Page 20 of A Reluctant Boy Toy
“But I threw myself into it anyway because…fuck ’em, right? I’d go down swinging.”Hands in the air like I just don’t care.“It turned out they weren’t being mean girls, and they’re the ones who got poison oak.”
“You did everything you could.”
“After the fact.”
“You don’t really look like the Brawny guy. Your flannel shirt’s not even tucked.”
“I seriously could not tuck a dime into these jeans much less a shirt.”
“I can see that.”
My button front Levi’s came from a time when I was younger and weighed less.
“Too tight, you think?” I turned back to look in the mirror, but she caught my arm.
“You look fine. C’mon. Food arrived while you were making la grande toilette.”
“You are a shoo in for weirdest PA ever.”
“I know. Aren’t you the luckiest boss alive?”
Outside, on the table beneath the awning, lay a wicker hamper like the kind Mom ordered from Fortnam & Mason. Actually, it probably was one of her baskets, recycled by Dad’s majordomo, Charles.
“Dare I ask what’s inside?”
“We went the pig and smoke route, remember? With a cabernet Charles said would pick up the cherry and pepper notes in the barbecue sauce.”
“Maybe I’ll get lost and have to eat it all myself.” I hesitated. “This is stupid and pointless. He’s probably straight with a wife and kids somewhere. Or he’s not into younger men, or—”
“It’s not pointless to introduce yourself to someone you’re attracted to.”
“He probably thinks I’m some dumb kid.”
“So go prove him wrong.” She gave me a push. “What law says you can’t make friends with an older straight guy you find interesting?”
“But—”
“No buts tonight. Take your wicker picnic basket and your Brawny-plaid flannel, and go, little prairie boy. Go get your manly Wilder.”
My mouth dropped open. I closed it. “You were saving that up all day, weren’t you?”
“Hell yeah, I was.” She made shooing motions.
“Wait—” I turned back. “Did you get dog treats.”
“Oh.” She thundered up the stairs to the RV and returned with a pretty package from the local barkery. “Grain-free treats for le chien, et les loups garoux, as ordered.”
“Thank you.” Fortunately, they came in a shopping bag I could loop around my wrist because the basket seemed to be full of rocks. “Holy cow. What all did Charles put in here?”
“It’s only dinner for two hearty outdoorsmen, such as yourselves. Stop stalling.”
“I’m going.”
She brightened. “You want me to roll you over there in the golf cart?”
“Oh God.” I started walking.
“’Cause I could, and then I’d get a look at your crush.”
