Chapter 6: A Taste of the Forbidden

The next day came as Harrison was overviewing the monthly reports at work and Hunter was talking to Tristian. The weather outside was getting worse as a storm was fixing to set in. Hunter was discussing if they should reschedule their double date or not. “Did you want to reschedule?” Hunter asked as Tristian was noticing the store was void of any customers and the sky outside the window was getting darker.

“We should be fine, if anything y’all can stay over.” Tristian said.

Hunter was a bit reluctant to agree, considering their only knowing Tristian for a very brief time. He noted that if he and Harrison were even considering a double date at their house, what difference would it be to spend the night.

“Sure, that will be okay with me. Let me ask Harrison,” Hunter finally responded as Tristian was closing out programs on the computer.

“Okay.”

Hunter approached the office as he heard Harrison making odd noises. He casually turned his head to see Tristian distracted by the computer. Hunter slipped into the office and turned around to see Harrison sitting at the desk.

“What were you doing?” Hunter asked with his eyebrow cocked.

“Oh, cussing the damn computer out. Fucker decided to turn off.” Harrison replied as he crawled under the desk.

“This is why we need this new building,” Hunter stated.

“I know, we will.”

“Well, anyways, I was going to ask if you would be opposed to the possibility of spending the night over at Christian and Tristian’s if the storm worsens,” Hunter paused after mentioning his prior conversation before continuing, “I mentioned it wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Harrison grunted as he tried to make sure everything is plugged in, “That’s fine,” he said as he began to back out from under the desk.

“Ya know, under the desk is more fun if I’m sitting at it,” Hunter said laughing slightly as he helped his brother up.

“Very funny. True, but very funny.” Harrison replied as he got up.

“I will let him know. The storm looks like it might start anytime, so I think we should lock up,” Hunter said as he walked towards the door.

“I agree, let me finish just a couple of things before we head out.”

“Alright,” Hunter said as he walked out, “Hey, Harrison is cool with the plans tonight, also we will close early today cause of the storm. Don’t worry, you’ll get full day’s pay.” Hunter said to Tristian.

“Awesome, thank you. I’ll get the store closed down then,” Tristian said as he opened the panel for the store’s controls.

“Thanks, I’ll get the inventory managed for the day, given we had only a few customers it won’t take long.”

Hunter investigated the inventory log and noticed only a few items sold during the day, “Damn, this storm really hurts sales.” Hunter thought to himself as he approached the storage room to replace the items sold. He recalled the day prior with Harrison in the storage room and smiled to himself before entering the room.

After finding the items he walked back out of the room and noticed the box by the door was now in front of the door. Hunter didn’t recall any noise of a box falling and brushed it off, after all, it couldn’t be a ghost. He picked the box up and placed it back where it was and grabbed the items again, this time walking out of the room.

He sat the items down at each area they needed to be placed. He looked towards the counters and didn’t see Tristian. He noticed the store was closed so it wasn’t a biggie to leave the counter unattended. Hunter walked over to the office door and walked in seeing Harrison but no Tristian.

“You see Tristian anywhere?” Hunter asked.

“No,” Harrison replied as he was fixing to wrap up what he was doing on the computer.

“Might be in the bathroom then,” Hunter said as he walked back out.

Hunter waited a moment and saw Tristian walk out as Harrison also walked out. “Hey, you want to have us take you back so Christian doesn’t have to come pick you up as well?” Harrison asked.

“Yes, that would be a good idea. I was just about to ask, ha-ha.” Tristian replied.

Harrison walked over towards the door as Hunter grabbed his stuff and walked with Tristian towards Harrison. They turned the lights off before heading out to the car. The sky was nearly night like as the storm was approaching the town. Hunter looked up and saw the lightning crackle throughout the sky and the winds began to pick up.

“It’s about to get messy out here,” Hunter said pointing up.

“Let’s get going,” Harrison said as he got into the driver’s seat.

Hunter got into the passenger’s seat with Tristian getting into the backseat. Harrison drove off towards Tristian’s house as Hunter began to chat with Tristian about his brother.

“So, it will be neat to get to know Christian more.”

“I agree,” Harrison added.

“Yep, he is excited about this. A bit nervous too,” Tristian replied.

“Won’t lie, we are nervous as well,” Hunter concluded as he noticed they were nearing Tristian’s house.

“That’s our place just over there,” Tristian said as he pointed towards a two-story country contemporary house.

The house was very beautiful, with two tall white column’s just before the front door which sits just four steps above the sidewalk leading from the driveway. The front yard was medium sized with two large trees opposite of each other on each side of the property facing the front. The house had four tall windows on each corner, where the left side of the house had a garage attached.

Hunter followed Harrison and Tristian towards the house as he kept looking at the architecture of the house. It was a beautiful hue of white around the front door, which protruded from each side of the front part of the house, the sides were beautiful with tanned wood leading to the windows. He looked over beside each corner of the steps leading up which had beautiful sculptures of an owl and a cat, which stood nearly six foot. They were beautiful, the owl had a white stone color where the cat was a black cat that nearly looked marble.

“Wow, y’all have a nice house.” Hunter said after noting the beautiful golden sun wall sculpture hanging just above the tall colonial style white and black door.

“Thanks!” Tristian said as he ran his hand past the touchscreen on the wall adjacent from the door, unlocking it.

“Question. If y’all own this house, why are you working for us?” Harrison asked as Hunter nodded in agreement.

“Ah, it was an inheritance, but we need money to keep the taxes paid. It is beautiful, but Christian has mentioned us selling it,” Tristian replied.

“That makes sense. I do love it. Hunter and I both plan to build our own house soon,” Harrison continued the conversation as they walked into the foyer, which was a smaller room with a center glass cylinder tube with water flowing in it. The water was a rose reddish pink with sparkles of blue flowing through it. Hunter ran his eyes up this beautiful piece of art and noticed it connected to the ceiling.

“Yeah, that goes up to the gaming room. It’s called an Aqualinder. I love it but Christian says it takes too much space up,” Tristian commented as he noticed Hunter viewing the Aqualinder.

“You and Hunter sound alike then,” Harrison joked as Hunter gave him a playful, yet stern glare.

“Ha-ha,” Tristian said as he walked towards the door just to the left of the Aqualinder.

Hunter followed Tristian as Harrison approached Hunter. They saw Christian sitting on the couch. Tristian walked over to Christian and gave him a kiss. It was easy to see they felt nervous about it, but they had the courage to kiss for what Hunter and Harrison thought, the first time in front of others.

“Hey, Christian,” Hunter said as Harrison soon repeated.

“Hey, it’s Hunter? Right?” Christian replied and asked Hunter, attempting to remember which twin he was addressing.

“Yep!” Hunter replied as Christian stood up.

“Nice to meet ya, well formally, I guess.” Harrison said as he shook Christian’s hand.

“Agreed!”

“Chris, is dinner here? The storm is getting worse out there,” Tristian asked.

“Sure do, it arrived about five minutes before you did. I have it in the warmer.” He said as he walked through the archway just left of the door the others entered from.

Everyone followed Christian towards the living room. “We got a good spooky movie for us all to watch after dinner,” Christian mentioned as he continued, “I’m gonna get the food ready and the drinks.”

“I’ll help,” Tristian said as he walked with Christian out of the room.

Hunter and Harrison sat on the lounge in the living room. They looked off in space for a moment before Harrison broke the silence, “So ... What do you think?” Hunter looked at him and said, “Not sure, yet. Tristian is awesome and I am looking forward to knowing Christian more.”

“I agree. They do have a nice house though.” Harrison commented.

“They do. It’s more modern on the inside and a contemporary country on the out. I like it.” Hunter replied.

“Gives us more ideas to use for our house,” Harrison stated as he saw Tristian walk into the living room.

“Hey, it’s ready in the dining room. After dinner, tour of our house?” Tristian asked as Hunter and Harrison walked over to Tristian.

“We’d love that,” Harrison said as he took Hunter’s hand and followed Tristian down the hall.

As they turned down a second hall, Hunter noticed all the pictures on the wall. He saw a picture of an older woman in black and white. She had her hair styled in a bun with diamond looking earrings. Her eyes reminded him of a cat’s eye shape, very distinctive. He continued following Tristian with Harrison and observed the other pictures of people, likely Christian and Tristian’s family.

Just down the hall was another beautiful archway that was a tall metallic frame with warm light shining from the frame. It was a beautiful addition to the hall as it just lit it enough to be relaxing to see but not too bright. They walked into the room which had four silver and blue styled columns with a marble white wallpaper design in the room. The veins in the faux marble on the wall were a beautiful hue of black and grey with a hint of blue.

Hunter noticed the floor pattern with a faux black marble and white-grey veins running through it. Hunter always appreciated beautiful interior décor and architecture. He loved their glass table with black metallic design around the edges of the glass. The table had a low blue hue to the glass which was a cool light. The plates were placed in four settings, with two on each sides of the six-chair table, two chairs on each end.

“Beautiful room!” Hunter announced.

“Thank you. Our mother designed it just before she passed two years ago,” Christian said.

“Oh, I am so sorry about your mother’s passing. We just lost our parent’s a year ago,” Hunter replied feeling a tad sadden by the comment.

“Thank you, it was difficult, especially for Tristian, but we keep each other strong.”

“Sounds like my Harrison,” Hunter said while holding tight to Harrison’s hand as they walked over to their chairs.

“Love you, babe.” Harrison said as he pulled the chair out for Hunter.

“Love you and thank you,” Hunter replied sitting down and getting situated as he looked over to a kissing Christian and Tristian. He smiled and nudged Harrison who gazed at the two and joined Hunter in a smile.

“What are you two smiling about?” Tristian asked as he noticed them.

“We just love seeing such familiar ... well, love.” Harrison said.

“Exactly, it is nice to see that.” Hunter said as Harrison leaned down to kiss him.

Christian smiled as Tristian replied, “That was so good to hear. It can be difficult when you feel alone in who you love, but in the end, Christian is all I need.”

“That is how we feel,” Hunter said.

“It’s all we need is who we love, right?” Christian said as he sat down and unwrapped his veggie burger.

Hunter and Harrison were shocked to see the food. Veggie burgers are one of their favorite foods and they noticed the name on the wrapping and was excited, their favorite fast-food joint.

“Great choice,” Harrison said.

“Thanks, we love it. Oh, they are plain as Tristian never decided to ask what you liked,” Christian said as he looked at Tristian who looked innocent, “Nevertheless, the condiments are all here on the table, if you need anything else let us know. We have onions if you want that.” Christian continued.

“I take mine with just ketchup and Harrison loves the mustard, ketchup and pickles.” Hunter replied.

“Sounds good!” Christian said as he took a bite from his burger.

“Thank you for the food, we both love veggie burgers.” Hunter said.

“Thank you,” Harrison said unwrapping his burger and placing the appropriate condiments on it.