The 10 Year Plan (2 page)

Nine years, ten months, and twenty-nine days later:

Myles scurried from the kitchen to the dining room table and back again, anxious, as usual, to make sure that everything was just right. Of course, it was. Everything was always in its rightful place Myles' house—as clean and neat as an operating room, if not so sterile looking, almost like a home décor magazine photo shoot was going to happen any minute.

On the couch sat a young man simply observing. Kodi, a frat boy type, with good clothes and a solid frame watched with an amazed look on his face as Myles, like a rat in a maze, hurried here and there, adding little touches to the table. He watched as Myles ensured the plates and silverware lined up exactly, and then appear to look over the settings for the fifth time, at least. If he had brought out a ruler to check the table Kodi wouldn't have been surprised.

“Don't you ever slow down?” Kodi asked. Just looking at Myles exhausted him.

“In a moment,” Myles answered. After ten years he hadn't changed much, except that he seemed a little more confident. Maybe it was the result of his financial success, reflected in the fine furnishings and objects d'art that occupied his living and dining areas. The romantic music providing the carefully crafted ambience of the evening played on a high tech sound system. Myles himself wore a crisp pressed, striped apron that complemented his grey shirt perfectly. Once more he entered the dining room, now carrying a tray filled with a collection of exotic meats—venison, goose nuggets, caribou sausage—mushroom and walnut paté, and various cheeses. A bottle of fine wine sat in front of Kodi.

“Hey, Babe. I made you those appetizers you like with imported goat cheese and caviar, but don't eat too many!”

“What?” Totally overwhelmed, Kodi couldn't keep up with Myles.

“I said—”

“I heard what you said. I just—” It was obvious Kodi wanted to say more but couldn't get another word in and fidgeted on the couch.

“I cooked something extra special.” He glanced at Kodi, so caught up in unveiling the perfect evening that he missed the nerves play across his date's face. “And you don't want you to ruin that appetite of yours.”

“Myles. Relax. Please. Sit down!”

“In a minute. Trust me, you don't want dinner to burn!”

The rich aroma of Myles' cooking had been filling the apartment slowly and Kodi drew back and took a deep breath, looking transfixed. Myles hurried once more to the kitchen and came back holding a wooden spoon heaped with food. “It's eggplant Sorrento,” Myles said. “I know it's your favorite.”

“How could you possibly...?” Kodi's voice trailed off as he tried to puzzle out some reasonable explanation.

“I called your mother to ask what you like; she gave me the recipe.”

“Are you kidding me? You're making my mom's Eggplant Sorrento?”

Myles beamed, thrilled he could do something this wonderful for his boyfriend. “You've been working a lot, so I thought it would be nice to do something special for you.”

“I can't believe you called my mother. That's a tad scary.”

Myles' nerves gave a jolt but he kept on talking. “Please, just relax. Take your shoes off and drink up. It's an ‘86 Cabernet. I'll be back in a few.” Myles quickly filled Kodi's glass and was once more off to the kitchen.

***

Meanwhile, Brody, muscular and hotter than ever, and his partner Richard, a sexy, forty-year-old Latino with a wrestler's build, were at the police station changing out of their uniforms into civilian clothes. Other cops swarmed through the locker room in various stages of undress.

“Hey, partner,” Richard said, “wanna catch a movie tonight? I'll buy the popcorn… again.”

Brody wrapped a towel around his waist as he headed toward the shower. “Sorry, bud,” he called over his shoulder, “but I got plans. They start with a beer and they end with a sticky towel.” He gave his partner a wicked grin.

Richard chuckled in self-deprecation as he held up his hand. “Looks like it's just you and me again tonight, buddy.”

Brody turned back toward his partner. “Hey, you're the one who insists on being straight. Come out with me tonight. I guarantee that in ten minutes I'll hook you up with an ass you can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner off of!”

“Sorry, but I prefer my partners not have the same equipment as me.”

Brody chuckled. “Not me.” He held up a shoe in preparation of putting it on. “I prefer the same or bigger.” He shrugged. “Well, it's your loss.”

Just then Brody's Grindr app chimed. He picked up his cell and checked it out. “Oooo. Very nice!” He showed Richard the screen. “Meet David.”

The man appeared to be in his mid twenties with an Ivy League look— like a hot college stud taking a shirtless selfie in the mirror. He had blond hair and an almost cherubic face. Hello, new plans.

Richard shook his head, mostly at his own lack of luck with women of late. “Is it really that easy for you?”

“That's the great thing about men. No wining and dining them. In five minutes I'll have had a beer. In fifteen minutes, we'll be in the sack. Sixty minutes later I'll be home watching a movie on pay-per-view. It's pretty great. You should try it.”

Richard paused for a moment. “It does sound tempting… and since you put it that way...”

Brody face brightened. He couldn't believe he'd finally recruited his hot Mexican partner! Almost too easy. “Really? You'll do it?!”

Richard laughed hard. “Hell no!”

They broke into raucous laughter when the other cops looked at them and rolled their eyes, used to the duos antics.

Growing up, Richard was always popular with the ladies. He was strong and muscular and, of course, his “Latin lover” good looks. His darker skin, broad shoulders, and square jaw guaranteed he was never want for attention from the fairer sex. And due to his size and appearance, people naturally respected his presence. He had a cool, collected calm about him that reassured others. Everyone knew he could “take care of business” if it came to it, so it rarely ever did.

Though he looked like a rock from the outside, on the inside, Richard had the sensitivity of a poet and the thoughtfulness of a priest. A Hallmark card could choke him up. Ads on TV about boys and their fathers made his eyes misty. And though he would never admit it to his buddies, he loved watching romance movies and romantic comedies, even more than any of the summer blockbusters or thrillers, the movies he watched with them.

Richard came from a line of lawmen — following in his grandfather's and father's footsteps. He truly believed in the slogan: To serve and protect.

Though Richard was only a few years older than Brody, he was the veteran. They were assigned to work together not long after Richard's former partner retired. It was his responsibility to teach Brody the ropes, show him around the precinct and initiate him into the force.

The first step was drinks out with his fellow officers. Brody could handle his liquor, which was always a good sign. It showed he had some real stamina. The next step was watching football and basketball games together, along with some afternoon barbeques with the other guys. And last but never least, strip clubs. Richard worked hard every day and on his nights off he played hard too.

And that was the start of Brody and Richard's friendship.

***

“As Time Goes By” from
Casablanca
played softly in the background. The gas fireplace hissed along; lights were turned down low.

Myles knew Kodi didn't drink much. So the half empty bottle of wine in front of him tipped off the fact that something was wrong. But Myles didn't want to acknowledge there could be a problem. Maybe Kodi was just tired. After all he'd had a big meeting today, and that could wear anyone out. He held out a spoonful of Eggplant Sorrento. “Someone was hungry. And thirsty!” he said as he moved the spoon closer to Kodi's face. “Here, taste.”

“Are you going to sit down? I'd really like to talk to you...” He tried to catch Myles' eyes to get him to slow down for just a second, but Myles was too excited about sharing his culinary creation and thrust the piping hot food into Kodi's mouth.

Kodi's eyes lit up.

“Wow. That's amazing! It's exactly like my mother makes it!”

Success! That's all Myles wanted to hear. He was proud of being the perfect boyfriend and excited about being one step closer to Kodi's finally being “the one.”

“I'm so pleased! Now, I want to hear all about your day. Come to the table. We'll talk over dinner!”

Myles headed to the table as Kodi had one last gulp of wine and then took a deep breath as if to prepare himself for something unpleasant.

***

Brody pulled up to David's house, a little Hollywood bungalow. It had been a long day, and a quick no-strings-attached fuck sounded like the perfect way to kick off the evening. Brody hoped David looked as good in person as he did in his photos. He was in no mood to be greeted by someone who posted another person's photos on Grindr or used a picture that was ten years old.

He rang the bell and hoped for the best. Seconds later, the door opened. Wow. Not only did David look much like the photo on the website but somehow even better. Through the snug shirt he was wearing, Brody could see the sculpted body of a gymnast. Perfectly tight muscles, a strong sculpted “v” torso and a shirt just short enough to reveal a trail of golden hair leading down the front of his jeans. Brody smiled. This was going to be fun. At first glance David was a delicious treat waiting to be gobbled up.

“Hi. I'm David,” he said, with a hint of hesitation in his voice. It was obvious he was a virgin at this sort of thing and was terrified.

That's probably his real name,
Brody thought, though he really couldn't condemn him for that. He was young and didn't know the rules of the game most of the guys played yet. Brody used his own name too. It was simpler, rather than trying to remember which pseudonym he used with which men. Brody gave him a mocking grin. “Hi. I'm Brody.”

“It's nice to meet you,” he said with a nervous laugh. And then he stood there. Awkwardly.

Brody laughed at the exchange. “Let me ask you: why is it guys always introduce themselves at the door like I don't know who they are by now? You've already sent me so many photos of yourself that I know you better than your doctor does.”

“I don't know,” he said, suddenly insecure with himself, “Do you have a better way of greeting someone at the door?”

“How about this: Hey, Brody, come in. Would you like a beer?”

David looked momentarily startled and then smiled. “Hi, Brody, come in. Would you like a beer?”

Brody chuckled. “Nah. I'm good. But thanks for asking.” He stepped inside with a confident stride. “You look terrified, David. First time using Grindr?”

“No.” He grimaced. “Maybe.” He glanced into Brody's eyes. “Yeah.”

An innocent, fresh young stud,
Brody thought. What could be better? Or cuter? “Everything's going to be okay, David,” he said. “We'll have fun tonight. Don't worry.”

David turned and Brody followed him. “How about you, David? Can I get you a beer?”

David suddenly relaxed.

Brody was glad. He looked like a good guy. And, oh, so hot.

“Actually. I'd love one.”

David welcomed him inside as he headed to the kitchen to get that beer. Brody followed him. Their evening had begun.

The kitchen was dark as David opened the refrigerator door, his torso outlined by the weak light emanating from inside. He twisted the cap from a bottle and took a long deep swallow. Brody could almost imagine the cold brew sliding down David's parched throat, his body relaxing as he swallowed. He realized the man needed a beer to calm his nerves and felt sorry for him, yet at the same time amused. Had he himself ever been so naive and innocent?

“Ahh,” David said releasing a pent up breath, his shoulders relaxed.

“Feel better?” Brody asked.

David smiled and nodded. “I really needed that.”

“Besides,” Brody said, “the cold air from the fridge feels good on a hot night like this.” Of course, it was a double entendre.

“Sure I can't get you that beer? You know there's nothing better than a cold beer on a hot night.”

“Well, there's one thing that's better.”

“And what might that be?” David answered coyly, his eyes roamed slowly over Brody's body.

“I have only one question for you David… what's your safe word?”

“What?!”

Brody could see he had scared the other man. “I'm just playing with you.”

David visibly relaxed and tried to grin. “Guess you got me,” he said.

“Tell you what,” Brody said. “Since this is your first time… I'll be gentle. For the first hour, anyhow!” He stepped toward David.

David took another long gulp of beer but not before Brody slid his hand down the front of David's jeans. David was hard from the moment Brody touched him. “What do they put in the feed in those mid-western towns?” Brody asked. “They certainly grow you farm boys big!”

David blushed, embarrassed yet obviously enjoying what Brody was doing. “I'm not exactly a farm boy,” he answered.

“Not exactly?'

“From a small town in Michigan.”

“Ah, explains it,” Brody answered jokingly, “All that clean air.”

Brody leaned forward and pressed his soft lips against David's mouth, tasting the beer on his tongue. The two men continued to kiss as Brody gently squeezed David's cock. He was surprised to feel it growing even larger. Brody took the beer from David's hand and finished it with a mighty gulp. Foreplay was over.