August 13, 20—
Toby practically moves into Denver’s house and the two men become lovers. Denver uses the term boyfriends, which Toby feels perfectly fine with, although the two men really have become lovers, and in such a short period of time. They are inseparable, Toby realizes. Their conversations are intense, the sex is enigmatic, and both care for each other.
One thing does stand out in their relationship that continues to drive Toby mad on a day by day basis: Minna Bowers. Minna is one of Denver’s best friends. A mouse of a woman with long nails, cloud-reaching high heels, too much lipstick, and an overwhelming amount of spunk. She’s twenty-six years old, the daughter of a wealthy broker, and always lets it known that she is madly in love with Denver, and plans on marrying him someday. Denver has been friends with the squeak since high school, Toby learns. The woman he would have probably married had he not been gay. His soul mate on this planet, minus the connection of their private parts.
Minna can be a pain the ass, though. Toby is constantly rolling his eyes when she calls a dozen times a day, continuously texts, and sends cyber pics to Denver on Denver’s phone. Minna is far too involved in their relationship and needs to find a job, even though she’s worth three-point-seven million dollars because of her wealthy daddy. She tells Denver what he can and cannot eat, dresses him when they go shopping together, insists that he works out at least four times a week, and has her nails so deep in his shoulders, that Denver doesn’t know how to make any of his own decisions, or up from down.
Of course Toby has had a talk with Denver about Minna and her control, but Denver insists, “She’s just friendly, Toby. The woman doesn’t mean any harm.”
Toby disagrees, learns to despise Minna, and claims her as one of his biggest enemies, butting in the way of the relationship he wants to share with Denver. Often, he thinks about confronting Minna, telling her to stop calling as much, texting, and showing up at the house without any notice. Toby doesn’t want to push Denver out of his life, though, or betray the man by chatting it up with Minna. Truth is he thinks that the red-headed bear is his Mr. Right. The guy of his dreams, and someone he could spend the rest of his life with, but without Minna.
There’s one element of his relationship with Denver that Minna doesn’t offer. Denver enjoys Toby naked and all of his muscles, hair, masculine grin, and intimate parts. And Denver enjoys being thrown over the bed or sofa, and poked by Toby’s erection. And the nutritionist rather craves Toby’s hairy chest pressed against his rigid back, banging their balls together. Sexual and corrupt actions that Minna Bowers can’t bring to the table, failing to gain Denver’s full attention since she’s just a squeak, and a pain in the ass. This is why Toby sometimes grins at the woman, acting destructive, faking his liking for her, and realizing that Minna is harmless, weak, and not at all in control of his man.