Renee's High School Reunion

Staking out the hotel lobby and waiting for Renee made AJ McNamara feel a little like a stalker, but his intentions were good. He stared at Jesse, his lover of ten years, from across the round booth in the bar not far from the hotel lobby. They both needed to catch up with Renee and see what sparked.

The hotel bar buzzed with activity as early arrivals poured in for their high school reunion. Jesse seemed relaxed, but not much got him rattled. The artist had been out in high school and accepted life as it came. AJ’s road had been bumpier.

“We don’t have to try this,” Jesse said.

AJ smiled. Jesse sensed the unease. “It’s not about the threesome. We can try it, see if she’s into it. Maybe we’re too focused on the idea?”

Jesse nodded. “We’ve been kicking it around for a few years now. Can’t hurt to see, but we’ve only ever agreed on Renee. I know I get ahead of myself. Maybe I played on your bisexual side too much. We both want her, but it’s been awhile. Of course, reunions are stressful without love and sex games behind the scenes. Everyone is judging everyone else’s lives. In high school, I thought I’d be a famous artist and photographer by now.”

“You will.”

Jesse was a dreamer, and AJ loved that about him. Always positive and fearless.

“Maybe we shouldn’t get our hopes up that it’ll develop into anything. A weekend of fun is good. It may not work out to be a relationship,” AJ continued.

“I know. I feel good about it.” Jesse shrugged. “She could always say no.”

AJ had considered the possibility. “Renee was pretty sexually adventurous in high school.”

Jesse smiled. “Another free spirit.”

AJ had to agree. Renee was special. He’d dated her during senior year but had always had his eyes on her. He didn’t really fit in the football and jock world, but he had the skills. He liked cars more, but family pressure had put him in a sports uniform. Being popular felt good. Renee was the type to be comfortable in any situation. No one scared her or was too unpopular for her. Not the Goths, the jocks or the geeks. She was pretty and popular but had never seemed snobby. A hard trick in high school.

Jesse had been one of her best friends back then. The artsy type with his photography. She’d loved to dabble in different worlds. Of course, she’d had a lot of friends in the nerd category, as well. No one bullied someone Renee hung with.

“I can’t believe she’s a pilot. I figured her for an activist of some sort. She always rooted for the underdog.” Jesse had done enough searching to find out she piloted commercial jets and was still single, which had spurred AJ’s mile high club fantasies.

AJ chuckled. “She never could sit still. It’s the perfect job for her.” Renee had eventually brought AJ and Jesse together. When they talked about adding a woman, she was the only choice that they never doubted.

“We should keep it open, a little fun. Just a weekend. Ten years is a long time. If it seems like there’s potential, we can bring it up before she leaves.” AJ nodded.

“Sounds good to me.” Jesse slid his hand over AJ’s underneath the table. “No matter what, we’re not going home alone.”

AJ sighed. “It’s not that. We’re good. It’s the gay thing. No one from high school knows about me.”

“We can leave. Find Renee while she’s in town and offer her the fun without doing the drama of the reunion. The jocks probably won’t roll out the rainbow carpet for you.” Jesse scooted closer to AJ.

The fear of rejection had been there all his life. AJ’s parents and older brother had set the bar high. AJ had never measured up, but he’d tried like hell. Renee was the one person, until Jesse, who’d loved and never judged him. Never pressured or nagged him to be something or someone he truly wasn’t. They both accepted him and everyone for who they were. Everyone is different. That was Renee’s quote in the yearbook.

If Jesse and Renee had the courage to be themselves, AJ couldn’t hide. He was a late bloomer, but he was no chicken. “I’m not leaving. We’re not going to run. Let’s enjoy it.”

Jesse squeezed his knee.

“Renee, over here!” shouted a female voice from the other side of the tall private booth.

AJ started to get up. Jesse held his arm and put a finger to his lips. “Let’s see where this goes,” he whispered.

Jesse had patience. AJ kissed his one and only male lover. It’d taken them time to sort out their bisexuality, but AJ knew he belonged with Jesse, wherever they ended up.