mid March 2011

It was raining in Atlanta again. It had been raining a lot this month. The clouds would shift around the sky angrily, as if charging each other after a bar fight. But to Bobby, the weather was as sweet as pie. He had spent all day driving his rental car around, iPod plugged in and blasting Motorhead, and occasionally humming to himself. He fielded calls. He nodded to the fans who recognized him. Mostly, he watched the clock and tried to contain his excitement as the time inched towards 7pm.

At 4pm he had lunch at the Outback. He looked longingly at the beer menu but decided against it, since it would mean a long wait in the car. He wanted to drive around. He needed to drive around. He had far too much anxious energy to simply sit and wait. He checked his phone for messages seven times in half an hour. No change. Plans were still on. He thought about shooting AJ a text and then changed his mind, changed it again, started to type, then put the phone down, only to pick it up a few minutes later.

Tonight he had tickets to the Thrashers-Devils game. There had been rumors in the news that the team was going to be sold soon, so Bobby considered himself lucky to get tickets at all. Seemed like all of a sudden, everyone wanted to support the Thrashers if this was their last season. Bandwagon jumpers. He would have loved to get some Red Wings tickets, but it wouldn't have worked with AJ still injured. Had to pick something close to his home. Somewhere...close.

He toyed with his phone again and got irritated with himself. He knew he was being silly, and yet he couldn't stop smiling at random times. The waitress dropped the check off and asked if he needed anything else, and he had a wicked impulse to ask her for the best local hotel. Hah. "No, thank you. Have a great day, ma'am," he said instead as he tucked in enough to cover the check and a hefty tip. Spreading love all over. He almost giggled as he walked out the door to his car to wait even more.

As the time neared 6pm, he started driving over to the Philips Arena, and when he arrived, he gave in and finally texted AJ. "you gonna make it tonight? if these tickets go to waste" - he blushed a little as he typed - "I will be on yr ass for months"

The answering text came right back. "almost there man. game starts at 7 we got time for beer right?"

"hell yeah always time for beer. meet you at the front"

"cool"

Bobby got to the arena and checked himself quickly in the mirror before getting out. He rarely worried about his clothes these days, but he'd worried over these. He'd finally settled on a blue t-shirt and jeans since he couldn't go wrong with the classics. A fan spotted him and came over for a handshake and a picture; he obliged but not with a smile. As he was saying goodbye, AJ walked up and they hugged hello. The fan had turned back once he'd spotted AJ and Bobby had to restrain himself from stroking AJ's back as they pulled apart.

"Holy shit! I got to meet my two favorite TNA wrestlers on the same day!" gushed the fan, whose name had completely slipped out of Bobby's mind. "Could I get a picture with you, AJ, and one with you together?" Before Bobby could say no, AJ had already said yes. He posed with the guy and then motioned Bobby over. Bobby stood on the other side of the guy and instead of putting a hand on the guy's back or letting it dangle at his side, he put it gingerly on AJ's back, his fingertips subtly stroking his spine. To Bobby's surprise, AJ put his arm on his back, brushing up against his tricep.

Bobby smiled in this picture.

The fan thanked them both and walked away. AJ and Bobby walked up to the door, talking about Ajay, who was a little upset he couldn't come.

"He talked all night about going to a hockey game," said AJ. "I never thought he cared. He's big into football but he never said a word about hockey until I said I was going, and then all of a sudden he's raring to go. I might have to take him to one someday. Not the Thrashers, obviously, but maybe a game down in Florida or maybe a minor league game. It's a shame you couldn't get three tickets."

"Yeah, I know," said Bobby, who hadn't even tried.

They headed for the beer line and got two each, then went to their seats, talking more about their kids' sports teams. Bobby had his kids playing hockey and lacrosse, and spent a couple of enjoyable minutes bragging about how good they were. By the time they had found their seats, the arena was almost full and the game was about to start.

"Now you have to tell me everything that's going on, because I don't know dick about hockey," said AJ. He walked ahead of Bobby into the row, and Bobby couldn't help it when his eyes drifted down to AJ's ass. Damn, he thought to himself. That's nice. He sat next to AJ and AJ pulled his leg in a bit so that they didn't touch.

"Well do you know the basics of the game at least?" Bobby asked. He had put one beer in a cup holder and was holding on to the other. "Like, how many men are on the ice and shit?"

"Nope," AJ answered. "Nothing. I know they have a goalie and they play on ice."

"Damn. I got my work cut out for me."

"You sure do."

"All right. Each team has six players - five men and a goalie. They play three twenty minute periods..." Bobby warmed up to explaining the game and threw in some history lessons for kicks. AJ nodded along and once the teams skated to center ice for the first faceoff, gave him a quick thank you and drained his first beer, letting his leg relax and his thigh press against Bobby's. A slow heat crept up Bobby's body and he drained his own beer.

The Thrashers took the lead, and Bobby started talking about goals and power plays. AJ, to his credit, was interested and kept asking questions about the game. Their eyes met more and more as the conversation flowed easily, from arcane points of hockey to the a little playful fantasy booking of a match between the Devils' goalie and a Thrashers defensemen. Halfway through the second period. Bobby even gave AJ a sloppy one armed hug and patted his chest. AJ didn't even blink an eye, only grinned.

As the game wound down, the Thrashers made a furious effort to come back from a 3-2 deficit. Bobby and AJ stood for the last few minutes of play and screamed and yelled with the rest of the crowd, but an empty net goal with a few seconds left sealed the deal. AJ hung his head. "Awww, I really thought they were going to win that one."

Bobby shook his head. "They didn't have a chance the way Brodeur was playing. He's a Hall of Famer for a reason. He took the game over in the third period and shut them down. When he's in the net and on his game, there's nothing anybody can do."

"I'll take your word for it. You know your game and you know it way better than I ever will. I mean, I like you Bobby, but I am never gonna be into hockey as much as you."

"Awwww-"

"Hey now, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy myself. I just mean I'm not a guru like you. You're on a whole different level, of course, since they test you on hockey up there."

"Damn right. They wouldn't renew my passport until I could name the Leafs' starting lineup."

They laughed together, their blue eyes locking again. Bobby took an involuntary step back and nearly tripped. AJ frowned in concern. "You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine."

"Wait, you had four fucking beers to my one and a half. You ain't driving."

"I-"

"Uh uh. I'll take you back to the hotel. I don't even know what you were thinking. Anyway, that'll give me time to get some coffee anyway for my drive home. Your hotel's not far, right?"

"It's real close. I can catch a cab if you want to go straight home."

"No. No way. I'll take you to the hotel myself. It's the least I can do, after you showed me such a good time. C'mon." He reached for Bobby and slipped an arm around his waist. Bobby tried to pull away, but AJ pulled him close and looked him dead in the eyes.

"I said, come on. Bobby. Come on, now."