Saving Eddy

6

My head is pounding. My body is hot and I'm sweaty all over. I tried to remove the blanket that's covering my overheating body. I remove an arm that draped my chest, I removed a leg that was strewn across my own, ever so slightly nudging at my morning wood. Fuck.

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We men, don't do well in conversations. We hangout. We do other stuff and talk on the side. So it made sense that we weren't comfortable having just a conversation. I figured some liquid courage won't do any harm.

We drove out to buy food, some snacks and a crap load of beer. So much so that the cashier thought we were having a college party. Eddy fired up the game console while I prepped some nacho chips to snack on.

"Remember Eddy, our goal here is to get wasted." As I handed him his beer.

"Fuck. I think I actually need this."

Not until Eddy paused the game and staggered towards the bathroom to pee for the nth time did I notice that the alcohol has been kicking in. I stared at the few empty beer bottles on my side of the couch and looked at a lot more bottles on his side. Damn, he has been downing it.

Fuck. I heard him say from the bathroom before hearing a thud on the door.

"You okay there, buddy?"

I ran to the bathroom and knocked on the door before pushing it open.

"You still alive there, mate?"

Then sobbing. Eddy was sitting on the cold floor crying.

I run to his side. "Hey, hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing Brett. I'm just afraid I'm gonna ruin things. "
"What things? Explain to me."

"I'n not gay Brett. I thought I am, but I don't think I am."

Oh. "Neither am I. So? What's wrong?"

"But I love you so damn much, Brett. I thought it was a platonic kind of love but I get jealous when you flirt with other people. I'm mortified by the thought of you being happy with someone else. Fuck, I'm selfish. I want you to be happy with me."

"I am happy with you! I'm not seeing other people. We live together, and we even sleep in one bed together."

"What is this? Are we a couple but not a couple?" Eddy slowly sitting straighter against the wall.

"We basically are a married couple like Ray said. Let's leave it at that."

"Does that mean we're gay Brett? Because I don't feel that way."

"You mean sexually?" I've never seen Eddy's face so red.

"We can deal with that by ourselves, Eddy. You don't have to worry about that."

Eddy hugged me, his face burrowing against the nook on my neck. "I'm sorry Brett. I'm sorry for being selfish."

I hugged back, " I love you Eddy". I pulled back holding his nape, wiping the tears off his face. "Stop crying Eddy. We're fine. We're better than fine."

He kissed my forehead. "Thanks Brett, really."

"Eddy, I don't want you thinking that this is a one-way street. I do feel the same way about you. So, you don't have to thank me." I pulled him up. "Get a shower Eddy, you've drunk way too much."

Eddy and I laid on the bed both looking at the ceiling.

"So, this is gonna be us for the rest of our lives?" I asked.

Eddy turned on his side looking at me. "Rest of our lives?"

"C'mon mate, we just talked about this. Unless you don't want it, of course."

He turned and was leaning on his elbows his face almost at mine. "Do you really mean it? I mean do you really want it as much as I do?"

"Yes, Eddy." He suddenly lurched at me. He hugged me and I hugged back, my arms encircling his back.

"I love you Brett, I'm so glad I can finally say it out loud."

"I love you too Eddy." I squeezed him in my hug. "It took waaaay too long for us to get to here. I'm so glad. Finally!" I peppered his face with kisses all over. His forehead, his cheeks and even his nose but ever so slightly avoiding his lips. He's not gay after all. We're just together, together.

Eddy suddenly rolled away, startling me. "I- uh I, I have to take a shower."

"Eddy, you just had one.  Your hair is still wet from it." I run my hand through his wet hair.

"Shit... Shit! I have to take a shit. Beer shits, y'know?" I rolled my eyes at him but let him go.

"Ok. Fine. Go... Fast...." I slapped his bum as he stood up off the bed.

Listening to make sure Eddy has reached the bathroom, I reach over to my side table, pulling out a pack of tissues to take care of my own release before falling asleep, never noticing when Eddy came back to bed.