Free Radio Boys by Sean Michael Page B

with the wet stuff. It’s much too disorienting.”
    His dad started to chuckle and Paul kicked him under the table. Hard.
    “I can see that,” Thor said, fingers stroking over his arm again and then sliding away. “You’ll have to let me take you to the pool sometime, teach you how to do the basics. Um... you know, in case you’re ever caught in a really big puddle or something. I, well, I’d love to try to share my love of the water is all.”
    “A really big puddle?” He laughed, nudging Thor with his shoulder. “I’m more likely to drown in my Earl Grey. Besides, teaching a hydrophobic blind man to swim must not be high on your ‘things I’d like to do’ list.”
    He heard Dad clear his throat, excuse himself.
    Thor turned toward him, one arm sliding along the top of the seat behind him. “Well, that would depend on the hydrowhatsit blind man, wouldn’t it?”
    Paul’s eyebrow rose and he tilted toward Thor. If he didn’t know better, he’d say he was being flirted with. “I only know one hydrophobic blind man. Are they common?”
    “Not so far as I know.”
    “That’s because we’ve all drowned in really big puddles, Thor. So, tell me, what is a diving instructor doing at a this club, an hour’s drive from home?” He let himself relax back, his neck touching Thor’s arm.
    He felt Thor’s shrug. “I like the music. And, to be completely honest, I like getting away from the atmosphere for a while. A-ville’s a great place, but it’s easy to get a little tired of all the kids. I like getting away from that scene.”
    Thor’s fingers started to stroke the side of his neck.
    “Yeah? I’ve been singing here for almost ten years. It’s a good crowd.” His voice was dropping, growing husky. Oh... that felt good. God, he hoped Dad went to talk at the bar. A nice long talk.
    “I’m usually here a little later in the evening, I guess that’s why our paths have never crossed before now. Which is a shame.” Thor cleared his throat. “I’m not one to be coy, Paul -- with six siblings you learn to just step forward and say what you want, you know? And I want to see you. I mean date you. I mean... “ Thor chuckled. “Maybe this is why I’m short -- I never did learn to just step forward and say what I wanted at the dinner table.”
    Thor groaned. “Tell me I didn’t just compare you to a meal at my parents...”
    That surprised Paul enough that he laughed, long and honest and from deep in his belly, completing derailing his insistence that Thor didn’t know anything about him and that he worked weird hours and, and, and, and... “Can I be the mashed potatoes? Those were always my favorite.”
    “What a coincidence -- I always wanted extra helpings of the mashed potatoes.”
    “I’m free every Sunday.”
    “Well then, can I cook you for breakfast? I mean -- what would you like for breakfast.” Thor chuckled. “Hell, Paul. I like you -- would you like to come home with me?”
    “Honestly? No.” He held up his hand. “Please, I don’t mean any offence, but I don’t know you or where you live and if something happened, I’d have a terrible time getting home.” Paul grinned. “Or finding the bathroom if I needed to pee. Of course, I have an apple coffeecake and a coffeemaker at my house...”
    “So you’re turning me down but inviting me back to your place instead? I can live with that.”
    Paul nodded. “If you’re interested.”
    Of course the real question was why Thor was interested -- if it was a blind thing or a deejay thing or just an available warm body thing. Not that it mattered, it had been a long time since he’d had sex and by tomorrow morning, the whys wouldn’t matter.
    Thor chuckled and the soft touches against his neck got a little firmer, a little more purposeful. “If you aren’t sure if I’m interested, I must be using the wrong signals.”
    Paul gave a little, low purr. “That signal’s coming through loud and clear, Thor. I live downtown, south of