Chapter 22 #2
“You had a short night, and we’re taking my truck out anyway,” I told him, looking for an excuse to give Roy’s elderly hips a break. “Plus, I want to meet this person Koda that Callum keeps talking about.”
At that, Roy smiled. “I think the two of you will get along.”
“I used to go by your store when I was little. Mom would stop there when she took me to the park to play. It’s been a while, though.”
“How is your mother?”
“Okay, I guess. I haven’t heard from her for a while. I was undercover at my birthday and Christmas, and by the time I got her messages, well… She never did like the idea of me being a cop.” No surprise that she answered my explanations with “I’m glad you’re safe,” and nothing more.
“I guess I’m not the only one who messed up parenting,” Roy said. “She’s missing what a fine man you’ve become.”
I hid the roughness of my throat with a cough, and turned away to lift out the first pancake. “Thanks.”
Callum squeezed my forearm when I set the plate in front of him. “Looks good.”
“Your grandpa mixed the batter. I just cook ’em.”
While Callum ate, Roy headed back to his house to wash up and change.
I stuffed a small pack with waterproof parkas, first-aid kit, waters, and granola bars.
Callum and I dressed for hiking, with hoodies over the top that we’d be shedding along the steep two-kilometre trail, but would be glad of at the top.
There were plenty of things we could’ve talked about, but we just put on socks and laced up shoes side by side.
The companionable feeling sank deep inside me.
This was what I’d wanted for so long. A guy I didn’t have to perform for or be perfect for.
Someone who’d just be there, and make my day better simply by sitting next to me.
Roy’s store— Nina’s Necessities— was smaller than I remembered, when we dropped Roy off, but the scent inside brought back memories.
That faint mix of old wood and fresh bread and a hint of greenery from the flower bucket by the register stuffed with last-minute-gift bouquets hit somewhere deep in my brain, and I heard Mom’s voice.
“Don’t touch anything and I’ll get you a bag of the ten-cent candy. ”
I glanced toward the register and— “Hey, you still have the candy assortment.” I saw it was marked twenty-five cents apiece, but inflation was a thing.
“The kids love making a choice. Brings the parents and babysitters in on their run home from school.”
“I used to love that too.” Sometimes it took me several minutes to pick out my ten pieces for a dollar and Mom always gave me the time and didn’t get impatient. I’d forgotten those days. I wondered if I’d drowned other good memories in bitterness.
Roy led the way toward the cashier. “Hey, Koda, I don’t think you’ve met Zeke, our next-door neighbour.”
“And my boyfriend,” Callum added.
I turned to stare at him. I mean yes, the only customer in the store was a little old lady choosing a breakfast cereal, and her hearing might not be great, but that still was a public declaration. Callum grinned at me and moved closer to my side.
“Zeke, this is Koda,” Roy concluded.
“Good to meet you.” Their handshake was quick and firm. They glanced at Callum, smirked, then asked me, “You sure you want to take on this guy? He’s a lot.”
Callum snickered. “Says the person whose kitchen doubles as a walk-in closet.”
“What can I say? I like clothes.”
I clocked what Koda was wearing— a “Nina’s” green polo shirt and basic jeans— and figured the clothes must be for their time off.
The old lady came up to the checkout and we stepped back to let her unload her little cart.
Koda rang her up and helped her fit her purchases into two fabric bags.
“Wait, here you go.” They reached under the counter, then slipped a couple of strips of cardboard into one of the bags.
“Keep the glass bottles of oil and vinegar from clinking against each other.”
“Thank you,” the woman said. “I do like shopping here. The supermarket is nothing like this. You know, the other day, I was in there buying something for eight dollars and eighty cents. I handed the cashier a ten-dollar bill and a nickel and she looked at me like I’d stripped naked in the aisle.
Then she held up the nickel and said slowly and loudly, ‘This isn’t eighty cents.
’ I despair of Canada’s education system these days. ”
Koda grinned. “While here in Nina’s, you’d get your dollar and a quarter change with no back-talk.”
“Right?” She tested the weight of her two bags. “I’ll be shopping at Nina’s until these old knees won’t let me.” She nodded to Roy. “Good to see you, Roy.”
“You take it easy getting home, Mrs. Miller.”
“I will. And you hang on to that nice young man at the counter. He brightens up the place.”
When she’d stepped through the doors, I asked Koda, “Does it bug you when people get your gender wrong?”
“If it’s someone who knows and is doing it on purpose?
I’ll stuff the heel of my stiletto up their nose.
But random folk? Nah. I could wear a pronoun button or work the androgenous look if I wanted to, but I know who I am and so do my friends.
I don’t need to perform the part for strangers.
Not casting shade on those who do, but I’m fine with letting it go. ”
Callum said, “Grandpa, you heard what she said about hanging on to Koda. Better make your move.”
“Move?”
“The shares?”
“Ah. Yes. As soon as—” A woman with two small children came through the door and Roy turned aside to greet her.
Koda said to Callum, “You and me and Zeke should go out sometime. Have fun.”
Callum nodded. “It’s tough with my schedule and his shift work, but I’ll text you.” He turned to me. “Come on, Grouse Mountain awaits. Bet I beat you to the top.”
“You’re climbing Grouse?” Koda asked. “In March? For fun?”
“Yep,” I told them. “Can’t wait.”
“Maybe you and Callum do belong together after all. Both nuts.”
Callum gave them a middle finger, discreetly behind his elbow, and grabbed my sleeve. “Come on. Stairs to climb. Sweat to sweat.”
“Should I be rethinking this?” I followed him out into the overcast morning.
Callum spun in a circle. “Nope. Perfect weather. Not too hot, not too cold, and the rain is staying up in the clouds where it belongs.”
“For now.” I popped the locks on my pickup. “You’re in a good mood.”
He swung in on the passenger side. “I’ve decided to come out all the way.”
“What, now?” I glanced over at him and didn’t put my pickup in gear. “Not that I’m complaining, but why’d you suddenly change your mind?”
“I was hiding from management in case it was a down-check for calling me up,” he said.
“But that’s over. Coach will have told them.
No one else matters. And if there’s going to be any publicity, having it happen right now, while I’m headed for the playoffs with an awesome record, is a good time.
The Dragons don’t have to worry it’ll come out later, when I’m playing for them.
” He knocked his knuckles on his head. “Knock wood.”
“Oh, that makes sense.” I couldn’t deny a little disappointment that he hadn’t said, “Because I have you now,” but he was being logical.
Two blocks later, on our way to the base of the mountain, Callum added, “And yeah, I almost forgot.” He grinned and set his hand on my thigh. “Also because I have someone I want to be able to introduce to people and kiss when I feel like it. I refuse to drag you back into the closet with me.”
“I’d have done it.”
“I don’t want you to. That’s the biggest reason. I don’t want to hide you. I’m so fucking proud to be with you. I want to shout about my sexy cop from the rooftops.”
“Are you drunk, in this scenario?” I teased.
“High on life.” He pulled out his phone.
“Speaking of which, my agent is next.” He touched a contact.
“Hey, Xavier… Yeah, it’s Callum Fitzpatrick.
I need to tell you something important that might affect my contracts…
No, I’m not in jail and I didn’t punch anybody.
Seriously, what the fuck?” He flicked a frown my way.
“Yeah, okay, so I’m a hothead. But I never hit anyone off the ice…
Right, right, so can I tell you now? Thank you.
I’m gay and I’m coming out. Scratch that, I already came out… ”
Callum listened for a while. His agent’s voice came across as an indistinct mumble.
Whatever he was saying made Callum nod, then shrug.
“Yeah, dude, would’ve been good to do it that way, but I didn’t…
No, I don’t want to make a statement. I’m gonna let what happens, happen… Whatever.” He tapped out of the call.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“He’s pissed at me for not talking to him first. But it’s not like I planned all this.”
Seeing his excitement become subdued made me sad. I nudged his arm. “He’s probably jealous because you have an awesome boyfriend to flaunt around town and he doesn’t.”
Callum’s smile came back. “True. Right.”
“A boyfriend who’s going to beat you up Grouse,” I added recklessly.
“You wish. Bring it.”
“Tell me about going up there with your grandfather,” I said to get his mind onto good things.
“Oh, my God, he was slow.” Callum laughed. “But he was doing it for my sake. I was a high energy kid…”
As we drove, he told me about living with his grandfather.
I asked easy questions to keep the flow of words coming.
The love that old man had for his grandson, and Callum for him, was clear in every story, and by the time we were pulling into the parking area, I was plotting to get Jos more time with Roy and Callum.
I wanted my brother to see what family could be.
We got out of the truck and looked around.
In summer, the Grind trail was a busy place, but with snow still in the upper reaches, the Grind wouldn’t open for another month.
The BCMC trail was less popular, the sky threatened rain, and it was a Monday morning.
Only a few other cars stood parked in the lot.
Callum came to me and draped his arms over my shoulders. “Hey, boyfriend. Ready to do some work?”
A pair of women fifty feet away glanced at us, then kept on with whatever they were getting out of their car.
I looked up at him. The copper of his hair was bright even in this subdued light, and his little smile made me want to grin back. I brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead and he leaned in and kissed me.
For just a second, I wanted to ask if he was sure.
But Callum was the kind of guy who jumped in with both feet and I’d be damned if I’d hold him back.
Wrapping my arms around him, I gave everything I had to that kiss.
His tongue drove deep, and he pulled me close against him until the muscled heat of his body threatened to make me forget hiking and drag him into the pickup.
When we finally separated, one of the women called, “Whoo, go for it.”
Callum laughed and flushed, but waved to her, then turned toward the trailhead. “Come on.” He grabbed the pack off my shoulder. “I’ll carry this. I need some kind of handicap.”
“Might have to put a few extra boulders in it.” I eyed the first flights of rough stairs and roots leading upward. “I’m not sure I’ve been working out enough for this.”
“You do plenty of running. You’ll be fine.” Callum held out his hand. “Maybe we won’t race? Just walk together?”
I laced my fingers through his. Soon enough, the route would get steeper and we’d have to let go, but right now, walking through that open parking lot with Callum’s hand in mine felt like every fantasy I’d had since I came out as a teenager.
When he broke into a jog, and then a run, I laughed and sprinted at his side.
I could get used to doing this for the rest of my life.