Page 30 of Check Me Out

Brooke’s voice crackled over the loudspeaker. “Manager to register 4, please.”

Dakota glanced at her standing behind her register twenty feet from him. “You could have just said something to me directly.”

“But this is more fun.” Brook grinned at him, clicking her black nails against the microphone.

He sighed and closed the gap between them. “How can I help you?”

“I saw you walking that couple to a more private aisle and just wanted to remind you that you don’t need to play matchmaker. They’re old enough to figure it out on their own.”

“He asked where the cocktail peanuts were, and I showed him. That’s all.” He tried not to sound defensive.

“I’m just saying. Sometimes you can’t help yourself. But hey, did you see the weird but kind of cute guy who just came in, the one with the hat?”

Dakota felt himself blushing as he said, “Can’t say I noticed.”

“Yeah, you did. I saw you talking to him in produce.”

“To do that, you must have left the register.”

Brooke shrugged. “Right now, the only thing anyone’s checking out is each other. On Tuesday nights, nobody buys anything until they know they’ve struck out.”

“You still have to stay at your station.”

“Yeah, whatever. How about tonight you forget about matchmaking the elderly and see if you can get some for yourself. That hat guy is nerdy as hell, but I bet you think he’s fly.”

“If you’re so into him, maybe you should give it a try.”

Brooke laughed. “Don’t be stupid. I’m not into him. He’s old and gay and wears a weird hat. But he looks perfect for you.”

“Nice. Thanks. You really know how to build a guy up.”

“What can I say? It’s a gift.”

Dakota shook his head and walked away. He clearly needed to tighten up his management style. How pathetic was it that his co-workers and the customers were trying to set him up?

Still, they were right. Seth was a hottie, fly and a bit of a nerd, but then Dakota had always had a soft spot for guys like that.And a little harmless flirting would be fun, not to mention on-brand for the store.

Dakota tried to look like he was all business as he walked back to the produce section. He practiced a few opening lines in his head.That’s a great-looking cucumber you’ve got. Are you a mild pepper or jalapeno kind of guy?They all sounded ridiculous. Maybe,Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?It was oldies night, after all.

But when he got to the produce department, Seth wasn’t there.

3

Seth

Seth watched Dakota go. If only they’d had a couple more minutes, he could have figured out whether Dakota was flirting or not. Maybe he was just a nice guy. He was very attentive to the annoying guy in the wheelchair, who was in the midst of a loud monologue about peanuts and drinks with the little lady.

A woman tapped his arm. She looked like an aging rocker, with dyed blond curls and wearing velvet and silk to the grocery. He wondered if she did cosplay.

The woman gestured toward the guy in the wheelchair. “I’m sure he’s nicer than he sounds. Victoria Witherspoon knows what she’s getting into. All in all, getting old isn’t so bad, but loneliness is a terrible thing. But then, maybe you’re lonely too, even though you’re young.”

Seth looked into watery blue eyes that had probably seen a lot in their day. He pictured his apartment and the empty bed waiting there. He wondered if she knew it was loneliness that had gotten him all dressed up to go to the grocery on the mistaken belief he’d find other gay men. She probably did.

He stared after her as she strode toward the cocktail peanut aisle, her long red coat billowing out behind her. He was half inclined to follow her and see if he could start anotherconversation with Dakota, but that was probably just his loneliness talking. It was better to pick up some milk and go back home.

Seth made his way to the dairy cases in the back. He had just pulled out a half gallon of 2% when he spotted an old man standing in the corner beside the cheeses. He wore a suit and tie, his thinning gray hair neatly combed over his bald spot. He was watching a man in a lovely blue sweater shop for cheese. But he looked away quickly when the cheese shopper glanced up. The longing in his eyes made Seth’s heart ache.

With one last glance at the man in the suit, the cheese shopper wandered away. The man in the suit seemed to wilt as he went. He watched him go, then slowly made his way to the cheese section to stand in the exact spot the other man had just left.

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