forearms. The word “Jason” was in delicate blood red lettering across the left part of his chest. There was a small handprint on his right pec, in the same red ink. I ran my fingers across it, outlining the fingers.
“Jason’s handprint when he was one year old,” he murmured without opening his eyes.
I moved my hands across his stomach to his hips and down his thighs. That heavy one-eyed snake stared at me but lay there quietly. Thank God.
When I got to his feet, I patted the sole of his foot. “All done. Get your lazy ass up.”
He stood up and we faced each other for a long moment. “Happy birthday, baby.” He wrapped me in a bear hug and kissed me right on the mouth.
When I got home, I woke Brian up by fucking him, as they say, right through the mattress.
Chapter 6
May 2002
I PULLED into the parking lot at the City Athletic Club at six in the morning. I really, really hated that time. But in order to get in any kind of workout, I had to get to the gym that early. My office hours started at nine, and this was the closest club with a heated pool that I could find. An hour of cardio, some weight training, maybe a little basketball, and then finish in the steam room. A quick shower and I’d be ready for work.
Antonio met me here a couple of times a week and was coaching me on my workout routine. I had absolutely no inclination to be a muscle god. Hell, I couldn’t if I tried, but keeping that extra couple of inches off my waist was worth it. That and it allowed me to eat pasta and pizza and mu shu shrimp. And beer and wings.
“Good morning, Mr. Jennings. How are you today?” the perky little piece at the reception desk asked. I didn’t do coffee, but I was seriously considering it so I could deal with Little Mary Sunshine four mornings a week.
“Fabulous. It’s 6:00 a.m. and my bed’s calling me. Maaaark, come baaaaack,” I deadpanned.
A bright Stepford smile greeted me. It was so not going to be my day. “Antonio’s here already and asked me to tell you he would be on the basketball court,” she chirped. I swear.
“Thanks,” I said, moving off away from her and her fucking rainbows and unicorns. I went to the locker room and put my clothes and toiletries away, and grabbed a couple of towels. If we were going to be on the court, I knew it’d be a sweaty morning.
There he was, baggy shirt, fatigues, and Doc Martens. The man never paid attention to the signs saying “Sneakers Only,” and nobody had the balls to say anything to him. Although I do think Mary Poppins tried once. He probably fucked her to get his way because she never brought it back up.
“Jennings, get your ass in here, boy. Where you been?” he yelled. Thank God we were the only two on the courts that time of morning, because he had absolutely no shame.
He tossed the ball to me, and I started dribbling down the court slowly. It was too early and I wasn’t warmed up enough to do much serious running. So I took a shot at the goal and it went in.
“The king, the undisputed ruler of the universe,” I chuckled and did a little fist pump and dance.
“Shut the fuck up and get your ass in gear,” he shouted, passing me the ball again.
I made that bucket, too, then did a little reprise of the dance. My blood started to flow and I woke up a little more. I could see the dark circles under his eyes and the clenched jaw. The yelling and trash talk was just a front, I’d learned. This was how he got when something was on his mind. Sure enough, Antonio started yelling. “Move that tired old ass, man,” he threw at me as he ran down the court in front of me. I sped up and went in for a layup that rolled around the rim before falling out. Antonio grabbed it and sprinted down the lane, dribbling the ball so hard I expected it to bounce away.
We’d been friends for long enough now for me to pick up on his moods a little better. Whatever it was, he’d either tell me or he wouldn’t. I wasn’t going to try to drag it
“Jason’s handprint when he was one year old,” he murmured without opening his eyes.
I moved my hands across his stomach to his hips and down his thighs. That heavy one-eyed snake stared at me but lay there quietly. Thank God.
When I got to his feet, I patted the sole of his foot. “All done. Get your lazy ass up.”
He stood up and we faced each other for a long moment. “Happy birthday, baby.” He wrapped me in a bear hug and kissed me right on the mouth.
When I got home, I woke Brian up by fucking him, as they say, right through the mattress.
Chapter 6
May 2002
I PULLED into the parking lot at the City Athletic Club at six in the morning. I really, really hated that time. But in order to get in any kind of workout, I had to get to the gym that early. My office hours started at nine, and this was the closest club with a heated pool that I could find. An hour of cardio, some weight training, maybe a little basketball, and then finish in the steam room. A quick shower and I’d be ready for work.
Antonio met me here a couple of times a week and was coaching me on my workout routine. I had absolutely no inclination to be a muscle god. Hell, I couldn’t if I tried, but keeping that extra couple of inches off my waist was worth it. That and it allowed me to eat pasta and pizza and mu shu shrimp. And beer and wings.
“Good morning, Mr. Jennings. How are you today?” the perky little piece at the reception desk asked. I didn’t do coffee, but I was seriously considering it so I could deal with Little Mary Sunshine four mornings a week.
“Fabulous. It’s 6:00 a.m. and my bed’s calling me. Maaaark, come baaaaack,” I deadpanned.
A bright Stepford smile greeted me. It was so not going to be my day. “Antonio’s here already and asked me to tell you he would be on the basketball court,” she chirped. I swear.
“Thanks,” I said, moving off away from her and her fucking rainbows and unicorns. I went to the locker room and put my clothes and toiletries away, and grabbed a couple of towels. If we were going to be on the court, I knew it’d be a sweaty morning.
There he was, baggy shirt, fatigues, and Doc Martens. The man never paid attention to the signs saying “Sneakers Only,” and nobody had the balls to say anything to him. Although I do think Mary Poppins tried once. He probably fucked her to get his way because she never brought it back up.
“Jennings, get your ass in here, boy. Where you been?” he yelled. Thank God we were the only two on the courts that time of morning, because he had absolutely no shame.
He tossed the ball to me, and I started dribbling down the court slowly. It was too early and I wasn’t warmed up enough to do much serious running. So I took a shot at the goal and it went in.
“The king, the undisputed ruler of the universe,” I chuckled and did a little fist pump and dance.
“Shut the fuck up and get your ass in gear,” he shouted, passing me the ball again.
I made that bucket, too, then did a little reprise of the dance. My blood started to flow and I woke up a little more. I could see the dark circles under his eyes and the clenched jaw. The yelling and trash talk was just a front, I’d learned. This was how he got when something was on his mind. Sure enough, Antonio started yelling. “Move that tired old ass, man,” he threw at me as he ran down the court in front of me. I sped up and went in for a layup that rolled around the rim before falling out. Antonio grabbed it and sprinted down the lane, dribbling the ball so hard I expected it to bounce away.
We’d been friends for long enough now for me to pick up on his moods a little better. Whatever it was, he’d either tell me or he wouldn’t. I wasn’t going to try to drag it
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