Chapter 1: Hugged By A Naked Man

The look of horror on Austins face made Geoff realise he had forgotten to mention sharing. ‘It’s ok, isn’t it?’ Geoff asked, ‘We’re both men and we get along well.’ ‘I’ve never shared with anyone ever before.’ Austin told him, ‘And I’m so shy.’

‘Just think how well we get on together at work,’ Geoff told him, ‘I’m sure you’ll be ok. You can go into the bathroom to get changed if you want to.’ He pointed to the bathroom door. Austin had never ever stayed in a hotel before and had had no idea that they would have their own bathroom.

‘Ok.’ he said, unhappy but determined to try. When they went to bed that night, they took it in turns going to the bathroom and getting changed. When Austin came back into the room in his T shirt and shorts, he was feeling embarrassed about Geoff seeing him.

But seeing that Geoff had already got changed and was dressed exactly the same, he relaxed. They each got into bed, Geoff had the double and Austin the single. They sat up chatting for a while then settled down and were soon asleep after their long day travelling.

Waking up Friday morning they got dressed the same way. They found the works and had a fairly normal day at work. They were going to be working Saturdays too, so Friday night they ate in the hotel restaurant and went up to bed early.

Once they were in bed, they were both reading. After an hour, Geoff said, ‘Another book finished,’ and put his kindle down. ‘Austin, you know you told me about reading to Anette being good for your speaking, would you like to read to me?’

‘Yes, please.’ Austin said immediately, he had been concerned that not reading aloud for two weeks might undo all the improvement to his voice. ‘I’ll find a new book.’ Geoff said. He looked through and soon said, ‘I like the sound of this one.’

‘From Avalon to Air Force One.’ It’s got thirty-seven chapters, so if you want to read it all whilst we’re away, read two and a half chapters each night. Then we’d finish it by the time we go home. Are you ok with that?’

‘Yes, that would be lovely.’ Austin said. Geoff downloaded it, opened it up and passed his iPad to Austin. He settled into his pillows sitting up. Geoff was in the same position in his bed. The first chapter was very short so moments later Austin was saying, ‘End of one, shall I carry on?’

just like he did with Anette.

Geoff told him, ‘That was lovely Austin, it’s great hearing you speaking and so clearly too, but it would be much better if you were nearer.’ Austin got out of bed and came and sat on the edge of Geoff’s bed, ready to read chapter two.

‘You’re going to be uncomfortable there, and get cold,’ Geoff told him. ‘Get in with me on the other side.’ Austin felt strange getting into bed with another man, but he felt very comfortable with Geoff after the way he had looked after him at work. He got in and settled in place.

He started chapter two. ‘That’s much better,’ Geoff told him, ‘I can hear you much better from there.’ Austin read chapter two and three then they decided it was time to settle down. He returned to his own bed and Geoff thanked him and put the light out.

Saturday was a busy day at work. They ate in the hotel again that evening, then had a wander around the immediate area. Returning to the hotel around nine, they sat in the foyer and had a coffee, people watching as they drank them.

Going up to their room, Austin went to the bathroom and got changed. When he came back Geoff was already sitting up in bed. ‘Shall I read some more?’ Austin asked him. ‘Yes, please.’ Geoff said. ‘After last night I dreamt I was a Knight of the Round Table.’

He put his iPad on the bed beside him, so Austin asked, ‘Shall I get in with you again?’ Geoff smiled at him, ‘Of course, it’s much cosier.’ Austin got in, opened the iPad and found chapter four. He started reading and Geoff soon lost himself in the story.

Austin read chapter four and then chapter five. When he stopped, he asked, ‘Shall I read chapter six?’ ‘You’re lovely to listen to,’ Geoff told him, ‘And I love hearing you speaking so clearly, but you don’t have to you know.’ ‘I know,’ Austin told him, ‘But I love doing it.’

‘Then yes please.’ Geoff said. So, he read chapter six, then returned to his own bed. The next day they weren’t at work so when they woke up, they had a lie in and just chatted. They got up just in time to catch breakfast.

They were only a half hour drive away from Portsmouth, so Geoff drove them in to explore. They went around the dockyard and went aboard Admiral Lord Nelsons ship, HMS Victory. Then they saw the Mary Rose in her museum.

To finish off, they went up the Spinnaker Tower for the view and a snack in the café at the top. Geoff noticed that there was a ferry over to the Isle of Wight just off the coast. He suggested they went over there for the day the next Sunday.

Austin agreed, he was having the time of his life, he’d never been on holiday or done any sightseeing before in his life. They returned to the hotel and had a late Sunday Roast. By the time they had finished, it was getting late, so they went for a quick walk around the block then went up to bed.

They were both tired out after their day sightseeing, so they went straight off to sleep. During the week Austin read a couple of chapters each night, sitting in bed with Geoff and usually returning to his own bed.

Although a couple of times he did fall asleep in bed with Geoff. But he woke up a few hours later and returned to his own bed. He had a couple of strange, but nice, dreams around that time. The following Sunday, they returned to Portsmouth and took a ferry over to the Isle of Wight for the day.

They took a bus tour of the island, saw where Queen Victoria lived for many years, Osbourne House, and went on the steam train. They returned on the ferry and went back to their hotel for a meal before going up to bed.

Austin was made up. Geoff could see how excited he was to be seeing all these places and felt so happy about it. Soon they were sitting up in bed and Austin was reading the next chapter. When he had finished, he just carried straight on with chapter twenty- one.

At the end he said, ‘Twenty-one done.’ Hearing nothing he glanced at Geoff and saw he was struggling to keep his eyes open. He slid down under the covers as he said, ‘That was great thanks.’ then reached up and put the light out.

The room was now pitch black, so Austin felt for the bedside table and carefully put the iPad on it. As he did it, he had slid down in the bed a bit and turned partly onto his side. As he let go of it, his head just dropped onto the pillow, and he was fast asleep in seconds.

When Geoff’s alarm went off on Monday morning, they both opened their eyes at the same time. They were on their sides facing each other but with a gap between them. Geoff looked surprised, and Austin looked horrified. ‘Did you fall asleep too?’ Geoff asked with a grin.

‘I must have done,’ Austin told him, ‘The last thing I remember was you putting the light out and then me trying to put your iPad on the side table in pitch darkness. I don’t know what happened next. I’m sorry.’ ‘What for?’ Geoff asked looking surprised.

‘For going to sleep in your bed.’ Austin told him. ‘Did you sleep well?’ Geoff asked. ‘Yes, like a log.’ Austin told him. ‘Well, so did I, so there’s no problem is there?’ ‘You don’t mind?’ Austin asked sounding surprised. ‘Of course not,’ Geoff told him, ‘We’re good mates aren’t we, I’m sure lots of pals share a bed sometimes.’

Austin felt really happy hearing Geoff describe him as a pal. They got up and went to work. That night Austin read chapters twenty-two and three. When he finished them and they decided to settle down, Geoff told him, ‘There’s no need to get out into the cold, you can stay where you are if you want to, now that you’re settled.’

On Tuesday they worked extra late and brought a takeaway up to the room with them. By the time they had finished eating it was gone nine, so they decided to turn in early. Austin went and had a shower and got changed.