John watched as Mike and the woman hit it off, drinking his beer and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the bar. About ten minutes after Mike had gone to talk to the woman, he came back to the table with a big smile on his face.
“Going well?” John asked, already knowing the answer.
“Oh man, she’s so cool. We’re going to head out and get something to eat. I hope you don’t mind me ditching you…?”
“No, go on a date! Make me feel like the world’s best wingman,” John said, waving Mike off.
Mike didn’t hesitate, clapping John on the shoulder and taking off.
John was happy for him. He stayed seated for another ten minutes, finishing his beer, but when he noticed the twink at the bar gathering up the courage to come talk to him he decided to call it a night.
He hated shooting people down.
Paying his tab, John left the bar and called an Uber. As he waited for it to arrive, he got a text from his friend Cory.
Hey, sorry things have been so hectic with me! Was wondering if you wanted to check out Club Thorn with me tonight? I promise you’ll love it!!!
John smirked down at his phone. He hadn’t talked to Cory since the night they were supposed to have gone out, Cory’s schedule in the ER and John’s shifts clashing completely, and Cory had no idea that John had gone to the club without him.
Already checked it out on my own. Interesting place. ;)
John sent the text, wishing he could see Cory’s face when he read it.
!!! They let you inside? Do you want to go again tonight? I’m a member and you can be my plus one.
John considered it, not sure if he was in the mood to hang out at a sex club. Then again, if he went with Cory he didn’t have to have sex. He could just hang out with his friend and get a drink.
Sure. When? And yes, they let me in. I’ll tell you all about it.
The reply was almost instantaneous.
!!!! Meet you there in one hour?
John texted back a thumbs up emoji, his Uber arriving right after he pressed send. An hour would give him just enough time to go home and change into something that wasn’t a flannel shirt and jeans.
It would be fun.
***
John met Cory on the street outside of Club Thorn, doing a double take when he got out of his Lyft and saw what his friend was wearing.
He had known Cory since they were both in middle school—the two of them coming out at around the same time and naturally gravitating toward each other—but he’d never seen his friend likethis.
Cory was dressed up in head to toe leather, the supple material clinging to his muscular body, looking like a gay fetish version of a dystopian police officer. He even had a leather cap perched on his head, and a police baton hanging off his belt.
“Wow,” John said, looking the other man up and down. Cory spread his arms and grinned, showing off. John lifted an eyebrow. “You do realize that walking around with a baton is illegal, right?”
Cory scoffed. “It’s not a baton, it’s a dildo.Feel.”
John jerked back as Cory drew the baton looking thing out of his belt and jabbed him with it. Sure enough, the baton was made of wobbly rubber.
“Okay, okay, stop poking me with it,” John laughed. He’d never seen this side of Cory before.
“Fine,” Cory said, sliding the dildo back into his belt. “Do you want to head inside?”
John nodded, suddenly feeling woefully underdressed in his jeans, t-shirt and leather bomber jacket. Cory slapped him on the back and led up him up the stairs to the entrance of the club.
“So how long have you been a member here?” John asked, looking at the way that Cory’s big bicep stretched the sleeve of his leather shirt..
