I planned a pleasant enough trouble and managed to meet him at the appropriate time. I stood there, smoking two cigarettes, watching 2 or 3 cabs open their doors, their contents pouring out in the form of older couples or 3 slightly drunk girls I would later learn were on vacation from the South.
In my mind, I could count the reasons why I should not be standing there. I twirled the plastic in my ear and checked my messages.
No matter how hard it gets, you're not going to get very far by complaining.
He arrives with a hug and smells slightly of 9-1-1. We conclude, the weather being what it was, that outside would be best. We're looking to be public, this time, here.
We discussed at length opinions of wine and wagered on the most French white at a decidedly Spanish joint.
There are other conversations about kids and histories and our histories as kids and camping.
Then rain came around midnight.
We moved inside where he flirted the waitress to free glasses of wine. I had inadvertently bussed my own belongings (glases, plates) inside, seemingly comfortable enough to treat the place like my home.
We talked. We drank. He paid, in response to our last time where I paid.
I thanked him.
I asked if he would care to join me in a cab uptown. He accepted.
We made out for $12 in the back of the cab.
When we got to my neighborhood, I suggested we buy a six-pack of summer ale. I was disoriented, and walked us two blocks before realizing it was the wrong two blocks and walked us back two blocks and then two blocks further to buy some beer.
He stood outside while I bought it.
Inside my apartment, we talked more in that I'm-not-saying-anything-but-I-want-to-see-you-naked sort of way. We listened to some music, his tastes equaling exactly my own when I was 17.
He took off my pants and said I had a beautiful dick.
I said thank you, you do too.
We made out for a bit, listening to The Bends and then he said we should move to the bed.
I agreed.
We didn't talk again until the morning. He apologized for snoring and I said it was subtle and cute.
He smiled.
He wanted to lay in bed and watch something stupid and so we stayed in bed and watched something stupid. We did stupid things while watching.
He took a shower before he had to go to work and I stayed in bed and watched more stupid until I caught the view of his ass from my bathroom and that didn't seem so stupid and so I watched that for awhile while he brushed his teeth.
Gathering his things, he kissed me, thanking me for a great night, and that his schedule was rough this week but we'd see.
I opened the door for him, watched him flop down the stairs, and closed the door, clicking the lock shut like I knew.
