Fictional story - hope you like it! All over 18. Feedback welcomed!

Background

Chapter one

[CHAPTER TWO]

Chapter two: We pulled up at Palms, a classy restaurant right on the beach. From the patio you could see coeds playing volleyball in skimpy bathing suits, which contrasted with the fine dining and suits available at the restaurant. We grabbed an outside table and the conversation was collegial. We weren’t talking business, we instead reminisced about old times. The sun was shining. It was a great day.

Landon ordered one of those fancy burgers, and when it came the waiter handed him some ketchup in a glass bottle. “Oh man this takes me back,” Landon laughed. “Nick remember that time you put ketchup in my milk and made me drink it,” he laughed. Mr. Ashford shot me a death stare. “Oh man Greg,” Landon said. “We were always doing silly stuff like that to each other.” “Oh those college days,” Mr. Ashford said. “I remember doing that kind of stuff to my buddies too. I’m just glad we’re all mature now.”

As Landon opened the bottle, some of the ketchup flew out and landed on his shirt. “Ahh shit,” he said. “Damn man, I’m sorry Landon,” I said. “Man I hate this,” Landon said. “That’s truly terrible,” Mr. Ashford said. “I’d hate for that to ruin what I hope is an otherwise excellent lunch. Is there anything we can do?” Landon shook his head for a second until his eyes suddenly got big and he said, “Actually yeah there is something you can do! Nick - Give me your shirt!”

“What?” Mr. Ashford and I seemed to have said in unison.

“Yeah - Nick! Give me your shirt to wear!”

“Right now?” I said.

“Yeah I hate wearing a shirt with a stain on it, and we were having such a great lunch!”

I chuckled.

“Plus it’ll be my chance to get you back for all the razzing you guys did to me back at State.”

“Ahhh the pranking continues,” Mr. Ashford said, clearly trying to please the client.

“Plus look we’re just a few yards away from those people on the beach - you’ll fit right in!”

I looked at Mr. Ashford in disbelief, and he shot me daggers, as if to say “just do it!”

Sheepishly, I slid off my jacket. “I mean if it will enable us to continue this wonderful meal,” I said, “I guess I can lend you a shirt.” I loosened my tie, and started to unbutton. “And I guess this is just a continuation of how we always tease each other,” I said.

Then Landon made it even weirder. “And don’t act like you don’t have anything to show,” he said with a chuckle. Landon turned to Mr. Ashford and continued, “Back in college this one had the best body of all of us buddies.”

I could tell Mr. Ashford was struggling with what to say so I jumped in to save him. “Swim and baseball will do that to ya,” I said. “And here you go I guess.” I passed it over. “Here at our company, we even give the shirts off our back to our clients.”

“Oh is that all I am to you,” Landon said with a smirk. “Just a client?”

“Well no,” I corrected. “But hopefully if you purchase with us, you’ll be as pleased with your n-boxes as you are with your memories of our time at State.” Mr. Ashford gave a sly smirk, like he was proud of me for that transition.

“That would be amazing,” Landon said, getting up to head to the restroom with my shirt. “I’ll be right back.”

With Landon away, it was the first time Mr. Ashford and I had the chance to connect privately. It was weird that I was there shirtless. Sure, the beach was next door. So it wasn’t unheard of I guess. But in reality we were there in a fancy restaurant. It was definitely a strange feeling. But we didn’t have time to dwell on that. “I don’t know what’s going on,” Mr. Ashford said. “But it seems to me like this deal is still totally on the table. So we need to seal it, whatever it takes.”

Landon came back wearing my shirt. I had assumed he would give me his to wear, but he didn’t. So I just sat there for the rest of my meal topless. I would have thought that the staff of the restaurant would have said something, and perhaps they would have if I was a big slob. But I guess since it was a place that dropped a lot of money, they didn’t risk saying anything to the patrons. Plus, I guess Landon was right - I did look good. My life might have been in the dumps, but working on my body would never, ever be something I gave up on.

“Well guys, this has been everything I wanted it to be. Thank you,” said Landon. “When I saw Nick was involved in an n-box company, I knew that’s where I wanted to do business. And this fantastic lunch has reiterated that.”

I could tell Mr. Ashford was beyond thrilled. “Well Lucas, it has been our pleasure. I know you won’t regret placing this order.”

“That’s clear, that’s clear,” Landon said. “And I just can’t wait. But if you wouldn’t mind, Greg, would you do me a favor first?”

“Sure!” said Mr. Ashford. “What can I do?”

“This has been wonderful, truly. But I think Nick and I need some private time to catch up some more. Share some of the peer memories amongst friends if you don’t mind. Can you please drop him and I off at my executive suite? It’s just right around the corner.”

“Of course!” Mr. Ashford said. “You boys and your nostalgia! I’m the same way with my friends - we just have a few decades on you!”

We all laughed. And we headed to the car.

Chapter three here