Page 18

Chapter Thirteen

Jovian’s smile was truly one of the most beautiful things Dixon had ever seen in his life. The real smile that he wore in that moment, as opposed to the fake one he wore most of the time.

Then, a scent caught him, and he moved closer, knowing it came from Jovian. He easily lifted Jovian off his feet and brought him close, and he chuckled silently as he saw Jovian’s lips parted and his eyelids slid shut.

He was expecting a kiss.

Dix didn’t kiss him. Instead, he moved his face to Jovian’s long, sleek neck and breathed in slowly, taking his time as he felt Jovian quaking in his hands. “You smell really nice. Like Candy. I’d like to eat you alive.”

Setting Jovian back on his feet, Dix saw that the smile had elevated. “Really?”

“Yeah,” he said sweetly, then his voice turned into a rough growl purposely. “Don’t wear that shit while you’re hiking or on the survival camps. The bears will think you smell like candy too.”

With that, he left before he saw the smile fade further, and he had a little skip in his step as he made his way down through the cabins and to the office.

He waved happily at those calling out for “Coach” and whistled as he climbed the few wooden steps to the office door.

Inside, he found Bernie and True bent over True’s desk, and both scowled, souring his mood immediately. “What’s wrong?”

True spat, “The one donor we thought would come through for us, well, he couldn’t. All his charitable contributions for the year have been promised. Fucking dick.”

Bernie elbowed his husband. “Babe, you missed the big, goofy smile he had when he came in.”

“Oh? And does that mean you and that little shit…?”

“Hey. That may or may not be my future man, so no name calling.”

Both had their eyebrows raise comically as Bernie asked, “Your future man?”

“Gotta admit,” he said as both palms raised to either side of him. “That guy is something.”

“That’s the least you could say about the little…sorry, about Jovian,” True said.

“Listen, you sent him here, and you hoped I’d be able to turn him around, but I can’t take the credit.

Mike, Kathy, Alan, they’ve befriended him, and I’ll tell you, that night around the fire during the survival camp?

Man, tears just ran down his face. I must say, you all did good by him, sending him here. ”

True sat hard behind his desk. “Well, I’ll be goddamned.”

Bernie snorted, “Yeah, you and me both, baby.”

Dix sat and told them what had happened, and, by the end, both mouths had curved into self-satisfied grins. True admitted, “I knew there was a real person under all that sass and snobbishness, but to know I’m right? I figured I was only hoping.”

“Well, there is. I saw that right off. I’ve never seen someone so insecure and in need of something real. All covered in that false bravado.”

“He is pretty as a picture,” True gave. “And that little ass, my god…”

“Tell me about it,” Dixon whispered, thinking about it, that small perky butt, two round globes he knew would fit perfectly in his hands.

“But…Dix, come on, he’s…is he really cut out for this life? No manicures once a week, no facials.”

“I believe Dix would love to give him a few facials,” Bernie quipped and laughed heartily at his own joke.

Dix laughed with him, but True was not amused. “You two are disgusting.”

“I’ve given you a few,” Bernie said in his defense, and Dix got up slowly, knowing it was time to leave as True’s eyes narrowed at his husband.

“That’s not a bit funny, you ass!”

“I’m gonna take off now. See you all later.”

Jovian was lying on his bunk, grinning up at the ceiling when Alan, Mike and Kathy found him. Others were in the cabin, gathering clothes to change, or just resting up for the evening’s events to come.

There was a dance that night, and one camper was playing DJ. Even Jovian was excited about it. Mostly because he knew Dixon would be there.

“So, we just saw Coach coming from here,” Mike started.

Kathy was not as cagey. “He was smiling all funny. What happened?”

“He likes me,” Jovian said, grinning wider as he pictured the man’s handsome, bearded face. Just picturing him, he got chills.

“We knew that.” Alan said and added, “We told you that!”

Jovian finally sat up and placed his back against the wall. “We’re going on a date.”

“A date?” Kathy asked. “When? Where?”

Jovian’s smile faded. “Oh. Oh, well, after he said a bear would eat me, I forgot to ask.”

They all three stared at him.

“Oh, he was talking about my products and fragrance. He said I smelled good, that he could eat me, and that bears would too, so I shouldn’t wear them hiking or camping away from here.”

All three sighed and Kathy sat on his bunk. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Tell him, Kath,” Mike pushed.

“Tell me what?”

“I am going on a date, too. This guy from Utah. He…doesn’t mind…”

“Doesn’t mind what?” Jovian asked honestly. He thought Kathy was beautiful, even if her skin needed some treatment and she could use a workout. Just thinking those things, however, made him feel terribly guilty.

“That I’m…not physically a girl.”

“Hold on…he’s here, right? So…isn’t he some kind of queer?”

Alan laughed, but Mike explained, “I think he’s pan, so he is more attracted to the person and not the…you know, the stuff below the belly button.”

“Oh! Right. Ciana is bisexual, but mostly when she’s drinking at the club.”

“That’s drunk-sexual,” Alan said. “I know guys like that, too. A little repressed, maybe, possibly bi, but it only comes out when they’re drunk for whatever reason. It happens.”

“Yeah, she’s set on marrying a man, but I’ve seen her get pretty crazy with girls.” He knew they’d gotten off track. “Anyway, Kathy, good for you. Let me do your makeover for the date.”

Alan groaned, “Jovian…”

“No, it’s okay! I think that could be fun.”

“Thank god , I’ve been dying to do it.”

They were going to the dance together, so Jovian got out his makeup case and started dumping products out on the bed, handing a few to Kathy.

“Take this, and this, and this. Shampoo, deep conditioner for at least two minutes, then place a bunch of this on your hands and run it through your hair. Make sure you get all of it.” He found moisturizer and body scrub as well.

“This is for in the shower,” he said of the scrub, “And this is for after. Use a lot, so your skin is just silky smooth.”

“Jovian, you do this every day?” Alan asked.

“Not just this, obviously, but we’re on a time crunch.”

“No wonder you don’t have time to eat breakfast.”

Jovian sent Kathy to her bunk and made her open her suitcase. “No more yellow. It’s not your color. Reds are out too. They make you look like you’re having a hot flash.”

“It…does?”

“Sorry, but I don’t have time to be nicer,” Jovian said, shrugging.

“No, it’s okay. I’ve never had anyone tell me this stuff. I had to watch YouTube videos to learn how to put on makeup.”

“Sorry, again, but you watched the wrong ones. I’ll do yours tonight, and then when we have more time, I’ll teach you how to do it better.”

Alan was there with Kathy and they both watched her tears fall. “Jovian, this is…I’ve had no one to show me this stuff.”

Jovian took her hand and said, “I give great fairy godmother vibes, right?”

Mike walked over to them and said, “I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Hush, you,” Jovian dismissed. “Okay, let’s get Cinderella ready for the ball.”

Jovian got her clothes ready and sent her off to shower while Mike and Alan picked through his makeup. “You’re got a lot of makeup,” Mike mused. “Do you use all this?”

“Sure! You need different things for morning, for night, and depending on the colors you’re wearing, how your face is that day, oily or dry. There’s a lot that goes into it.”

“Have you ever thought of doing this for a living?”

“I work in a posh clothing store part time, but yes, I have thought of it. But I’d need more schooling, and I despise school.”

“Why?” Alan asked. “Let me guess, math or history.”

“Try both.”

“If you ever wanted to, Jovian, I could tutor you. I excel at both.”

That made his chest warm, and he felt emotion smothering him. “You’d do that?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“If I do…I’d like that.”

Alan and Mike left Kathy and Jovian to their makeover, and Jovian took his time getting Kathy ready, but also himself. He knew Dixon would be at the mixer, as they called it, and he wanted to look his absolute best.

He could finally pull out his good clothes, a cotton and hemp shirt that was light, and the perfect color of taupe that made his skin look creamier.

His skintight black pants were custom made to gently lift his ass, not that he needed that.

His ass was nice and perky, and he thought one of his best features.

For shoes, he chose his taupe loafers that had the slightest raised heel. He didn’t need height, as he liked Dixon was bigger than him, and he suspected Dixon liked it too. Thinking of that beast of a man lifting him off his feet, well, totally swoon-worthy.

He spent an hour on his hair and another on his makeup, creating a smoky eye and a little more color on his lips than he wore during the day.

For Kathy, he used a mask on her first, then moisturized her face, plucked her brows and did a similar smokey eye on her, and introduced her to false eyelashes.

She had a rather plain blue dress with her, but with a couple of scarves and some jewelry to accessorize, and she could almost pass for stylish. “There! I could do better at home, with all my stuff, but…”

“You have more stuff than this?”

“Are you kidding? I had to pack my makeup case for two days, trying to decide what I could live without, and that was not easy.”

Kathy suddenly took him off-guard by hugging him. “Thanks, Jovian. No one’s ever taken the interest to do this for me. I never think I look good.”

“Kathy, you never met me! I’m fabulous.”

As she laughed, she agreed, “You really are.”