I'll Fight Hell to Hold You

After The Party

As soon as the last person said goodbye to Paul, Tommy and the girls, Paul started putting the leftovers away. Tommy gathered up the dishes and began washing them. He had made the water boiling hot because he felt dirty. 

Paul realized how hot the water was when he reached in the sink for a washcloth. "Damn!" he swore. "Tom, why's the water so hot?" 

"I-I-I have to have it hot so I can wash all the dirtiness away." mumbled Tommy. "I'm a filthy person that deserves to have the demons scalded for punishment."

"How are you filthy? You're not dirty."

"I-I-I have unclean thoughts and that's not right because we're married and it's wrong to think that way about someone else and I...."

Paul gently encouraged him to continue." Tom, who are you thinking about?" "I won't get mad I promise."

"I-I-I t-t-think Eric looks sooo good right now. I'm sorry. He's with Gene and we're together and I'm so so sorry."

Paul cracked a smile as he sent Tommy upstairs to bed. He could barely keep from laughing out loud. "Poor Tommy. This whole party he's been attracted to Eric who feels awful." "Oh my."

Upstairs, Tommy had gotten in bed and was trying to sleep. He was lying there with his eyes closed when the door opened. Paul laid down beside him and whispered in his ear. 

Tommy rolled over to look at Paul. "What's role-playing?" "You mean like acting?"

"In a way, yes." He explained to Tommy what he meant. 

"You want me to do that?"

"Only if you want."

Tommy reluctantly nodded.