Toledo's Turn

"So, I want it to go right about here." Vin rapped on the wall. "Right at eye-level. It doesn't have to be very deep, maybe five or six inches. I have some stuff in the back but if you need anything else just let me know and I'll go get it for you. Me and Bobby are going to finish painting and putting up the pegboard. Seriously, let me know if you guys need anything."

He and Uncle Dan discussed some more specifics while I checked Vin out. He had a really nice ass. The worn brown khaki hugged his curves perfectly. He was just barely taller than me, probably around six-two or three. His waist was small and I could see his abs behind the tight t-shirt when he breathed in. He'd definitely grown up good, hot enough to make me worry about sporting wood all day.

"Come on, Tol." Uncle Dan broke me out of my staring and I realized they were both watching me, Vin with a smile that showed he hadn't minded. "Let's get started." I followed Dan back to the room Bobby had come from. It was full of boxes but there was an open space at one end where there was a backdoor. The door was propped open to let the air in and there was a pile of supplies right outside. Lengths of two-by-four, a stack of sheetrock, sawhorses, a selection of power tools and more made up the pile.

Uncle Dan and I talked for a few minutes about what we needed and where to begin. I started uncoiling extension cords and laying them out. While Dan and I were both electricians by trade we had plenty of experience between us for this kind of job. The morning passed quickly and we got a lot done despite my constant checking on Vin and what he was doing. By the time lunch time rolled around I was up in the crawlspace over the shop running wire to the wall with the display case.

Dan and I snaked the wire into place and he called me down for a break. Vin and Bobby were hanging another sheet of pegboard when I entered the shop. I wondered what the relationship was between them. I'd been paying attention to them all day and I got the impression they were just friends.

"Hey, Vin," Uncle Dan called out to him. "We're gonna grab something to eat. We'll be right out front if you need anything." Vin nodded then put down his hammer and came over to us.

"Why don't I go get us some subs? Treat you guys to lunch for all the help you're giving me? I know a little place that makes the best Italians and it's just down the road."

"Nah, you're paying us to do this. I don't want you to go out of your way." Uncle Dan told him. Personally, an Italian sounded just about perfect to me.

"No, Dan, I insist. Let me just call it in and I'll be back in thirty minutes. Okay?"

"Well, if you insist...," Dan looked from my pleading expression back to Vin. "A sub sounds really good."

"Perfect, I'll be back before you know it." He turned as he pulled his cell out of a pocket and yelled to Bobby, "Hey, man, what do you want?" I turned to Uncle Dan and smiled.

"Let's start cleaning up some of this mess while he's getting lunch," Dan said. I nodded with a "sure," and went to get the broom.

"Hey, Tol," I heard Vin call out. I hadn't taken more than a few steps and I turned to face him. "Want to come with me?" I looked at Uncle Dan for permission, he nodded with a smile and roll of his eyes.

"Sure, let's go." I followed Vin with a grin on my face out to his car. I walked over to the passenger side and opened the door as he climbed in behind the wheel.

"Thanks for coming along. I'd've invited Bobby but he's getting on my nerves. He offered to help me out but he's whining more than working." Vin talked while he raced down the road.

"Yeah, I know how that goes." I couldn't think of anything better to say, but better lame than awkward silence.

"Yeah, well, I guess I shouldn't complain since the guy is helping me out. There's a lot more work to do than I realized. Shit, I still can't believe you're here. I used to love going over to your parents' place. They still have it?"

"Yeah, fewer animals but it's pretty much the same. I live there too. Me and my Dad built an apartment in the loft over the barn when he had a new barn built."

"I bet that's nice. All the comforts of home and your own place? Sounds just about perfect."

"I like it. Plus it lets me help my parents out since I'm the only kid still around. I can do all the heavy lifting for them."

"Ha," he snorted. "It looks like you do lots of heavy lifting. Who would have guessed that skinny little kid would turn out looking like you do?"

"Uh, thanks," I replied hesitantly, too modest to know what to make of his comment.

"Seriously, you look way better than most of the models in those skin flicks I sell."

"Well, you're not exactly hard on the eyes either." He took his eyes off the road to meet mine with a big smile.

"You got any plans for tonight, Toledo?" Shit, this was getting better and better.

"Not anymore. Why, you wanna do something?" He gave me a full on shit-eating grin.

"Yeah, I wanna do you." He put his free hand on my thigh and squeezed. His hand felt good and almost distracted me from what he'd said. That had to be the cheesiest line I'd ever heard and I laughed out loud.

"Did you really just say that?" He smiled wider but put his hand back on the steering wheel while I couldn't help laughing harder.

"So... seriously, you want to hook up tonight?" I got myself under control and nodded like a fool.

"Heck yeah. Where and when?" I was up for whatever he wanted. The slow build-up and sly glances all morning had me raring to go.

"I have a ton of shit to do so it'll have to be later. And my place has become storage for all the stuff from the shop. How about I come over to your place around... seven?" He looked from the road to see what I was thinking but the huge grin on my face must have made my answer obvious.

"Excellent. You remember how to get there?" He was pulling off the road into the parking lot of a little deli as I asked.

"Yeah, but if I have any problems I'll call you." He parked and pulled out his cell and pressed a few keys. "Okay, give it to me." I rattled off the number for my cell and he put it in his phone. When he was done he called me and clicked it off when my phone rang. "There now you have mine, too. Wait here, I'll be right back." He hopped out and went into the deli while I saved his contact information. I stared at the entry for Vin Johnson in my contact list. I tried to check the silly grin on my face before he came back, but it was hard.

As he got back into the car he handed me the bag of subs before putting on his seatbelt and reversing out of the parking spot. I could smell the pickles, onions, peppers and fresh baked bread. It made my mouth water. I looked over at Vin and watched him drive, relaxed and confident, like he owned the road. I remembered him as a kid, running around the farm with me following, willing to do whatever he wanted. It was starting to look like things hadn't changed.

"So, you work with Dan?" He startled me out of my little daydream.

"Yeah, sort of. Right now we're on the same job together, some condos down in Brookline. Electrical, but we both know a lot about other stuff, that's why he took the job for you."

"He's a good guy, I really appreciate you guys coming out at the last minute... Hey, wait a minute. Are you out to your family? I didn't even think of that when I decided to show up at your house." His eyebrows drew together in concern.

"Yeah, I'm out. It was sort of an accident, but they're cool now," I said with a laugh. He gave me a look, like he was left out on the joke.

"How do you 'accidentally' come out?"

"My Dad, my brother John and I were watching a Red Sox game. I was fourteen. My Dad made some comment about how good Manny Ramirez was going to be for the Sox. I guess I was kinda' hypnotized by the game and I just blurted out 'Yeah, and he's hot, too.' I realized what I said and turned to my Dad in shock. He looked at me like he was shocked and John just started cracking up. Then I started cracking up. It was out there and I couldn't take it back, you know? And that was pretty much it. My Dad had a really hard time with it at first but now it's all good. Does your... I mean did your father know about you?"

He'd been smiling during my story but now the smile faded and his knuckles went white where he gripped the steering wheel and he sat up straighter. "Nah, he didn't know. We weren't very close before he died."

"Oh, um... sorry to hear that." We were pulling off into the parking lot of his shop.

"It's no big deal. Let's eat, I'm starving." We were both quiet as he parked and we got out of the car and went in with the food. Uncle Dan and Bobby had set up some empty paint jugs for seats so we sat and passed out the subs. They were as good as Vin had promised and none of us really talked while we dug in except to say how delicious the subs were.

We made short work of the food and got back to work. Dan and I had the display case finished by three. Vin and Bobby were in the backroom putting more shelves together when we found them. Uncle Dan called out, "Hey, Vin, we're all done. Come and check it out." Vin followed us into the big main room and looked really pleased with the finished project.

"It's perfect, just what I imagined." He shook Uncle Dan's hand, then mine. He pulled out a wad of bills and counted the money out, handing it to Dan. "Thanks again, guys, for helping me out. You'll have to come and check it out next week when we open."

"Ah, I don't think my old lady will let me but Tol can check it out and fill me in later. We'll see you around, kid. Let me know if you need anything else." He patted Vin on the shoulder and picked up the last of our tools.

"Yeah, see you around. Tol, I'll see you at seven." I bit my lip, I should've known I wouldn't get out of there without Uncle Dan finding out about our "date".

"Okay, see you then." I nodded to him and Bobby and shrugged our tool belts higher onto my shoulder and followed Dan out the door. We climbed into the truck and I sensed Dan silently laughing as he started it up.

"Just spit it out, whatever you have to say, Uncle Dan," I said with a sigh.

"Nothing to say. You got a date and I'm happy for you. That Vin is a total hottie." I stared at him in stunned amazement, shocked to hear Uncle Dan say something like that. He started laughing and we both dissolved into laughter. We drove home, neither one of us able to go more than a few miles without laughing.

Back home, Tom, my oldest brother's car was in the driveway along with Aunt Erma's. "Looks like I'm staying for awhile," Uncle Dan said.

"Yep, I think you're right. I'm gonna go shower, see you in a few." I jumped out of the truck, grabbed my lunch cooler, and took my tool belt out of the back. Uncle Dan pulled around to park in front of the house while I headed up the stairs.

I took half an hour to trim the hair around my dick, pretty sure I'd be getting lucky, before I got in the shower. I paid special attention to getting clean, then another half hour on picking out what to wear. After shaving, trying to do something with my hair, splashing myself with cologne and getting dressed I'd spent a little more than two hours getting ready. Finally I was checking my ass out in the mirror to see how the baggy cargo shorts looked on me. I realized what I was doing and laughed at myself. I pulled on a green polo shirt, it made my eyes look extra green, and hustled out the door to the house.

I walked up onto the veranda and thought how I hadn't spent so much time getting ready for a date since I was in high school. I shook my head at myself and opened the kitchen door. My Mom, Grandma, Aunt Erma and my sister-in-law Susan were all working around the kitchen. I closed the door quietly behind me.

"Look at all these beautiful women. Whatever you're cooking smells good," I said. I walked up to my Mom and kissed her cheek while peeking over her shoulder to see if there was anything ready I could steal a taste of. My Grandma caught me and slapped my shoulder as she pulled me down for a kiss. I had to make the rounds and hug and kiss Susan and Aunt Erma. My brother, Tom, must have heard the commotion because I saw him walk in holding my little niece, Emma.

"Hey, there's Tol." He put Emma down who ran over to me, squealing. "Wow, you look all dressed up, little brother. Is all that just 'cause you knew I was coming?" Tom said it with a goofy grin and I knew instantly that Uncle Dan had spread the word about Vin.

I grabbed Emma before she could barrel me down and scooped her up into the air before bringing her close to my chest. I hugged her tight as she wrapped her little legs and arms around me. "Hey there, pretty girl. Did you come to have dinner with me?" She giggled against my neck and I danced my fingers over her side to make her laugh even more. I kissed her cheek and shifted her to my hip to face the rest of my family.

"So, what exactly did Uncle Dan tell you all?" I let my gaze bounce between my Mom and my brother, Tom. I knew Tom would have something to say.

"He said you and Vin Johnson were making goo-goo eyes at each other all day and he practically had to do the job by himself." The jerk always had a smart-ass comment. I just rolled my eyes at him.

"Thomas Pereira, leave your brother alone," my Mom interjected. My Dad and Uncle Dan came in to see what was going on.

"Listen, all of you, this isn't a date or anything. We're just reconnecting. Vin wanted to know if you guys still had the farm so I invited him out for dinner. You all have to promise to be nice or I'll just make him something at my place." I tried not to feel guilty about the half-truth. Emma squirmed so I let her down.

"Toledo, it's just Saturday dinner, you can invite anyone you want." My Dad spread his hands as he spoke and smiled at me and continued. "We'd all like to see Vin again, it's been too long, so this is nice what you're doing. And if it turns out to be something more, what's wrong with that?" Tom snickered and his wife, Susan, smacked his arm. He turned a hurt expression on her and my Grandma smacked his other arm, which made us all laugh.

Chapter 2

By the time Vin arrived it was five past seven and dinner was ready. I'd garnered promises from every one of my family members, even little Emma, not to do anything that might embarrass me. I hoped he wouldn't mind having dinner with the family. We hadn't made any specific plans and the whole thing had somehow taken on a life of its own.

At the sound of his car I went out onto the veranda and waved to him to park in front of Tom's truck on the circular driveway. He approached me with a smile and a bottle of wine. I leaned against the post at the top of the short stairs, trying to look relaxed and casual. As he got closer he gave me a wink that had the blood rushing into my cheeks and south to my crotch. My smile grew wider in return.

"How's it going, Vin?" His smile turned wicked.

"Better now. I've been looking forward to this all day." The inflection of his voice intimated more than what he'd said and caused a little shiver to race up my spine. He was wearing a light-blue button up shirt, untucked with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows, and jeans over sandals. His strong forearms, covered in golden hair, looked sexy. Not to mention the little peak of his chest hair, the same golden color as that on his arms, curling from the open neck of his shirt.

"We're having dinner with the family first, I hope you don't mind?" I took the bottle he offered and let my fingers glide over his. I looked at the bottle and glanced up from under the dark fringe of my lashes. "Thanks," I wasn't sure if I was talking about the wine or his showing up.

He mounted the last stair and leaned into me. I tipped my head to him and he leaned in for a kiss. Our noses met seconds before our lips touched. I was expecting just a simple kiss and was surprised when I felt his tongue trace the seal of my lips. I opened to him with a sigh, almost dropping the bottle of wine. He licked along the rim of my bottom lip before I ran my own tongue over his and into his mouth. He pressed his body against mine and my back met the post I'd been leaning on.

"Is Vin here?" I heard my Dad call out from inside the house. Vin pulled back from me with a last little flick of his tongue on my top lip. I smiled into his blue eyes.

"What's for dinner?" He asked with a chuckle. I only realized that his hands had been on my hips when he let me go.

"We're having chicken Piri-Piri. I hope you like spicy?" I opened the screen door and let him in before me.

"I love spicy," he said with another wink. I couldn't stop grinning like a fool. As he passed before me I reached down to adjust the aching hard-on in my shorts so it would be less noticeable.

Vin remembered the way to the kitchen/dining room. My Dad saw him and came over to shake his hand, pulling him into a hug. All the women, except Susan, gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. Tom came over to shake his hand and introduce his wife and daughter. I handed the bottle of wine off to my Dad and tipped my chin towards Vin.

"Let's eat," my Dad announced. We made our way to the table and I took Vin's elbow to seat him beside me. My Mom and Aunt Erma followed with steaming dishes to set out on the table. Once they took their seats we started serving ourselves, passing the dishes around as we filled our plates.

"Thanks for bringing the wine, Vincent." My Dad said it as he worked the cork out. "I was real sorry to hear about your father passing."

"Thank you, Mr. Pereira. It was pretty sudden, massive heart-attack. The doctor said he never knew what hit him." I couldn't read Vin's face as I tried to watch him from the corner of my eye but his words lacked emotion. I couldn't help but think how I'd feel if my own father died and knew it would be the opposite of whatever Vin was feeling.

"Please, call me John. I'm glad you came to dinner, Vincent. You're welcome here anytime."

"I appreciate that, sir." Vin stared down at his food.

"I'm sure my little brother appreciates it, too." Leave it to Tom.

"Thomas!" My Mom exclaimed. "Be nice, Vincent is our guest. And stop trying to embarrass your brother."

"What? I wanna know what his intentions are towards Toledo." He tried to look innocent but I could tell he was suppressing a huge grin.

"Christ, Tom. Leave it alone," I told him. Emma giggled and Grandma muttered something under her breath. Vin looked around the table with a little smile twitching his lips. My Dad laughed and passed the wine to my Mom. I stared daggers at Tom.

The rest of the meal passed in easy conversation. Vin filled us all in on how he'd gone to school in Philadelphia and decided to stay there until his father died and he moved back to take over his dad's business. I was glad he never said exactly what his father's business was. My Mom and Dad filled him in on what was going on with my other siblings and their families. It was nice and Vin fit seamlessly into the family dynamics.

As the meal wound down and talk turned to the times Vin and his father had been to the farm, Vin asked, "Is that little pond still out there, back in the woods?" He gave me a significant look as he said it and I caught his meaning immediately.

"Yeah it is, you wanna go check it out? Maybe take a swim?" I asked.

"I want to go!" Emma yelled.

"No, honey," Susan said. "You don't have a bathing suit and we have to go home soon."

I didn't wait for Vin to answer but pushed out of my chair and grabbed our plates. I took the dishes to the sink and returned to the table. I stood behind my Mom's chair and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. "That was great, thanks ladies." I made my way down and kissed my Grandma, Aunt Erma and Susan as well. Vin had stood and met me at the end of the table.