I could barely hear Reggie’s voice on the phone because of all the background noise. He was saying, “I think you really should come down here and join me, Ian. There’s somebody here worth seeing.”

“Where’s here?” I asked.

“The Toolbox, where else? Just throw on some decent clothes, and make yourself look sharp and sweet and get down here. You can’t say no.”

The Toolbox was our favorite gay bar. It had a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere and was just a little bit rough around the edges. Reggie was difficult to turn down when he requested my presence, and he was right often enough that I had to consider the option even if my first inclination was to say no. I answered, “Okay, give me about twenty minutes, and I’ll be there.”

It was 9:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night, and I was comfortably settled on the couch catching up on cooking competition shows. I was wearing the old worn jeans that I put on to work in the garden, and my T-Shirt had holes in unflattering places. I climb the stairs and rummaged through the closet for other options.

I could easily dress as the charming nerd. I had a whole series of plaid button-down shirts with khakis to match and even non-prescription glasses to complete the look. I gave it a few minutes thought, and then I said, “No,” out loud to myself.

Instead, I chose to be a little bit more edgy, at least for me. I chose my tightest pair of jeans and a T-Shirt from the last softball world series that clung to my chest in all of the right spots. Checking everything out in the mirror and running a brush through my hair, I was pleased with what I saw looking back.

I locked the kitchen door, and slipped the phone into my pocket trying my best to avoid an unsightly bulge in the wrong place. Glancing over to Blake’s house, I noticed that the downstairs light was on. He was probably doing the same thing I was doing when Reggie called. I smiled thinking about what it would be like to cuddle up against his tall frame for a quiet night of TV. Something told me the action might not remain so quiet as the evening wore on.

It was a beautiful night out. The day was warm for spring in Milwaukee, and the night was cool but not cold. A full moon lit up the sky.

The area around the Toolbox was hopping for a Tuesday night. Traffic was backed up at the stop lights, and parking wasn’t going to be easy to find. I drove around and around the block before finally finding an empty parallel space that I could just squeeze into about three blocks away from the bar.

I stuck the car key fob into my pocket and tossed my house keys into the glove compartment as I exited the car. As I walked down the street and neared the Toolbox, I was aware of more than a few guys giving me the once over, and some of the looks lingered. Unless there was reason to suspect someone of creepy behavior, it was always a good feeling to be the subject of an appreciative gaze.

The Toolbox was packed even up next to the pool tables in the back. I stood just inside the door by the front of the bar and scanned the crowd to see if I could pick out Reggie. He was at a small round table about halfway back talking with someone. As I approached, there was no mistaking the red hair even from behind. It was Connor.

Reggie caught my eye just as I was approaching. He said, “Hey, Ian, you know Connor. We were just having a good conversation.”

Connor stood and reached out a hand to shake. I shook vigorously and gave him a one-armed hug. He said, “You know, you guys got pretty damn lucky with that ringer in our game.”

I smiled and said, “You know, I think that was only the second ball I’ve ever seen him hit over the fence. I think he kind of got lucky.”

Connor said, “I’m sorry I won’t be here for the rematch. I’m going to be away for awhile. I’m sure Reggie can give you the details.”

Then he leaned forward and shared a quick peck on the lips with Reggie. It didn’t last long, but it was a kiss, and they both looked pleased with the result. “Have a great trip, Connor,” said Reggie.

Connor clapped him on the shoulder and said, “Later, Reggie. Save a place for me,” and then he was making his way to the door.

After he left, I said, “Well, that looked nice and cozy.” I seated myself on a chair opposite Reggie.

He said, “I”m taking a second look. It seems like the fair thing to do. I think he’s mellowed out.”

“Do you have a date set up?” I asked.

Reggie sighed and slumped down between his shoulders. “What sucks about it is he’s going out of town for work. That’s what he meant about missing the rematch. He won’t be back until the fall.”

I said, “Well then you can concentrate on your game without distraction.”

Reggie laughed and said, “Well, I guess there is that.” He asked, “Can I grab you a drink from the bar? You look like you need one, Ian.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “I do? I think I’m fine, but I won’t turn it down. How about a gin and tonic instead of a beer?”

He said, “One gay man’s special coming up,” and he disappeared into the crowd at the bar.

I looked around and didn’t see many people that I knew. There were a lot of familiar faces that I saw at other times at the Toolbox, but not many I had actually met in the past. I wouldn’t be able to place many names with faces.

When Reggie returned with the drink, I asked, “So who is this guy that I’m supposed to meet? Was it Connor?”

He shook his head and said, “No, it wasn’t Connor. Now stand up so I can take a look at you.”

I stood as commanded, and Reggie gave me an appreciative nod as he checked out my clothes. He said, “You look good, but then you always look good. Anyway, there was this guy who was hitting on me, and he was hot, but he wasn’t really my type. So I said to myself, ‘He’s really more of Ian’s type, so I should give my buddy a call.’”

“And where is he?” I asked.

Reggie pulled his phone from his pocket, looked at the time, and said, “He should be back in less than five minutes.”

“You arranged a specific time?” I asked.

Reggie held a finger to his lips and said, “Sshhh, he works at one of the restaurants just down the street, and he said he needed to talk to the chef about his work schedule. I told him what time I thought you would be here, and he promised to come back.”

After he drained the last of his beer, Reggie looked up toward the door and said, “There he is now.” He held his hand over his head and gestured for someone to join us.

A tall, skinny guy joined us at the table. I took one look at him, and we both started to laugh. Nearly in unison, I asked, “This is who you wanted me to meet?”

A perplexed look crossed Reggie’s face. “Yeah, is there something I’m not getting here?”

The other man started to talk, and I held a up a hand. “Here, let me take care of it. Reggie, this is Gary Winston. We went to high school together up on the East Side.”

“So you know each other?” asked Reggie.

Gary put a hand on my shoulder and said, “You might say we know each other intimately.” We both burst out laughing again.

Reggie said, “Oh, come on…don’t tell me you did it together in high school.”

Gary stopped laughing just enough to say, “No, we didn’t. We just made moony eyes at each other in advanced placement English class. And we thought nobody else noticed.”

I said, “Until the day the truth went up in a post-it on the bulletin board just like something you would see in second grade.”

“What was that?” asked Reggie.

Gary said, “Just Ian plus Gary on a big index-card-sized post-it note. Do you remember Mrs. Carlson when she found out, Ian?” He started snickering again.

I said, “She turned beet red. Then she tore it off the board and said, ‘Someone is being childish. I do not allow this type of childish behavior in an advanced class.’ The whole class tittered, and we both were totally embarrassed.”

Reggie asked, “Why were you embarrassed? I mean this is the twenty-first century…”

I said, “It wasn’t that. We just thought the whole thing was a secret. It was so much a secret that we didn’t talk to each other about it, but yeah, some of those looks we shared. It really was kinda sexy as hell.”

Gary smiled and said, “Well, to be honest, Ian, you really are still sexy as hell.”

I smiled and said, “Well, thank you. Then in college we went beyond the looks, and, well, the rest is history.”

Reggie looked from me to Gary and back again. He said, “Well, you should understand that I wanna hear details.”

At the perfect moment, we were interrupted. Sally Benz, one of the co-owners of the bar walked up to us. I was originally introduced to her through Reggie. She said, “One of the guys said I should talk to you, Reggie.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Something serious?”

She motioned with her hand as she shook her head. “Oh no, no, nothing like that. We’ve got a hole in our bartending staff schedule. One of the guys left to go to grad school in Madison. I’ve been trying to drop word around to see if I uncover anybody good from the community before I need to advertise.”

“Do you need a lot of experience?” I asked.

Sally said, “That’s always great, of course, if we can get it, but experience can be really hard to find. What I need most is a body that will be a solid worker and show up on time and not call in sick at the last minute.” She paused for a moment and said, “Of course, in a place like this, good looks don’t hurt.”

There was silence among the three of us, and I was thinking. Sally started to walk away saying, “Thanks anyway, guys,” and then Reggie reached out for her elbow.

He said, “Hold up. There’s something grinding away in Ian’s head. I can see it.”

I said, “I think I might have the perfect guy for you, Sally.”

Her eyes perked up. “Seriously? You’re not pulling my leg?”

“Well, I have to talk to him of course.”

Both Gary and Reggie looked at me with huge question marks written across their faces. I asked, “Do you have a phone number that he can call, Sally?”

She said, “Yeah, let me scribble it down for you. Have you got something to write with. I could do the old scribbling on a napkin bit.”

I dug a pen out of my pocket. It might have been one of the geekiest things to do, but I always made sure I carried around something to write with. Sally tore a hole in the napkin at first, and then she lightened up on the grip and got the numbers written out at legible size.

I said, “Tomorrow you’ll either hear from him, or I’ll give you a call to let you know he’s not interested.”

Sally leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek. She said, “You guys are the best. If I get a bartender out of this, you all get three rounds free on the house.”

Gary piped up and said, “We’ll take it!”

Sally ambled off and Reggie leaned in. “Who are you thinking about, Ian?”

I said, “Blake’s looking for a job.”

“Seriously?” asked Reggie. Then I could see him think it through and consider it. Gary watched both of us and finally Reggie said, “You know, I can see it. You don’t think those guys will eat him alive, though, do you?”

I said, “Maybe it will be good for him to learn a few survival skills.”