Rob’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, that sounds amazing! Any chance I can intrude a bit and join you? I’d love to get an appointment for a massage, but I could use your help as an interpreter.”
Ben smiled as he replied, “Of course. In fact, let’s meet for breakfast and I’ll call the spa when they open to see if they can fit you in. If you decide you want to try the pools or sauna, you’ll need a bathing suit.”
“Thanks, that sounds great. What time do you want to meet for breakfast?”
“Let’s say eight-thirty. I believe the spa opens at nine, so we can grab a bite to eat and then I’ll call. My appointment is at ten o’clock, but it’s only about ten minutes by cab to the place.”
As they approached the hotel, Rob said “Seeing as you bought me dinner, would you like to join me in the bar for a nightcap?”
“Sure,” Ben replied.
They entered the hotel and proceeded directly to the bar. There were people at a couple of the sofas and chairs, and three people at the bar, so they headed to the corner of the bar where they could each sit at an end making it easier to chat.
“Buenas tardes, señores,’ Carlos greeted them. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Do you have any American whiskey, like a nice bourbon?” Rob asked.
“Si, I have Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve.”
“I’ll have Woodford Reserve on the rocks, please,” Rob replied.
“I’ll have the same,” Ben added.
Carlos quickly poured two generous servings and set the glasses before them. “Enjoy.” Then he moved away to take care of another customer.
Ben lifted his glass. “Cheers!”
Rob clinked his glass with Ben’s then took a sip. “Ah,” he said, “that’s good.”
“That it is,” Ben agreed.
“So, I feel like I’m monopolizing your time,” Rob confessed. “We hung out at the bar earlier, had dinner together, and now we’ve made plans for tomorrow. If I’m making a pest of myself, feel free to tell me to get lost.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Ben replied. “You’re not a pest at all. I’ve enjoyed the time we’ve spent together, and I look forward to spending more time with you on the cruise, if you still want to. You’re a nice guy, easygoing; we’ve had some interesting conversations.”
“Whew, okay, good,” Rob answered, feeling very relieved and a little excited. “I’ve already told you I haven’t really traveled since Alan passed away, and I’m feeling a bit nervous about doing things on my own. It’s been pretty easy with you and I didn’t want to take advantage.”
“No worries, Rob. We’re good. In fact, while we’re on the cruise, you can decide how much, or how little, time we spend together. I have no plans at all, other than to finish the book I’m reading and maybe start another. If you want to hang out, let me know. If you want some alone time, that’s fine, too. But I understand that you’re a little nervous about traveling alone, so if you need someone to hang out with, I’m happy to spend time with you.”
“Thanks, Ben, I really appreciate that.”
They sipped their drinks before Ben said, “I must confess, while I’ve cruised before, it’s been a while and I’m sorely out of practice. I’ll need to pick your brain about things, if that’s okay?”
“Absolutely, Ben! In fact, we can talk about a few things tomorrow so you’re ready to board the ship on Saturday, alright?”
“Yes, that’s a really good idea.”
They finished their drinks and Rob asked Carlos to add the tab to his hotel bill, then left him a tip on the bar. They headed to the elevator and both reached for the button marked ‘4.’ Ben got there first and as he pressed it, they both chuckled.
“Looks like we’re neighbors,” Rob commented.
As they stepped off the elevator, Ben turned to the left and Rob to the right. Ben looked at Rob and said, “Good night, Rob. See you in the morning.”
* * *
Rob got to his room and thought about the evening as he undressed and brushed his teeth. Parts of it definitely felt like a date, but again, no flirting on Ben’s part and he wasn’t really feeling a gay vibe from him, either. Nothing he had seen online gave any indication that Ben might be bi, so maybe he was over-analyzing again.
Alan used to tell him that he thought way too hard about so many things. Ah well, he really wasn’t looking for romance, anyway. But finding a new friend? Yeah, that seemed like a real possibility here. Ben was a great guy. He was low-key and down-to-earth. He didn’t come across as a ‘movie star’ and Rob really liked that. Ben could definitely become a good friend if that was something he wanted.
He set an alarm and got under the covers, wondering if he’d have any trouble falling asleep. Since Alan’s death, sleep hadn’t always come easy to Rob. He missed having someone lying next to him, even though Alan’s snoring sometimes meant that he had to go to the guest room in order to get some rest. He was thinking of Ben and how nice he was as he drifted off to sleep.
