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  When Dean finished, they lay in each other’s arms, each drinking in the mind-altering experience. The feelings that surged through Trent were indescribable. It was as if they were still physically united, yet it was more than just bodily union—their spirits, their very souls, had become one.

  After a time, Trent fell asleep. He awoke to find Dean leaning on an elbow, smiling down on him.

  “I’m so happy we were able to be together again. I always felt an emptiness when I thought of you. Like there was something unfinished or unfulfilled between us,” Dean said.

  Trent sighed and pulled Dean into a hug. “I can’t tell you how lost I felt after you left. It was so quick. I felt we were just on the brink of something beautiful, and it was snatched away. Then last night I had this dream, and today I heard this voice.”

  Trent went on to tell Dean the details of the dream, and how the voice had led him to the house. “Isn’t that amazing?” Trent asked. “I guess miracles really do happen.”

  Dean didn’t comment. He merely sighed deeply and smiled.

  “But anyway, you’re back now, and I don’t want to ever let you go.”

  Dean nestled more securely into Trent’s embrace.

  “You didn’t have this the last time I saw you,” Dean said, letting his fingers entwine in Trent’s thick rug of black chest hair. “Or this.” Dean ran a hand over Trent’s heavy five o’clock shadow.

  “I was seventeen then. I’ve grown up.”

  “I like the man you’ve become,” Dean said. “I like very much.”

  As they lay there, Trent said, “So, tell me about your life. I want to hear all about what you’ve done since you left.”

  “At first living in Jakarta was hard. It was so different from life here. The poverty and need for medical help overwhelmed me. As I grew up, I felt I needed to somehow meet that need. So, I became a doctor—went to medical school at The University of Aberdeen in Scotland. I practiced medicine in London for a time to gain experience and then returned to Jakarta to work.”

  “What about you?” Dean asked.

  “I’m a paralegal at a local law firm and working on my law degree part time. It’s taking a while, but someday I hope to pass the bar. Then I’d like to be able to work for some organization that helps people who can’t afford fancy lawyers, rather than a high-class law firm that makes the rich richer.”

  “Sounds like we’re alike in many ways—both idealists.”

  Trent agreed. “At least you’re already helping. I’m still working on getting there.”

  “I tried,” Dean said.

  They went on to talk about things they had done, adventures they’d had, places they’d visited. After they’d talked for several hours, Trent realized it was getting late. “I don’t want to go, but I need to pick up Bentley from daycare.”

  “Bentley?”

  “My beagle. He’s quite a character. You’re going to love him when you meet him. I remember how you loved animals—especially dogs. I’m surprised you didn’t become a vet.”

  Dean smiled and nodded “I’d love to be able to meet Bentley, but is there someone who can take care of him? I’m not ready for you to leave. I’d like you to stay all night with me, if you can?”

  “Wow, I love that! I was hoping you’d be open to that. I can call the place where he’s staying. They do overnight boarding as well as daycare. It’s kind of short notice, but I’m a good customer. I’m sure they’ll agree to keep him for the night.”

  Trent got up, retrieved his phone, and walked back to the bed. He saw Dean looking at him appreciatively. “You’ve become a beautiful man. I’m so happy I’ve been given the chance to experience you,” Dean said.

  Trent grinned. “You’re pretty hot yourself. In fact, you’ve hardly changed a bit from when I last saw you. And we’ve got the rest of our lives to experience each other. That’s what makes me the happiest.”

  When Trent climbed back onto the bed, Dean pulled him into a deep kiss.

  After calling Woof-N-Sniff and arranging for Bentley to spend the night, Trent asked, “What about something to eat? I’m starving. We could go to that pizza place where we used to hang out when we were in high school. You remember Turitilli’s, don’t you?”

  Dean nodded.

  “It’s become quite the restaurant now, but their pizza is as good as ever.”

  “If it’s okay with you, let’s just stay here.”

  “Okay. We can order the pizza. Turitilli’s still delivers. My treat.”

  Dean smiled.

  “You still like Italian sausage and cheese?”

  “Haven’t had it in years. Pizza isn’t big in Indonesia. Sure, I’d like that.”

  After the pizza was delivered and they’d eaten, they went back to the bedroom. There they lay facing each other.

  Dean traced the contours of Trent’s face. “I can still see the boy I fell in love with.”

  “Like I said, you haven’t changed much yourself.”

  Trent stopped, then asked, “Why did you come back home?”

  Dean smiled and pulled Trent closer. “I had to see you.”

  “You came all the way from Jakarta just to see me?”

  Dean nodded.

  “I don’t know what to say,” Trent said.

  “You don’t have to say anything. Just love me the way I’d hoped you would when we saw each other again.”

  Trent kissed him. He was filled with awe and love for the boy with whom he’d fallen in love while in high school. He was now a man, and wanted Trent so much that he’d traveled halfway around the world just for him.

  When they broke the kiss, Trent said, “I do. I do love you.”

  Trent kissed him again, and they made love.

  And so they spent the night, alternately sleeping, then waking to express their love for one another. It seemed to Trent that whenever he’d awakened, Dean was already awake, lying next to him, propped on an elbow, smiling down on him as if waiting for him to wake up so they could make love again. It was as if Dean wanted to make up for a lifetime of missed opportunities in one night.

  Finally, in the grey light of early morning, Trent checked his watch and sighed. “I’m going to have to go into work. I’m working on some important briefings that they’ll need for court tomorrow, and I took yesterday off. I’m sorry, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “I understand,” Dean said and kissed him.

  They made love one last time, then showered and dressed. Dean once again wore the white clam diggers. They stood at the front door for a long time.

  “I’m so glad I’ve been able to let you know how much I love you,” Dean said.

  Trent smiled. “You can let me know again tonight. I won’t be gone long.”

  Trent hated to leave, even for the day. He assured Dean once more that he’d be back and reluctantly left.

  As he drove away, he thought of Bentley and how much he’d love meeting Dean. Since the dog had spent the night at Woof-N-Sniff, Trent didn’t need to drop Bentley off. That reminded him of Christy. At least he didn’t have to come up with an excuse for avoiding her brunch invitation. And maybe tomorrow he’d bring Dean with him to drop Bentley off, and she’d get the idea Trent wasn’t available. The thought made Trent smile.

  * * * *

  The day dragged. Completion of the briefs was taking longer than Trent had thought it would. The lawyer he was working with kept making changes and kept asking Trent to do more precedent research. During a short lunch break in the office building’s cafeteria, he called his sister.

  When she answered the phone, Trent could hardly contain his excitement. “Hey, Nicci, you’ll never guess what happened to me yesterday!”

  “Since I won’t be able to guess, just tell me,” Nicci said with a laugh.

  “Dean’s back in town,” he said joyously.

  “Dean? Dean Pennington? Your best friend from high school? The one I had a crush on?”

  “The very one.”

  “Did
n’t his family move somewhere overseas?”

  “Yes—to Jakarta.”

  “Is he as hot as I remember?”

  “Hotter! And remember, I got first dibs on him,” Trent said.

  They both laughed.

  “What’s he doing here?” Nicole asked.

  “He says he came back to see me.”

  “All that way just to see you?”

  “Aw, come on. That’s not so hard to imagine, is it?”

  “No. You were pretty close back then, but it just seems he’d have another reason to come all that way.”

  “I’ll ask him tonight when I see him. Can’t wait for you to see him again, too. I’m taking Bentley to meet him when I get done with work. He still has his parents’ house over on Menard. It looks exactly as it did twenty-five years ago. He hasn’t changed either.”

  “I can’t wait to see him,” Nicole said. “You guys have fun later.”

  They hung up. Trent wished he could call Dean just to say hi, and that he couldn’t wait to see him. But he’d forgotten to ask Dean for his cell number. He’d have to remember to do that. Smiling at the thought of what was to come after work, he got up and left the cafeteria.

  * * * *

  When his day at the office was finally over, Trent went to a drug store and bought a big box of Baby Ruth candy bars. They’d been Dean’s favorite. Then he went to Woof-N-Sniff and picked up Bentley.

  “You’re in a pretty good mood,” Paula said when he arrived at the daycare facility.

  “The best,” Trent responded. “My best friend from high school is back in town. We haven’t seen each other in twenty years. I’m going to take Bentley to meet him.”

  “I’m sure Bentley will be happy to do that.”

  “Was Bentley a good boy for you?”

  “Bentley’s a superstar. He’ll be glad to see you.”

  Paula went to get Bentley.

  Bentley was exuberant in his greeting when Paula brought him out for Trent. Trent squatted down. “I’ve got a surprise for you,” he said as he ruffed Bentley’s ears. Bentley licked Trent’s nose.

  Trent said goodbye to Paula, and he and his pooch left Camp Woof-N-Sniff. They got into the car and headed for Dean’s house. On the way, Trent told Bentley about Dean so the dog would know just how special the man was to him.

  “Who knows, Bentley, if things work out, we may be moving soon. Then we won’t have to worry about your barking and waking old lady Patterson up. Dean’s place has a big yard. You’ll love it.”

  The thought of his living with Dean in the old, Victorian house made Trent smile. He hoped that was where this was all leading. Dean hadn’t mentioned any plans, but Trent hoped Dean was back permanently, not just here for a visit.

  Trent parked the car in front of the house. He grabbed the bag of chocolate bars he’d bought from the glove box where he’d put them to protect them from Bentley, put Bentley on a leash, and they got out of the car.

  Trent whistled as they walked up to the porch. He noticed the flowers looked different than they had the day before. Trent shrugged, bounded up the steps, and gave the door a rhythmical rap. He looked down at Bentley and said, “He’s going to love you. You’ll be best buds in no time.”

  The door opened. The smile faded from Trent’s face. Before him stood a short, heavyset, older woman in a flowered print dress.

  “Si?” she said.

  “I’m sorry, but…I was looking for Dean Pennington?”

  She scowled. “There no Dean Pennington here,” she said in a heavy accent.

  “But…but he was here this morning. I…I spent the night with him. This is his house. He grew up here! He just came back home yesterday. Please let me in. I know he’s here. He has to be.” Trent leaned forward, trying to peer into the hallway beyond the door.

  The woman backed away slightly. “No, no! No Dean here. You loco. Take your dog and go, or I call police.”

  “Please! Please I—”

  She shut the door—hard.

  Dean stood staring at the closed door. He didn’t understand. Just hours before he’d come through that door after spending the night with Dean. Had that been a dream as well?

  He went back to his car and called Woof-N-Sniff. When Paula answered, Trent asked, “Paula, this is going to sound nuts, but did Bentley spend the night with you?”

  “Uh…yes. Isn’t he with you?”

  “Yes, he’s here. But…um…I just want to be sure. Did he spend the night there?” He asked for a second time.

  “Yes, he did. Trent, are you okay?”

  “Yeah…yeah. I’m fine,” he lied. “Okay…um…see you tomorrow then, Paula.”

  He looked back at the house. He could see the woman peering at him from behind the curtains in the front window. Like the flowers on the walk, they looked different from the day before. They were no longer white but brightly colored. He realized then the porch pillars weren’t white as they had been the previous day. In fact, the house was a different color as well. It was no longer pale blue, it was a brilliant yellow, and the pillars were green. How could he have missed that?

  Relieved that he wasn’t dreaming, he ended the call and sat thinking. Then it came to him. “We’re on the wrong street. We must be. That’s it. I must have made a wrong turn,” he said to Bentley. His mood lighter, he pulled away from the curb.

  Trent drove around the block, checking the street signs. He pulled back up in front of the house again and sighed. “No, Bentley. This is the house.”

  He drove home. When he arrived he called Nicole.

  “Hey, Trent. What’s up?” his sister asked. “How’d Dean like Bentley?”

  “That’s what I’m calling about.” Trent told her what had just happened.

  “That’s strange,” she said when he’d finished.

  “Could you do some investigating and see what you can find? You police types have ways of solving mysteries like this, right?”

  Nicole chuckled. “Sure, I’ll see what I can dig up.”

  * * * *

  Trent spent the next couple of hours alternately pacing and sitting, trying to figure out what was going on. He fed Bentley and took him out for a walk. They were nearly back to their apartment when his cell rang. It was Nicole.

  “Hi, Nicci. What’d you find out?” Trent asked, eager to have this mystery solved.

  “Well…” she spoke hesitantly. “The house was sold years ago to a Manuel Garcia. And…Trent…there was a plane crash in Jakarta as the plane was taking off from the airport there two days ago. The plane was on its way here. All aboard were killed.” She paused. “Dean was on the manifest list.”

  Trent stared straight ahead as if turned to stone.

  “Trent…I’m so sorry.”

  Trent sank to the stairs in front of his building. As tears welled up in his eyes he remembered Dean’s last words to him that morning, I’m so glad I was able to let you know how much I love you and always will.

  Trent’s tears of sadness mingled with those of gratitude and joy. “Thank you, Dean. I’ll always love you, too.”

  THE END

  ABOUT TERRY O’REILLY

  Terry O’Reilly is a retired school teacher living a quiet life in the Midwest with his three dogs and his horse. He began writing several years ago at the urging of a friend and fellow author. Writing has become an important part of his life, allowing him to explore his thoughts, needs, and feelings as well as learn about other cultures and eras as he researches his stories. His books were formerly published with Aspen Mountain Press, eXcessica, and Amber Allure.

  Visit him online at terry-oreilly.com.

  ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC

  JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!

 

 

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