Tied

By:  Julie

Sweet.

The company had hooked them up with full tuxedos for the party. It almost made Jacob forget that he hated the company.

Until he tried to tie the bow tie that completed the ensemble.

He swore loudly for the tenth time in as many minutes.

He wondered if the others were having as much difficulty as he was. He decided he’d rather not ask, lest the others actually be capable of performing the task.

A knock on the door startled him. Perhaps someone had come to prevent him from ripping his tie to shreds. He hoped so.

Ashley was on the other side. His crisp, perfect tie was…well…tied. And in somewhat better shape than his own.

‘Sweet,’ Jacob though, seeing the blond standing before him, looking like he belonged there, dressed like that, which was more than he could say for himself.

"Need help?" Ashley asked, nodding to the tie. Jacob sighed and nodded, even though he was sort of ashamed to admit that he couldn’t do something. Ashley stepped around him and into the room, then Jacob closed the door.

"Like this," Ashley told him, his fingers gracefully working the cloth into a perfect bow.

"Where’d you learn to do that?" Jacob asked.

"My dad taught me," Ashley replied. Jacob nodded, and Ashley turned to leave.

"Hey Jake?" he said, turning back.

"Hmm?" Jacob asked.

"I didn’t come in here to tie your tie," Ashley said.

"Then why’d you come in here?"

Ashley shrugged and moved back toward him.

"Just because," he said quietly.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips gently against Jacob’s. Jacob was mildly surprised. Even more surprising was that he liked it. And more than that, he kissed back.

"That’s what I came in here for," Ashley said, turning to leave.

"Hey Ash?" Jacob said.

"Yeah," Ashley asked.

"Why don’t’ you come back later? After the party, that is."

"Sure Jake."

And Ashley left.

And Jacob knew that there was a meaning to the words, and a meaning that neither of them had to voice.

The End

 

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