The Making of Matt (15 page)

“All done,” Dr. Wilson cut in.

“You are?” Matt sounded surprised as he opened his eyes and looked down. He turned to me, smiling. “Sorry. Guess it
did
work after all.”

“I’ll send these to the lab immediately,” the doctor said, stuffing the tube of blood into a labeled baggy. “I’ll call you tomorrow with the results and a time to see one of our counselors.”

“Out of interest, how long after starting the pills can we…you know?” Matt seemed to have found his bashful side all of a sudden.

“Assuming you haven’t engaged in sex yet…”

“We haven’t,” Matt interjected.

“I recommend abstaining for a week to give it time to build up in your system. Again, your counselor will talk you through it so the sooner you can come to the clinic, the better.”

“What about side effects?” I asked.

“There have been reports of upset stomach, nausea, and in some cases mild headaches, but everyone reacts differently. If you were to suffer any side effects they should settle down after a few weeks of regular use.”

“I’m sorry to keep asking questions but-”

“That’s what I’m here for,” Dr. Wilson assured, interrupting Matt.

“Am I right in thinking even though we can’t have
actual
sex yet, oral or, um,
otherwise…
we can still do other stuff, right? I mean touching his, you know,
stuff…
is safe?”

The struggle as Matt tried to summon the appropriate words to use was evident on his face. Squeezing his hand tight, I actually felt a little sorry for him. Sure, sex is the most natural and instinctive thing in the world but discussing it out loud with a virtual stranger certainly wasn’t easy. It needed to be talked about in our situation, however, and I was so damn proud of him for having the courage to do it.

“If you’re referring to mutual masturbation then that poses no risk to you. I’m sure you know semen carries the virus but it can’t be transmitted through skin so touching it is perfectly safe. Going back to oral sex, providing you have no cuts or ulcers, the virus has a low chance of passing into the membranes of your mouth, but there is a chance nonetheless. That being said, any fluid expelled prior to full ejaculation is considered perfectly safe, given the fact the level of the virus it contains would be extremely low, coupled with, as I said, the membranes in your mouth being harder to penetrate.”

“I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with that,” I cut in. “Not without a condom.”

“These are things only you, as a couple, can decide. A mixed status relationship will always have obstacles but it’s not impossible. There is no reason you can’t enjoy a healthy and fulfilling relationship just like anyone else. It just needs a little more groundwork while you work out what works best between you. The most important thing is that you talk about it, you do whatever you feel comfortable with and you stay safe. It appears to me that you’ve made a pretty good start.”

“Thanks, Doc. This, um, hasn’t been the easiest visit I’ve had from you.” Matt stared at the coffee table, squirming slightly in his seat.

“I’m sure. But you were absolutely right to see me before you take this to the next level. Any more questions before I leave?”

“No, thanks. Although I’m sure I’ll think of some later.”

“You can call me at any time. I can probably get you an appointment with Kevin or Marie, our HIV counselors, as early as Thursday if you’d like?”

“Sounds great,” Matt agreed.

“Okay then,” Dr. Wilson said, picking up his briefcase and rising to his feet. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow. Oh, and I was so sorry to hear about your mother. Wonderful lady. My condolences.”

“Thank you. She was very fond of you.”

I could see why. I’d seen a lot of different doctors during the last six years, both for Corey and myself, and most of them had their head stuck so far up their ass you could see their hair in the back of their throat. Dr. Wilson, however, had managed to quash some of the many fears I’d had for so long in just under forty minutes and it wasn’t even
my
appointment.

His visit made me realize that I hadn’t fully accepted my diagnosis. I
did
still have unanswered questions and I did in fact need the counseling I’d convinced myself was a waste of time. By the time he left I felt lighter. Positive. I was looking forward to meeting his team at the clinic and finally making peace with myself.

And…I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather tackle this with than my best friend.

“How’d you feel?” I asked Matt as we made our way back inside after seeing the doctor out. I was in awe of him, not just because of how well he handled discussing things with Dr. Wilson, but because of who he was. Positive. Accepting.
Loving
. All the things I wished I could’ve been after I received the news.

He stopped next to the spiral staircase in the center of the room, leaning casually against the steel rail. “Optimistic. You?”

“Reassured. Hopeful.” Tucking a lock of hair behind his ear, Matt smiled. “I’m so proud of you,” I said, closing in on him and palming his cheek. “That couldn’t have been easy to talk about.”

“I’ve definitely had less awkward conversations with him, and that includes the time my left ball swelled to the size of a baby’s head after I trapped it in a door.”

“How the hell did you…never mind,” I trailed off, blinking away the image that invaded my head. “You did it. For me.”

“For
us
.”

“Damn I want to kiss you so badly right now.”

Grabbing my neck, Matt pulled my mouth to his but I wedged a finger between our lips. “If I kiss you we’ll end up in bed, and I really think we should head to the club. It’s not fair on Ry.”

“Ugh,” Matt grumbled. “Wouldn’t kill you to think with your dick for once.”

“My dick will still be here when we get back. I want to get myself up to speed with the refurb. I neglected you, neglected the business, and I’m eager to put things right.”

“Fine.” He pouted like a spoiled child. “At least there’re two fairly large couches in my office.” He winked and laughed before kissing my cheek.

Matt had disappeared to shower and change when my cell vibrated in my pocket. Teasing it out, Elle’s photo illuminated the screen. It wasn’t the norm for me to receive a call from Elle, I didn’t know her particularly well, so I answered immediately, afraid something was wrong.

“Hey, Elle.”

“Have you seen Matt? Nobody can reach him.”

Hello to you, too
. “Sure. I’m with him now. He’s in the shower but if it’s urgent I can take you to him and put you on speaker.”

“It is.”

After climbing the stairs two at a time I walked into the bathroom, clutching the phone close to my chest. “I’ve got Elle on the phone for you.”

Matt shut the water off and craned his neck around the shower screen. “Shit. I turned my phone off,” he whispered under his breath. Pressing the
speaker
button, I set the phone down on the marble tiles surrounding the sink and retreated to the door. “Hey, fuck bunny!” he called to the phone.

“Where the hell have you been?” Elle snapped. “There’s been a flood at the club. Burst pipe or something.”

“Ah, shit.”

“Nobody’s been able to get through to your damn phone, Ryder’s going out of his freaking mind and so I’m down here trying to help and I don’t need this shit right now!”

“Aww, what’s the matter? You havin’ your lady time?”

“Screw you, Matt. Just get your arse down here so I can leave.”

“I’ll be there in twenty.”

“Good,” Elle barked before hanging up without a goodbye.

“Wow,” I said. “She’s pissed.”

“Kip probably left the toilet seat up or something. Can you grab my wallet and the keys to the Lambo while I rinse this soap off? Unless…
you
want to rinse me?”

Matt wrapped his fingers around his soapy cock, stroking himself as he worked it into a rich lather. I forced my eyes closed. It was the only way I had a hope of resisting him. “Tempting, but I’m afraid of what Elle might do to me if I don’t get you to the club on time.”

“Pussy.”

I opened my eyes to find him grinning at me. He restarted the jets of water and I took back my phone and headed downstairs, trying to picture grandmas and kittens in my mind in a bid to deflate the party going on in my pants.

**********

We arrived at the club in thirty minutes, not twenty, and I mentally prepared myself for Elle’s wrath.

“You’re late,” she scolded when we walked into the building.

A shallow lake of murky water that rose to the laces on my sneakers smothered the concrete floor. We waded through it toward the open office door where Elle stood with her arms folded across her chest.

Ryder appeared behind her, scratching his head. “Mate, where the hell have you been? This place is going to shit and I can’t keep dealing with it on my own.”

A guilty frown crept onto Matt’s face as he scanned the mess surrounding us. “I’m sorry, Ry. I’ve been going through some shit but I’m on top of it now.”

“The builder says this’ll set us back a week, but the invites for opening night have already gone out. I’ve got the guys from Word Magazine and StarStruck confirmed. Not to mention the DJ and drag act from Belgium who’s flying in special and-”

“Calm down,” Matt interrupted. “Get me the number for the builder and I’ll sort it.”

“I’ve tried. He won’t put the extra hours in. Says he’s not got enough men.”

“He’ll find them. My check book can be very convincing.”

Shrugging, Ryder turned back into the office.

“In the meantime let’s get moving this water.”

“I need to leave,” Elle said. “I have to talk to Kip about something.” She walked away, offering a halfhearted wave over her shoulder.

“Told you Kip’d pissed her off,” Matt said, exhaling a chuckle.

The rest of us worked well into the night, using buckets, sponges and towels to dry out the club. Some of the furniture, including a couple of couches and three bar stools, were unsalvageable. The office would need redecorating and the ceiling plaster above the stage had completely disintegrated. We sent an exhausted Ryder home around two AM and Matt and I spent a further couple of hours sweeping away debris and moving the remaining furniture to the side of the building that remained undamaged. By four AM we were both passed out cold on the office couch.

I woke up a few hours later with cramp in my legs and a stiff neck.

“What time is it?” Matt mumbled through a yawn.

“No idea,” I answered, my eyes still closed. “My phone died. Early, I think. I can’t have slept too long on this damn couch.”

I stretched my entire body, narrowly avoiding slipping onto the floor. My eyes were startled open when unexpectedly, Matt’s lips crashed into mine.

“I’ve got morning breath,” I protested weakly, his tongue muffling my words.

“Don’t care. I’m so fucking hard right now.”

I smiled against his lips while my hand instinctively reached for his crotch.

“You’re not kidding,” I breathed, breaking our kiss and burying my face in the crook of his neck while I ripped open the zipper on his jeans. Unprompted, Matt wriggled out of his clothes in mere seconds, letting his cock spring to attention.

“Your turn,” he instructed, biting his lip.

I didn’t hesitate in pulling my shirt up and over my head, tossing it to the floor before kicking off my pants. I straddled his legs, his swollen cock pressing into my ass cheeks.

“Holy shit” he rasped, panting as he kissed and sucked at my neck.

“Oh!”

“Shit!” I cried, almost choking on my stomach when I heard Elle’s voice.

“Guys I’m…oh…holy
fuck!
”

I catapulted myself off Matt’s knee faster than the Road Runner on crack, scooping my shirt off the floor and holding it in front of my abruptly limp dick. Mortified, I risked a glance toward the door and saw Elle spinning around, shielding her eyes with her forearm…along with Ryder, Mason, Sawyer, Jake
and
Kip standing in a line a Maroon 5 tribute act next to her. I appreciated the fact Sawyer and Jake had looked away along with Elle. The rest of them, however, made me feel like a freakin’ zoo animal as they stood frozen, staring at me with their jaws smacking the floor.

“You guys figured things out then, huh?” Sawyer said with amusement in his voice.

Matt had pulled his pants back on and was fastening his button when I wondered why the hell I hadn’t thought of doing the same, instead of continuing to stand there with my butt hanging out.

“You knew?” Elle asked, her tone astounded.

“Guys can we do this in a minute?” I urged, still protecting my modesty with my shirt.

“Oh, yeah, sure,” Ryder said. Thankfully they all turned around and Jake pushed the door closed behind them.