Loving

The moment he became aware of the other’s existence, it all began.

Chlorine and grilled meat hung in the air. Bodies burned red glistened in oil on loungers. It was a decidedly suburban summer.

TJ’s glass sweat just as much as he did in the sun. Just as he was drifting towards sleep with his t-shirt draped over his eyes an ice cube would melt just enough to set a tiny avalanche in motion. And so he was stirred awake. And so that is how he opened his eyes and saw him.

It wasn’t his wide frame, unapologetic belly bouncing with elasticity. It wasn’t the thin trail of jet black hair covering his tanned skin. Whatever it was, TJ couldn’t look away. His eyes followed the man across the pool, from the sliding glass door all the way to the edge of the pool.

His hips moved with ease. Hit footfalls were heavy. His arms, even relaxed, possessed power and strength TJ could see. He needed to know who it was. He turned to his cousin sitting beside him.

“Tammy,” he jabbed at her thigh. “Who is that?”

She raised her head. Her neck strained and her face shriveled up to focus her lazed eyes.

“Oh,” she said, chuckling once her vision focused. “I know right.”

“Who is that?”

“It’s your mom’s new boyfriend.”

An ice cube shifted in TJs glass. One of the younger cousins cannonballed into the pool sending a net of water into the air. As it settled, TJ looked across the pool and locked eyes with the man.

“Motherfucking summer.”

“It’s a bitch,” said Tammy.