Giddy Up

By Susan

Man, cowboy hat shopping by yourself was not all it was cracked up to be, Justin thought as he wandered aimlessly through the Western Wear store his hand clutched tightly to his cell phone.

If only Chris had tagged along like he’d promised then things wouldn’t seem so lonely. They’d be in the dressing room right now together, trying on hats and boots and lacing up each others chaps laughing like the best friends and lovers that they were but instead Chris had gone for a manicure and pedicure. Leaving Justin a random “I’ll try and call ya later” on his cell phone voice mail when he’d called to break their date.

Smiling as the phone in his hand began to ring Justin waited through one ringing chorus of “I Will Always Love You” before picking it up.

“Chris?” He answered stopping in front of a display of oversized belt buckles.

“Nah bro it’s Lance.”

“Oh.” Unable to hide the disappointment in his voice Justin sighed.

“Geez, don’t sound so excited.”

“No it’s not that it’s just that I thought you were Chris.”

“Well would it make you feel any better if I told you that I was here to save your day?”

“Huh?” Looking around the store Justin spotted Lance standing next to a mechanical rodeo bull in the front of the store, a big red ten-gallon hat on his head that he tipped at Justin with a toothy grin.

Tucking his phone back in his pocket Justin half skipped half galloped across the store, smoothing down his unruly curls with some spit on his fingers the way his Mom used to do when he was in gradeschool.

“Yay Lance when did you get here!”

“I’ve been here the whole time!” Wrapping his arms around his younger friend Lance spit out the curls that found their way into his mouth from Justin’s oversized Afro.

“This is so great,” holding Lance back to get a better look at his mesmerizingly crossed eyes Justin continued “I mean it’s almost like having Chris here, only not really because you’re not Chris and you’re not really that much fun and I don’t really like talking with you. But other than that you’re just like Chris!” Hugging Lance again Justin smiled.

“Awww thanks JT!” Spitting out some curls again Lance grabbed for Justin’s phone. “So whaddya say we forget all about Chris and have some fun!”

“YAY!”  

 

 

Within a half an hour the two friends had gathered up armloads of cowboy hats, chaps, boots, belts and the finest shirts emblazoned with sequins and fringe to die for.

While Justin made his way to the large dressing room on the right Lance opted for a smaller dressing room in the middle.

Looking up Lance noticed Justin’s bottom lip beginning to quiver as tears filled his eyes.

“What’s wrong little buddy?”

“I just thought you’d want to come in the room with me.” Looking sheepishly at the floor Justin dragged the toe of his shoe across the polished wood. “Chris always does.”

Pushing open the double swinging doors Justin’s eyes fluttered up to meet Lances. Unsure of whether Lance was looking directly at him or around him? It was always so hard to tell?

“Aw shucks Justin, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” Grinning Lance readjusted the piles of clothing in his hands walking through the double swinging doors as Justin fell into step behind him. 

 

 

“So what’s first?” Setting his pile of clothing on a chair in the corner Lance turned to find Justin already eagerly stripping off his oversized basketball jersey and track pants.

“C’mon I’ll help you.” Grabbing at Lance Justin ripped open his fuchsia oxford shirt, buttons flying everywhere.

“Ow my eye.” Grabbing at his eye Lance began to whimper. “It’s burnnnnning.”

“Here lemme see.”

“No, get away from me.” Pushing at Justin with his free hand Lance fell back against the dressing room wall sinking dramatically to the ground with a howl.

“I’ll probably never see again…..or I might end up cross eyed or something.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that.” Justin said under his breath as he finally pulled Lances hand away from his eyes.

“Just relax.” Stroking a hand over Lance’s brow Justin had a sudden tingle in his stomach. The kind of tingle that up until now only Chris had been able to illicit in him.

“I’m sorry I’m ruining your day of shopping.” Lance whined.

“You’re not ruining anything baby.” Justin replied.

“Baby?”

“Do you mind if I call you Baby Lance?”

“Well Baby Lance sounds kind of funny?”

“No not Baby Lance….just Baby, Lance.”

“Ohhhh.” Blushing at his ignorance Lance realized that he and Justin were sitting on the floor of the dressing room- Justin in nothing but a pair of tight white underwear and sneakers and Lance with his shirt ripped open to the waist and a pair of too tight jeans.

“Well, my eye is feeling much better. I guess we’d better start trying some of this stuff on.” Looking around at the piles of clothing, hats and belts on the floor Lance slowly began to get up.

Pulling Lance to his feet Justin flashed him a brilliant smile. 

 

Giggling the two bumped and thrashed around the dressing room trying on everything they had brought in as well as some extra stuff they’d requested from the salesclerk at the front desk.

Standing back Lance admired himself in the full-length mirror.

“Wow you know who would have thought that Id look so great in pink satin and sequins!”

“And don’t forget that hat.” Plopping the oversized red cowboy hat onto Lances crusty spiked hair Justin rubbed his shoulders.

“You look like a million bucks Baby.” Looking at the reflection of them in the mirror Justin couldn’t believe he had not been able to see it sooner, how perfect they looked together.

The perfect couple.

“You know what Lance…. We go together.”

“Like rama-lama-lama-de-dip-de-ding-ding-ding-do?” Lance answered seriously. Adjusting the cowboy hat so that it sat over his now swollen red rimmed eye from the button incident.

“No.” Slapping Lance’s back Justin rested his head on his shoulder still admiring their reflection in the mirror. “I mean look at us. Really look at us.”

Studying them Lance smiled.

“You know you’re right JT. I always thought we were from two different worlds. But we’re not so different after all. I mean we both look great in cowboy hats…..and um- I can’t think of anything else?”

“I can’t either? But that’s still one more thing than Chris and I have in common!”

“Hey yeah good point!” Turning Lance pulled Justin into his arms both men embracing tightly their hearts racing at their new found love in of all places the dressing room of a Western Wear store.

“You know what Baby?” Standing back Justin admired the man before him. “Whaddya say we hit the town, do some country line dancing and see what happens next?”

“Justin, I say…..Giddy up!” 

The End