Ocean Beach Bar and Grill was under new management for the third time in three years. While most everyone was kept on hours and shifts were switched along with new rules. Like no drinking on duty. No customers behind the bar. Every drink gets a receipt.
Howie had been the graveyard bartender for nine months along with the one person that was asked to leave. He has a girlfriend who is former waitstaff Janet. She works at another Bar in OB and gets off work and spend her tip's getting trashed on her boyfriends shift. The change in hours puts Howie on day shift eight am he is serving more coffee and a few bloody Mary's. While the Kitchen cranks out breakfast. The lunch rush hits and lasts until two and then they have two hours to clean up and restock.
Nathan got to know Howie a little from change shifts, and Howie and his girlfriend would have a few drinks after work on Nathan's day shift for a while he mostly takes orders but helps behind the bar if Howie gets busy. The two young men pool their tips and splits them at the end of their shift. Nathan also works part time at a local gym as a fitness instructor.
Everyone surfs Nathan and Howie are no different and due to the full moon at sunrise the week should be a reason to get up early and go before work. The guy agree to meet around 5:30 AM.
Howie was slightly early he stopped by the bar to check on his girlfriend who had no made it home yet. She was there and fairly trashed. The guys head out to what seems to be a promising morning for surfing. Nathan had grabbed several waves Howie kept taking a pass. He finally took one and road it to shore and headed towards work. Nathan was about two minutes behind him.
Howie gets to the bar to find the new manager Jesse is there already, and talk to the night bartender and the police. The manager takes Howie in the office to explain his girlfriend was more than making out in the mens room. With Howie's x coworker on graveyard the former employee of OB Bar and Grill. Both individuals were served no trespass warnings and are no longer allowed in the bar. Howie's girlfriend attacked a police officer and has been arrested for battery and other charges are pending. Howie does not want the day off because his bills just doubled.
After a week Howie's girlfriend pleaded guilty and got six months in jail. Howie just started packing her stuff up one night and had about ten small boxes full of stuff. Including a vinyl album collection in mint condition. Nathan came over after work to listen to music before Howie packed it all away. He also invited Jose a new dishwasher who was illegale yet had paperwork that allowed him to work. He also has a baggy full of prerolls Howie wanted to check out.
Howie actually had a language degree. He spoke French, German, Spanish, fluently. Jose spoke little to no english. Howie was stuck try to include everyone in on the same conversation. Once they got a little high it became more difficult. Jose has only worked there two days. In Spanish, he asked
¿Tu Howie y Nathan tienen un comportamiento lúdico?
Do you Howie and Nathan engage in playful behavior.
Are you asking if we are gay?
¿Estás preguntando si somos homosexuales?
si, nathan te ama
Yes, Nathan loves you.
No way Bro. My girlfriends in jail.
De ninguna manera hermano. Mis amigas en la cárcel.
Nathan seems a bit weirded out by the one sided conversation and asks What are you talking about?
Howie, tries to explain. Jose though we were gay.
Nathan got a little too offended and asked if Jose was gay?
He wants to know if you are gay?
¿Quiere saber si eres gay?
SÃ, soy gay. Se necesita uno para conocer a dos.
Yes I am gay It takes one to know two
Howie was too stoned to argue. Saying we are not gay just best friends.
No somos gay, solo mejores amigos.
The three continue to listen to music and ordered a pizza. Jose was crashing on the couch Nathan and Howie move the music to his bedroom and the conversation. The two ended up crashing on his bed. They woke up the next morning spooning with each other. Nathan woke up first and refused to move. He was hoping Howie would just let go and roll over away from him giving him a chance to escape and he would be the only one that know this.
Then Howie starts to stir and in his sleep assumed that was his girlfriend he was hanging on. Then a friendly grope that would in fact wake Howie immediately.
Nathan are you awake?
I am.
Are we gay?
I don't so.
Do you want do gay stuff?
I am up for making out.
Playful behavior between two friends whom after cuddling all night woke up in the mood to play and asked the obvious. Do you want to. That moment when you say I trust you enough to do this with you. The doing gay stuff is no longer an issue they wanted to with each other and in that moment. Where was that line? Only gay guys do that? Opps. One thing leads to the other and two straight boys make love.
It was past noon and the two young men needed to shower. Howie remembers Jose was sleeping on the couch. They check but he had left. They both jump in the shower and wash each others hair.
Dude we are acting like gay boyfriends. Howie points out.
Are we gay boyfriends? Nathan asks. I was thinking earlier who would freak out. My family wouldn't care. Some people think I am gay already.
I would like to see how this gay thing goes if you're open to it. It's Jose fault, he saw it when we didn't or maybe he just put ideas in our heads.
Howie I love what happened last night. I love you for taking me there.
Nathan last night was life changing. I love you bro. I never want to have sex with anyone else but you. If that makes me gay. I am gay for you only for as long as you want.
Do you want to go play some more?
Hell yeah.
Playful Behavior - Story Time Blog
A.I. Art 1of2dads.com OCEAN BEACH - Story Time Blog
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