Page 123 of Bless This Hot Mess

Rino perked up and leaned in, his business brain buzzing, “If you relaunch on the water, what do you call yourselves? WWJD feels like a brand that’s wearing a bit of soot on its face right now. Maybe something fresh?”

“I was thinking KISS,” Ronald said shyly and then extrapolated when he caught a questioning look from Rino. “Keep It Simple Stupid. We’re already going to leave a lasting impact just by doing things differently–our cover songs, our banter, our friendship, being authentically who we are. I say we carry that through the brand and keep the name short and sweet and easy to repeat. 96.5 FMTHE ARK. Pirate radio with parrr-ables.” He really leaned into theARRRand squinted like he was wearing an eyepatch and then immediately wished he hadn’t gone for such a hard sell.

“I love it. I’d listen,” Rino said, nodding his head in approval. And then, proving that business and romance can be good bedfellows, added, “I have a boat launch at the river. It’s private. You can use my trailer to transport it. If you’re not comfortable driving a pick-up with a trailer, I can back it up and get you wet…” He flushed and tried to avoid eye contact with anyone, especially Japheth, before stammering, “The boat! Sorry, I meant the boat.”

Japheth made a whimpering sound that thankfully only dogs could hear.

“Let me make sure everything has been taken care of legally with Weinus, Weinus & Ware. I want to ensure you won’t need to worry about any more cease and desist letters. I’ll get in touch with Suwarna and Carrington to build out a business and marketing plan and propose a new corporate structure that we can all benefit from. You focus on building. On writing. On whatever you do with, uh…” he gestured vaguely, “tap shoes, guitars and basketballs.”

“Art,” Ronald supplied.

“Exactly,” Rino said. “I’ll fund it. Suwarna and Carrington will manage it. You make the art.”

Japheth had stopped whimpering and was able to swallow and say, as if they were the only two in the room when clearly, they were not, “Rino, you’re a dreamboat!”

They looked at each other; Rino loosened his tie; Japheth adjusted his vinyl pants which had been sticking to his legs and both men distracted themselves by turning their affection toward transport.

Rino swept an arm toward the Kia Rios, “Ready to take them for a spin?”

The meeting ended and they spilled out into the shiny floored showroom. Trinity pressed their key fobs and the cars chirped obediently, signalling each new owner of its location.

Before they parted ways in the parking lot, Ronald asked, “Can we pray? Like, just a little? Not the kind that requires kneeling because, well, the pebbles on the pavement and my shorts ride up.”

Rebekkah and Japheth and Rino made a circle with Ronald and joined hands. Ronald bowed his head, then lifted it again, unsure whether God preferred eye contact or not. He made a mental note to ask later. “God,” he said and the word came out unembarrassed, just a humble human speaking to something bigger than himself. “Thank You for the cars, and for having enough money to buy and apply marine varnish to the Ark, and for Rino not being a money launderer or a murderer, or a disappearer of people, and for Rino’s hair. It’s pleasant to look at. Thank You for Carrington and for Suwarna who are always working hard to help us get better at the business part of the music business. Thank You for knowing it was better for me not to catch that bus and thank You to the Harlem Globetrotters for having a minimum height requirement. I didn’t know it at the time, but this threesome has turned out way better than banging a whole basketball team. I can see how that would get complicated now. You’ve always got my back. You’ve always got our best interests in mind and I understand that now. Even when things get really complicated and confusing, You’re still there, trying to clear away the fog. Thanks for giving us the courage to build a new radio station. Help us to be… buoyant and strengthened by faith as we spread the Good Word. Amen.”

“Amen,” they all answered.

They climbed into a Kia Rio each, the new car smell mixing with the scent of anticipation of very good things.Ronald let out a whoop as he revved the engine. “This is the beginning of big things. Let’s cruise this town like it’s our kingdom!”

Japheth grinned as he turned the key and heard his engine hum to life. His heart beat with excitement and he let the car roll forward, gliding onto the streets of Greater Napanee. Rebekkah followed, her car slicing through the breeze as they formed a loose parade, their 5-door hatchbacks smiling in the sun like an ad campaign on wheels.

They drove the streets of Napanee, beeping and waving at anyone who passed by. The town, which had once seemed so small and confining, now felt like the perfect stage for their next act.

Later that evening, as the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, Japheth found himself standing by the door of his apartment. He could feel the butterflies fluttering in his stomach as he turned the key and stepped inside. His fish tank gurgled peacefully in the corner, a small hum of life and the responsibility of parenthood that grounded him. The apartment, cluttered as any one bedroom was bound to be, held the evidence of Japheth’s life–the half-finished mug of tea on the kitchen counter, the clutter of clothes and work-out magazines perched on various surfaces, and scribbled lyrics in notepads to new songs he’d been trying out in the shower that hadn’t quite gelled into something ready to share.

Tonight, he didn’t feel like being alone and thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long. The knock on the door came softly, then again, louder the second time.

The door swung open, and there stood Rino, his broad frame filling the doorway, a hungry look in his eyes softenedby the sweetness of the smile on his lips. Japheth gave his man the up and down, clocking the wind tousled hair lending him an effortless charm and boyish boldness, the leather jacket that hugged his shoulders and confessed their strength, the crisp white shirt that made Japheth want to mess him up a little, the dark jeans that hugged his thighs, and the boots that looked like they could crush your heart.

“You busy?” Rino asked, his voice low and smooth, the words vibrating through the air like a tuning fork, sending a shockwave straight into Japheth’s chest.

“I think I’m about to be,” Japheth replied, trying to sound cool, trying to hold onto the steady rhythm of his heart but he couldn’t. His hands trembled slightly as he stepped back, letting Rino inside. Japheth closed the door, the click echoing with a finality signalling they were somehow impossibly alone together. Rino slipped out of the leather jacket and Japheth took it from him and threw it on the bed. They both glanced toward it and then locked eyes.

The moment they did, Japheth felt a rush of warmth flood his body. Rino’s scent, that citrus and cedar and something purely him tickled Japheth as he was pulled into a hug. It was no longer foreign. It had grown familiar, the kind of scent that made Japheth’s chest tighten whenever he saw him, but here, in the close confines of his apartment, it felt like a storm was about to break. They held onto each other and took a few deep breaths, pulling tighter, holding longer.

They stood there for a moment, the air charged between them, the soft hum of the fish tank filling the space. Then Rino pulled back, his hand gently touching Japheth’s shoulder and then brushing his fist against the stubble on his jaw. Rino’s eyes scanned the apartment briefly, lingering on the clutter, the mismatched furniture, the creative mind of hisnew boyfriend off leash and encouraged to play. He chuckled softly, “So this is where the magic happens, huh?”

Japheth couldn’t help but smile. He had expected his apartment to betray him. For the crooked dresser drawer to yawn open or the Sexy Jesus calendar to jump off its hook on the wall and land face-first on the carpet in divine judgement about what was maybe or maybe not about to happen. Instead, everything felt… suspended. As if the old building, with all its wheezing radiators and unreliable, gossiping floorboards, had humbled itself and agreed not to ruin this for him. “It’s not much, but it’s mine.”

“I like it,” Rino’s words were an affectionate affirmation, but they hit Japheth like a confirmation of something much larger. Rino didn’t see the mess. He didn’t see the disorganization. He saw Japheth.

Rino circled the space, taking in all the little objets trouvé that offered glimpses into the secrets, desires, and treasured memories of the man he’d fallen so hard for. The space between them narrowed, and Rino moved closer, his gaze never leaving Japheth’s. He reached out, fingers brushing along the top of the kitchen counter, the tip of his finger tracing the rim of a mug, but Japheth’s focus was entirely on Rino’s hands, on the subtle flex of muscles in his forearms, the grace in the movements that were effortless and familiar, as if they belonged to some ancient warrior or lover he’d already known consummately, root and branch.

“And no magic has happened here yet,” Japheth clarified. “No rabbits in hats, no sawing folks in half, not even a card trick.”

“You’ve pulled off one trick pretty successfully,” Rino shrugged.

“Did I?”