Like Me. Love Me.

Tyson Anthony Presents

A Novel – Like Me. Love Me.

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Rated M [Graphic M/M Sex]

-Table of Contents-

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1 - Stay Over

Ford felt as if he was a good looking guy. A compliment was nothing new to him. He got them often on social media, team dark skin some would say. His white smile drove many into his inbox and he wasn’t shy about taking his shirt off to boost his followers. And he really exceled on dating apps. Most stopped wanting to be just friends the moment he unlocked his pictures and they got a full view of what some men called his knight stick or simply dat dick.

He was a good looking package wrapped up in dark skin, but Ford now knew that didn’t matter much. Because at the end of the day he found himself nearing his mid-twenties without ever having a serious boyfriend. But some people were lucky. His co-workers for example. Since the age of eighteen Ford had worked at Gameshop. He now held the title of manager. Ford should’ve been the happiest person in the small store that had video games and promotional posters all over the walls. But in this shop the two happiest people were Mira and Preston.

Both Mira and Preston were once like Ford, single. Before, they would all stand around this shop chatting about video games, movies, comics, and then a silence would set in as they realized that’s all their lives revolved around. Since the day he had first hired her, Ford could clearly understand how a girl like Mira once had a dead dating life. She barely combed her dark hair or picked the food out of her teeth. And Preston had yet to discover deodorant till this day and his conrows had been needing an update since he had first put them in which seemed like years ago.

Mira and Preston eventually found the one though, each other. And all day Ford got to work as he watched them flirtatiously whisper in each other's ears and talk about all the things they did together as a couple. It was six long months of this for Ford and if he had to catch them making out once again in the stock room he was going to hand out some pink slips. He technically had to place one member of the couple in a separate store, but just because he lacked a love life didn't mean he had to dampen there’s.

Ford stood at the register watching the clock, Ten o’clock come the fuck on, He rushed.

Mira and Preston exited the backroom holding hands.

Yo, Preston said, Can we leave early?

Yea, Mira said as she seductively stared at Preston, We want to start V-day early.

Yeah, go, Ford gladly said, the couple making him feel very single on the eve of the holiday of love, I can close by myself.

Are you sure? Preston asked.

I said go, Ford said as he forced a smile, Enjoy each other.

Mira kissed Preston on the cheek, Oh we will.

Ford went back to watching the clock as the couple left the store. He knew it was Valentine’s Day tomorrow. The world had a habit of constantly reminding every single person out there that they were alone around this time of year. Ford knew it was a silly holiday but it was one he never got the chance to celebrate and it annoyed him that he was bothered by that.

He knew he could simply boot up an app and get his dick sucked in his car tonight, but he wanted something more. Ford wanted something that was going to last him for a long time with a guy who wanted the same. He finally stopped watching the clock as it turned ten. Ford headed over from the register to go lock the shop door. Before he could turn the lock a brown skin guy wearing sagging dark jeans, a snap back, and a fitted white t-shirt, rushed inside the shop.

I know y’all closing but I just need to grab one game right quick, The customer said.

From the sound of his voice to his cute long face and plump lips, Ford was in awe. It was as if Big Sean had just strolled into the store. The customer rushed passed a speechless Ford and went over to the Playstation 4 games display. Ford looked over his shoulder at the customer who pants sagged low, his black boxer briefs showing off the outline of his bubble butt. Ford was starting to get hard in his khakis by just staring at him. This is who Ford wanted. But he realized this was just going to become another transaction and he would never see this guy again. That was the usual case with customers as cute as him.

The customer looked back at Ford, Yo, what’s good over here?

Ford cleared his throat, On PS4?

Yeah. I bought one a while ago and I’m finally getting some days off from work to play it.

Ford walked over to the wall of Playstation 4 games, What do you like to play?

I don’t know, really. Maybe a shooter with a storyline. Or a racing game. To be honest, I'm out of the loop on all the newer games.

Ford could not get over how attractive the customer was. He didn’t want their conversation to end.

Ford pointed out two separate games, This is our bestselling shooter and racing game.

Fuck, I know you want to go home so let me get the racing one.

Ford nodded, Alright, I can grab it from behind the counter.

Ford walked over to the register, not wanting to go home alone. But with him instead.

Aye, what’s your name man? The customer asked.

Ford, He said as he grabbed the game from a secured drawer and started to ring it up.

Man, thanks for looking out Ford. You could’ve easily kicked my ass out of here.

Nah, I know how it could be some nights when you just want to sit back, chill, and shoot something.

I’ll be doing this racing shit tonight though. I’m Akeem.

Ford smirked at him as he bagged the game, I hooked you up with the employee discount, Akeem.

Oh word? What did I deserve to get that special treatment?

I’ve never seen you in here before and we usually do what we can to get people to come back.

Akeem softly laughed as he swiped his card, I’ll be back if this game is whack as hell.

I’ll be here most likely. I’m always here.

You the manager?

Yeah, Ford said.

Akeem reached across the counter and dapped Ford, Imma suck up to you then. Get close to the man at the top.

Ford would definitely love to be the man on top of him, You want your receipt in the bag?

Yeah, do that for me.

Ford dropped the receipt in the bag and handed over it to Akeem, Alright man, you’re all set.

Akeem licked his plump lips, Thanks for the discount. You a good man, Ford. I’ll see you around.

Ford watched Akeem’s booty the entire time as he walked out of the door. This is the part that Ford hated. The part when he found himself alone again. If only he had the guts to open his mouth and flat out ask Akeem for his number. But this was nothing new. He met plenty of cute guys in this shop. Soon Akeem would be replaced by another guy and so on. Ford got out of his head and quickly shut down the shop.

His stomach growling and fast food not really his thing, he walked next door to Target before they closed. Ford greeted the same Target employees he saw often. He tried his best to avoid any lengthy conversation with the girls who worked at the store that clearly were into him. Ford grabbed a bottle of green tea and headed to the frozen pizza section. He stood staring at the refrigerator trying to figure out which brand of pizza he wanted to eat tonight.

You look like a pepperoni type of nigga, A familiar voice said.

Ford glanced right to find Akeem standing next to him holding a couple of snacks, You again.

Me again, Akeem said with a big smile, You picking up some dinner, huh?

Yeah, I might get myself a pizza. You?

Just some random snacks and shit. Imma pig out. I need to bulk up anyways.

Ford was sure all of Akeem’s snacks would go straight to his booty. It was the thickest part of his physique after all.

I can’t mess around with junk food like that, Ford said as he nodded toward the snacks Akeem carried, For some reason I gain weight easy.

Good weight. You got body. I bet your ass stay in the gym?

Nah, I do some heavy lifting on the weekends, Ford said, I’m not the gym type.

I need to start doing some heavy lifting then.

Ford saw nothing wrong with Akeem’s body. He was a lean guy, had some muscle definition, but his booty was no joke. Ford desperately wanted Akeem to walk away simply to get another look at him from behind. But at the same time he wanted this conversation to keep going. He was actually working up the courage to ask for Akeem’s phone number. But those plans changed when an employee announced over the intercom that the store would be closing soon.

Akeem nodded at Ford, Be good, man.

Yeah, you too, Ford said as he reached in the freezer and grabbed a pizza.

He stood watching as Akeem walked away, a beauty from the back and the front. Ford rushed to grab a few more things before checking out, heading out to his car, and starting his drive home. He lived deep in South Carolina in a small town called Brewery. It was an upcoming mountain town, dominated by middle class families, but no stranger to the lower income hood areas. Ford always had the luxury of growing up middle class, though the home he stayed in wasn’t as lavish as the ones closer to the mountains. But he liked his hometown, it went from being a back country town to a tourist attraction.

A lot of the more adventurous types and hipsters made their way to this town to enjoy the many festivals and the mountains. But the African-American community remained a strong presence, even though there was once a heavy push to gentrify the area. The mayor tried to tear down the basketball courts, hip-hop clubs, projects, but failed and was quickly tossed out of office and replaced by Mayor Sister Gail Wilson. She was simply known by the locals as Mayor Sistah though.

Mayor Sistah refused to sell out to corporate pressure or to go along with the state’s governor's wishes to push out the black communities in exchange for luxury hotels. Ford turned into the driveway of the yellow flat house he called home. The home was located in a neighborhood of similar looking houses. And the only people out this late were a couple of corner boys who were just a group of high schoolers playing thug life. They knew much wasn’t going to go down, especially because every night the same cop parked a few blocks away from them. Ford entered the house to find his little sister Shania sitting on the couch with the TV on, a textbook in her lap, and texting.

Why are you still awake? Ford asked as he headed into the kitchen.

I’m talking to Bubba, Shania beamed.

Ford expected that answer. His sister was obsessed with her boyfriend. It was an odd relationship. Mainly because Shania was sixteen and Bubba was eighteen. They both went to the same high school Ford had graduated from nearly five years ago and both played basketball. Shania was tall, boney, and wore thick framed glasses. She always wore her hair in a dark ponytail and kept on a fresh pair of Jordan’s, sweat pants, and a half shirt that showed off the little bit of body she had.

Ford tossed his pizza in the oven, Where’s mom at?

In her room, Shania said as she kept texting and giggle at her boyfriend's responses.

Ford headed down the hall to his mother’s room to find her wrapped up in bed, Aye woman.

Tracy yawned as she looked away from her TV and back at Ford, Aye man.

Ford leaned in the doorway, How was work?

I hired this new guy to work in the men’s department. He’s gay.

Ford laughed, And?

I’m just saying.

A guy has to be more than just gay to get my attention.

I’m still learning about all of this, Tracy said, Be patience with me.

Tracy was Shania’s twin, just as skinny, but minus the glasses. Ford had came stumbling out of the closet right after high school. At that time he stocked games all day as a regular underpaid Gameshop employee and hiding his sexuality was driving him into a deep depression. He knew he had to come out for his sanity and he did just that to the people that mattered most to him, his mother, sister, and father. His coming out was overshadowed a month later when his parent’s split up.

What time do you work in the morning? Ford asked.

At eight, Tracy said, We have a big sale and I’m the manager on duty.

The moment Tracy finished her sentence a commercial advertising that exact sale at Marshalls came on.

Tracy scoffed and turned off the television, I guess that’s a sign for me to take my ass to sleep.

I’ll drop you off in the morning because I have to be up also, Ford said.

Tracy sat up and put a scarf over her bob cut hair she had since Ford was in diapers, Okay.

Night.

Night and tell Shania to get off that damn phone, Tracy said loud enough to be heard out front.

I’m not on the phone, Shania shouted from the living, Gosh!

Ford playfully rolled his eyes at his sister’s lie as he shut his mother’s room door and headed back out to watch his pizza cook. As he stood staring at the oven he thought about his final customer of today's shift, Akeem. He couldn’t believe he was torturing himself like this. Ford thought he had mastered the art of moving on from a guy, especially after chasing the same one for nearly a decade during his teen years.

Everything about Akeem had Ford’s attention. The oven dinged and he took out his pizza, cut a few slices, and left the rest out for his sister. He went into his bedroom, locked the door, stripped down to his briefs, and sat on his bed eating pizza. This was how most of his nights ended. After a long day of work this is all he wanted some nights. But then on some other nights he wished he had somebody to call. He finished his pizza, lay back with his belly full and energy drained, and checked his dating profile's inbox. In a way, he was hoping that Akeem would be sitting in his inbox but that was not the case.

Instead he had a ton of conversations waiting to be finished, unlocked pictures to check out, and compliments to acknowledge. After going through a series of revealing pictures from men pursuing him for short term reasons and getting more compliments, it all started to go directly to Ford’s head down below. He tossed aside his phone and pulled out his dick. Ford looked up to his ceiling as he started to pleasure himself.

Along with a dinner for one, this was a part of his usual nightly routine. He kept stroking himself until he felt a climax approaching. Ford opened his mouth wide as he managed to squirt all the way up his torso, a couple of droplets landing on his face and in his mouth. Usually much too lazy to