Second Chances

The doorbell rang promptly at five. Remy stood on the porch, with the case of beer and fresh pitcher of tea in his hands, and waited. He swallowed the lump in his throat and rang the bell again after no one came the first time. A small sigh as he heard the footsteps behind the door. Planting a smile on his face, he awaited the door to open and was surprised at how beautiful Stephanie looked in her summer gown. "Wow, petite. You look very nice."

Stephanie blushed. "Thank you. Dad and everyone are out on the back porch. Come on out."

Following her out, Remy mouthed the word, "everyone" as a question because he wasn't expecting anyone else to be there. There had been one other car in front of the house but Remy figured it was for the neighbours. As for the 10-speed bicycle, next to the front door, he figured one of the children had gotten a new one. He let her open the sliding glass door, and tried to be prepared for the supposed crowd that awaited them. For a moment, it looked like the medium height blond, amongst the other guests, was Alex but, in fact, it was someone Remy had never seen before. He was a handsome young man, who favoured Hawaiin flower shirts and khaki shorts to go with his flip-flops rather than sandals and other odd summer attires. He found himself strangely attracted to the young man but reversed himself as the young man went back to making jokes and laughing with Logan.

"Remy!" Matthew's voice came from the other end of the long backyard as he caught the football that an older man had thrown to him. The 12-year-old ran with the ball that he had caught up onto the cherrywood porch that Logan had built when he and Jean had moved in, and up to Remy, taking the pitcher of tea from the Cajun. He placed it on the table before running inside for some glasses and then back out to throw the ball to his friend.

Logan stood at the grill with the other man and looked up from the steaks and hot dogs and called over to him. "Hey, Rem!" Stepping aside and walking over to the newest guest and taking the case of beer from him, Logan introduced him to the other guests. Between Remy and the grill sat a big round white patio table, where two other guests had sat. Logan turned and introduced them first. "This is Jean's parents, Dr. John Grey and his wife, Elaine," motioning over to the other young man by the grill, he introduced him, "Bobby Drake. He's a friend from Jean's work," turning to point out the older gentleman who threw Matthew the football, "that's Jason Banks. He lives down the street. His wife, Sarah, comes over to watch the kids every now and then. Everyone, this is Remy LeBeau, the head of the Contracting Department, where I work."

Matthew threw the football back to Jason and then called up to Remy, "hey Remy! Wanna come play?"

Logan called back from the grill and answered for the Cajun, now sitting at the table. "Matt, let him relax a moment." Turning back to Remy, he changed the subject. "What would you like, Rem? Hot dog or steak? Plenty of both."

"Steak's fine. Merci." Remy had broken into the box of beer as Stephanie had poured her grandparents some tea from the pitcher Remy brought. Handing Logan and Bobby a beer before getting his own, Remy accepted compliments on the tea he had made before joining the party.

"Steph, baby, would you go check on the beans and the biscuits?" Logan called over to the girl who was now sitting on her grandpa's lap.

As Stephanie got up to go back inside, Bobby came around and sat down in the empty chair next to Remy and smiled at him, sweetly. "You work in the same building as Logan, huh?"

"Oui." Remy nodded.

Bobby fiddled with the paper on the beer bottle, trying not to notice how great Remy looked in his faded blue jeans and worn maroon T-shirt with faded yellow writing. Bobby had a thing for redheads and Cajuns were always a plus but, he had to admit to himself, this was the first executive he ever had a crush on after meeting him five minutes before. He couldn't help but notice how great Zest soap smelled on another man, and how Remy wore the fragrance well.

"So, Remy," Dr. Grey started in. "Logan tell us you live across the street. Rather have suburbia over the uptown lifestyles?" Fresh white dress shirt and tan khaki pants had been the doctor's retirement look for a few years now.

Remy smiled. "Oui. It's quieter out here. De big house on de block was always my father's life, not mine."

Bobby had wanted to comment but was hushed as Stephanie poked her head out of the sliding glass door to announce that the food inside was ready.

Standing up from his chair and placing the bottle of beer down, after one last sip, Remy offered to help with plates and things. He hurried inside and offered his services to the teenager before he was told not to. He had to admit that Bobby was cute but he reminded Remy too much of Alex. So, he had to deter himself from starting anything he might regret, with another man.

"I think he likes you," Stephanie whispered over her shoulder as Remy took the ceramic bean dish from the oven while she placed the biscuits into a basket and then placed the basket onto a stack of paper plates. She held the stack and bisuits in one hand while collecting napkins and plastic silverware in the other.

Remy leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "How do you know?"

Stephanie smiled. "Aside from reading his mind, it's so obvious, Remy." Turning back to look at him, she blushed. "If it were any more adult, I'd need a cold shower."

It was Remy's turn to blush now. He had turned off his "charm" and shut himself off from all abilities as he was not interested in dating anyone just yet. Since he had shut himself down, he missed the key piece of information about Bobby that he might have needed when they met. "What do you propose I do?"

"Let him down, gently."

"But, I haven't done anythin'."

Stephanie shrugged. "Then, why not give it a try?"

Remy shook his head, cautiously. "Non. Not ready, yet." He really didn't want to let on that he was secretly waiting for Logan to give in but wasn't going to push anything. He had several nights filled with the same dream that he and Logan were making love, in his bedroom, and both men were enjoying the moment tremendously.

Pausing at the backdoor, Stephanie turned around to stare up at Remy. "Look, just because you had one bad relationship and a very big mess of a breakup, doesn't mean that every guy out there has it in for you. Dad says you'll never be happy again unless you find someone who makes you happy, just by being in the same room with them. Besides, Bobby's had a tough time, too. If anything, you can find something to just hang out about."

"You know so much about him, hehn?"

"Hm, not quite so much. I do know that you're his first boy-crush. What have you got to lose?" Stephanie turned to lead him out of the house and over to the table.

Remy didn't know whether to feel special or embarrassed about the little piece of information he had learned about Bobby. For the rest of the dinner, he had been mindful of how he approached Bobby, careful not to hurt his feelings about turning the other man away but also thought to himself about how to deal with a "first-timer."

As the party died down and the other guests were either leaving or getting ready to leave, it had become clear that Bobby had wanted to talk to Remy about something but choked at every chance he got. When he finally did get the courage up, Dr. Grey interrupted with a question to him.

"Robert, can we give you a lift home? A bit dark to ride on a busy street, don't you think?" Dr. John Grey had known Bobby for a year or so before Logan met Jean or Bobby. He liked Bobby's fun-loving spirit but also enjoyed how both men treated well his only daughter that they worked with.

"Uh, thanks. No, I'll be fine. I don't live too far, actually." They stood in the middle of Logan's living room and Bobby found himself fidgeting with his beltloops. After the night he had, sitting next to Remy, smelling his sweet soap scent, trying not to stare at Remy's handsome face, and now feeling awkward when standing not two feet from him in an empty living room, in a house that wasn't his. The two mile ride home would do wonders to where a cold shower and vaseline was unavailable. "Well, Remy," Bobby cleared his throat and forced out a hand for him to shake. "It was nice meeting ya. Maybe I'll see you next weekend? At the party?"

Remy had to think for a minute. In all of the excitement of the evening, he had forgotten about Stephanie's birthday party. "Sure.I'll be dere." He smiled at how nervous Bobby had become as the night progressed. He could tell that Bobby was just as nervous around Remy as Remy was around him. "I walk ya to da curb?"

"Sure." Bobby blushed.

When Logan came back from telling his in-laws goodbye, he was glad to see Remy and Bobby hitting it off rather well. It was getting pretty late and he hated shoving people out of the door but figured they got the idea as both men started towards the front door. "See ya two later." Patting Remy's back and waving back to Bobby as the young man on the other side of Remy had waved to Logan, he walked them to the door and watched as they both walked down to the street, together, chatting about the evening. Both had thanked him several times over for the delicious dinner and chatted and swapped stories about this and that before saying good night to the kids before some grown up talk. Logan was happy that maybe Remy would get out of his rut and date someone. A year and a half was a bit long to wait but he understood how grief worked.

~*(%!~

As they got to the curb, Bobby noticed that his back tire was flat. "Damn! I can't ride home, now." Bobby looked disgusted with his tire but secretly enjoyed the extra few minutes he got to spend with the fascinating Cajun. "Mind if I borrow your phone? I forgot my cell at home." He smiled nervously and was greatful that Remy smiled back and nodded to the house across the street.

"You got someone to call, homme?" Remy took his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the door, waiting for Bobby to leave the bike on the front step and walk inside.

"No, just callin' a taxi."

Remy dug a phone book out of the cabinet, above the refrigerator, and placed it on the countre before bringing the cordless phone over to his guest. "I can take you home. Taxis, dey steal your money an' drive like maniacs."

Bobby shook his head, embarrassed. "No no, you're probably too busy. I can call a cab tonight, then walk down to the sports store tomorrow and pick up another tire. Don't want you to go completely out of your way for a total stranger."

"No trouble." Remy smiled.

Relieved, Bobby broke down and accepted the ride home. "Mind if I borrow your restroom first?"

Remy nodded and waved Bobby upstairs. "You can use mine. De guest one is bein' renovated." Showing Bobby into his bedroom, Remy paused as he realised that, other than Logan and his father, Bobby was the first prospect to grace his bedroom since Alex died. "Right through dere. I'll wait downstairs, hehn?"

After relieving himself, Bobby washed his hands and looked around Remy's giant bathroom and noted a 5x7 picture of a young blond man, wrapped in plastic, taped to the shower wall under the showerhead. He swallowed as he thought to himself about what he was trying to get into. He wondered if it really was different than persuing a woman. Logan had left out the part that Remy was coming off of mourning for his dead lover, and Bobby didn't really know if he could help or hurt the situation, if Remy wasn't interested in persuing him. Bobby did come to one conclusion though, Remy did like guys and seemed to be a pretty nice, well-behaved one to try and get a complete reading on. He wasn't sure exactly how this "gay thing" worked. He did know that, after his last girlfriend went hysterical on him, he was willing to try anything other than her.

Returning downstairs to find Remy sitting on the sofa, going through his posts, Bobby cleared his throat in a small attempt to get Remy's attention. "Thanks. Beers go right through me, sometimes." Kiddingly, Bobby smiled and waited as Remy placed the unopened envelopes on the cushion beside him and stood up. "Ready?"

"Oui." Remy had wanted to respond to the statement but what he was thinking might have gotten him into hot water.

As Bobby led the way outside, Remy couldn't seem to keep his eyes above Bobby's waistline. How wondered how Bobby really felt about him, or if it was just a joke that Stephanie and Logan were playing on him. They didn't seem to really mind that their neighbour was gay, and had no real objections to hanging out with him, every other week or so. But, what if it was all a joke? What if this was what Jean-Luc really meant by "no one will really take you seriously" in this lifestyle? He sighed as he took the lead over to his car trunk and unlocked it for Bobby to put his bicycle in. Tethering the lid shut with a small bungee cord, Remy unlocked the doors and slipped into the driver's seat.

Bobby directed Remy to the building that he had moved into a month prior, other than that, the ride was quiet; awkward. Pointing to an open parking spot, Bobby opened the door but paused to turn and thank Remy for the lift.

"Need some help?" Remy sat, relaxed, in the driver's seat with his hand on the key, ready to turn the engine off. Nothing in his movements gave any hint that he was in a hurry to leave but he wasn't exactly saying that he'd like to stay any longer, either.

Thinking for a minute, Bobby shook his head. "Nah, I got it. Thanks." Shutting the door and walking back to unfasten the trunk lid, Bobby mumbled, "but I'd love the company."

As if hearing the mumble Bobby had said, Remy unfastened his seatbelt and opened the door after shutting off the engine. "I just might regret dis." Remy closed the car door and walked back to help Bobby get his bicycle from the trunk. As they placed the bike on the ground, Remy tossed the cord into the trunk and shut the lid. He forced a small smile as their eyes met. It was getting late and darker by the minute but Remy had had enough of playing cat and mouse and decided to play the rest of the evening out for himself. He had to hear Bobby say the words if he liked Remy or not.

"Thanks." Bobby suddenly felt a wave of nervousness come over him. Being this close to Remy was bad enough but trying to think of something intelligent to say around him was even worse. He could feel his airway close up as Remy leaned in to hear what Bobby was mumbling.

"You feel okay, homme?" Remy seemed genuinely concerned from Bobby's inability to form complete sentences.

Bobby came around to where they were and how foolish he must have looked, babbling in the middle of the flat complex parking lot and the latest hour of the night. "Eh-- fine. Guess that last beer was a bit much."

Remy smiled at the faintness of flattery and decided to help Bobby to his second floor apartment. He had to help Bobby with the key in the door as Bobby had shaken so bad, he dropped them onto the front mat. Unlocking the door and opening it to the dark flat, Remy paused to let Bobby slink in first, with his bicycle, and then offer Remy inside. "You gonna be okay? Ya turning a few shades of green."

"Fine. Just not used to drinking so much." Bobby sat down on the red futon sofa that had been placed in the middle of the room, facing the wall to the left of the door, where the television sat. "Feel free to stay, if you like." He knew that he was starting to sound like he was shoving Remy out but he really wanted someone to talk to, for awhile.

Stepping in and closing the door, Remy stood there and glanced around the 925 square foot flat and the makeshift furniture that Bobby barely had. "Live here long?"

Bobby looked up from holding his head in his hands and glanced around his living room. "Um, just moved in, actually. My ex was a real piece of work and I caught her doing something that wasn't her style so, I moved out. Ran into Logan at the store and he invited me over for dinner." He couldn't bare to look at Remy's expression and what the "rich kid" must have thought about his not-so-social living arrangements.

"I see."

"He also mentioned that I should meet you tonight, and if I liked what I saw," Bobby paused to drop his head back down to stare at the floor, between his legs.

Here it comes.

Bobby kept his voice up but couldn't tear himself away from staring at the floor to look in his hopeful boss' face as he finished, "that I should go and apply for a job at your company."

Remy bit the side of his mouth in thought. Interesting way to check out a possible employer. Placing his hands in his jeans front pockets and taking another step forward, Remy had to know to the answer. "So, how did I fare?"

Finally looking up to meet Remy's eyes, Bobby had to come clean. "I don't think I can work for you."

"No?"

"Someone once told me, 'you should never work for someone you think you might be falling in love with.'" Bobby kept his eyes on Remy's calm features, looking for any sign of a break. None.

Remy swallowed. "How do you know? I could be a complete jerk, non?"

Shaking his head, Bobby laughed softly. "That's not how Logan describes you."

Logan did think nicely of him. Remy wondered what Logan's true feelings of Remy were and why he felt he had to set Remy up on a "blind date" like he did. "So," moving over to squat down in front of the other man and look at him, face to face, Remy asked again, "what do you think of Remy, homme?"

Bobby could feel his heart pound as Remy came closer to him. He had a gorgeous face to stare into; lips that curved just right and looked so soft, eyes that went on forever in their dark and fiery depths, skin so perfect and soft that Bobby couldn't resist reaching out to touch it. Before he knew it, he was quickly closing the gap and kissing those soft, pink lips, passionately. Forcing the younger man backwards to lay on the carpeted floor, the kiss continued undetered. He could feel Remy's hands in his hair and took the liberty of sliding his own hands underneath the maroon shirt to glide along the soft and taut planes of Remy's torso.

Rolling the other man over so that he was on top, Remy was paused as Bobby explained that this was his first time and that he really didn't move so fast on the first date. Smiling, Remy backed off and sat up. "I guess it's been awhile for Remy, too." As he tried to stand up, feeling a bit guilty and embarrassed for taking the chance too far, he was again stopped.

"I- I think I wanna try this." Bobby stared up at the gorgeous man in his living room.

Remy swallowed dryly. He had never really been a teacher of this sort of thing. It had just sort of- happened. Looking down, into the man's eyes that pleaded with him to teach, Remy nodded solemnly and pulled Bobby to his feet. "Go get comfortable an' I be right back. Ok?" Remy watched as Bobby strolled to the bedroom, straight back from the front door, and hurriedly left to fetch a small bottle of hand lotion from the glovebox of his car and return. He wondered if Bobby had any condoms but if not, he remembered he had some in his wallet; not the brightest place to keep them.

Walking back up the stairs to Bobby's flat, Remy wondered if he wasn't taking advantage of things. As he reached for the door handle, he told himself that he had to take it slow and let Bobby say what he could handle. He knew he didn't want to turn Bobby into a Priest. He opened the door, confident in his decision, closed and latched it behind him as he looked toward the bedroom that had a single, faint light on. Sliding his tongue over his lips, he cautiously made his way over to the bedroom where he found Bobby, sitting on the end of the bed that sat against the wall, opposite the door, waiting for him.

Bobby was still in his clothes but had kicked off his flip-flops and closed the blinds. As Remy walked up to stand in front of him, he looked up and asked, innocently, "what do we do first?"


End Part Two.