Page 5 of Evergreen Desires
As I walked, I felt a familiar jolt of pain. Once again, I stubbed my toe on the threshold. I let out an annoyed groan.
"What now?" Will's voice echoed through the greenhouse.
"I stubbed my toe again!" I exclaimed..
"Yeah, you're clearly distracted. Go now, please! Before you end up breaking something," Will urged, concern lacing his words.
"Yes, sir," I replied with a smile, my mind now set on the calming presence of the Christmas tree groves.
***
Despite the calm of the groves, I couldn't shake the indescribable feeling that weighed on me. It was as if my usual calm and level-headed self had been replaced by a sense of unease. Will, met me as I walked into the greenhouse after my run, my shirt still slightly untucked.
"How many runs have you taken between last night and today?" Will asked,
"Three. One of them lasted over an hour and a half. I don't know what's going on. I feel like I've accomplished nothing today."
Will chuckled, offering a smile. "Well, lucky for you, you have an awesome employee who picks up the slack. But in all seriousness, you're not yourself today. I’ve got everything under control. Go rest, take a nap, get something to eat—do whatever it takes to distract yourself."
"Yeah, you're right. Thanks, bud!" I turned towards the office door, making my way across the driveway to the house. Upon entering, I flopped onto the couch in front of the television with a sigh.
After five minutes of aimless channel surfing, I grew frustrated. I couldn't find anything of interest or anything that could hold my attention. A little self-medication might offer some relief. I didn’t indulge in the cannabis we grew—it was strictly a business for me. Additionally, with my Squatch metabolism, the effects would dissipate quickly. That's why I rarely drank either. But given how I felt today, perhaps a quick and potent drink would provide enough calm to lull me into a peaceful nap.
"It can't hurt," I muttered to myself, heading to the door leading to the garage, where my keys hung. Out of habit, I grabbed the keys to the work truck but quickly changed my mind. I hung them back up and opted for my Jeep keys instead. Stepping through the door into the garage, I hopped into my Jeep. Then, it hit me—I needed shoes if I was heading out in public. Luckily, I kept my boots in the garage. I only wore them when leaving the farm and immediately shed them upon returning home, so there was no reason to bring them inside. Grabbing a pair of socks froma basket on my bench, I slipped on my boots and headed to my Jeep.
Driving down the mountain on the dirt road, I made my way to the convenience store a short distance away. Pulling into the front, I entered and glanced over at the counter. "Hi, Bob. How's it going?"
"Every day I wake up is a good day, my friend," Bob replied with a smile. I had known Bob since childhood, when I used to ride my bike to the store to buy candy along with Will.
I made my way to the beer cooler, grabbing a case of whatever was closest, and took it up to the counter. Bob raised an eyebrow as he scanned the case. "Whoa, celebrations or sorrows? Can't say I've seen you buy beer before -- at least legally," he teased, winking.
I grinned, reminiscing for a moment. "Can't pull anything over on you, sir."
I paid for the beer as Bob rang me up. As I turned to leave, he called out, "Tell your father I said hi next time you talk to him!"
Turning back towards Bob, I shouted, "Will do!"
And then—smack! I collided with a man who was entering the store. "Oh, I'm so sorry," I quickly apologized, snapping my head forward.
The man, smaller than me, initially kept his gaze downcast. Eventually, he looked up, pushing his glasses up his nose. My stomach fluttered as our eyes locked. A sudden sense of peace washed over me, settling in my chest. It felt as if time had frozen, suspending us in a single moment. "Are... are you okay?" I stammered, unable to tear my gaze away, unwilling to back away from the man who stood so close.
The man shyly glanced down and replied, "Yes, thank you. Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."
Normally, I’d have just nodded and kept walking. It was a small town—most people I knew by sight, and strangers usually passed through without making a ripple. But something about him made me pause. I didn’t recognize him, and that alone was unusual enough to give me reason to speak. But it was more than that. There was a pull—an odd flutter in my chest I couldn’t explain. Like my body clocked something my mind hadn’t caught up to yet.
“Oh, that’s okay,” I said, then—before I could stop myself—“I’m Beau.”
My voice came out too soft, almost unsure. Not like me. I wasn’t the type to offer my name to strangers outside a store, especially ones who’d bumped into me and looked like they’d rather disappear than make small talk. But I wanted him to know me. Or maybe I just didn’t want him to vanish without a reason to stay. What, where the hell hadthatcome from?
“Jake. Hey, sorry again,” the man said, looking up at me through thick lashes.
I gave him a smile and released a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “No problem, Jake. You can bump into me anytime.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I froze.
Seriously?What the hell was that? WhowasI right now?
“I mean—uh—just… you know, it’s fine,” I stammered, the tips of my ears going hot. “I sincerely hope to bump into you again sometime.”
