In that Fortune

Good things come in small packages. Yours is coming!

“Don’t forget to add under the sheets, or in bed, to your fortune.” Both James and Tyler laughed at the statement that someone always had to make when fortune cookies were involved. After everyone else had read what was written on their papers, Joe pointed out the one not told. “Hey, Mikey, what does your fortune say?”

“Uhmm,” he tried to stall, hoping to think of something clever. “Just something about how good things come to those who wait.”

“See, it fits perfectly,” Tyler chided in. “Are you and your boyfriend still waiting?”

After the nodded response, Joe couldn’t help but ask the question that everyone was thinking, “What are you two waiting for?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure anymore.” And he wasn’t. They had started out waiting because both had been in bad relationships in the past, abused and/or used. Now, after more than two years, they were still waiting.

Joe grabbed the fortune from the table and after reading it, passed it around for everyone else to read. “Dude… that’s hilarious.”

As his face turned pink from embarrassment, Mike couldn’t respond in his defense.

James responded for him, “It’s just a cookie, it doesn’t mean anything. Besides it doesn’t always have to be about the bedroom.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, that is everyone except for Joe. Instead, Joe had a different spin on the situation. “At least, if it’s true, it means that you will get to find out soon.”

Later that week, Mike returned home to find his boyfriend, Eric, busy in the kitchen preparing dinner. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around Eric’s waist and pressed his lips against the back his neck. “Hi, you.”

“Hi. I’m making a special dinner.” Eric continued fiddling with the saucepan.

“Oh?”

“Yep, everything is small.” Delighted at what he thought was a clever idea, Eric showed the item already finished. “Isn’t it great? They are all small versions of the original.” His excitement waned when he noticed that Mike didn’t have the reaction that he had imagined him having. “You don’t like it?” Looking down for a moment, he sighed and said what he thought Mike was thinking, “It was a dumb idea.”

“No, it’s a great idea,” Mike finally countered, noticing how his lack of enthusiasm had disappointed Eric. “I love it.” The irony of the situation had caught him off guard.

That evening they feasted upon miniature hamburgers, hotdogs, and pickles (from the jar).

Later that night, as they prepared for bed, Mike couldn’t help but think of the fortune. It was silly to believe a cookie, but maybe it meant the dinner. However, he couldn’t shake off a nervous feeling about going to bed.

They hadn’t shared a bed in awhile, not since the last incident. Things had started to move too fast one night and it had almost led to sex. They both decided it was best for them to sleep in separate rooms.

Passing from the bathroom, as Mike was brushing his teeth, Eric said, “We can sleep in my room tonight, together.” Then he walked off, not waiting for a response. Spitting the rest of the toothpaste into the sink, Mike was stunned.

As he crawled under the crisp covers of Eric’s bed, he shuddered from the cold touch of linen. There was a strange sound as his leg brushed an object under the covers. “Did you lose something in your bed,” he yelled toward the door as Eric was in the kitchen getting a glass of water.

“Look and see what it is,” was the response.

Under the covers, near the middle of the bed, Mike found a small box with a torn bit of paper taped to it.

Good things come to those who wait. I would wait a million years if it meant that I could spend one day in your arms.

Eric appeared next to him on the bed as Mike opened the box to find a platinum ring. Neither felt the need for words as they found their way safe in each other’s arms.

For them, a good thing did come in a small package that night, but it wasn't the food or even the ring. It was the safety of love that both had to offer.


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