San Francisco
Part 8

While we were waiting for our dinner to arrive, I stood at the window and gazed at the city skyline, which was lit by the soft glow of the setting sun. "This is an awesome town, Pop. It's romantic. Y'know? Guess that sounds crazy coming from a dude like me. If Paul heard me say something like that, he'd probably think I'd lost a few marbles."

"There's nothing wrong with romance."

"I used to think it was wussy. But Spencer's not wussy. I'm gonna get him to play the piano properly tomorrow. He played it today, but it was kinda... well, hey, I was blowing him, so he sorta lost the plot," I cracked. "Dammit, Pop, you shoulda been there to see that guy go totally ballistic. I thought the whole damn piano was gonna collapse."

"Nothing you do surprises me anymore. Which reminds me, we'd better look respectable when the waiter arrives."

"Jeeeeez, Pop! C'mon!"

"Don't argue! This is a high-class establishment, and you can't go answering the door looking like... like that!"

"I did this morning."

"And you've probably got the entire Inter-Continental staff talking about it. It's highly likely that we'll have a dozen waiters at the door this evening... not to mention a gaggle of leering guests."

"So we don't wanna disappoint them, right?" Actually, Pop was looking a bit flustered, so I relented and did as he asked. While he dressed in pants, an open-neck button-up shirt, and slip-on shoes, I put on my shorts and t. "This is no fun, Pop. It sucks."

"So does being thrown out onto the street. I much prefer the opulence and comfort of this room, if you don't mind."

While we waited for our meals to arrive, Pop flopped onto one of the thickly padded and buttoned easy chairs. Meantime, I was content to gaze out the window at the view of the Golden Gate Bridge framed by the fading light of an orange and gold streaked sky. I was pretty much lost in my own thoughts when I heard Pop ask me if I was pissed at him.

"No, Pop. I'm not pissed at you," I shrugged without taking my eyes off the view. "You're an old guy... and old guys don't do rad stuff anymore."

"Do you think we should?"

"Guess not. It'd look kinda dumb I suppose."

"So teens should be free to do as they please? Is that what you're thinking?"

"I'm not sure what I'm thinking, Pop. I'm just looking at the bridge and thinking about all the guys who built it. They're probably all dead now, but the bridge is still there. Weird, huh? Doesn't seem fair."

"'Fair' is a human concept, Daniel. The word 'fair' doesn't exist in Nature's dictionary. Is that why you're pissed at me?"

"I'm not pissed at you, Pop. You're right. This is a class hotel, and I can't do rad stuff here. Hey, it's cool. Don't worry. I can handle it."

When the waiter arrived with the dinner trolley, he seemed a little disappointed that I was clothed, although he did take a bit of a sideways gawk at my bare feet. "Good evening, gentlemen," he smiled as he placed the food on the table. "Are you enjoying your stay, Daniel?"

"How did you know my name?"

"You're more famous than you realize. My name is Leo."

"Glad to meet you Leo." I lifted one of the stainless-steel lids covering the plates and took a sniff of the rising, flavorful steam. "Hmmm! Wicked! I'm starving!"

Then Leo, with a crisp linen cloth draped over his forearm, lifted a bottle of wine from the ice bucket, rested it in the palms of his hands as though he was holding a baby, and showed me the label. He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head slightly.

"Uh... yeah... coolio. I guess it's OK, Leo. Pop ordered it. Pop?"

"I'm sure it'll be fine, Daniel."

"If you would like to be seated, gentlemen," Leo suggested as he opened the bottle and poured a little wine into Pop's crystal glass.

I watched the old dude take a sip then swish it around inside his mouth before swallowing. "Lovely bouquet. Finely balanced palate, with a soft, rounded finish." Pop placed his glass back on the table before Leo half-filled it, then mine.

"Enjoy your meal, gentlemen."

Pop produced his wallet and gave Leo a tip. Then, as soon as the waiter was out the door, I got up from my chair, stripped, and threw my clothes onto the bed. "You wanna get back into your towel, Pop?" A minute later, we were both seated opposite each other at the table, enjoying our meals. "I think Leo likes me."

"Given the current choice, I'm not surprised."

"He probably thinks you're a dirty old man," I cracked.

"Why?" Pop took another mouthful of chicken, thought for a moment, then added, "You're right."

"About what? That Leo thinks you're a dirty old man? Or that you are?"

"Both."

"C'mon, Pop!"

There was a pause while Pop sipped his wine. "Daniel, something's been bothering me all day. I'm feeling... well... very guilty about something I did last night while you were asleep."

"I wasn't asleep, Pop. But before you start choking on your damn chicken, lemme say this: it's cool. OK? No prob."

Pop drained the whole glass of wine before he spoke again. "It's not cool, Daniel. I betrayed your trust, not to mention your mother's." Then the penny dropped as he refilled his glass to the brim. "You weren't asleep? But... I..."

"Hey... I didn't wanna embarrass you. OK? Besides, you give pretty good head, Pop. Had plenty of practice, huh?"

"Don't make light of this situation, Daniel, please! I shouldn't have done it. It'll never happen again."

"Hey, Pop, I can't pretend that you turn me on or anything. Y'know? It's not like I want you to do it again. Fact is, I don't. You're more like a dad to me, as well as a totally cool friend. But I'm not mad at you just 'cause you're human. So don't worry about it. Deal? Let's just forget it."

"I'm not quite sure what to say."

"Blow your fucking nose, Pop! Jeez! You're putting me off my dinner for Christ sake. Ew!" For the next fifteen seconds, the room reverberated with what sounded like a dozen ships coming into port all at once. "Lighten up, Pop," I said between the barrages of nasal thunder. "It's no biggie. OK? Anyway, it was my fault. I shouldn't tease you so much."

"But that's part of your charm, Daniel. You love to tease, and I love to be teased. I just went too far, that's all. I lost control, and I should've known better. Actually, I worry about you and your teasing... like the breakfast waiter this morning, and blading shirtless through town. Don't you worry about being... well, stalked or something?"

"I can handle myself. How's the chicken?"

"Delicious. And the steak?"

"Awesome. Pop? Did you tease guys when you were a teen?"

"Inadvertently, now that I reflect. I had no idea that other guys found me attractive. I can't begin to tell you how naive I was. I wish I'd been more like you. That's one of the reasons I admire you so much. You exude such incredible confidence, Daniel. You do things that most people would never have the nerve to do."

"Yeah, right. What about Spencer? I'm not sure I've got him sussed out. Y'know? Like he doesn't cuss and stuff... and he's like super smart... college and all that shit... piano... windsurfing. I feel like a bit of dork when I'm with him 'cause he's totally awesome."

"You're intimidated? Doesn't sound like the Daniel I know," Pop chuckled.

"Not exactly intimidated, Pop. I just don't wanna do anything fucking lamo. And anyway, he's got this aura thingy that makes me go all funny."

"Coffee?"

"Thanks."

"Sometimes we need to compromise, Daniel. We need to consider other people's feelings. But that's not to say that we shouldn't be true to ourselves. Perhaps Spencer is a little afraid of you. Have you considered that?"

"Yeah, right, Pop. He's fucking six feet tall and built. Whoa! You shoulda seen him when he came outa the water on his sailboard like some god in a wettie. And that fucking dazzling smile of his. I'm telling you, Pop, we're talking a major fucking hunk here. Believe it."

"And you're not an awesome hunk? Does he like you?"

"Yeah. But it's not that simple, Pop. You know how it is sometimes... you don't wanna risk being who you are 'cause the other dude might think you're a fucking dork. Spencer's different. He's kinda sophisticated. Beach house, neat car, grand piano, rich folks... all that stuff."

"So you do feel intimidated?"

"It's hard to explain. I just don't wanna blow it. I mean, we get along OK... better than OK. But if I pissed in his kitchen sink or something, he'd probably go totally fucking ballistic."

"Then don't piss in his sink."

"You know what I mean, Pop."

"Look, Daniel, don't be afraid to be yourself."

"Hello? Who told me to "look respectable" before Leo arrived?"

"I prefer a bed to a park bench."

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I'm going to phone reception and order more coffee... and port. Would you like a port?"

"Cool. Should I get dressed? What's a port?"

"No. And port is... well it's like a liquer... fortified wine with brandy."

"But you said..."

"Never mind what I said," Pop mumbled as he waddled toward the phone. "Hello? It's room 811. I was wondering if we could order more of your delicious percolated coffee... yes, a whole pot... and a half-decanter of house port, please."

"And choc-chip cookies!" I yelled.

"And choc-chip cookies."

"A hundred!"

"A dozen will be fine. Thank you."

"I don't get this," I said as Pop resumed his place at the table. "You're confusing me."

"That's because you're confusing me, Daniel. You have been ever since I met you."

"So what happens when the coffee arrives? Are we gonna spend the night on a park bench?"

"I don't normally take risks, Daniel. Risks scare the fuck outa me."

"You cussed."

"So I did. You exasperate me. I really don't know what to do with you, or how to advise you sometimes. You're from another planet. On the one hand, I love your sense of fun and adventure... your lack of inhibition... your wild streak... your recklessness. But on the other..."

Pop was interrupted by a knock at the door, which I answered before Pop could form a single word of protest in his befuddled mind.

"Oh!" Leo exclaimed as his bug eyes drifted down to my blonde crotch, then popped out on springs at the sight of my thick semi casually draped over my nads, "you're... uh... I'll wait here for a moment."

"No prob, Leo. C'mon in!"

Leo placed the coffee, port and cookies on the table, then stacked the dinner dishes and whatever on the trolley. "Did you enjoy your meal, gentlemen?"

"It was totally damn wicked, Leo. Thanks."

"Pardon me for noticing, but you have an all-over tan, Daniel. Are you a nudist?"

"You could say that," I grinned. "I'm kinda used to being naked. I'm from Florida."

"And your father looks sunburnt."

"Pop? No... that's not sunburn... that's... uh... bloodpressure. Yeah. But he's OK... don't worry. Everything's under control."

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