Chapter Seven Mateo
G oing into town was always a huge pain in the ass. But when I was feeling cooped up and energetic, there was nothing else to do. Besides, it had been a long time since I’d gone to see a movie. Well, I listened to them, I guess. But I could imagine most of what was going on. There was an astounding amount of information given away from the sound alone. I really didn’t feel like I was missing anything on the screen.
However, that meant scheduling a ride, packing Bessie up, figuring out every stop while I was in town. My phone could guide me almost anywhere and Bessie made sure I didn’t get hit by a car or something. But that didn’t mean it was an easy task. I didn’t have the town memorized like I did the condo and the path to the beach. At least there I could count my steps and have a pretty good idea where I was. In town I was at the mercy of my phone, Bessie, and the people around me. I always took a cane with me, and that helped people stay out of my way at the very least. For some reason they didn’t enjoy getting smacked in the shins when they got in my way.
Today’s movie choice was a new fantasy based on some book I hadn’t read. It sounded interesting from the trailer. However, considering my other choices were sappy romance or stupid action movies, this one seemed like the best choice. I’d called ahead to let the theater know I was bringing Bessie, so when I went in and bought my ticket, nobody gave me any shit. I heard a couple Karen’s waiting in line click their tongues but when they saw the cane, they shut right the fuck up.
I got myself a giant bucket of popcorn, a drink that I could literally drown in, and Bessie and I found our seats. Of course I’d gotten one of the recliners up front. I even bought a seat for Bessie so she could enjoy the chair without taking it from anyone else. I don’t know why I was worried though. The theater was pretty much empty since it was early on a Saturday afternoon.
The movie was okay. There were a lot of long drawn out pauses in the character’s speech that I’m sure were full of facial expressions and wistful longings. But I didn’t see any of that. Mostly I was sort of let down by the sheer lack of actual plot happening. The movie was two and a half hours long and there was only about twenty minutes of dialogue. Everything else was just adventurous epic music.
It left a lot to be desired for someone who couldn’t see all the vast landscapes I’m sure they were projecting on the screen. But the popcorn was good, so that was enough for me. I pulled myself out of the chair, stretched, grabbed Bessie, and we headed for the exit. Our next stop was the cafe. A day out wasn’t complete without coffee.
I didn’t have to go far to find it either. There was a little coffee shop just a few blocks down the street from the theater that sold great coffee. It was a locally owned place that was somehow staying well in business even with a major franchise store with a drive thru down the road. They always had the best pastries. And even though I was full of popcorn, there was no way I wasn’t going to get one.
I could smell the building before I got there, the scent of baked goods and fresh espresso wafting through the air. Bessie led me up to the door, and I let myself inside. I heard more than one person step to the side to give me some room. Bessie took me to the back of the line, and we waited patiently.
However, the moment I stepped in line, I caught a whiff of something familiar.
Leathery cologne and citrus shampoo.
No fucking way .
My heart skipped a beat. Whether that was from nerves or just the thought of having to deal with that asshole again, I wasn’t sure. But it was a strange reaction. People didn’t ever make me nervous. But that scent… it was enticing to say the least. I’d been trying not to think about it since I’d interacted with him last. However, I couldn’t deny that I’d thought about him more than once over the past few days.
Bessie pulled against her harness, and I thought the line was moving. Taking a step forward I ran right into the person in front of me.
“Sorry,” I muttered, stepping back. I tilted my head toward Bessie. “You are in a mood today, you know that?”
Then I heard the sharp intake of breath, and I knew my fears had been realized.
“It… It’s you!” the familiar voice said.
“I thought I smelled an asshole,” I grinned, turning toward him.
He clicked his tongue at me. “And I’m looking at a dickhead,” he replied, but I could hear the smile in his voice.
I was impressed he caught on to my joke so quickly. Most people took a second to realize I was being sarcastic. It wasn’t often someone could keep up with me and it made me realize how socially deprived I was. Even though I was fairly certain this guy wasn’t the best of people, at least he had some wit.
“Well,” I sighed. “Are we going to introduce ourselves this time or do you want to keep up this charade?”
“I think I’d rather go by something than asshole,” he laughed. “Did… Did you say you could smell me?”
I nodded. “Your cologne.” I kept the shampoo part to myself. “I don’t know anyone that wears that kind.”
“It’s kind of expensive,” he replied, a tone of nervousness in my voice. “My mom buys it for me every Christmas.”
“Weird flex,” I smiled. “But it does smell good.”
“I wasn’t–”
“I’m Mateo,” I said, cutting him off as I stuck my hand out. Picking on this dude was gonna be fun.
“Adam.”
A warm hand grasped mine, giving it a firm shake. I couldn’t help a small shiver as his smooth skin ran over mine. His hands were soft, well-manicured, and strong. His fingers were long, the kind that I could imagine would be good at playing an instrument of some sort. And although his shake was firm, there was a gentleness to his touch that made me shiver.
“Nice to meet you, Adam,” I nodded. “You already know Bessie.”
“I sure do.” Bessie shifted as Adam leaned down to pet her. “Not running away anymore, are you?”
“Not yet,” I sighed. “Although she did sleep all the way through the movie we just went and saw.”
Adam paused. “You… You go to the movies?”
“Yeah. Don’t you?”
“I just… I thought…” He cleared his throat. “No. I haven’t been in a long time, actually.”
“Well, I don’t suggest you go see The Dragon’s Ire ,” I replied. “Unless you like a lot of sweeping landscapes and no actual content.”
“That bad, huh?”
“It left a lot to be desired.”
“I can help whoever’s next!” one of the baristas called.
Apparently, we were holding up the line.
“Let me get your coffee,” Adam offered.
“You don’t have to do that,” I began.
“No, I insist. Consider it an apology.”
“Well, I’m getting a pastry too, so let’s hope you’re as rich as that cologne.”
I heard him smile and I couldn’t help grinning back.
“I think I can handle that.”
Ten minutes later we were both seated at a booth with Bessie curled up under the table. I had my Americano and my scone while Adam was sipping away at an iced chai latte. I could smell the cinnamon and ginger in it from the other side of the table.
We’d been talking for a few minutes, mostly exchanging pleasantries. He wanted to know if I’d always lived in town and what I did for fun around here. Turned out that while he owned a cabin nearby, he was fairly new in town. But he wasn’t willing to go into much detail as to why he’d moved. I could respect the distance. We hardly knew each other.
A silence fell between us for a moment, giving us a chance to enjoy our drinks. A few seconds later he pulled the cup back from his lips and set it on the table, his bracelet jingling.
“What kind of stone is your bracelet made of?” I asked. “I heard it last time we met but I can’t tell what it is.”
“Oh.” I heard him pick at it, spinning it around his wrist. “I think it’s made of jade. Just little jade beads.”
I held out my hand. “May I?”
He slipped it off and placed the bracelet in my hand. It was still warm.
“Ah,” I said, turning it through my fingers. “This is one of those little prayer bead looking things, right?” I pulled at it, the bracelet stretching easily. “Uh-huh. They have these in every gift shop around here.”
“My best friend got it for me,” he replied. “He said it matched my eyes.”
“What color are they?”
“The bracelet? It’s jade.”
“No. Your eyes.”
There was a long pause. “Green, I guess.”
I handed the bracelet back to him. “Be more specific. When I think of green, I think of grass. Are they that color?”
“You know colors?”
“I wasn’t born blind.”
“Oh.” Another pause. “Just a second.”
I heard him rustling through his stuff and then a small click. It sounded like the power button on my phone.
“Okay. So, it looks like they are mostly green with a ring of brown around the outside edge. And there’s maybe a little splash of yellow here and there too?”
“What shade of green?”
“Uh… I don’t know. Like maybe… pine tree colored?”
“Spruce, cedar, or something else?”
“Christ, I don’t know!” he laughed.
“Is it more blue or more green?”
“More green.”
“Probably cedar then. Is it really dark or kind of light?”
“Kind of light?”
“Definitely cedar.” I paused. “And exceptionally beautiful.”
I could almost feel his heartbeat quicken in the air around me. His arm fell back down to the table, his phone landing with it. He’d been using his phone camera to look at his eyes so he could describe them to me. He took a long moment before he spoke.
“You really know colors that well?” he asked, his voice tinged with shyness.
“I remember quite a few,” I nodded. “It’s amazing what you commit to memory when you know you’ll never see them again.”
I felt the energy shift slightly. Adam’s lips parted signaling the forming of a question. But he never let the words flow.
“Well, it sounds like you have a very nice friend,” I said, filling the gap. “And very observant.” I paused. “Is he your boyfriend?”
“Rowan?! God no!” Adam laughed, although I could tell it was a bit forced. “He’s cute and a great guy, don’t get me wrong. But he’s not with me. He’s got a partner of his own.” Another pause. “Wait. How did you know I like guys?”
I grinned, biting my lower lip.
“It’s the voice, isn’t it?” Adam groaned. “I knew I sounded gay.”
“What’s wrong with that? I think your voice is beautiful.”
Why the hell did I say that ?
“You… You do?”
There was no backing out of it now. “Sure. It’s unique, it has a nice timbre, and you sound like you would probably sing tenor.”
“Oh… Thanks.”
There was a long silence between us, and I desperately searched for something to say. But I was kind of embarrassed if I was being honest. I hadn’t meant to compliment him like that and now that I had, there was no taking it back. He seemed to like it, but I could tell he wasn’t used to things like that. I wasn’t sure if that meant he hadn’t dated much or he was the one that usually hit on people. Either way, it definitely made him clam up.
His phone buzzed against the table.
“That’s Rowan,” Adam sighed, clicking the button to turn the screen on. “I’m supposed to meet him and James for a picnic today.”
He was leaving. I’d pushed him too far. I had a tendency to be too direct with people and sometimes I went a little too hard. Not to mention my previous experience had taught me that guys weren’t really into the whole blind thing.
It was worth a shot though.
“I won’t hold you up,” I sighed, forcing myself to smile. “You shouldn’t keep your friends waiting.”
“Right.”
Adam got up from the booth, gathered up his things, gave Bessie a pat and turned back to face me.
“It was good to meet you,” he said, an edge of shyness to his voice.
“You too,” I replied. “Have a good picnic.”
“Thanks.”
Five footsteps and a door chime later, he was gone.
Most likely I’d never see him again.