Coming to Terms ✔️

1: DILF

Maybe it was because I was standing right underneath a vent, or maybe it was the eyes across the room that sent shivers down my spine.

I tried to ignore them once I'd first caught a glimpse of the enticing brow structure but it was getting hard. Thick tension was nearly tangible between us and I decided to confront the owner of said staring man. I manoeuvred around the sticky, alcohol smeared tables until I was standing directly in front of him.

"I couldn't help but notice you staring," I cheesed, leaning against the bar with my best seduction eyes.

The man chuckled, running a hand through his salt and pepper colored hair. He couldn't have been past his mid-forties if the crinkles near his eyes and lines on his forehead didn't lie. Scruff littered his chin and cheeks, suiting his brooding, mysterious vibe.

"I guess I couldn't help myself," he hummed, giving me a once over, his tongue sneaking out to wet his lips hungrily. "I'm Ben."

I introduced myself before ordering two rum and cokes, both for me but I was willing to share if Ben thought it was for him. "What are you doing at a place like this?" I asked. "I'm getting the happily married dad feeling from you."

Ben laughed out loud, grabbing one of the drinks that the bartender placed in front of us. "Divorced, actually. Exploring the world outside of a cheating wife," the man said, no bitterness detected. He almost seemed happy.

"I'd be happy to be your tour guide for the night, if that's something you're inter—"

I stopped my schmoozing when my eyes landed on the group that just walked into the local gay bar. No, absolutely not. There was no way in hell did Xavier de León just walk into the only spot I was sure to avoid him.

Unfortunately, there he was, in all of his glory, or lack thereof. I scowled as I detached myself from the conversation with sexy-as-hell DILF Ben. How could I focus when my nemesis was across the room and I hadn't formally come out?

It wasn't so much that I was stuck in the closet. I was pretty out there with my sexuality without making it painstakingly obvious just looking at me. Whoever knew, at this point, just knew. And whoever didn't, clearly didn't mean very much to me. It was a vital piece of information that I specifically told to a handpicked group of people. Half of which was my family.

So I didn't so much as care about anyone seeing me at this bar. I did however care about Xavier seeing me at this bar.

Finding out I was gay would put me at a complete advantage in our little war. That's just handing him over some prime ammunition. I decided I would figure some way out to deter Xavier from recognizing me.

I slapped a twenty on the bar and grabbed Ben by the front of his shirt, yanking him close and moving my lips near his ear. "I'll be out front in the red Jeep. You can finish those drinks but I've gotta' dip. I'm leaving in ten," I whispered hastily, then dragged my tongue around the shell of Ben's ear and jumped away, all but running out of the bar.

It didn't occur to me that Xavier may have already seen my Jeep with very recognizable stickers on the back. I sighed, fumbling with my pocket to get my keys past my wallet and out into my palm.

"Fancy seeing you here, Bradford."

I stopped dead, exhaling out of agony. "Same to you. Decide you want to swing the other way and bat for the other team, de León?"

Xavier scoffed. I turned on my toes and faced the man of the hour, looking as presentable as he always did. His olive skin practically glowed in comparison to his stark white t-shirt with some logo or another on the pocket. He still hadn't gotten a haircut, I noticed, or maybe it was deliberate. It was curling around his ears, but didn't quite reach the top of his neck. A loose wave or two graced his forehead gently, tickling the middle of his bushy, yet groomed, right eyebrow. Piercing hazel eyes scrutinized my entire being with just one glance.

An amused smirk landed on Xavier's face finally as he replied. "I'm only here for Celina's birthday. You, on the other hand, are clearly here to pick up grandpas," he snickered. I glanced behind him to see Ben wavering by the door, pretending to be scrolling on his phone while Xavier held my attention.

"Run along now, de León," I huffed, sort of humiliated that he'd seen the whole exchange between me and Ben, "I'm sure you've got better people to terrorize."

Xavier laughed out loud. "Fuck you, too, Bradford."

With that, he turned around, gracefully walking across the pavement to the front door. He stopped, said something to Ben quietly, pointing at me at some point, and then slid into the bar once more.

Ben looked hesitant, looking from me to his own car across the parking lot. No surprise whatsoever when whatever Xavier said to him worked and he took off opposite of me and got into his own car, peeling off into the night. I stood there for a second, processing what just happened, before groaning aloud.

Xavier de León was dead to me.

While I could have just driven home and forgot about the whole endeavor, I wasn't quite that grown. Petty fighting with my enemy was much more interesting than going back to my bed and binge watching the same drama I'd been recommended by my friend Georgia.

I unlocked my car, snatching up one of the plastic bags from the backseat. My mother had asked me to pick up a few items from the convenience store on my way home from running errands. Going to the bar was an afterthought as I passed the exit, so I had already stopped beforehand.

A small, mischievous smile perched upon my face as I grabbed the pack of toilet paper. Pulling out two rolls and considering how tired I'd probably be after one, I decided that was plenty.

Xavier's truck was parked six spots down from me, near the back so no one would scratch it. I set one roll on the bed in the back and got to work, unraveling it and throwing it all over the car, back and forth.

Sabotaging Xavier was exhilarating and never seemed to get old. There was the time when we were fourteen and I egged his bedroom window from my own. In turn Xavier woke me up at six in the morning on a Saturday with a speaker he'd asked my sister Dakota to hide under my bed, blasting heavy metal music. Last year, Xavier had paid some local marching band kids to follow me around the mall, playing their instruments to whatever I was doing. As payback, I gave my cousin Rachel twenty bucks to agree to go on a date with Xavier, then stand him up.

Toilet papering his car wasn't the most original idea. But it satisfied me. The guy wanted to ruin my potential ass of the night? He would have to clean up a big mess after a few drinks.

That made it about even.

Content with my work, I snapped a picture on my phone and ran back to my car. I put the pedal to the metal and dipped out of there. Once I got to the red light before the main road, I pulled out my phone and texted Xavier.

Harry (12:04AM)
Attachment: 1 Image
Thanks for ruining my night

Feeling accomplished, yet also aware that this meant our feud was far from over, I drove the rest of the way home. I refrained from looking at my phone until I was safe and sound, and even forgot once I'd pulled into my driveway.

I went inside, taking in the smell of cranberries that lingered in our doorway. Once I'd checked if anyone was awake downstairs and left the groceries on the counter for my mom, I ran upstairs. I plopped down onto my bed, getting comfortable. I slid out my phone and immediately rolled my eyes.

Xavier (12:10AM)
You're a piece of shit gay boy

I didn't know whether to cringe or brush it off.

Despite all these years of knowing each other, being forced to attend family thrown events together, bickering back and forth, growing closer than either of us would ever wish, I hardly knew him. I didn't know how Xavier felt about homosexuality or what he planned to do to me now that he knows my not-so-secret secret. What if calling me 'gay boy' was meant in a more hateful, derogatory way instead of a playful, teasing way?

I decided to put that to rest and try to keep my mind off of it. Xavier meant nothing to me, and definitely didn't care what he thought of me.

For the rest of the night, I glued my eyes to the TV as I played video games, watched Georgia's show, and smoked a little weed to cool down. No thoughts of my evil next door neighbor and ongoing mortal enemy even crossed my mind.

But I did think about who I could have been under the sheets with.