Clouds and Rain

nice to Grant was a way to show Flynn that he was over him, and hopefully Flynn would understand that he was the reason for these new feelings. Gable didn‟t think he could have survived the past year without Flynn, but besides telling him, Gable had no way to show his lover that. Maybe if Flynn saw that he could be congenial with Grant, Flynn would see it for what it was worth: a testament to the love and caring they shared.
    “What‟s so funny?” Flynn asked, shaking Gable out of his thoughts.

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    Gable realized he was smiling broadly. “I was just thinking about spending time with Hunter and Grant. Should we all go out to dinner together afterward?”
    Flynn snorted. “Only if Calley‟s paying!”
    “I think it would be a good idea. Gives us a chance to smooth things out between the four of us. We‟re neighbors, after all, and Hunter has been more than a help in the past years. I can‟t blame him for falling for Grant.”
    Flynn gave him a questioning look. “Are you jealous?” Gable chuckled. “No way. I told you before Hunter was welcome to have Grant. I just think we could be civil to each other. Grant‟s not a bad guy. We could even be friends.” Flynn‟s forehead wrinkled even more. “Maybe,” Gable added to put his lover at ease. Gable looked around the empty waiting room and then pulled Flynn closer to him, kissing his soft, curly hair. “I love you with all my heart. Trust me, I have nothing but honorable intentions with Grant.” Although Flynn pulled away, he was smiling again, and that was all Gable wanted. As he looked up, he realized why Flynn had pulled away from him. Hunter and Grant were walking toward them, both of them carrying two cups of steaming coffee.
    “Didn‟t know whether you wanted cream in your coffee,” Hunter said, handing one cup to Gable and another to Flynn before taking his own cup from Grant.
    “I did manage to score us plenty of sugar,” Grant added, dipping his hand into his jacket and unearthing a nice handful of sugar packets, which he dropped on the table in front of them.
    Gable smiled at Grant. “You know the way to a man‟s heart.
    Flynn‟s got a real sweet tooth.” He took three packets and Flynn held out his cup so Gable could empty the packets into the black liquid.
    “Tastes foul without it,” Flynn agreed, tasting it and holding it back out so Gable could add more.
    Grant smiled and shook his head and Gable started feeling more relaxed. He could do this. It wasn‟t even that hard.
    “Mr. Jarreau? Mr. Tomlinson?” a nurse called out.

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    Grant got up and Gable couldn‟t help noticing the little hand-squeeze between Hunter and Grant as the curly-haired man left his companion behind to follow the nurse. Gable had seen their little gestures of affection before, but only now realized they made him feel good too. He was happy for Hunter and, if he let himself admit it, he was happy for Grant too. When he looked over at Flynn, he saw a smirk on Flynn‟s face.
    “You were eyeing Grant,” Flynn said teasingly as he, too, got up from his seat.
    Gable shrugged and gave Flynn a “so what if I was?” look. To his surprise, Flynn smiled widely, making butterflies flutter in Gable‟s stomach. He watched his lover leave the waiting area behind Grant.
    “So, you think we‟re next?” Hunter asked, moving seats to sit next to Gable.
    “You make us sound like lambs to the slaughter,” Gable snorted.
    “Well, it‟s not that bad, but the idea of jacking off in a cup seems sort of….” Hunter didn‟t finish his sentence.
    “Just think of the bigger purpose. We‟re doing this for Calley.
    And in a roundabout sort of way, I suppose we‟re also doing it for Bill.”
    Hunter pursed his lips. “I suppose we are.”
    “And it‟s what? Five minutes of your time?”
    “Hey!” Hunter nudged him with his shoulder. “Speak for yourself!”
    “And you‟re young,” Gable added. “If you go home and Grant has fresh ideas with you, you‟ll still be able to get it up. I, on the other hand….”
    Hunter gave Gable a worried look, but the teasing smile on Gable‟s face made it disappear almost as quickly as it appeared.
    “Flynn keeps me young,” Gable admitted, a fair bit more quietly than before.
    “Good,” Hunter replied. “I‟m glad. I know what it‟s like to love someone. Before I just thought I did, but now I know.” He gazed off in the direction Grant had gone.

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    Gable