Page 16 of Believe in Caloosa Springs

I trailed slightly behind Ty and Pops as we approached the entrance of the building, the doors propped open wide. It was gorgeous. Rustic and cozy, yet with modern luxuries. It looked like the recreation area you would find in a camping resort. At least, that was what I imagined something like that to look like. I’d never been to a camping resort… or camping at all, actually.

Everyone, including the two timid guys I’d parked beside, were inside. One guy was dumping a large skillet full of fluffy scrambled eggs with cheese and peppers into an electric warming plate in the center of a massive wooden table in the center of the room. The good, hearty smell of the food filled the air. It was enough to make your stomach rumble.

Mandy was standing on the side talking to who I assumed was Mrs. Baker. How could she not be? She looked like the epitome of a ranch-house grandma. I could tell just by looking at her that her cooking was amazing, and she probably gave the best hugs on the planet. Plus, she was married to Pops. How could she not be the salt of the Earth?

“I think we are all set, if you are ready,” the woman said, smiling at Pops.

He nodded and Mandy, Mrs. Baker, and the egg guy all came to the table. Following their lead, I chose the seat next to Mandy on the left side. Mrs. Baker took the first seat on the right, Pops standing behind his chair on one end, Tyler taking the end opposite. The blond, timid boy from the blue car approached the table. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, glancing quickly between the empty seat to my right and back to me. I thought he was going to leave and walk to one of the empty chairs on the other side, but he didn’t.

“Is this seat taken?”

I shook my head, “No, it’s open.” I looked back over at Mandy. She shot me abe nicelook with one raised eyebrow. Everyone turned her attention to Pops as he started to speak. I didn’t know what the fuck her problem was… I wasalwaysnice.

“Good day, everyone, and welcome to the Baker family farm. We’ve been on this land for longer than most of you have been alive. Over the years, we’ve weathered good times and bad times, but things are currently larger and more successful than ever, thanks to my incredible son-in-law, Oliver. That’s why you’re all here. I’m sorry you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting him yet. He’s tied up with some other business, but he’ll be ‘round this afternoon. My name is Robert. Most people here in Caloosacall me Pops, but either is fine. Whatever you’re comfortable with.” Pops paused and looked around the room proudly. “Baker Farm has always been a family operation, and to know that we’ve grown so much that we needed to hire good people to lend helping hands fills my heart with happiness. We want to do everything in our power to make you all as comfortable and content as possible. This is new territory for us all. My family and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for wanting to be a part of this journey with us. Let’s eat!”

The food was amazing—some of the best I’d tasted in a long time. I’d spent the last nine months wining and dining myself across the best restaurants in Las Vegas, spending the money internet pervs had tipped me for taking my clothes off on camera. But I couldn’t remember any of those chefs’ tables or degustation menus comparing to Mrs. Baker’s homemade biscuits smothered in bacon gravy.

I knocked back the remaining drops of coffee in my cup. I started to reach for the carafe in the center of the table and ended up rubbing arms with the guy next to me. He looked over and I could feel myself blush. “Sorry.”

He shook his head. “No problem.” Seeing what I was reaching for, he picked up the coffee pot and handed it to me. When our fingers brushed together, he dropped the handle before I had a good grip on it and the entire thing came crashing down onto the solid wood table-top. The glass pot shattered on impact, sending steaming-hot coffee and shards of glass exploding all over the two of us and a good portion of the table.

“Fuck!” I exclaimed, jumping up from my chair as scalding coffee rained down on my abdomen and lap. The force from my sudden movement sent the chair I was sitting in tumbling backwards.

Everything went silent as the entire room stared at me. The poor guy next to me had managed to get to his feet and was holding the hem of his soaked shirt away from his skin.

“Are you okay?” he asked, looking concerned as he reached his arm out towards me.

“Yeah. Jeez, I’m really sorry.” I felt like I was going to cry. I wanted the floor to open up and just swallow me whole. The first time meeting all these people and, surprise! I couldn’t even manage to pour myself a cup of coffee.I shouldn’t be allowed in public.

“You’re bleeding,” he said, grabbing my wrist and holding my arm up.

I looked down at the heretofore-unseen slice on the underside of my forearm. I must have slid my arm across a piece of glass when I jumped up from the table. I blinked a few times as I watched a small stream of blood welling from the injury. It ran down my arm and begin to drip off my elbow and onto the floor.

He continued to hold my wrist in the air.

“Can I get a towel, or something?” I heard him say. His voice was going in and out, like am ambulance’s siren.

“T? You look green.”

That was Mandy. My stomach felt like I’d just gone over the first drop on a rollercoaster, and I suddenly became very dizzy. I felt an arm hook around my waist as the edges of my vision began to blur.

“Get him to the couch!” someone said…

***

I blinked a few times, trying to clear the fog from my vision, as a ceiling I didn’t recognize began to materialize above me. I became aware of pressure on my arm and something cold on my head.

“Dr. Jenkins is on his way.” I heard Pops’ voice. The light was blinding. I closed my eyes again and groaned.

“He’s waking up.”

“Hold his arm steady, Porter, I’m nearly finished.”

Who’s Porter?I wasn’t awake yet; I must still be dreaming. Although, I couldn’t recall having gone to sleep.What time was it?

“Mm…”

I could see the cutest guy standing over me. His hair was a light blond, cut short at the sides, and a little longer and swept off to the side on top. His eyes were as blue as the ocean, and his face was sweet and quizzical. He looked like someone who stepped out of my dirty good-boy fantasies. Oh… I was having the missionary dream again, wasn’t I?

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