Page 57 of Plentywood
“Maybe,” he confirmed. “But then again, you’re new to town. You don’t have history on your side,” he added. “These folks have known me my whole life.”
“Like before you married Mark?” I asked. “Do they remember that man? Do you?”
“Jesus, doc! That’s some heavy shit,” he stated. “How about you?” he asked, turning the tables. “Are you making a new start here? Are we meeting a new you?”
“I wish,” I admitted. “I’m afraid you’re getting the real me.”
“I’m not afraid of the real you, Ben. How about that?”
I nervously glanced at my watch, still hungry, kind of liking the company, but as usual, trying to conceal the true me from people. I hid the man who was afraid of love inside. The man who had convinced himself that Rocco was just a cock to sit on while allowing him to do exactly what he wanted as he hid his sexuality and avoided real commitment. But before I knew Iwas in love, Rocco slapped me back to reality and wouldn’t join me here. He had used me. He’d kept his promise that we were casual, and I wasn’t prepared.
“Trust me, Hunt. You should be afraid of getting to know me.”
“Now who’s also hiding out in Plentywood?” he accused. “At least I’m old news. You, on the other hand, are the new shiny object.”
“Is that how you see me, sheriff? The new shiny object?”
His mouth pinched as he was deep in thought, shaking his head slowly from side to side. “Not in the least,” he stated. “I see you as someone who could use a good man. Maybe you need to trust someone to view you as more than you think you are. What if someone built you up? Said things about how youareliked by people and animals, or youdodeserve a great love?”
His words caught in my throat, and I wasn’t the one speaking them. No one had ever told me what Icouldachieve. No one built me up or told me I was liked. Or even that I deserved to experience great love. With my family, and with Rocco, it was assumed I was who I was. A rich, spoiled, trust fund kid, who had grown up with a silver spoon shoved up his ass. They were right about some of it, but I craved love. Real love.
“I’m leaving in less than a year.”
“Yeah. You told me that already,” he replied. “That gives me, what, eleven or so months to get to know you better?”
“Exactly,” I confirmed. “Far too short of a time.”
“You like chicken wings, doc?” he asked, joining me near the fridge as he peeked inside. “I can grill burgers if not.”
“Just like that?” I asked. “All these heavy topics, and now we’re done talking?”
He shut the freezer door, placed what looked like frozen wings on the counter, and faced me. “You’ve got eleven months according to your calendar,” he spoke, pulling a calendar fromthe wall that still displayed the month of June from two years prior and tossing it in the trash bin. “I’ve got a lifetime, according to mine.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: Hunter
Atap on my already open office door caused me to startle. After embarrassingly recovering from a near yelp, I saw Jay Hayes filling the frame of the door with his massive body. I was a big guy myself, but Jay was built like a bull. All chest muscles and huge arms trying to bust out of his uniform shirt. Surprisingly, I’d never seen him as a sexual being, even though he was quite striking to look at. Probably because I preferred my men slighter in build with less muscle.
“The doctor said yes, boss,” he said, greeting me with his usual sunshiny face. “Jennie is beyond excited to match the pair of you up.”
I wasn’t going to lie. His news was music to my ears. I hadn’t seen or spoken to Ben since the flat tire event. We’d shared a nice dinner of wings and a salad I managed to put together, as well as a nice evening of getting to know one another better. I found Ben to be a bit private about his backstory and hadn’t pushed for information he wasn’t willing to be forthright about.
“So, dinner is on?” I asked. “When?”
“Is Friday okay? Jennie wants this to happen right away,” he stated.
“This Friday? Like in two days?” I confirmed.
He nodded enthusiastically. There was a question that had been gnawing on my brain since the entire topic of his wife setting up two men had occurred. I needed to be politically correct as his immediate supervisor, but I also wanted to know the answer.
“I mean this respectfully, Jay,” I began. “And particularly so due to it being a question about religion.”
“Go on, Boss. I’m cool with religious questions,” he stated, sliding onto a chair across my desk.
“I guess I’m kinda confused about your wife setting up two known gay men on a date.”
He laughed as well as blushed, leaning forward. “The Mormon thing?” he asked. I nodded my head and hoped to God I wasn’t going in a direction that professionally I should avoid at the workplace.
“Yeah, that,” I confirmed.
