CHAPTER SEVEN
JAKE
“Excuse me,” Gabriel said loudly as he approached. “Can you explain the difference between sharp and mild cheddar?”
I cleared my throat. “Certainly, sir.”
We’d played this game all week. He would come in and pretend to be an interested customer. We’d flirt under the guise of helping him choose the perfect ingredients for his Sunday dinner party. It had become a fun pastime and the highlight of my day—when we weren’t texting in the evening, anyhow.
“I prefer sharp for its bite,” I said as a fellow employee walked by. “It’s a classic flavor, sure to please anyone.”
He leaned in, something twinkling in his gaze. “Sharp? Hm, I’m more of a blunt kind of guy.”
“Ugh, I do not need to be thinking about dick and cheese at the same time,” I whispered.
“Yeah, you’re right,” he shivered as if the thought was terrifying. “Would you like to do something tomorrow?”
The smile that forced its way onto my cheeks threatened to split my face. He made me grin like no other, so much that my cheek muscles grew sore. I guess they were out of shape. “Yes.”
“I’ve been scheming. Let me treat you?” he asked and put the wedge of cheese he’d been pretending to inspect back on the shelf.
“Okay.” I’d been waiting and hoping he would ask me out again. It seemed like a sure thing.
When we didn’t flirt on his lunch break, he texted me as soon as he got home from work.
We talked about all sorts of things, from the mild late-season warm up the meteorologists were predicting, to what it was like treating high profile clients.
We clicked well, in my opinion, and it was nice having someone to talk to.
The flirting and sexual innuendos on his end were fun too.
Despite my insistence we take this slow, it was nice being reminded that he wanted to have sex with me.
“Great. I’ll pick you up at nine. Or we can meet somewhere if you’d prefer?” He selected a box of wheat crackers and set it in his shopping basket.
Fear darted through me. I couldn’t have him picking me up in my neighborhood. He was likely to get robbed. He was a walking target with his nice clothes and laptop bag. “I uh… I live around Halsted and Addison. You can pick me up on the corner.”
The moment the lie was out of my mouth, my stomach soured.
“Perfect! Nine tomorrow morning.” He winked and took off for the salad bar. “Thank you for all your help! My dinner party will be smashing! I’ll be sure to leave a glowing compliment with your manager.”
I shook my head in disbelief. Gabriel was a fun guy, and his sense of humor was sexy.
Letting out a big breath, I mentally berated myself.
I shouldn’t have lied but I was embarrassed about living in a dump.
I watched for a long minute as he piled salad ingredients into his container.
Please, please let this work out. I’d never been so into a man before as I was with Gabriel. What is a little white lie, anyway?
I passed the hour by cleaning up some juice a butter-fingered customer had spilled.
I took my time, because as soon as I was done, the boss on duty had informed me I’d be cleaning the fish bins today.
Which meant I’d be home late. Even worse, I’d have to ride the bus smelling like tuna.
Still, I couldn’t help seeing the brighter side of things.
Gabriel was clearly interested and wanted to take me out on date number two. I’d be prepared this time.
As I tidied up the cheese section, I thought about what to wear. I didn’t have anything fancy. Maybe I could check out the thrift store on the way home. I could use a nice sweater, anyway.
By the time I finished organizing the area, Gabriel was gone.
I never thought I could fall for someone so easily.
First, I’d gotten caught up in his hotness factor that was an absolute ten.
His humor captured me next. I needed a good laugh so I could forget about the sorry state my life was in and he was the perfect escape.
He was like a sandy, warm, clear-watered island I was happy to visit and never leave.
Cleaning the fish bins wasn’t as bad as I’d initially expected, and I left the store at five, grateful for an hour of overtime.
As I walked to the bus stop, I wondered if Gabriel was home, or still working.
He normally shot me a text first. I hovered my thumb over the text box, apprehension stilling me.
I wanted to show interest but didn’t want to bother him if he were busy.
Biting my lip, I sent over a simple “hey” and left it at that.
The ride back to my neighborhood wasn’t as gloomy and it was thoughts of Gabriel brightening everything.
I got off a stop sooner and headed over to the Faith & Hope Thrift. I flipped through the racks, finding several worthy candidates. Occasionally, I lucked out and found a luxury piece, but it was rare. As I scrutinized an argyle cashmere sweater, my phone chimed, letting me know I had a text.
Gabriel: Late day at the clinic. Be home soon.
I couldn’t help smiling as I read his text message. I returned my phone to my pocket and made my way over to the checkout where I dropped ten bucks on two sweaters.
As I walked back to my place, I saw everything in a new light.
The sidewalks didn’t seem as dingy and the streets as oil-stained and pot-holed.
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I nearly walked past my apartment building.
Manny was sitting at the door jamb to his apartment, reading a beat-up comic book when I walked by.
“Amigo! You’re late today,” he said, looking happy to see me.
“I had to clean the fish bins. Don’t get too close. I’m sure I stink,” I said as I strolled into Maria’s apartment. I didn’t have to think about it anymore. Keeping an eye on Manny and his sister after school had become a habit.
He wrinkled his nose. “Come see. I finished coloring the book.”
I sat down at the cluttered kitchen table. The makeshift coloring book was open to the last page and crayons were scattered everywhere. “Already?”
“I helped,” Jazmine said softly.
“You need to learn to stay in the lines, but your pages aren’t too bad,” Manny told his sister who smiled brightly.
We flipped through the colored pages together, Manny making up a backstory for every scene. I was glad my birthday gift had provided entertainment, as simple as it was.
“This is great,” I said jubilantly. “I’ll have to make another book for you. Someone else has a birthday coming up, don’t they?”
Jazmine smiled shyly and nodded.
“What kind of coloring book do you want, Jaz?” Manny inquired.
“Princesses!” she said and jumped in the air.
“I can do that,” I said. “Did you two eat anything yet?”
“We split a sandwich,” Manny said and gathered the crayons into the box. “Mom should be home soon.”
“What about your homework?”
It turned out the kids only needed a little push and once they got going on their homework, it was a breeze. Manny was smart, blowing through his multiplication and division with ease. When he was done, he helped his sister with her ABCs and shape identification.
I couldn’t help feeling a little envious. Math had always been easy for me, but I’d struggled with reading and spelling. I would have loved to have a sibling to help me with my homework. When Mom had sent me to school, anyway. I pushed the bitter thought away.
“What’s this?” Maria said as she walked through the door. “My children are behaving themselves and doing their homework?”
They screamed in delight and rushed to hug her. She kissed the tops of their heads then offered me a look of gratitude and set a bag on the counter. As Jazmine and Manny went back to their homework, I got up to head to my apartment.
“One minute,” Maria said, catching me at the door.
“What are you doing next weekend? I have to work Saturday and wanted to beg a favor from you. I was hoping you might take them trick-or-treating? My parents usually do it, but Dad’s knee is acting up and Mamma has arthritis.
I thought maybe I’d give them a break this year. ”
“Oh. Yeah, I can do that,” I said, not at all bothered by the possibility of spending time with the kids.
She seemed delighted and squeezed my shoulder. “Thank you so much! Ten in the morning. They will be hitting the storefronts.”
“I’ll be here.”
She kissed my cheek. “Thank you, Jake. You’re a life-saver.”
I returned to my apartment, shed my smelly clothes, and collapsed on the bed.
I liked being a part of Maria and her kids’ lives, but I got the feeling she wanted more from me.
I’d never had a woman interested in me and though it wasn’t all that different from a man, I wasn’t sure how to respond.
I knew I needed to tell her the truth about my sexuality, but I couldn’t seem to find the words.
I lay in bed for a long time, tracing the hard angles of my modest room and waiting for Gabriel to text back. I’d never had much hope with where my life was headed, but a little spark flared in my chest. Maybe I’d end up being one of the lucky ones.
The sound of my phone beeping to let me know I had a new text message made my insides bounce. It was a wonderful feeling, like hope blossoming for the first time in a very long while.