Henry's End (21 page)

“Come on, pussy.” Quinn looked back with a smile.

“I’m very happy just where I am. Nice view from back here,” Henry sassed back, referring to Quinn’s birthday present that he was wearing on this cool beautiful morning, as they made their way down the Pacific Coast Highway, passing through Sunset Beach. “And we have a long way to go.”

Eight months of training had led to this day, participating in the Long Beach/San Diego Challenge, benefitting the Lesbian and Gay Centers of both Long Beach and San Diego. Eight months, countless hours training, a friendship, a love affair, a life partnership and two brand new Cannondale EVO Hi-Mod street bikes.

“What is this?” Quinn had walked into the apartment to find two identical bikes parked in front of the television set.

With a coy grin, Henry said, “I found something useful to do with my last quarterly bonus.”

“I can’t,” Quinn started to protest.

“Shut up. Yes you can. I’m keeping mine and you’re going to want to look good if you’re riding next to me.”

“Seriously, Henry, you need to return it.”

Shaking his head, Henry wasn’t taking no for an answer. “Don’t force me to key it and put a big gaping scratch down the frame, so that they won’t take it back.” Henry reached into his pocket for his keys and dangled them in front of Quinn, tauntingly.

Suddenly serious, Quinn pointed a finger at him, “Don’t you dare scratch my bike.”

Smiling, he flipped the keys back into his palm and returned them to his jean’s pocket.

With eyes that bored into his soul, Quinn slowly approached him, knowing his leisurely swagger was killing Henry. His fore and middle fingers trailed down Henry’s cheek at an equally languid pace. “You’re spoiling me for all other men, you know that, don’t you?”

“There will be no other men,” Henry held his intense gaze, all the while wanting to melt as Quinn’s fingers trailed his check.

“Look at my little bottom being so possessive.”

Reaching around Quinn and pulling him in by his ass against his already throbbing shaft, “Does this feel like a bottom cock to you?”

“Feels like my very generous lover’s cock to me, who went overboard, and bought me a really expensive gift.”

Henry smiled. “I bought us gifts. We’ve worked really hard for this and we’re going to be on those bikes for probably close to eight hours. We’re going to need some fine equipment for our fine equipment.” He brought his hand around to Quinn’s groin and gave him a squeeze. “Plus this gives us about three weeks to get used to them, make any mods if we need to.”

Walking over to one of the bikes, Quinn ran his fingers gently over the outstanding equipment. “Henry, a Cannondale like this has always been my dream.” He crouched down, looking closely at the parts, and then looked up with a smile, “Actually, sharing this with someone I love who enjoys it as much as I do, has always been my dream.”

“Three more weeks, babe, and we’ll be living the dream.”

As they entered Huntington Beach, a crowd awaited them along the sidewalk. Beachgoers, surfers, gays and straights, all cheered on the 300 plus riders who had undertaken the challenge. The cyclists waved to the passersby, many of whom waved small rainbow flags back at them.

Quinn turned around, “I don’t think all the towns will be this friendly.”

“Probably not,” Henry agreed, knowing that next up was the more conservative and moneyed Newport Beach.

As they hit the causeway over Lower Newport Bay, Henry pulled up alongside Quinn, “See that island over there on the other side?”

“Nice houses and nice boats,” Quinn checked it out.

“That’s Linda Isle. That’s where Schooner lives.”

Quinn laughed, shaking his head, “Why am I not surprised?”

It was less than two minutes later when they reached land again on the other side of the causeway, and were met with one awesome surprise. Standing on the sidewalk, with bougainvillea and boats behind them, was their lone cheering section consisting of Schooner Moore, his little girl, Holly, and his son, Zac, who was perched high on his shoulders.

“Holly,” Henry screamed out, blowing her a kiss.

The excited little girl danced as she waved, thrilled to see the rider that she knew. “Henreeeeeee,” her voice carried on the breeze.

Henry and Quinn waved to Schooner and his small son.

“That is awesome that he brought the kids out to see you.” Quinn was impressed.

“Well, that just made my day,” and with a new burst of energy, Henry pulled ahead as they cycled along the beautiful beaches of the Newport coast en route to Laguna Beach. “Catch up, pussy.” Henry yelled back.

“Not a chance in Hell,” Quinn returned. “It’s a beautiful day to enjoy this view.”

At San Clemente, they hit the halfway mark of their 107 mile journey and took a pit stop.

Getting off their bikes, they stretched out their backs and legs, shook their shoulders and wrists free, and removed their helmets to roll their necks.

Downing cold water and Gatorade that had been set up, their bodies still felt the sensation of riding. Tilting his face up to the relentless blue of the sky, Henry closed his eyes, deeply breathing in the sea-scented air.

He opened his eyes to Quinn’s two fingers tracing a path down his cheek. Leaning in for a kiss, Quinn uttered, “Thank you,” against his lips.

“For what?” Henry’s light brows merged, questioningly.

“The bicycle. It would have been hell on the old one. I can’t tell you how much easier it is on this one than it was last year. The difference is incredibly significant.”

“Glad you’re enjoying it.” Henry’s grin spoke volumes.

Snaking an arm around his waist and pulling him close, “And thank you for being here with me. When I asked you to come train with me,” Quinn closed his eyes and shook his head, “I could not have imagined how amazing my life was about to become.”

“You’re thanking me?” Henry’s eyes were wide, astonished. His hand went around the back of Quinn’s neck, as he searched his lover’s baby blue eyes. “Quinn Callahan, I’m alive, and I mean that on so many levels, because of you. Because of us. There aren’t enough bikes in the world to thank you for what your love has given me.” Pulling Quinn’s lips to his, Henry got lost in their kiss, allowing himself to feel a sense of total and complete happiness. “I love you, thanks for asking me to train with you,” he was smiling as their lips parted.

“Why did we agree to that party tonight?” Derek and Willie were hosting a post-race fundraiser at their home with Henry and Quinn as the guests of honor.

“I don’t know. You, the hot tub and food delivered would have been Heaven.”

“Too late to get out of it now,” Quinn lamented as they got back onto their bikes and merged into the pack of riders, reenergized to head into the uphill climb and cycle the bluffs above San Onofre State Beach and away from the shoreline through, what felt like an interminable ride to Henry, Camp Pendleton.

Finally exiting the base, and heading west toward the ocean with the afternoon’s sun glinting off the waves, Henry shoulders loosened, letting go of the tension he hadn’t anticipated joining him on this ride. Quinn had ridden behind him the entire time they were on base and Henry knew it was not by accident. His handsome cop was letting him know that he had his back as they cycled through the Marine encampment.

Oceanside was beginning to feel like the homestretch, even though they had another forty miles to go. Behind Quinn again, Henry observed the rhythm of his lover’s legs and back muscles, and there was something very Zen about watching this beautiful man, his beautiful man. Just thinking about his dark hair and pale eyes, his full lips and scruffy jaw made Henry twitch. He laughed out loud, knowing the seat of his bike was not the place to get excited.

Quinn. This ride. His new life. Second chances and dreams. An openly gay cop living an openly gay life. As Henry watched him, he realized what a hero Quinn truly was. Not only to him, but what an amazing role model to any little girl or boy who felt different, who didn’t fit in. This man maintained who he was in the most conservative and mainstream of professions.

Henry wanted to scream,
He’s mine!
With the utmost of pride.

Carlsbad. (Henry blew a discreet, silent kiss up to the cliff that housed L9 as a thank you for everything wonderful it meant in his life – Schooner, Ivy, Yoga, Quinn, the Bike Challenge).

Encinitas.

Solana Beach.

Del Mar.

Torrey Pines.

La Jolla.

Cycling side by side, every muscle screaming as they approached San Diego, Henry could feel the lump in his throat as people waited along the route to greet them. A rainbow colored archway of balloons stretched across the road as they approached the finish line. He and Quinn reached out for one another’s hands at the same moment and passed under the arch with their fingers entwined.

Parking their bikes, they turned to one another, falling into a tight embrace, steadying one another as their bodies still felt the motion from hours of cycling. Henry realized there were tears streaming down his face and he could feel small sharp jolts between Quinn’s shoulder blades, letting him know his handsome cop too had been moved to tears.

Exhausted. Depleted. Proud. Aching. Satisfied. Overjoyed. Overwhelmed. They stood there holding one another, neither prepared to let go. What began on a SkyTrack some eight months before was now part of a shared tapestry already rich with memories and moments. Arriving at this moment had been a cornerstone of their relationship and when they laid it in the soil, neither could have envisioned the beautiful skyscraper that would grow floor by floor.

“I know I said this was so much better when you do it with someone else, but that’s not really the truth. The truth is, it was totally amazing because I shared it with you.” Quinn’s eyes beamed with love as his two fingers softly trailed down Henry’s cheek.

“Thank you for asking me.”

“Just sit there,” Edwin was having a fine time pampering Henry.

“I can absolutely do that.” Henry was too tired to move. Both he and Quinn sat there on the couch being tended to by the other guests like rock royalty.

“I can’t even imagine what your body feels like.” Edwin sat down next to him, handing him a plate filled with food.

“There isn’t any part of me that doesn’t hurt. Even my hair hurts from my helmet. My ass hurts. My balls hurt. My thighs are burning.” He stopped and looked at Edwin and laughed, “And I’m just a whiny little bitch, aren’t I.”

“Tonight you get to whine and be as bitchy as you want, cupcake.”

Putting his head on Edwin’s shoulder, “You’re so good to me.”

“So how much money did you two raise from all this torture?” Edwin was primping the pillows behind Henry’s lower back.

“Good question. I think we’re going to do a tally in a little while. Derek’s been gathering a lot of it.” Quinn looked like it was painful just raising the fork to his mouth.

“You two deserve a vacation after this. You’ve been training every weekend since you met. It’s time to plan a trip, a real trip.” Willie suggested, sitting down on a chair next to Quinn.

Quinn turned to Henry, “Imagine just waking up and relaxing. Lying around, reading, swimming, worrying about what’s for dinner.”

“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” Willie agreed. “A tropical getaway.”

“Someplace exotic like Bali,” Quinn reached for Henry’s hand and gave it a squeeze, “or the Seychelles.”

“Yes, the Seychelles,” Edwin closed his eyes at the fantasy, “I hear the people are beautiful in the Seychelles.”

“Where are these places?” asked Willie.

“I think they’re off the coast of Africa, but that’s all I can tell you. I don’t know exactly where.” Henry looked around for corroboration. “Ok, we’ve clearly got a group that did well in geography.”

They all laughed.

Henry felt Quinn’s thumb rubbing along the back of his hand, “We need to look into this vacation,” he smiled, the look in his eyes incendiary.

“Yes. We do.” He leaned over to kiss Quinn.

Holding a box, Derek came and sat down with everyone. “Ready to find out how much you two bitches raised for the Lesbian and Gay Center?”

Lots of excitement and hooting from the room, “In all seriousness,” Derek began, “thank you to the two of you for making this monumental ride. You both have been so dedicated, weekend after weekend, training for today. And we all really appreciate it. And we really, really appreciated being able to sit on our asses while you two nuts went out there and did all the work.”