1. The Ugly Bear


    Date: 7/29/2024, Categories: Gay Male, Author: byWhiteBeard50

    ... simple Québécois meals, and it's really great food. Friday is Fish'n Chips Day."
    
    "Okay," Jules agrees. "Let me make this call. Euh... mind if Max joins us?"
    
    "Of course not," Mat says.
    
    Chloé raises her tiny hand and tells them, "My dad is waiting for me outside..."
    
    Jules smiles and tells her that her dad should join them. Chloé calls her dad who agrees to join them.
    
    "You know, Karl," Jules quietly tells Karl, "Chloé's dad is a construction worker. Perhaps you should see if he would be interesting to join our team?"
    
    Fifteen minutes later, they're sitting at Bill's. Conversations are crisscrossing; exchanges are mostly about work, and the landmark Community Centre of the Pointe-Saint-Charles Humana Project - Phase I. Chloé proudly shows her dad Mat's renderings of what the building will look like. He's quite impressed. Max teases Mat about his growing beard while Jules watches Karl and Steve, curious if Karl is going to get Chloé's dad interested in coming to work for them. Karl explains to him, in terms that are comprehensible to ordinary people who are not familiar with the architectural jargon, what the work will consist of. The two men quickly discover they get along well. Chloé's dad is a construction worker. He works for a small contractor renovating older duplexes and multiplexes in the same vicinity. He knows about the projects; Chloé keeps him informed. Karl sees in this man a good, solid guy capable of assisting him on their construction ...
    ... projects.
    
    Towards the end of the supper, Karl invites Steve, Chloé's dad, to come and visit him at the office whenever he has a chance. He would like to offer him a job. Steve promises to think about it. Steve and Chloé leave the restaurant, and Chloé is off for the weekend. They're going camping and fishing in Mont-Tremblant Park. The other three guys walk back to their respective apartments.
    
    Mat's place is just a few minutes walk from Bill's restaurant. A large man is standing out in front of it, and Karl spies him and immediately recognizes who the man is.
    
    At the first corner, Karl says good night and quickly turns left. Jules, surprised by such a sudden move, taps Mat on the shoulder, says good night, and runs after Karl, who's rapidly walking away.
    
    Mat was not expecting the large man tonight. He's not dressed in his usual suit, but he's easily recognizable.
    
    "You didn't tell me you'd be coming tonight," Mat says, a bit frustrated. "I had plans for this evening."
    
    "Who were you with, Mat?" the chief asks, unconcerned with Mat's presumed plans.
    
    "Co-workers. We were celebrating something important. They saw you in front of my house, so they decided to go home instead. There's alcohol on your breath." Mat's angry tone cannot be misunderstood.
    
    "I'm not drunk, Mat," the chief protests. "I just wanted to see you. I miss you. You've been so busy lately."
    
    "I think it would be best if you returned home, chief."
    
    The imposing man remains silent for a few moments. Then ...
«12...131415...46»