Page 16 of Cookie

“Didn’t I hear there’s a mermaid bar here too?” Charlie asked.

“There is, it’s not far from here if you want to go,” I offered as we walked toward the parking garage.

“Maybe later, but I’m very curious about this club. What did Millie say the name was?”

“The Bolt,” I said and hoped he didn’t google it because I really wanted it to be a surprise.

“Damn, I was hoping I could get a hint from the name,” Charlie said and laughed.

We found the car and once we were inside, I checked the directions. If we went to Faces, there were other clubs nearby but if we went to The Bolt, it was the only gay bar in that area. “Okay, I want to be honest with you. The club I wanted to take you is a leather cowboy bear bar. But if we go there then there isn’t much else around it. If we go to Faces, then there’re a few other places nearby. What sounds good to you?”

He shook his head and looked away before meeting my eyes again. “What did you say it was again?” he asked.

“A leather cowboy bear bar. Is that not your thing at all?” I asked not sure if he was shocked, happy, or totally freaked out.

His face bloomed with color, and I couldn’t stop myself from brushing my fingers against his cheek. “What is it?”

“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” he whispered like he was admitting something horrible.

I nearly laughed but then I realized he was serious and forced myself not to. “Well, let me show you their website.” I opened it and showed him how harnesses and different leather wear were plentiful and showed him the page that showed a pup play night. Once again, his eyes widened, and his mouth tried to form words, but no sound came out.

“Babe, what is it?” I asked.

“I’m so curious but I’m so out of my element right now,” he finally managed to say. I cupped his cheek and this time when his eyes met mine, we both dissolved into laughter.

“Okay so maybe we’ll build up to that. How about we go find the mermaid bar and have a nice quiet drink?” I asked and he melted into my touch.

“Oh my god, that sounds so good,” he said and once again we both laughed.

Charlie might be sheltered living in that small town that I’d soon call home, but he wasn’t a prude, and he was far from closed-minded. He was innocent, and I liked the idea that I could introduce him to a few things that were new to him, and if all that turned out to be a bar with a big tank where people swam around with mermaid tails, then so be it.

Fifteen

Charlie

To say I was relieved would have been the understatement of the year. I considered myself to be curious and open to new things, but I also didn’t like the feeling of being in over my head. The more Ryan described The Bolt, the more I could feel myself start to sweat, and I knew I wasn’t ready to find out exactly what it was all about.

“We’ll still take my car home, then we can have a few drinks and walk around the Capitol Mall area if you want,” Ryan said, not bothered at all by the change of plan. Thinking about it now, nothing ever seemed to rattle him or get him too excited, and the more time I spent with him, the more time I wanted to spend with him. I hoped he felt the same about me and didn’t think I was just a boring guy from a small town that wasn’t willing to try new things. “I haven’t actually been to the Dive Bar, so I’m excited to see it.”

“Really?” I asked, needing to know he really was okay with the change of plans.

“Yeah, and I haven’t been to that other place either, but I’ve heard plenty of stories. Which is also why Aunt Millie acted the way she did,” he said with a chuckle. He reached across, took my hand, and held it on his leg as he drove us back to his place.

“Thank you for not making a big deal of it,” I said, and pulled his hand to me enough to kiss it.

“Baby, I just want to spend time with you, and I want it to be fun,” Ryan said with a smile. “There’s a lot to do around Sacramento and we can leave whenever you’re ready.” Weweren’t far from his house and when we got there, he took out his phone to call for a ride while we sat in his car. “Did you need to go inside for anything?”

“Nope, I’m ready to go,” I said, finally able to relax. The driver arrived just after we’d gotten out of the car and drove us back to the downtown area and I thought about how much more we’d driven the past day compared to how little we both drove in Grace.

“Here you go, have fun,” the driver said as he pulled to a stop next to a very industrial looking brick building.

“Thanks,” Ryan said, and the two of us slid out. “I think you’re going to love this.” He tugged me along to where a line had formed, and we stood there for a short few moments before being ushered inside. It was dark and hard to see for a moment as above us jellyfish shaped light fixtures glowed softly while swaying slightly in the air conditioning, making them look like they were floating in the sea.

“Wow, this is amazing,” I said as I looked at the simple brick walls covered in photos and memorabilia in glowing display cases. The walls had been shaped to resemble sea caves as we walked deeper inside. It opened up to a large open area that was filled nearly to capacity. Patrons sat around small tables speaking quietly among themselves while others danced to the music that played through the sound system. But above the bar and illuminated in soft blue light was an enormous tank that was longer than the bar and stretched from the ceiling to the tops of the storage shelves mounted below it and hung over the entire bar area.

“What do you think?” Ryan asked and after I managed to close my mouth that was hanging open in shock, I pulled him in for a kiss.

“I think I have the best boyfriend ever.” His eyes widened slightly before he grinned at me. I hadn’t called him that yet, and he’d hadn’t said it to me either. But we were definitely closer than friends. I wanted everyone to know how I felt about him.

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