Taken Chances

Ch. 2 What’s Missing

Joel woke up the next morning still in his clothes from last night with the beginning of a headache. He could hear the shower in the bathroom running and realized he had to pee. He staggered hazily into the bathroom- not caring if he saw Benji in there and unzipped his pants. He did his business and when he was about done the shower curtain was pulled aside by the person inside and Joel jumped a little.

“I thought I heard someone,” Tony smiled at Joel.

Joel smiled and zipped his pants back up, “Sorry dude I thought you were Benji.” Tony laughed and splashed Joel with some water and Joel laughed, “Hey.” Joel gazed upon Tony and his naked body glistening with water. His eyes traveled over his shoulders, chest and waist as Joel shook his head, “Oh uhh, see ya later.”

Tony just laughed and stepped back into the shower as Joel left the bathroom. Joel smiled as he walked into the kitchen thinking of Tony’s body. He went to the fridge then turned around. Noticing Benji there his smile faded.

Benji smirked, “What are you smiling about?” Joel shook his head and sat on the barstool. He took a drink of Benji’s orange juice and thought to himself; well maybe I just need some loving. Joel stood back up and grabbed the phone calling his benefits buddy and asking if she was home. She was so Joel went and got his keys and shoes and nodded to Benji on the way out.

He drove to his benefits buddy’s house and they wasted no time. Forty-five minutes later he kissed her goodbye and thanked her- still feeling empty. Okay so that didn’t help, what am I missing, Joel thought getting into his car and turning onto the highway. Tony, that’s what I'm missing! Maybe I can shop my sorrows away. Joel went to the mall and after an hour and a half had done $150 damage. He smiled at the clerk as he handed her his credit card. He got into his car and reached over getting the cd he had bought out. He rested his hand on a bag first and pulled it out. It was one of the t-shirts he had bought. He took it out and looked at it, without having realized it before- it was the shirt Tony was wearing the other day but in a different color. Joel sighed, “Why can’t I stop thinking about him?” he said aloud. He shook his head and went back home.

He pulled into the driveway and noticed Tony’s red Cadillac but Benji’s car was gone. Maybe they went somewhere. Joel grabbed his bags and slowly hopped up the steps to the front door. He went to get his keys but heard Tony laughing so he opened the door. Tony smiled up at him as he walked in the door, “Hey Joel.”

Joel smiled and looked around, “Where’s Benj?”

Tony smiled as he got up, “He went to go get some ice cream with Matt and Billy and I were talking. Where’d you go?” he asked walking over to Joel and peering into his bag.

Joel laughed, “Shopping and to a friends house.”

Tony smiled, “A friend’s house huh? Was she a girl-friend?”

Joel stopped and shook his head, “No not a girlfriend just a chick friend. We umm… we were talking.”

Tony laughed as he pulled out Joel’s new crap; “Well she called and said you left your hat over there.”

Joel nodded and remembered how empty he still felt- his smile fading once again.

Tony smiled, “Hey I have this shirt but in blue.”

Joel nodded, “Cool we can be twins,” he mumbled as he set his bags down and went to the fridge grabbing a beer.

Tony looked at him, “Dude it’s only 1- a little early to be drinking?”

Joel shook his head not looking at Tony, “Nah- whatever.”

He pushed past Tony and into the bathroom. He pulled his clothes off quickly and stepped into the shower.


Next- Ch. 3
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