Page 27 of The Bathhouse
Joseph felt Reed shaking him awake.How long had he slept?
“Time to get out, Joseph.The water’s cold.”
Joseph agreed reluctantly.Nothing sexual had happened between them, yet the bath had felt so tender and intimate.Never before had he felt so cared for.If he lost Reed now, he’d be heartbroken.
They grabbed towels and dried each other, Reed being super careful with his leg.No words were needed as they made their way to the bedroom and climbed onto the bed.
Joseph lay with his back to Reed’s chest.He never wanted to move from this spot.He had everything he needed right here.This felt right.He savored the deep sense of belonging.I only hope Reed feels the same.Joseph stretched, content and drowsy.
* * *
Reed watched Joseph sleep, but sleep eluded him.This time together had been wonderful, better than he’d expected, but…
Reed was terrified.Terrified of getting hurt again.Terrified that if he accepted this fling, or whatever it was, as a real relationship, he would have to come out of the closet.Terrified that they would never last as a couple.The smart thing to do would be to leave now and end it once and for all.
But on the other hand…
Joseph had always been his one and only love.After all these years Reed still felt the butterflies take off whenever he laid eyes on him.He was sexy, smart, romantic, playful, flirtatious, affectionate, a hard worker, deceitful.
Yes, that too.Reed hadn’t lost his ability to judge a man’s character.He knew Joseph had faults.But no one was perfect.Not even him.Reed knew he could be arrogant, selfish, a know-it-all, and deceitful in his own way.He’d been leading a secret double life for years, lying to his family and friends.He didn’t blame Joseph for feeling hurt and humiliated when he tried to make his lover a dirty little secret.
But Reed wasn’t the same person that he had been at twenty.Surely, he’d grown in all those years.The world had changed, too.Attitudes toward gays reflected more acceptance.Younger people were leading the way, but maybe it wasn’t too late for a middle-aged gay man to come out of the closet and admit he was in love.
Was Joseph in love with him?He felt fairly certain his feelings were reciprocated.
Still, there were doubts.The truth was after all these years, he didn’t know how to be in a romantic relationship.He’d never been in a position of giving love and support freely.Could he get out of his own way, and let this evolve into something permanent?Or would his overthinking ruin everything?
Epilogue
One year later…
Reed sat down to breakfast.He looked up when Joseph put a plate of fried rice, eggs, and meat in front of him.“Tapsilog again?I’m going to get fat as a hog.”
Joseph laughed.“I’ll still love you, Pogi.”
“I love you, too, and you’re a great cook, but I can’t keep eating like this.”
“It’s only on the weekends.Tomorrow we’ll eat healthy.”
Despite his protests, Reed dug into the food with gusto.“It’s a good thing we got our own apartment.Claire would never stand for this.”
Joseph reached across the table and took Reed’s hand.“Give Claire some credit.She’s stood for a lot more.”
“You’re right, Babyboy.She’s been a trooper.”
Reed’s thoughts drifted back to last year when he’d almost lost the love of his life for the second time.Business decisions had always come easy for Reed, but life-changing personal decisions, ahh, those were another matter entirely.Doubt had paralyzed him until he’d decided to trust his heart.At the time he wasn’t sure he was doing the right thing.But he was sure now.He was happier than he’d ever been in his life.
“What do you want to do now, Pogi?”
Reed smiled and winked.“Guess.”
“I’ve created a monster.Are you sure you’re past forty?”
“Give me a break.Forty is the new twenty.”
“I’m just kidding,mahal ko.”
“I know, my love.”
