Gus didn't contact Aaron for a couple of days, even though thoughts of him pervaded his mind. He was careful not to come across as too eager and the "You're welcome anytime" text message still sat on his phone without reply. It was Wednesday evening and Gus decided he'd waited long enough.
"How's it hangin' Marine?" Gus texted.
"Doing well, Gus Wolfe, was wondering if I scared you off or something, nice to hear from you, hows your week been so far?" replied Aaron almost immediately.
"Pretty normal, outside of thinking about you a bit too much" typed Gus, "Sorry I didn't say anything until today. Guess I just wanted to see if the feelings persisted for a couple days without contact."
"Well? Did they?" Aaron responded.
"They did."
"Happy to hear it. You haven't left my mind either. I told, Mark all about our trip, too. Would you like to come over for a couple beers and meet my other half? Might make things make sense a bit more."
The question caught Gus off guard. He had been thinking about Aaron a lot, and the complications that him being married might bring, but it hadn't kept him from being interested. What the hell, he thought, it's probably better to go over and see what all of this is about instead of worrying about it or wondering.
"Why not, I'm only 5 miles away, 7pm okay?"
"Sounds good, see you then sexy fisherman."
Gus grabbed a beer out of his fridge and drank it five big gulps. He was nervous, he was going over to Aaron's house to meet his husband. What the fuck was he thinking? It all felt so strange, but he hoped that through the meeting he would get to know Aaron better. Would Mark even know he was there? Would he be angry?
Gus hopped in his truck and drove over to Aaron's house. While he hadn't communicated with him, he had taken a couple drives by his place on the way home from work out of curiosity, so he knew exactly where he was headed. He parked on the street and walked up to the front door, he could see into the house through the storm door and Aaron came to greet him.
"Hey there handsome," Aaron said as he opened the front door and embraced Gus in a bear hug, "It's great to see you."
"Nice to see you too buddy," Gus replied, returning the hug.
Aaron led Gus through the living room of his house into the kitchen, where a man sat in a large electric wheel chair at the kitchen table, a plate of food in front of him. He seemed to look in their direction as they entered.
"Gus, this is my husband, Mark. Mark, this is the man I told you about I went fishing with last weekend when you were at your family's place, this is Gus Wolfe."
Gus made his way around the table and introduced himself to Mark, grabbing his left, and only, hand and shaking it, looking into his brown eyes, they were deep and beautiful, as Aaron had described.
"Pleasure to meet you Mark, I'm Gus."
Gus thought he felt Mark grip his hand back, but he couldn't be certain. He noticed how handsome Mark was as he looked at him. His hair was brown, still cut high and tight as it had been throughout his military career Gus assumed. He was clean shaven, with a pronounced jawline and thick neck. Gus could tell that at one time he was a beast of a man. This man was also a Marine, a man of service, who must have all sorts of thoughts going through his head even if they weren't communicated verbally. Gus couldn't even imagine what it would be like to be in Mark's place. No legs, one arm, needing someone to assist with day to day tasks. He didn't sense anger in Mark, but if he had it wouldn't have surprised him, he'd be mad at the world.
"Can I get you a beer, Gus?" Aaron asked, heading for the fridge.
"Sure, sounds good." Gus replied as he let his eyes lift from Mark to look around the house. Behind Mark near a window, was a small table that had a large picture of Mark and Gus on their wedding day. Both dressed to the nines in the brightest Marine blues, smiles stretched from ear to ear, arms around one another. They looked happy and in love. Gus smiled at the picture. It was positioned at eye-height for Mark, perhaps to help him remember, Gus thought. Aaron had mentioned how Mark didn't seem to remember who he was after the attack.
"Here you go Gus Wolfe, cheers!" Aaron said, handing him a beer.
"Cheers," Gus replied.
"Mark and I were just wrapping up dinner, care to join us while we finish?" Aaron asked pulling out a chair at the table to sit down next to Mark.
"Sure," Gus responded, pulling out a chair across the table from the two men and sitting down. Why was he here, what was he doing, this was too much, what did Aaron want from him, what did he want from Aaron. Gus stopped thinking and took a deep swig from his beer. He watched as Aaron placed a fork in Mark's hand and helped him scoop up some green beans and bring them to his mouth. Mark seemed like he could mostly feed himself, just needed some help getting started, maybe he was right handed. Aaron and Gus made small talk about the weather and food while Aaron finished assisting Mark with dinner. Then Mark, done with dinner, used his left hand to maneuver the controls on his wheelchair, exiting the kitchen and heading down an adjacent hallway to his bedroom.
"I'll be right back, Gus, just want to make sure he's got everything he needs for the evening," Aaron said as he disappeared down the hallway behind Mark.
Gus felt two hands on his shoulders and looked up to see the Marine leaning down over him. Aaron kissed his forehead and said, "thank you for just being here, and not being weird, I know how awkward this must be fore you."
"I can't say its an experience I've ever had before, Aaron."
Aaron pulled Gus up from his chair and led him back into the living room to the couch, where the two men sat down next to one another. Aaron put his hand on Gus' thigh and began talking:
"This is what it's like here, most everyday. I make sure Mark has three square meals, help him with the things he needs help with, and carry on one-sided conversations that I'm almost certain he hears. He communicates with his eyes, and some facial expressions, I've tried to get him to write, but he's seemed un-interested in that thus far, he hasn't said a word in three years. It's rough, thank you for coming over, and being willing to meet Mark. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed last weekend, and how much I've been thinking about you every minute since. I'm falling for you Gus Wolfe, you're kind, you're independent, you're sexy as hell, you're a great fisherman, and I'd like to have a relationship with you. I don't feel like I can be the one to take the lead on what that means though, so it's up to you. Mark is a part of me until the end of his days, so if that is too much for you to handle, I understand 100% and have no hard feelings if we're just friends, and maybe get to go fishing every once in a while."
"That's a lot to put out there Marine, I'm really not sure what to say, and you haven't even let me kiss you again, yet," Gus said, leaning over to embrace and kiss Aaron on the mouth. The two men held each other kissing for five minutes, enjoying the reconnection of being back in one another's arms. When they pulled away from each other Gus could feel someone looking at them and glanced to his left to see Mark, sitting there silently, watching the two of them hold each other. Mark rolled toward them and stopped in front of the couch, feet from them both and raised his left hand toward Gus.
Gus had no idea what to think, and looked over at Aaron who looked at Mark and said, "See, I told you he was a good kisser," and smiled at Mark. Gus extended his hand toward Mark and Mark grabbed it, and held it softly, what appeared to be a slight smile making its way to his face. He released Gus' hand, turned his chair around and disappeared back down the hallway. Gus heard a door shut and looked back over to Aaron. "What was that all about?" he asked.
"I'm not totally sure Gus, but I think Mark likes you, he smiled at you, did you notice?"
"Yeah, I thought that looked like a smile," Gus responded. "I should get going Aaron, it's a busy week work-wise and I have a lot to do, and think about, thank you for inviting me over," Gus said getting up off the couch and making his way toward the door.