Isaac
I’d just hadthe best sex of my entire life and was still trying to process how it had happened to me. This brilliant, funny, sexy, brown-eyed, blond creature had wanted me in the same way I had wanted him.
This just wasn’t real life for me, but much as I wanted to disbelieve it, I couldn’t deny that the sex had been real, and so had the shower we’d taken afterward. We’d cleaned each other thoroughly, laughed, and got each other hard again before our rumbling tummies reminded us it was dinner time.
We decided to have some food from the room service menu. As much as I loved dessert, I could really go for something more nutritious than cookie dough. That would come later. Pun intended.
I chose pizza and Max went for a dish of spaghetti with seafood. We ordered the food and put some boxer shorts on. A good idea, since I couldn’t be responsible for my actions if we’d decided to eat naked.
Both meals looked delicious when they arrived, so we sat on the bed with our backs to the headboard, the tray between us, and shared our food.
“So what are your hopes and dreams?” Max asked before he swirled some spaghetti on his fork.
“Seriously?” I laughed, as I picked a slice of pizza.
“Uh-huh.” He nodded, pulling my hand toward him and stealing a mouthful of my pizza.
“Okay, well, I want to make my LGBTQ Youth Center into something that fits in more with the local community and also gives more support to those who are in need. I just secured some significant funding, so part of the reason I came here was to learn from Dorian and Jean-Paul so I can make the best use of that money.
“They were so kind to me, showing me around and sharing how they set up the Liberty Center. I am hoping to do justice to everything they shared and keep the connection between both centers.”
My center was everything to me, and I was determined to do whatever I needed to make it all work.
“That is a fantastic aspiration, and I have all confidence that you will succeed,” Max said. “You seem like the type of person who will fight, even in adversity.”
Max’s validation of my goals made me feel a mix of warmth and excitement. I think I could keep talking about my center for hours, except I’d have no pizza left.
“You’re a pizza thief!” I slapped his hand as he was reaching for a second slice.
The bastard pouted. How could I resist a pouting Max? Well, I didn’t think I could resist any version of Max, so I gave him a slice after I took a bite out of it. Yeah, two can play this game.
“Tell me about your brother Alex,” he said.
“Well, there’s just the two of us, and I’m two years older. He met his wife Joana at University and they’ve been inseparable since. She’s like a little sister to me. Now they’ve given me the best gift in the world, Sofia.” I beamed at the thought of meeting the little bundle of joy. I was determined to be the best uncle in the world.
“Oh no,” Max laughed. “I know that smile. You’re going to spoil that little girl rotten, aren’t you?”
“Yup. And I’m not even going to feel guilty about it.”
“How about you?” I asked. “What do you want when you grow up?”
“I want world peace, of course,” Max declared as he stole back a prawn I was about to eat from his plate.
“Hey!” I poked him in his ribs and discovered he was very ticklish. “Oh! This is an interesting development,” I said. “Now answer my question, or else…” I pretended to tickle him.
“Okay, okay.” He put his hands up in defeat. “I became a nurse because I wanted to help people. The job at the hospital is great, and obviously, pays my living, but my passion is to help those that don’t have access to medical care.
“A lot of the kids at the Liberty Center are vulnerable to STIs, and it’s important to educate them as much as acknowledging we can’t control what they do when they’re not in our care. It’s all about equipping them with the right information…and a big pack of condoms!” He laughed at his comment, but I felt there was something more he wasn't saying.
We seemed to have the same passion for helping LGBT kids. After all, Max spent so much time volunteering at the Liberty Center, I wondered if there was a story behind that.
“How did you come to volunteer at the center?” I asked.
He took my hand and started playing with my fingers as he answered.
“I’ve known Dorian for a long time. He came from a wealthy but very down to earth family. Both he and his sister have hearts of gold. When we were young, some kids at our school struggled to come out to their parents.” Max went silent for a moment and then took a breath before he carried on.
“Some of the kids were kicked out of their homes and ended up on the street. Fast forward a few years, and Dorian decided to use his business degree and trust fund to open the Liberty LGBTQ Youth Center and Shelter.”
