Page 28 of Jack of All Trades

Opening his door, Maltin resolved to tell Jack farewell and end the pain before it could possibly worsen. His fated mate! Sure, they were supposed to fall in love and raise a family together, but that was the stuff of stories. He didn’t believe it could really happen for him.

Once Jack ran across the street, he was about to get into the Kia when Maltin called to him. “Jack!”

Jack turned, his head cocking to the side as a smile grew. “Maltin?”

Maltin ignored the smile as he got back into the car, and Jack came to the passenger side, getting into the Thunderbird. “Hey,” he said happily. “What are you doing here? You like this coffee?”

“Coffee, Jack? You expect me to believe you’re here for coffee? Coffee that you already had at my home?”

His voice cracked with emotion, but Jack only gazed at him, totally confused. “What? No, I wasn’t getting coffee.”

“I know that, Jack. I know you think I’m an imbecile, but I assure you, I am not.”

Jack sighed, “God. I should have said more in the note.”

“What? You should have told me you were meeting some client?”

“Client? That’s Garvey, my friend and roommate, up in that car,” he said, waving the paper in that direction.

When Maltin snatched the paper and read over it, his anger began to recede as his own confusion overtook it. “What is this, an application for work?”

“Yeah, Maltin. I needed a job after quitting Hand-E-Men.”

Maltin let the paper fall to his lap as he gazed at Jack. “You…you quit?”

“Yes! I knew you wouldn’t want me to work there anymore, and besides, I’ve been looking for an excuse to quit. If you let me borrow your truck now and then, maybe I won’t need to make as much to get a car so fast. The bus only goes so far, then I walkto half the places I’m working when I’m doing handyman stuff or…the other stuff. So, the girl in there the other day offered me a job, and I am taking it. I just have to fill out the application and give it back to her,” he explained as he took the paper from Maltin.

Maltin felt as low as he’d ever felt in his life. Hanging his head, he couldn’t even look Jack in the eye.

“Did you think I was going to see a client?”

“Of course. I…I’m terribly sorry, Jack.”

“Hey, look at me.”

Maltin didn’t relish the thought of it, but he couldn’t shrink away from his own foolishness. Turning to Jack, he felt his heart thud just looking at him. “I’m sorry, Jack. I thought the worst.”

Jack nodded and turned to the paper in his lap. “You know, this morning, and before I say this, I felt really bad, I…looked around your place. I got to know you a little, and…Maltin, I get it. You’ve been around a little longer than I have and likely been hurt a few times. I already have trouble trusting, so I can’t imagine what you feel.”

The fact that Jack understood didn’t take away his guilt, it just made it grow. “Jack, you’re really wonderful. I can’t tell you how ashamed I feel.”

“Don’t. I’d probably think the same thing. I’m scared, I’m in awe, I’m happy, and so much more. I don’t know what the hell to feel at any given second. I’m sorry you thought I was back to my old tricks. Forgive the pun.”

“Forgiven,” he said with a laugh. “And, for the record, I’m thrilled you quit.”

“I figured you would be. Garvey’s taking my old clients. Colin’s happy, Garvey’s happy, and I’m…”

“Happy?”

Jack reached over and took Maltin’s hand, bringing it to his mouth. After kissing it, he whispered, “Happier than I thought I could be.”

Maltin’s tears ran, but he swiped at them with his left hand. “Stop all this! I can’t stand emotions.”

“Right. That’s why you followed me.”

His head spun to Jack, and he saw the laughter. “Jack!”

“Listen, I’m on suppressants right now, but if you can get past that, want to go to your place and…have some fun?”

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