Noah & Navid

Chapter 20- Dinner Party

Mike and Karim came over early with bags and trays of things for the party. Mike had put two trays of something into the oven to cook for the party as he filled our fridge with groceries. 

He said they were things I would need to take care of a Persian man. He pointed through everything and told me he'd show me how to prepare things Navid would miss from back home.

Karim and Navid set up in the living room sipping beers while exploring the very loud features of the new home theater system while Mike showed me how to work our new kitchen. 

Mike had gone all out preparing things for a big dinner for everyone. I wasn't sure how many people would show up.

Aram and Bashir were the next two to arrive. 

They came in with wrapped gifts and only popped into the kitchen to say a quick hello to me and grab beer. Bashir went back out to the living room to see the soccer game the men were watching. Aram hung back for a second to watch as I helped Mike slice up some cucumbers.

"You look happy, Noah. I've seen Navid happy before, but now he looks so grown up. He has a home with the one he loves. His sweet boy with green eyes and a gentle soul. It's really beautiful. You are really beautiful," Aram said as he stood behind my left shoulder. 

I turned to look at him. He was always a happy, goofy guy, but now his eyes were focused, sincere. He hovered close to me for a minute and then kissed my cheek before darting away.

I was slightly stunned as I turned back towards Mike who was watching with interest.

"I... I don't know what that was about," I whispered as though we could be heard over the blaring television.

"You don't?" Mike asked with a suggestive grin as though it was something very obvious.

"Hey, there's beer in here?" a voice called from the doorway and I turned to see my best friend Erik walk in with a grocery bag full of chips.

"You came! How did you know? I didn't even know!" I bounced excitedly and ran to hug him.

"Navid invited me. He said you might feel left out with all his friends here to celebrate this. It's a nice place, Noah! Wow it's like legit nice. You're like a grown up and all!" Erik laughed as he threw his arms around me.

I introduced him to Mike and then led the two around on a tour. 

Mike actually had seen more of it since he decorated the whole thing. He showed me the second bedroom which I hadn't been in. There was just a bed made up in simple white, and Navid's prayer rug and some other Islamic things I didn't understand.

"Navid wanted a place to do his prayers in the morning where you wouldn't be disturbed," Mike noted.

"No! I love waking up watching him," I admitted. "Usually he's in just his boxers and I like watching him bend and stretch and his butt just looks so cute popping out of the top of his underwear... I know that's not right of me to stare. It's just the only time he lets me appreciate it. I wish he'd let me touch it."

"You're really filthy, Noah," Erik laughed sarcastically knowing I was nowhere near as sexually progressive as he was. He nudged my shoulder with his fist.

"I watch Karim when he does it too, sometimes in little shorts that slide to show his crack. It's the only time I see him vulnerable," Mike noted.

"So that's everything! I really love it, Mike did an awesome job!" I said and felt a knot of pride in my chest at the thought that I had a beautiful new place to show off to my friends.

"Not everything. You didn't go outside?" Mike asked. "There's a backyard that is small but very cute!"

We followed Mike back downstairs and past the growing group of guys sprawled out across the living room with beers while the game was playing.