything about me when you're with him."

"I don't ever talk out of turn about you.  Don't worry."

"Thank you.  I guard your privacy, too."

"And you're absolutely sure of this?" Greg asked.  "You have no curiosity about letting Colton work his magic on you?"

I looked Greg in the eye so he knew I meant business with my answer.  "No curiosity.  None."

#