Mulligans

19. Perspective

Nathan pushed his glass under the ice maker, listening to the freezer drawer rattle as it dispensed the cubes. He opened the fridge and poured a tall glass of iced tea. He noticed Chase setting up his easel in the backyard as he stirred in sugar. Nathan pulled another glass from the cupboard and filled it, watching as Chase turned, taking in the panoramic view of the lake, probably deciding on what should fill his blank canvas.

Nathan had considered many options upon hearing he and Chase would be alone for the weekend. He'd flirted with the idea of going to Stacey's mother's house to avoid a moment precisely like this. At the same time, it was exactly a moment like this that he longed for. Just to watch and admire the handsome guy through a pane of glass. Nathan measured out two teaspoons of sugar and stirred them into Chase's glass, glancing between the mesmerizing dissolving crystals and Chase removing his T-shirt and hooking it into a belt loop on his jeans. He took a deep breath, picked up the drinks, and headed out to the backyard.

"Thirsty?" Nathan asked, raising the glasses for Chase to see as he crossed the lawn.

"Nice. Yeah, that's great, thanks!" Chase smiled, resting his hands on his hips. "I haven't even started yet and you're calling break time!"

"Didn't mean to interrupt," Nathan apologized, handing Chase his iced tea.

"It's all good. I've been trying to decide what to focus on anyway. Not much of a...."

"Landscape guy," Nathan finished for him.

"You were listening." Chase smiled and his eyes twinkled dangerously at Nathan over his glass. "Are you busy right now?"

"Not really, what do you need?"

"Sit for me," Chase half asked, and half instructed.

"What?"

"Well, if you're not busy, you can be my subject. Like you said, I paint people, not scenery."

"I don't know... I mean, what do I have to do?" Nathan asked, already starting to sweat.

"Nothing. Just be. It's easy on your end. I do all the work, I promise," Chase said, picking up his easel. "Come on, I have a perfect spot."

Nathan followed Chase, who led him down the winding rock stairway off the cliff toward the lake. He sensed that Chase had his mind made up and wasn't going to be taking no for an answer. The little roller coaster started down near his groin again and began doing loops into his stomach and chest as he hurriedly followed Chase down the steps. He muffled a laugh, realizing that more than a small part of him couldn't wait to get started too.

"Down here, on the dock," Chase called over his shoulder, and now Nathan was only a moment behind. "I painted a little boy fishing down here. And now—we find the little boy in you." Chase grinned, looking enamored with his idea.

Nathan followed Chase onto the rickety dock, which swayed slightly in the water and creaked under their weight. "Now what?" he asked, feeling very self-conscious.

"Just get comfortable. Take a seat and I'll get set up."

Nathan crouched down on the pier and settled into a somewhat awkward cross-legged position and wrung his hands as he watched Chase prepare. Chase unrolled a long black canvas pouch full of brushes and selected five of varying lengths and widths, stuffing them bristle up in the front pocket of his tattered and paint-smeared jeans. Nathan's eyes traced the curve of the denim as Chase crouched and rummaged through a second canvas bag of oil paints and then squeezed various colors onto his palette. The frayed bottoms of the jeans hung long over his tan feet and rested under his heels as he went about his task, mixing the colors with a knife. The roller coaster did a triple loop at the sight of Chase's bare feet. There was something erotic about seeing him mucking around the yard shirtless and shoeless, like a bohemian Huckleberry Finn.