Bad Hair Day
by Nelson
March 2004
Nelson reached out and touched the stocking cap on Zach’s head, with a quizzical look on his face. “Why are you wearing this in the house?” he asked with a pluck of the elastic trim of the stocking cap. Zach’s eyes widened slightly when Nelson pulled it away from his head, and relief flooded through him when Nelson’s only focus was the cap.
“I’m cold, that’s all.”
“Cold? Inside?” Nelson asked, even more confused.
“Well, YEah,” Zach answered as though it were perfectly obvious, with a little roll of his eyes.
The green stocking cap clung tightly to his head and his forehead seemed much bigger than usual with all his hair tucked neatly underneath. Going straight for said forehead, Nelson’s palm plastered itself against it as though it had a bull’s-eye right in the center. Zach pulled away, twisting his head to the right. “Stop it, Nelson,” he griped, knowing the act was proof that Nelson’s first instinct was to think him sick. “I’m not sick.”
Ignoring his lover’s direction, Nelson kept his palm against Zach’s forehead then took him by the arm with his other to hold him still. “Are you sure?” he asked while making an assessment on his own.
“Yes! Quit it!” Zach directed.
With a grip still on Zach’s arm, he used it as a lead and dragged Zach closer to him, replacing his palm with his lips. Zach’s eyes searched the back of his head once again, in a dramatic roll backward. Nelson said when he unglued his lips from Zach’s head, “You don’t feel hot.”
“I TOLD you,” Zach said, looking hard into Nelson’s eyes.
Nelson held his gaze as though by boring his eyes into Zach’s he could figure out the unusual behavior. Zach noticed Nelson’s eyes wander over his body and settle on the three-inch letters on the front of his t-shirt, telling the world that Reebok was the shoe of choice. Nelson looked back up at Zach and said, “If you’re so cold, wouldn’t a sweatshirt or sweater be the more logical choice over a stocking cap and t-shirt?” Nelson’s eyes narrowed, filled with clear doubt as to the reason for the cap, as he completed his sentence.
Zach worked on searching his brain for a logical explanation without shifting his stare. Nelson crossed his arms while he waited, making it that much harder for Zach to think. A light bulb burst to life in his head, and Zach said, “Because I was afraid I’d be too hot with a sweatshirt or sweater. That would be TOO much. The cap is just enough.” There. That should work.
“Did it ever occur to you to crank the heat a little?” Nelson asked.
Zach was much faster with the answer to the current question and said, “That’s wasteful. Why would I do that if I could be comfortable with a hat on?”
Nelson searched Zach’s face for a better explanation and decided to let it go. He often didn’t understand logic as it was processed by Zachary Bartholomew, and he chalked the incident up to one of those times. “Fine, Zach,” he said with a dismissing wave. “Whatever makes you happy.”
Zach’s mouth fell open and he followed Nelson into the kitchen. “Hey! Why don’t you say that more often?”
“Say what more often?” Nelson asked over his shoulder. He pushed through the swinging kitchen door and Zach caught it with his palm, continuing to follow Nelson.
“Say, ‘whatever makes you happy’?” Zach pointed out.
Nelson chuckled softly and loosened the knot in his tie as he paused in front of the refrigerator, and Zach almost ran into his back when he stopped unexpectedly. Nelson smiled and pulled Zach to him by the upper arms. “I always want to make you happy. The only time you aren’t is when you misbehave or don’t like my decisions.”
Zach said, “Oh, ha ha.”
Nelson laughed at his reaction and drew him up tightly in his arms, kissing the brim of the ridiculous stocking cap adorning his young partner’s crown. “It’s true and you know it.”
“It is NOT true,” Zach said with a pout.
With no hair poking out from under the cap as a distraction, Zach’s blue eyes seemed to pop at Nelson. “My handsome man,” he said, “even with that ridiculously silly-looking hat on.” He kissed Zach’s pouting lips and Zach put the pout right back in place after the kiss, letting it go just long enough to pucker. Nelson tried to suppress a grin at the lip poking out at him, and attempted to sidetrack Zach by saying, “I think your eyes get bluer when you get mad, Sweet Pea.”
“Then they should be as blue as a summer sky right now,” Zach said.
Nelson patted Zach’s rear end under his hand and he said, “We need to fix dinner. I’d rather the food simmer than you.” He pushed Zach away and turned his attention to the refrigerator, pulling out the meatloaf he patted out that morning. “Here,” he said, handing the pan to Zach. “Would you mind getting this started while I change?” Zach responded by saying nothing but took the pan nonetheless. “350. I’ll be right back,” he said as he left the kitchen.
Zach sat the pan on the top of the stove then set the oven for 350. He reached up and touched the cap and ran his fingertips around the edge to be sure it still covered everything.
*****
“Can you see anything?” Zach asked Ben earlier.
“Yeah, I can see plenty. A ball cap isn’t going to work.”
“Crap!” Zach swore. He yanked off the Atlanta Braves cap by the brim and turned it around backward on his head. “How about now?”
“Nope. Not working,” Ben reported after surveying his friend. “It needs to be bigger.”
“What you do you suggest? A damn cowboy hat? I don’t have one,” Zach said miserably.
“No, dope. Something that will cover,” Ben said, tugging an imaginary hat down over his own head. “You’ll never pull this off until tomorrow.”
“I have to,” Zach said. “Laz can’t get me in until tomorrow afternoon.” His brows knitted together while he thought, then his eyes lit up. “Hey! What about a stocking cap?”
Ben smiled with a slow nod of his head. “Yeah, I think that would work. Do you have one?”
“I do, but I’m not sure where it is. It’s here somewhere,” Zach said. He eagerly went to the chest of drawers and started digging through them, careful not to muss the neatly folded clothes inside. “Where IS it?!” he grumbled to himself. Ben stood by watching then plopped down on Nelson and Zach’s bed while Zach worked.
Zach stood up suddenly with his trophy clenched in his fist. “I found it!” He tugged the cap on his head and ran a hand under the edge, tucking his hair underneath. Ben stood up and came closer so he could see. “How’s that?” Zach asked.
“I think it will work. I don’t know how you’ll explain it, but I think it will work.”
“I’ll think of something. I just need to get through tonight and in the morning until he leaves,” Zach said.
“That’s a tall order, Zach,” Ben said.
“Never mind,” Zach answered gruffly. “How do I look?” He posed stiffly for Ben and waited for the report. “Well?”
“You look stupid,” he said.
Zach gave him a right hook to the arm and said, “A little support here?”
Ben rubbed the spot on his arm and said, “Asshole. I AM supporting you. You’d better not drag me into this.”
“I won’t!” Zach said, turning to leave the room.
Ben followed him still rubbing his arm and muttering under his breath, “Yeah, that’s what you said last time - and the time before that, and the time before…”
“SHUT up,” Zach said.
*****
Zach heard Nelson re-enter the kitchen behind him and he glanced over his shoulder from the stove to acknowledge him quickly. He was unable to turn away when he saw what Nelson had in his hands, and Zach stopped stirring the broccoli he had just put on the burner. Shit.
“Would you like to tell me what is all over this towel?” Nelson held out exhibit ‘A’ toward Zach: a terry cloth towel, covered with purple stains. If not for the evidence he was holding, Zach could have appreciated the presence of his handsome partner, now wearing casual jeans and a t-shirt.
Zach looked at the towel then his eyes were drawn back to Nelson’s face. He shook his head in answer to the question. No, he didn’t want to tell him what was all over the towel; not at all. No way. Nuh, uh.
But, Nelson persisted. He demanded, “I want an answer, Zachary.”
Shit. There was his full first name. A sure sign Nelson was in full-out lecture mode. Zach just looked at the towel, still outstretched to him, and he said, “Um…Where did you find that?”
“That’s not an answer. It’s another question,” Nelson said, briskly. “A question meant to distract me from what I just asked you and, just so you know, it didn’t work.” Zach shifted from foot to foot and swallowed hard. “I’m waiting,” Nelson persisted.
Zach couldn’t get the words past his throat and his eyes grew when Nelson started toward him. His hands covered his posterior, fully expecting a prompting swat intended to thrust an answer out. Nelson laid the towel on the table as he made his approach, but instead of swatting Zach when he reached him, his hand went to the stocking cap to tug it off by the center point at the top of his head. Zach could feel it stretching, almost in slow motion, as Nelson pulled at it against the elastic and gravity holding it on Zach’s head. Zach’s hands shot up to the cap, grabbed the edge, and held it in place, drawing an immediate response from Nelson. “Zachary Adam. Let it go.”
Zach hesitantly released his grip and waited while Nelson uncovered his secret. Zach watched as Nelson’s physiological manifestations reported what must be going through his mind. His brows rose first in surprise then creased into a frown while his jaw went slack in shock. His lips worked, forming words that wouldn’t come past his mouth, captured either in his head or on his tongue. Zach put his hand up to his hair and ran his palm over the waves, trying to straighten them out from the hat-hair he knew he must be sporting. Nelson finally got his tongue out of the clutches of the “cat” and said clearly and distinctly, “How in the WORLD did you end up with red hair?”
“It’s a long story…” Zach said.
“I have time,” Nelson patiently responded.
“But, it’s almost time to eat!” Zach argued.
“Start talking,” Nelson said with his arms folded across his chest. It was Zach’s turn to be at a loss for words, with no immediate response to Nelson’s request. Nelson said, “Spill it, Zachary,” assuming the answer even before he heard Zach’s explanation.
*******
“Guess what I want to do?” Zach asked Benji while trailing him to the living room. Ben took a seat on the sofa, and began flipping through the latest TV Guide.
“I’m going to color my hair for summer. I want it blonde.”
Ben grinned and sat up, discarding the TV Guide to look at Zach. “You’re a brunette. That will be a BIG change, buddy. Are you sure you’re up for it?”
“Oh, yeah,” Zach said plopping down beside Benji. “I’ve been calling all morning to see if I can get an appointment today. They must not be in yet. You’ll come with me, right?”
Ben shrugged and said, “Sure, I’m not doing anything else today.” He paused and asked, “What will Nelson say?”
“He doesn’t care. I told him I wanted to get it done this morning.”
“And, he didn’t care?” Ben asked.
“Nope. I’m going to call his hairdresser again. He highlights Nelson’s and it always looks good.”
Ben looked at his watch and said, “It’s almost 9:30. Maybe they’ll be in now.”
“Yep,” Zach answered, and he went to the kitchen for the phone book, although he should have had the number memorized from dialing it so many times.
*******
Nelson was still standing with a determined look on his face, waiting for Zach to give him the full story. Zach mumbled softly, giving him the high-level view, “I…I…colored it.”
“What did you say?” Nelson asked. “Speak up when you answer me.”
“I said, I colored it,” Zach answered again then looked away.
“YOU did this to yourself?” Nelson asked, with a hand moving instinctively to his hip.
Zach answered, “I did,” he said.
“What did I tell you just this morning?” Nelson asked.
Zach looked at the linoleum when he answered, “To let Laz do it.”
“So, you do remember what I said.” The statement hung heavily in the air, and Nelson let it dangle there before he continued. “Then, how is it that you did it yourself when you and I both distinctly remember me telling you not to touch it?”
“I didn’t want to wait!” Zach said, looking up from the floor.
Nelson took a moment to look at Zach’s hair and run his fingers through it. Shaking his head, and sighing heavily, he asked, “Do you see now why I said for you not to do it? Do you think it would have been worth it to wait?”
“Well, yeah, I do NOW, but not earlier today.” Not the correct answer, according to Nelson’s expression.
Nelson’s hand went from the top of Zach’s head to the underside of his chin, cupping it in his fingers. He asked, “Even after I told you not to try this on your own?”
“Yes, sir,” Zach answered reluctantly. “But, Laz couldn’t get me in for two weeks!”
Nelson released Zach’s chin and straightened up, hands settling on his hips. “And, now you’re a redhead because you couldn’t wait for him.”
“Well, if you didn’t insist I go to THE Jacob Lazarus, I could have gotten it done earlier and wouldn’t have HAD to try it myself,” Zach commented defensively.
“Laz knows what he’s doing; you know that. That’s why I suggested you wait for him,” Nelson said. “And, by the way, I never said you had to go to him. What I said was you weren’t to do it yourself.”
Zach looked away again, knowing that was the crux of the issue. It wasn’t that he was a redhead or that he didn’t wait for Laz. It was that he colored his hair after being told not to do it himself. Seizing on an opportunity to get out of trouble, he offered the best defense he could think of. “I didn’t do it myself, actually,” he said. “So, technically, I didn’t disobey you.”
“Let me guess. Benjamin?”
Instantly worried he might be sending trouble Ben’s way, never having intended to, Zach said, “Well, I made him do it, so don’t be mad at him. It’s not his fault.”
“I’m sure you did. And, for the record, you did technically disobey me.”
“No, I didn’t,” Zach argued. “Not technically.”
“You disobeyed me. Period.” Nelson pulled out a chair and motioned for Zach to have a seat and then sat down himself after turning the broccoli down. “Why don’t you give me the whole story, beginning to end. You already know you’re in trouble so there’s no need to leave anything out.”
Zach looked at his lover across the table and took a deep breath before starting the story. “Well, you know I wanted to lighten my hair.”
“I know that much, Zachary. Start with the part I don’t know.”
Zach’s mouth dropped open and he waited for his surprised expression to make its point before he spoke. “You JUST said to tell you the WHOLE story, beginning to end.”
Nelson gave Zach a disapproving glare and said, “Just pick up with the new information, please, Zachary.”
Zach glared back for a minute then shrugged and started again. “Okay. I DID what you told me,” Zach stressed, “and called Laz this morning, but he couldn’t get me in for two weeks.”
“Um, hmm,” Nelson said. He propped his chin against his thumb and ran his forefinger alongside his cheek to support his head, listening intently to the story.
“Ben was here and he was going to go with me to the hair place…”
*****
“That’s fine, I guess,” Zach said into the phone after finally getting through to the salon. “Put me down for the 15th…Yeah, add me to the cancellation list.” Having taken care of business, he disconnected the call and turned to Ben. “Mr. High-in-Demand can’t take me for two weeks unless someone cancels. Can you believe that?”
“Jeez, he must be pretty popular,” Ben said.
“He is. Nelson always makes his next appointment when he leaves.”
Ben asked, “Is that why you don’t go to him?”
“I do go to him when I can get in, but I’m not anal enough like Nelson to make my next appointment when I leave, so I don’t always see him. The other guy I go to is out of town.”
“You could try my girl, if you want it done sooner,” Ben suggested.
Accepting the option, Zach said, “Help me find her number.”
*****
“So, you see, Nelson, it wasn’t my fault,” Zach said earnestly. “Everyone was booked. I even tried Ben’s lady. I HAD to do it myself.”
“Calling three stylists is hardly ‘everyone’ in this city. And, you didn’t HAVE to do anything. Two weeks weren’t going to kill you, Zach.”
“It would have felt like two months! I wanted it done now,” he argued.
“And, what did I say?”
Zach glowered at Nelson under his lashes and said, “I thought you only wanted me to tell you stuff you don’t already know.”
Nelson suppressed a sigh and said, “Answer me, young man.”
“We already covered this, though,” Zach said, looking up at Nelson earnestly. “YOU said…”
“Cover it again. I want to make sure you don’t forget.”
“You’re confusing me!” Zach remonstrated. “’Tell me everything, tell me only what I don’t know, tell me what I know’…”
“Zachary, that’s enough. Stop avoiding the question.”
Zach’s sigh came out more like a huff as he relented, “You told me not to do it myself.”
“And, you’re telling me you didn’t have a choice since you couldn’t get an appointment,” Nelson stated, “with all of three hair stylists.”
“I wanted it done today,” he contended with finality.
Nelson’s eyes held Zach’s firmly until Zach looked down at the table. Nelson finally asked, “Is that a reason to disobey me?”
“It seemed like it at the time,” he said until he saw the frown settling over Nelson’s face again. He quickly added, “But no, sir. Right at this minute, it doesn’t seem like a good reason at all.”
Nelson nodded at Zach who had realized it was too little too late. “Finish the story,” Nelson said.
*****
“Damn. I really wanted to get my hair colored today,” Zach complained, running his fingers through it for emphasis.
“Too bad. But, it’s not like it’s life or death. You can wait,” Ben said.
“I don’t WANT to wait,” Zach pointed out.
“If no one can fit you in, you have to wait.”
“Not if I do it myself, I don’t,” Zach said with a grin. “Come with me to the drugstore and help me do it?”
“No way. Bad idea,” Benji objected, waving his hands in front of Zach with a shake of his head. “I can just imagine how this will turn out.”
Zach rolled his eyes and said, “What’s your problem? It’s not your hair.”
Ben thoughtfully considered helping Zach, then decided against it. “No, it’s not my hair, but if it goes bad, I don’t want to get into trouble for helping you.”
“You won’t. Why would you?”
“I’m not sure,” Ben said, “but, I can almost hear Vic saying something about an accomplice.”
“Accomplice to what?” Zach persisted. “It’s my hair, and I have a right to color it if I want to. There’s no way you’ll get in trouble for helping me.”
Against his better judgment, Ben conceded after a moment’s pause for thought. “All right, I’ll go with you and help you.”
*****
“I see,” Nelson said. “You talked Benji into helping you because you didn’t have the patience to wait two weeks, is that it?”
“I suppose you COULD look at it that way. Maybe,” Zach said, “if you stretch things a LOT…”
“I do look at it that way, and with no stretching needed whatsoever.”
“I figured you would,” Zach said. “But, it IS my hair…”
“Zachary…”
“What?” Zach asked with innocent, wide eyes.
Nelson said, “You know what. Where did you buy the color?”
Zach sighed again. “Wal-Mart,” Zach said. “We went straight there from here…”
*****
Standing in front of the array of boxes, the boys were perplexed. Ben looked from the bottom shelf to the top. He said, “How can there be so many different colors?”
“I have no idea,” Zach answered, perusing the many colors and brands before him. He searched the shelves and picked up a pattern that might make it easier to choose. “It looks like they are lumped together by brand then by color. Look for blonde ones.”
Ben noticed the same pattern and they each started looking for what they needed. “Here’s one,” Ben said, holding up a box. “Her hair looks good,” he said, pointing an index finger at the lovely blonde on the front cover.
“Yeah, but how do we know if that’s what I need to buy?”
“I don’t know. That’s why you should have a professional do it,” Ben sneered.
With a “fuck you” glare, Zach snatched the box out of Ben’s hands and turned it over to read. “Look. It tells you right here what color it will be based on your current hair color.” He ran a finger along the words skimming what the maker had to say about its product. “I think this one will work.”
“Wait a second,” Ben said, grabbing Zach’s arm to stop him from leaving. “That one’s permanent. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“All of the blonde ones I looked at were permanent. The ones that aren’t say ‘no change’ for brown hair,” Zach pointed out.
“Oh,” Ben said, and looked away a bit uncertain. “Are you sure this is a good idea? What will Nelson say?”
Zach shrugged and decided it would be best not to mention he had been told not to try this on his own. Instead, he said, “He’ll love it once he sees it. And, it will save us $85 by not having his hair guy do it.”
“Are you sure?” Ben asked.
“Yes, already! Come on. I want to get this done,” Zach said, and he exited the aisle with Ben behind him, shaking his head and muttering something about stupid ideas.
******
“So, the two of you came back here and applied the color?” Nelson asked.
“Yes, sir,” Zach replied.
“I suppose that’s why one of our good towels is ruined?”
Zach turned expectant eyes to Nelson and said, “I think it will come out.” I hope, he thought.
Nelson looked at the purple stains and asked, “Didn’t you just tell me you bought permanent color?”
Crap. “Yes, sir, but a towel isn’t hair,” Zach pointed out patiently. “Maybe it isn’t permanent on terrycloth. Maybe putting some Shout on it will do the trick.”
Ever amazed at how quickly Zach could come up with the “perfect” answer, Nelson shook his head at Zach. He ran his hand across the dry stains and said, “Maybe had you washed it immediately. I doubt anything will get it out now.”
Zach looked at the turncoat towel that had given him away and asked accusingly, “Why were you digging in the hamper, anyway?”
“I was going to put in a load of towels and I saw this one when I was gathering the dirty ones.”
“It was MY week to do laundry,” Zach argued. “You weren’t supposed to see that,” he added more quietly.
If not for the situation having him thoroughly aggravated, Nelson might have smiled at the complaint. Any other time, Zach would have happily let Nelson do the laundry whether it was his week or not. Nelson said, “Don’t change the subject. Anyway, I was trying to be helpful.”
“I wish you hadn’t,” Zach said.
“I’m sure you do,” Nelson said, “but, the point is, I found the towel and even if I hadn’t, how long do you think you would have been able to make excuses for wearing that cap?”
“I don’t know. I only needed to wear it until you left the house tomorrow morning,” Zach said. His hand went automatically to his hair with the topic under discussion, and ran it back and forth over the auburn locks.
“It doesn’t matter anyway,” Nelson said, watching Zach caress his head. “You had no business coloring your hair yourself after I told you not to. You shouldn’t have done it in the first place, then trying to hide it makes it even worse.”
And there was the rub. Zach knew no matter how he explained away what he did, it all came back to one thing: he disobeyed. “I’m sorry, Nelson. I just didn’t want to wait and I figured people color their own hair all the time. The shelves were full of hair color.”
Nelson nodded at him and said, “Yes, they do. But, when I tell you not to, you don’t. Plain and simple. It’s not a difficult concept.” Zach’s eyes searched the tabletop and he didn’t look up until Nelson prompted him for more. “Finish telling me how you became a redhead. Did you not follow the instructions, or what?”
*****
Ben studied the box while Zach worked through the directions with one of their good towels cinched around his neck in one fist, the instructions in the other. The towel fell softly over his shoulders, reporting for duty, to keep any hair color off Zach’s good shirt. “Okay, this sounds simple enough. We have to mix these two,” Zach said, reaching for two little bottles, “and you have to wear these.” He peeled the complimentary plastic gloves from the directions where they had been pasted.
“God, these are huge!” Ben said, holding them up. He worked his fingers into the gloves then wiggled them to get accustomed to their feel. “I don’t know if I can do anything with these things on.”
“Yes, you can,” Zach said. He was double-checking the bottles to be sure he was mixing the right things then twisted off the lids. “This should be easy,” he said.
“I hope so. If you come out with green hair, you’ll be in big trouble.”
Zach shook his head while he dumped the contents of one bottle into the other. “I’m not going to have green hair,” he said. “That wasn’t a listed outcome on the back of the box.”
“I’ve heard of people getting green hair before,” Ben said.
“I’m not getting green hair,” Zach said. The bottle he was squeezing made a sputtering sound as the last of the contents was transferred to the other bottle. It heaved when Zach released the pressure, then squeezed it again to get the rest of the liquid out.
“Ew,” Ben said, wrinkling his nose. “It stinks.”
“It’s strong,” Zach agreed. “It smells like ammonia or bleach, I can’t tell which.”
“I think it’s both. I hope it doesn’t eat your hair.”
Zach glowered at him and said, “Would you quit with the doom and gloom projections? I don’t need it. I’m nervous enough as it is.” Zach gently shook the bottle as the directions had told him to, mixing the two products together. He looked back at the bottle in his hands when Ben’s eyebrows went up.
Ben said, “I thought we got blonde, not purple.”
“Uh, oh,” Zach said, seeing what Ben saw in the bottle. The two liquids that had been white and brown respectively when in separate containers were turning a distinct shade of royal purple after having been mixed. “You don’t think it will turn my hair that color, do you?”
“I don’t know,” Ben said shaking his head. “I don’t think I’d try it, if it were me.”
“It can’t turn my hair purple,” Zach said, but he still wasn’t so sure. Trying to convince himself as much as Benji, he said, “I think it’s supposed to be like that.”
“Are you sure?” Ben asked taking the bottle that was being handed to him.
“No,” he answered honestly, “but we don’t have time to worry about it. I want to get this done and be long finished before Nelson comes home.” He took a seat in the kitchen chair and held the towel at his neck, pulling it tightly against his throat.
Ben sighed and said, “Okay, here it goes.” He started working the color through Zach’s hair just like the directions told them it should be done. “These gloves are a bitch,” he complained. “I can’t feel anything.” Zach could hear the crinkling sound of the plastic gloves responding as Ben worked his fingers and the purple fluid through Zach’s hair. Zach’s eyes grew large when he heard Ben say, “Oops.”
“’Oops’?! What ‘oops’? Don’t say ‘oops’ when you’re putting purple hair color on my head!”
“It’s okay. It’s just a good thing you’re wearing that towel because I got a glob on it.” Zach felt Ben’s gloved fingers graze his shoulder trying to remove the color. “Oops,” he said again.
“What?” Zach asked anxiously, sitting up more rigid in his seat.
“Nothing. I just made it worse because it smeared.”
“Shit, I hope it comes out,” Zach said.
“Maybe we’d better wash it right after we’re done,” Ben suggested.
“Nah. It’s my week to do laundry. I’ll stick a load in the wash later tonight and wash it then.”
Ben shrugged and said, “Okay. Whatever you want to do. It’s your towel, but it looks like a nice one.”
It was a nice one. Zach said, “Damn it. Why didn’t I think to pull an old one off the shelf?”
“I don’t know. Not smart, Zach.”
“Shut up and color my hair,” Zach said.
*****
“So, that explains the purple on the towel,” Nelson said with a steady gaze at Zach. “How did your hair turn red?”
“I don’t know! We followed the directions exactly! It’s not my fault the stupid color didn’t work like it should have. I think we should get Vic to sue the color company.”
Nelson fingered the purple-spattered towel and ignored Zach’s attempt to shift the blame to Miss Clairol or L’Oreal, whichever one he used. He said, “I have a sneaking suspicion the color worked just fine and you two just didn’t know what you were doing, which by the way, makes going to a professional the right thing to do. Especially, if you’ve been told to go that route.”
“I’m sorry, Nelson. I didn’t want to wait, though.”
Nelson leveled his eyes at Zach and said, “You’ve mentioned that before. It doesn’t change a thing.”
Zach shifted against the hard kitchen chair trying to get comfortable under Nelson’s glare, knowing it would be the last time he sat comfortably that night. Trying another tactic, he said indignantly, “It’s my hair. I should be able to do what I want to it.”
“Yes, it is your hair and if you want it blonde, I’ll love you just the same.” He waved a hand toward Zach’s head as he continued to speak, “Or, if you want to leave it red, I’m fine with that.” Zach waited for the rest, knowing it was coming. Nelson said, “But,” and there it was, “when I tell you not to do something, that means you don’t do it. I never had a problem with you changing your hair color. What I had a problem with, was you doing it yourself.” He nodded toward Zach and added, “For obvious reasons.”
“I said I was sorry! Do you think I like having red hair?” Zach asked sharply.
“That’s not the point and you know it,” Nelson said with conviction. “The point is you disobeyed me and we’ll deal with that as soon as I hear the rest of this little tale.”
So, the axe wouldn’t fall until the story was over. Zach determined he would make it as long as possible. If he had his way about it, it would rival War and Peace. And, when that was over…“But, dinner…” Zach said.
“Dinner will wait,” Nelson answered. “The quicker you get through this, the quicker we can deal with it and then we’ll eat.”
“I’m not hungry anymore,” Zach said pitifully.
“Finish,” Nelson told him with an inviting palm raised to him.
Zach took another deep breath and continued with the story.
*****
With his head hanging in the kitchen sink, Ben rinsed the purple out of his hair according to the directions at the exact time they indicated the color should be removed. “Oh, no,” he said.
“What?! What?!! Is it purple?” Zach said to the disposal under his nose.
“I hope it gets lighter when it dries,” Ben reported.
“What color is it?!” Zach asked.
Ben ran his hand through Zach’s hair, pushing the cleansing water through it. “Well, it isn’t purple and it isn’t green.”
“And, it’s not blonde either?” Zach wanted to know.
“Not exactly,” Ben said as he turned off the water. Zach pulled the towel up and wrapped it around his head, blotting the excess moisture out of his hair. He toweled it off, scrubbing it hard then removed the towel.
He ran his fingers through it and shook the waves loose, looking at Ben. “What color exactly?”
Ben just kept his eyes glued to the halo of hair around his friend’s head and didn’t answer with more than a shake of his head. Zach pushed past him and walked quickly, almost at a run, toward the downstairs bathroom so he could check out the damage himself in the closest mirror. He switched on the light as he walked in and his mouth dropped open when he looked in the mirror. “Holy shit,” was all he could manage. His hair was definitely not purple, not close to green, but was every bit a lovely shade of red. “What am I going to do?” he asked Ben for advice while staring at his reflection.
Ben had followed him and stood in the doorway, still looking at Zach’s hair. “I don’t know.”
“I can’t let Nelson see this,” Zach said despondently.
Ben was sure he wouldn’t want Vic to see his hair either if the situation was reversed, but he said, “Maybe he’ll know how to fix it. He gets his hair highlighted.”
Zach was shaking his head. “I can’t. He told me not to do it myself.”
“What?! And you let me help?!” Ben said, straightening up from the doorjamb. “He’ll tell Vic for sure and then I’LL be in trouble, too.”
“Quit your bitching. I’ll tell him you didn’t know,” Zach said.
“You think that matters?”
“It’s not like you did it knowing I wasn’t supposed to,” Zach pointed out. “What can Vic say?”
“It’s not what he’ll SAY that I worry about, you asshole.”
Zach looked back at himself in the mirror, more worried about his own butt than Ben’s. “It’s not like Nelson is a tattletale like YOUR Prince Charming. He probably won’t say anything at all to Vic about you.”
“Yeah, right,” Ben said, unconvinced. The ringing phone interrupted them and Ben announced as though Zach hadn’t heard, “Phone.”
“I hear it,” he grumbled, pushing past Benji to answer the phone. Ben followed him to the living room and started shaking his head as he listened to Zach’s end of the conversation. “Yes, this is Zach….You’re kidding…Tomorrow at 2:00?…Yes, I’ll be there. Definitely.”
“Laz has an opening?” Ben asked when Zach hung up.
Zach touched his wet, red hair and answered, “Can you believe that shit?”
“You should have waited. Now, you’re probably in trouble and me, too. For nothing.”
Zach said, “I don’t know what you’re worried about. Nelson won’t say anything to Vic, I’m sure of it.”
*****
“You’re not going to get Ben in trouble, are you?” Zach asked, more concerned now that Nelson might than he had been earlier. “I don’t want to get him in trouble because of me.”
“I’m not worried about Ben’s involvement. I’m worried about what YOU did,” Nelson said.
“So, you won’t tattle on him?”
“I’m not thinking about that right now,” Nelson said. “I’m thinking about what you did, and I don’t see Ben’s part in this being a major issue.”
“Yeah, but Vic might, so please don’t tell him,” Zach requested sincerely.
“If I mention it at all, I’ll be sure he knows Ben didn’t know you weren’t supposed to do it. Okay?”
Zach nodded and said, “Okay.”
“And, I’m putting two and two together here, but Laz had a cancellation for tomorrow?”
Zach nodded again and said, “Yes, sir.” Zach was kicking himself knowing full well he could have taken the same spot and gotten his hair lightened the right way after all.
Nelson didn’t miss the irony either. “So, had you been patient,” he pointed out calmly, “you could have had this done right the first time.”
“I KNOW, Nelson. But, I didn’t know that when I called this morning! It’s not like I had a crystal ball.”
“I know you didn’t know,” Nelson said, “but what you DID know was that I told you not to mess with your hair; whether or not you could have it done when you wanted to is not the issue.” He paused to let Zach take it all in. Satisfied that Zach had long enough to process the information, he asked, “Is that it? That’s the whole story?”
Zach nodded slowly and said, “Yes, sir.”
“All right. Let’s go upstairs.”
Zach’s stomach tumbled and he looked behind him at the stove for another reason to put things off since War and Peace turned out to be more like an abridged version of a much shorter novel. “We can’t leave dinner though,” he said.
Nelson followed Zach’s glance over at the stove and said, “The meatloaf still has a half-hour, and we can turn the vegetables off until we’re done. Upstairs.” Nelson stood from the table and held out his hand to Zach, pulling him to his feet. “Go on. I’ll be right behind you.”
Great, Zach thought. Not exactly where he wanted Nelson at the moment. He went upstairs alone while Nelson turned down the food, and was barely settled on the bed when Nelson walked in and lifted him from the edge. Nelson took a seat in his place, prepared to help Zach understand not to do things he had been told not to. Without further hesitation, Nelson loosened Zach’s belt and the fly on the front of his Tommy Hilfiger’s, and slipped his jeans down to his knees.
Zach started to protest while Nelson worked to bare his backside. “Nelson, don’t spank me. I have red hair, isn’t that punishment enough?”
“No,” Nelson answered. “After you have a red behind, that will be punishment enough.”
“That’s mean, Nelson…”
“Zachary,” Nelson said calmly, “I’m not trying to be mean, but you’re going to get a spanking. End of discussion.” His boxers came next, and Nelson waited for Zach to lie across his lap after patting his thighs.
Zach followed the instruction and used his palms to support himself on Nelson’s left leg as he lowered himself across his lover’s lap, still arguing. “But, it’s not fair. I couldn’t help it.” He kept his elbows folded under him, and Nelson shifted slightly to ease the pressure of Zach’s elbows digging into the muscles of his thigh.
“You certainly could help it,” Nelson said. Having Zach settled in the necessary position with his pants well out of the way, Nelson said, “I’m not spanking you because your hair is red or for anything you couldn’t help. Why are you getting spanked?”
Zach was keenly aware of Nelson’s left arm draped across his back, and knew the other hand was standing by, ready for action. “But, you ARE spanking me because I turned my hair red,” Zach answered without giving the full correct response, conveniently leaving out the issue of disobedience. He had learned over time that the spanking started once and for all when Nelson was sure he understood the reason for it.
Nelson’s waiting palm reported for active duty and smacked down hard, once on each cheek. Zach squeezed his eyes closed at the sting, trying to prepare himself for the real spanking that would soon follow the warning swats, and he clenched his butt against the first two smacks. If he had any hopes of not crying, the initial swats chased them away. Nelson asked again, “Why, Zachary?”
Zach waited a split second too long before trying another answer and was rewarded with two more sharp spanks in the same place. “OW!” Zach yelped. “Okay, okay! Because I did it myself when you said not to,” he said, giving in.
“When I tell you not to do something, that’s what I mean. Do you understand me?” Nelson asked.
“Yes, sir,” Zach mumbled through gritted teeth. His butt was already stinging from just four swats of Nelson’s big hand, and he knew from experience it was about to get worse.
Nelson started swatting Zach’s behind after he got the appropriate answer, swatting one side and then the other in a steady pattern. The sting was building too quickly for Zach, and then Nelson started swatting harder and faster, intensifying the burn, and varying the pattern. Zach’s back went rigid and he started to squirm, even though he knew he couldn’t get anywhere. He couldn’t help it. He felt Nelson’s left arm tighten around him, keeping him in place, while his other hand continued its mission on Zach’s rear end.
Zach started crying when the potency and speed picked up in Nelson’s rhythm. “Owwww. Stop, Nelson,” he cried. “I’m sorrrry!”
Nelson must not have heard him because he never let up. Zach tried again while he could get his breath, promising never to do it again as loud as he could. He soon concentrated solely on his breathing; Nelson wasn’t listening anyway. When the spanking finally ended, Zach’s tense body relaxed across Nelson’s knees, while he gulped on his tears. Nelson helped him to his feet, and pulled up his pants.
“Come here,” Nelson said, pulling him close. He held him while he settled down then brushed the red ringlets off his forehead, caressing him while he cried it out. Without a word, Nelson took Zach’s hand, and walked him downstairs to hold him in “their” big cream-colored chair until he could calm down some more.
All things considered, it could have been much worse, Zach thought. His hair wasn’t green or purple, and truth be told, he had gotten far worse spankings. That wasn’t to say the one he got was minor by any means, but he was thankful that Nelson hadn’t seen fit to use the paddle. Zach crawled into Nelson’s lap and leaned against his chest, his head tucked neatly in the cranny between neck and shoulder.
He said quietly, “I didn’t mean to turn my hair red.”
“That’s not the point, Zach. It never was,” Nelson said, running a hand over the red hair in question.
“I know that!” Zach agreed. “You told me the ‘point’ a dozen times. But, you wouldn’t have cared if it turned blonde, like I wanted.”
“You got spanked for coloring it yourself after I told you not to, not because of the color you ended up with. I thought we were clear on that.”
“A dozen and one, now.” Zach twisted around so he could see Nelson, and asked, “You still would have spanked me, though? You wouldn’t have been happy I saved us 85 dollars?”
“What do you think?” Nelson asked looking steadily at Zach.
Zach reached out and flicked a stray wisp of hair off Nelson’s forehead, shifting his focus there and away from his eyes. He mumbled, “You would have spanked me for disobeying then *thanked* me for saving us $85.”
Nelson couldn’t help a smile at Zach’s convivial personality peeking through his gloomy countenance. “It was never about the money; we can afford it.”
“I was hoping it would turn out right, and you’d think it looked so good that you would…maybe…not remember telling me not to do it myself?” Zach eyebrows rose hopefully, but were met with a slow shake of Nelson’s head. He sighed and said, “I know. But, I was just trying to save money...”
“What you were TRYING to do was get your hair colored when YOU wanted it done. You were never concerned about the money, were you?”
Damn. “Well, maybe a little…”
The barest hint of a smile tweaked the corners of Nelson’s mouth and he asked, “Maybe…?”
“Oh, all right,” Zach conceded, slouching his shoulders and meeting Nelson’s eyes. “I wasn’t worried about the money.”
Nelson nodded and said, “I thought not.”
Zach slipped his fingers into Nelson’s hand, draped casually across his leg, and asked, “You don’t have to know me SO well, do you?”
Nelson chuckled at him and said, “Sorry, I do. Just like you know me, and you knew how this day would end - if you had just thought about it before you acted on impulse.”
“Yeah, well…” Zach said, lying back against Nelson.
Nelson linked his arms around Zach’s middle and asked, “Well, what?”
“Well, it’s too late, now,” Zach said, painfully aware of the remaining sting and pulsing sensation he was feeling in his bottom.
“Yes, it is, Annie.”
Zach bolted upright again, and half-heartedly swatted Nelson’s upper arm, making him laugh. “ANNIE?!” Zach exclaimed.
“I’m sorry, Sweet Pea. All you’re missing is a scraggly dog named Sandy.”
Zach grumbled, “Have I ever told you how NOT funny you are?”
“You’ve mentioned it a time or two,” Nelson said, still smiling. He started laughing again at Zach’s expression that spoke volumes about how thoroughly unamused he was. “I’m sorry, but all I can picture is you in a red dress…”
“Stop it,” Zach said, trying not to laugh, himself. “My hair isn’t nearly as bright or curly as hers…”
“You have to laugh, Zach,” Nelson said. “I mean, it’s so red…” Nelson reached out and touched the crimson wisps surrounding Zach’s face.
“I do NOT have to laugh,” he muttered while still trying to maintain a serious demeanor.
“Come here,” Nelson said and pulled the wavy red head to him so he could kiss the pouting lips. “I love you, Sweetie, red hair and all.”
The timer on the stove chirped its annoying bleep to let them know the meatloaf had cooked long enough. Nelson pushed Zach from his lap and took his hand. “We need to get dinner finished,” he said and Zach followed behind him.
“I’m not in the mood for food right now,” Zach complained.
Nelson squeezed his hand, and said to him over his shoulder, “Don’t be like that. I saw you trying not to laugh.”
“Was not,” Zach griped, but smiled behind Nelson’s back.
“Don’t worry, Zachary. You’re getting it fixed tomorrow. You’ll feel better then.” Nelson broke into song as they neared the kitchen door, “The sun will come ooout…TO-mor-row…you can bet your bot-TOM that to-mor-ROOOW…”
Zach yanked back on Nelson’s hand, making him stop and turn around, greeting Zach’s unhappy scowl with a smile. “You are REALLY not funny,” Zach said. “And, you’re no singer either.”
Nelson puckered up at him and gave a simultaneous wink. Zach said, “Oh, you think it’s that easy to make up with me? Just bat your lashes and that’s it?”
“Not working, huh?” Nelson asked.
“No,” Zach answered quickly, but was unable to stop the grin spreading across his face. “And, you got the words wrong. It’s ‘bet your bottom DOLLAR that tomorrow’, not ‘bet your BOTTOM’.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Nelson said, snapping his fingers.
“What is it with you and your obsession with butts? You’re always touching mine,” he added dolefully with a frown, “and, sometimes, not in a good way, either.” He laid a hand to his backside with the comment and his bottom lip poked out.
Nelson laughed and pushed through the swinging door to the kitchen, hauling Zachary along behind him. Nelson said, “Oh? I didn’t realize I had a ‘butt obsession’.”
“Uh, YEah. You should have been a proctologist instead of a G.P.,” Zach pointed out as he sat gingerly at the kitchen bar. “You definitely missed your calling.”
“You think?” Nelson asked, turning the broccoli back on.
“Well, I know comedy wasn’t a career option for you. And, obviously, singing wasn’t either.”
Nelson turned from the stove, having removed the meatloaf from the oven. He leaned on his elbows against the bar and inclined his body toward Zach. “Kiss me, Annie,” he said, capturing Zach’s lips, holding his face between his palms.
Zach shook his head and said, “I have a hard-knock life…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“This place is a dump,” Ben said as he followed Zach into the salon.
Zach shrugged as he pushed through the door. “It’s just old. You know how buildings are downtown. I think it has character.”
The walls inside were nothing more than the backside of the bricks used to construct the building, and tasteful photos hung here and there. Zach spotted Laz at his usual station in the back corner of the room and waited to make eye contact. Laz was totally caught up in what he was doing and hadn’t looked toward the waiting room, so Zach took a seat and Ben did the same. The receptionist-slash-shampoo girl was busy at the sinks so no one was at the desk to greet them.
“How will he know you’re here?” Ben asked.
About that time, Laz’s voice rose from the back of the room, “Zach!”
“Laz!” Zach shouted back with a wave.
“What’s up, buddy?” Laz squinted across the room and a smile broke out over his face. “What the hell?” he asked, switching off the hairdryer in his hands. He rested his wrist on his hip while maintaining a grip on the hairbrush in his hands.
“Don’t ask,” Zach said. Laz shook his head, still grinning, and returned to his work.
“So, that’s the guy,” Ben said.
“Yeah. He does a good job,” Zach said, leaning over for a magazine. “Want one?” he asked Ben while he was leaning over.
“What have they got?” he asked, bending toward the coffee table for a better look.
“Here’s People. It’s old, though,” Zach said, offering it up.
Ben took it and leaned back in the leather sofa, flipping pages. Zach pulled out a Reader’s Digest and went immediately to “It Pays to Enrich Your Word Power”. “I love these things,” he said, holding the magazine toward Ben.
Ben looked over the 20 words and selections of definitions. With a glance at Zach, he asked, “Don’t you get enough tests at school?”
“This one doesn’t count against me if I fail,” Zach said.
They passed the time waiting for Zach’s appointment, each wrapped up in his own magazine. Finally, Laz called to Zach again as he walked his patron to the door. “Zach. Come on back, my friend.”
Zach started to follow him, then realized Ben wasn’t coming. He paused and turned back. “Aren’t you coming?”
Ben peered through the room and looked toward Laz’s chair. “I’ll be in the way,” he said uncertainly.
“No, you’ll be fine,” Laz said. “You can sit at the manicure station. No one’s using it.”
Ben looked at the empty station and followed Zach and Laz, then took up temporary residence at the manicure post.
“What in the world did you do, Zach?” Laz asked with a big grin. “No offense, but red isn’t your color.”
“That’s what I hear,” Zach said. “Ben did it.”
Ben’s mouth fell open and he frowned Zach’s way, which elicited an immediate grin of satisfaction on his friend’s face. “I only did what you asked me to do,” Ben said.
Zach laughed and asked, “Can you fix it?” Laz was running his fingers through Zach’s hair, flicking it back and forth, assessing the situation.
“Oh, yeah. I can fix anything, any color,” he said. Looking back at Ben between glances through Zach’s red strands, he asked, “You aren’t planning on going into cosmetology, are you?”
Ben looked back into Laz’s smiling eyes, with an unpleasant glare. Zach saw the familiar look and said, “He’s a Political Science major. No plans for cosmetology, unless he changed his mind after doing this to me.”
“I didn’t DO anything to you,” Ben said. He crossed the room and stood beside Zach looking at his hair with Laz. “It started out purple,” Ben pointed out.
“That was the base color,” Laz explained. “You must have been going for blonde,” he guessed.
“Yeah,” Zach said. “How did you know?”
“Hey, I’m a professional,” Laz said with a one-shoulder shrug. “Do you still want to be a blonde?”
“I just don’t want to be a redhead. Nelson wasn’t too happy with it.”
“What then? Back to basic brown?”
“What do you think?” Zach asked the pro.
Pulling a cape from the drawer, he shook it loose in front of Zach and wrapped it around him. “I’d say go back to your natural color, but paint some highlights through the front.”
Zach looked at Laz behind him through the mirror then turned to Ben. “What do you think?”
Ben shrugged and said, “It sounds good to me. Summer’s around the corner. The lighter part will look good for summer.”
“Let’s do it,” Zach said.
“All right,” Laz said, walking toward an area blocked by a decorative screen. “I’m going to mix your color.”
Ben walked around in front of Zach and rested his hips against the counter. He was looking around the big open salon and noticed a vase of what looked like extra-long switches. “Jeez, would you look at that?”
Zach raised his eyebrows and swirled himself with his toe to face the area Ben was looking in. He looked back at Ben unimpressed. “What?”
“I’ve never thought of switches as decoration,” Ben said.
Zach laughed and glanced back at them before addressing Ben again. “I’ve never had the pleasure. I didn’t even think ‘switches’ when I saw them.”
“They’re switches, all right,” Ben said despondently. “Trust me. I HAVE had the… well, not pleasure, but you know…”
Zach laughed and spun himself in the chair. After several revolutions, it stopped suddenly when Laz reappeared behind him, halting the swinging chair. He swatted the back of Zach’s head with the end of a towel and said, “Behave yourself.”
Ben laughed and moved out of the way back toward the manicure table. “That’s something he doesn’t hear very often,” Ben said.
Zach just rolled his eyes. He watched Laz pull a stack of little papers out of the same drawer that housed the capes, and sit them on the top of the counter. “Is that right?” Laz asked, pumping up the chair. “I’m sure there’s no need to hear that, huh, Zach?”
“Nope. None at all,” Zach agreed. Ben managed to bite his tongue, having the decency to know not to reveal too much, but filing it away for later.
“So, Nelson didn’t like your red hair?” Laz asked, arranging three bowls on the counter. He had three brushes sticking out of them that looked like little paintbrushes.
Zach peered into the bowls and the smell of ammonia struck his senses. “Phew. That’s nasty,” he said then addressed Laz’s question. “No, Nelson didn’t like it. After he blustered about it for a while, he teased me about it.”
“Nelson, bluster? I don’t think so,” Laz said. He spun Zach so his back was to him and locked the chair with his toe against the lever on the base. “He’s too laid back.”
“Oh, please,” Zach said. “He can bluster plenty. Can’t he, Benji?” Zach cut his eyes toward his friend, trying to see him without turning his head.
Laz looked quickly toward Ben, who looked seriously at Laz. With his brows raised high, Ben said while nodding, “Yeah, he can.” Ben had experienced Nelson’s “blustering” enough to know he had it in him.
“No, no,” Laz said, dismissing them both. “You guys will never convince me of that,” Laz said, smiling as he sectioned off a bit of Zach’s hair. He wiggled the end of the color brush through the section of hair, separating it, then slid a paper under the strands.
“He might not yell about it,” Ben said, “but he certainly doesn’t mind letting you know when he doesn’t like something.”
“No way,” Laz said, stroking the color on Zach’s hair then folding the paper over the section, scoring it with his fingers along the middle to hold it together.
“Yes, way,” Zach said with a frown. “And, he let me know what he thought without a doubt.”
“I guess you never know someone until you live with them,” Laz said.
“Are you talking about me?” a voice said from behind Laz.
“Hey, love,” Laz said with a smile, pausing to see the man the voice belonged to. A slight man of medium build leaned to him for a kiss then dangled a set of keys between his thumb and forefinger. Laz took the keys and tossed them onto the counter. “This is my partner, Adam,” he said, introducing the dark-haired man. “Zach and Ben,” Laz pointed out.
“Hi,” Adam said with a smile. Laz turned his attention to his lover and away from Zach’s hair. “Oil’s changed,” Adam said to Laz.
“Thanks,” Laz said. “Are you headed home?”
“Not, yet. I think I’ll run by the mall for a minute.”
“You’ll be home by dinner, though,” Laz inquired with a statement.
“Yes, worrywart, I’ll be home by dinner,” Adam looked at Ben and rolled his eyes before kissing Laz. “See ya.”
“Your eyes are going to get stuck up there one day,” Laz shouted after him. “Be careful.”
“Always,” Adam said. “Nice to meet you both.” Ben watched him walk out and couldn’t help notice the sharp contrast in his clothing tastes versus that of his partner. Adam wore an old t-shirt, with equally old jeans, and a flannel shirt as a jacket. Laz was donning tight leather pants and a nice pullover. The leather pants did a fine job of accentuating Laz’s curved behind.
Laz turned the chair again and locked it in place, facing Zach toward the “switches”. Zach had to stifle a grin when he thought of Ben’s opinion of the arrangement. “Have you guys been together long?” Zach asked, trying to think of something else.
“About five years,” Laz said.
“Wow,” Ben commented. “I hope Vic and I last a long time.”
“It feels like we’ve always been together,” Laz said. “He’s great.”
“Does he let you know when he doesn’t like something?” Zach asked.
“Oh, yeah. And, I’m sure he’d say I let him know, too,” Laz said. “He’d probably say I…what did you call it?”
“Bluster,” Zach said.
“Right, bluster,” Laz said with a grin. “But, at least I don’t sulk like he does.” Laz pumped the chair up higher so he could get at the nape of Zach’s neck.
“You don’t seem like you’d bluster,” Zach said.
“I make my point,” Laz revealed. “And, I’m going to tell Nelson you’ve been in here telling lies about him.”
“Ha! Sure, go ahead. Ask him what he thought of my hair,” Zach said grinning. “He thought I should have waited for you.”
Laz laughed out loud at that. He said, “So, do I, Zach. So do I.”
~~~~~~~~~~
“Awww,” Nelson said, running his hands through Zach’s new chestnut color with honey highlights. “I miss Annie.”
Zach smiled at Nelson’s joke and tipped his head back. “Do you like it?”
“I love it,” Nelson said. “I told you Laz would do a good job.”
“I knew he would, but I didn’t want to wait,” he repeated for about the tenth time since the fiasco.
“I know you didn’t. It looks great, Sweet Pea.” Nelson took Zach’s arm and turned him to see the back. “Nice cut, too. I won’t be able to keep my hands off you tonight,” Nelson said greedily.
Zach’s eyes grew wide and a smile spread across his face. He stepped up closer to Nelson and slid a hand to his crotch, cupping him through his pants. “Oh, yeah? Don’t make idle promises.”
Nelson put his hands to the small of Zach’s back and pulled him close. He pushed his fingers under the back waistband of Zach’s pants and boxers, and Zach grinned with the caress to his buttocks. “I never make promises I can’t keep,” Nelson said with a wink. “How about a late dinner?”
“Dessert first?” Zach said with a grin.
“I don’t know; what have you got for dessert?” Nelson asked playfully. Zach gave Nelson a squeeze with his left hand, and used his right to tug the back of his neck forward so he could kiss him hard. His tongue slipped between Nelson’s lips and probed gently in his mouth giving him a preview of what he had available for dessert. His plan was to ask Nelson what he thought, but Nelson had another agenda. He barely broke for air when Nelson pressed against him and kept his mouth hungrily over Zach’s.
Nelson stopped long enough to lower the two of them to the floor, putting Zach under him. With a twinkle in his eye, Zach asked, “What are you doing?”
“Getting comfortable,” Nelson said, smiling at Zach. Zach slipped his hands between them and his able fingers found Nelson’s fly. Nelson adjusted himself enough for Zach to unzip his pants, then slide them off his hips. Nelson kissed Zach’s neck and found the tender spots he knew by heart.
He paused when he heard Zach begin to giggle, thinking at first it was the tickle from his lips on his neck. “What?” Nelson asked, looking at his partner.
“I can’t believe you’re planning to have…’dessert’…in the living room. It’s not like you at all.”
“I’m too predictable, aren’t I? I need to work on that,” Nelson said. He smiled down at Zach as he sat back on his knees astride his lover. He grasped the bottom of Zach’s sweater and Zach raised his arms overhead so Nelson could pull it off.
“Yes, very predictable,” Zach said. He glanced down at Nelson’s crotch and saw the bulge growing there through his underwear. Nelson’s dress slacks were settled around his legs, stretched against his spread thighs. Zach reached out and caressed between Nelson’s legs and said, “Happy to see me?”
Nelson sat back a bit and let Zach rub him. He said, “Always. Always happy to see you.” He folded himself back over Zach and worked on his neck again, pausing after more giggles. “What now?”
“Tickles,” Zach said.
“I’ll tickle you,” Nelson said, and went for his ribs.
”NO! No…” Zach said, laughter rising from the floor. He clamped his arms over his ribcage to block Nelson. “Stop it. Stop!”
“You want me to quit?” Nelson said, leaning over him and giving him a quick reprieve from the tickling.
“I want you to go get the K-Y, Dr. Dolittle,” Zach said.
“Dolittle?!” Nelson said. “Dolittle? I like Jekyll better.” He crawled off of Zach and stood up with his hands on his underwear-covered hips.
Looking at his normally stoic partner, Zach rolled over on his side against the carpet laughing hysterically. He struggled to speak and laugh at the same time. “Oh, my God. You just…you aren’t pulling off…your normal stern pose with your…your pants…” Zach broke out in laughter again, pointing at Nelson’s dress slacks around his knees.
Nelson looked down at his pants crumbled around his legs then back at Zach who was holding his stomach with his arms folded across his middle while he laughed. “That’s it. You’re going to get it now,” Nelson said. He toed off his shoes and stepped out of his pants, fingers raised toward Zach. “Tickle Monster…”
“NO!” Zach protested. He rolled over on his stomach with Nelson on top of him.
“Hmm, I like this position better,” he said next to Zach’s ear. Zach ground an elbow backward into Nelson.
“K-Y, Dolittle. Move it,” he ordered.
After a quick nip of Zach’s ear, Nelson rose from his lover and said as he walked toward the stairs. “I’ll give you Dolittle. You just wait,” he said, mounting the stairs.
“Yeah, yeah. Less talk, more action!” Zach said, snapping his fingers. He rolled onto his side and propped himself up on an elbow, watching Nelson disappear up the stairs. “HURRY UP!” he shouted after about 30 seconds.
He flopped over onto his back and folded his arms under his head, staring up at the swirled stippling on the ceiling. He heard Nelson coming back downstairs and Zach glanced over toward the stairwell. He smiled when he saw Nelson coming down the stairs, stark naked. “It’s not polite to point,” Zach said, indicating Nelson’s crotch.
Nelson got back on the floor beside Zach and went for Zach’s fly. “Let’s just get these off, shall we?”
“We shall,” Zach said. He lifted his hips off the floor so Nelson could work his pants down.
As Zach’s crotch was exposed, Nelson commented with a smile and a touch, “You’re one to talk about pointing.” He gripped the shaft of Zach’s penis and slid his hand rhythmically up and down.
“Sue me,” Zach said. “This dessert is going to be good, I can tell,” Zach noted. “Low-cal, too.”
“More than good,” Nelson agreed. He positioned himself back on top of Zach, and Zach closed his eyes against the kisses. “I might want seconds. Or, thirds, or fourths…”
“You can have as much as you want,” Zach managed to say before Nelson’s lips cut him off in a hard kiss.
End
