Walden BACC #671
Although they were both keen to be alone, Eli and Micah had to admit they were also hungry after the trip from Walden, and decided to first share a meal in the near-empty hotel restaurant.
It felt right, wining and dining his date before the big finale, just like he’d done in his youth, before Walden and Larkin Meade and his failed marriage. When he was with Micah, Eli hardly felt the weight of his years, and the dark clouds which always surrounded him lifted a little. Here, where nobody knew them, he could be free.
Micah: “You know, I feel a bit bad about you paying for all of this.”
Eli: “I want to - I already told you that.”
Micah: “I know, but I don’t want you to think I’m some kind of gold-digger.”
Eli: “I don’t think that, Micah.”
Eli was hardly rich enough to attract a gold-digger, although sometimes he did wonder what Micah really wanted from their relationship. He’d already admitted to liking older guys - perhaps it was as simple as that.
Eli wasn’t about to overthink it - all he wanted was to forget, feel good, pretend for a little while that he was happy.
He and Micah had done stuff together before, but never gone all the way - this would be their first time. Eli hoped he wasn’t too out of practice, having not been with a man in a long time - but ultimately Micah’s enthusiasm reassured him he was doing just fine.
The following morning, Eli woke up to an empty bed and a text from Micah gushing about the great time they had and apologizing for taking off - he had to be back in Walden for work that morning.
Pulling himself free of the tangled sheets, in the cold light of day, Eli tried to make sense of his feelings.
He liked Micah - he was fun to be around, had the light-heartedness of youth, but also had a good head on his shoulders, and was a good listener. And, yeah, the sex had been good, but now that it was over, Eli realised it didn’t really make him feel any better.
The thought of facing his wife made his stomach clench with fear and guilt.