Chapter 13
DRAKE
Saturday, four days before the festival starts
Zeke had offered to help me with the chore, but I needed the distraction. Plus, Zeke wasn’t a spring chicken—hahaha—and he didn’t need to be doing so much physical labor. I’d made a note in my phone to ask Nova about finding someone to come by and clean the coops after I went back to Texas.
I kept checking my phone for word from Finn, but there was nothing. Kirk and Tommy hadn’t had any idea what had caused Charles to be so upset, and they’d looked as worried as I was. Probably for different reasons though.
Because if there’d been any thought left in my mind that what was between me and Finn was just friends with benefits, well, now I knew the truth. I was gone for him. Emotionally invested. Crushing at a minimum, but I knew it was more.
Fuck. My. Life.
Because, like Finn had said at the diner, Charles came first. I knew it. I agreed with it.
But I’d thought Charles approved of me dating Finn. He’d said so. He’d arranged to be out of the house last night so Finn and I could be alone.
If he’d changed his mind, well, that meant what Finn and I had was over. And I was devastated. Far more upset than I’d be if this was merely a convenient, casual hookup situation.
I dwelled on that depressing realization all through showering and changing clothes. Every moment while I ran a load of laundry and cleaned up the cabin.
Finally I sat down with my guitar. Might as well see if I could make some money off my heartache.
Before I could get started, my phone chimed with a text. I leapt for it, hoping it was Finn.
But it wasn’t.
Cal:
Steve said you wanted to talk to me. I have some time for the next hour or so if you want to call.
Well, shit.
Me:
I think it’s a moot point now, so never mind
Cal:
Now I’m even more intrigued. Steve wouldn’t say what you wanted to talk about. Why don’t you call me anyway? Maybe I can help
Ugh. My gut said not to call Cal and rehash my tale of woe. But if I didn’t, he’d tell Steve, and then I’d have to endure Steve asking me what happened.
So I set my guitar aside, flopped back onto the couch cushions, and called.
“Hey. Tell Uncle Cal what’s going on.”
I grimaced. “Please never refer to yourself as Uncle Cal ever again.”
He chuckled. “Fine. Where are you, anyway?”
“Vermont.” I told him how Wesley had asked me to help Zeke out.
“Okay. What was it you wanted to talk to me about? Even if it’s no longer necessary.”
I blew out a breath. “I met this guy.”
“Ohhh.”
“Yeah. We didn’t get along at first, but.
.. there was some mutual attraction. We decided to have a friends with bennies arrangement, but I started thinking it might be more.
I was asking Steve how he knew Baz was attracted to him, but they didn’t really have any sort of getting-to-know-you period before they started dating. ”
“Got it. You picked me because Greg and I weren’t big fans of each other before we got together.”
“Exactly. But, like I said, it doesn’t matter.” I explained Charles’s outburst and what Finn had said about putting Charles first. “Which I fully support, by the way. It just sucks for me, because I’m pretty heavily into Finn.”
“But he hasn’t said he’s ending things?”
“No. I don’t think he’s ghosting me, though I could be wrong.”
“Yeah, it’s a little early to make that assumption. He’s probably hanging out with the kid.”
“Right.”
“Okay, well, while you wait, I can tell you how I knew Greg was attracted to me.”
I sat up. “Tell me.”
“From the moment we met, there was this sort of magnetic pull between us. I know that sounds kind of woo-woo, but it’s the best way I have to explain it.
But also he would look at me, you know? Like he couldn’t not look at me.
And he gets anxious in crowds, but if I was next to him, or, even better, physically touching him, he’d relax. ”
“Huh.”
“Does that help?”
“I think so.” I didn’t know about any magnetic pull, but I’d certainly caught Finn staring at me from time to time.
“You’re a smart guy, Drake. If Finn wasn’t into you, you’d be able to tell.”
I sighed. “Yeah. I know. I guess I was just looking for validation.”
“Nothing wrong with that. What are you going to do to take your mind off things?”
I fiddled with one of my guitar pegs. “Write a song about my feelings.”
He laughed. “I wish I had that sort of outlet. But also consider going somewhere with people. Get out of the house. Not only will it distract you, it’ll show Finn you’re not moping around waiting for him to make the next move. Surely there’s a bar or pub or something there.”
“That’s a good idea, thanks.”
“Do you like the place outside of your relationship drama?”
I grinned. “I kind of do. It’s super weird. Get this, every night I have to go into the woods to serve dinner to this weird forest creature who may or may not exist.”
“What? What forest creature?” His tone was oddly sharp and urgent.
“Her name is Mabel. According to the locals, she’s tall and covered in leaves.”
“But you’ve never seen her?”
“Not me.” I told Cal about Charles’ run-in with Mabel.
“Huh.”
“What’s with all the questions? Are you into cryptids or something?”
“Oh. Um, you know I’m a geek at heart. Cryptids are cool. Even Greg thinks so.”
“Got it.”
We chatted for a few minutes longer. Cal promised me a copy of the game he and Steve were developing as soon as it was ready, and I told him I’d send him a copy of my “song of woe”, as he put it, as soon as somebody recorded it.
I did feel better once we hung up. And Cal had made a good point about going out and being seen in public tonight. I didn’t have to stay out long, but I did want to be visible so Finn wouldn’t think I was at home pining for him or anything.
Even though that was exactly what I’d been doing.
I dragged the guitar onto my lap and thought about Finn, about my interactions with him, and how he’d made me feel.
The words came before the melody, which didn’t always happen.
But I got them into my phone’s dictation app in less than twenty minutes, and I was pretty damn happy with the results.
Turned out I could make money from my heartache.
The melody, however, wasn’t as cooperative.
In the past I would’ve just asked Dirk for feedback, but nowadays I was songwriting solo.
I decided to let the melody percolate in my brain overnight and, per Cal’s suggestion, go out.
Maplewood had a pub, The Striped Maple, and a bar with food called The Forbidden Maple.
I decided The Forbidden Maple sounded more exotic, so I’d try that.
Since I’d be indoors most of the evening, I regretfully left my hats at the cabin.
When I went to get in my SUV, I was surprised to see Agnes, one of the Rocktogenarians I’d met at Sparky’s yesterday, sitting on the porch with Zeke.
The two of them were drinking something that looked like an Arnold Palmer.
However, based on how much they were laughing, I was betting they’d added an additional alcoholic ingredient to the tea and lemonade.
Zeke agreed to feed Mabel, and Agnes seemed excited to go with him to drop off the food. Excellent.
It was still fairly early, so I had no trouble finding a parking spot outside the restaurant.
The Forbidden Maple had a kind of speakeasy vibe.
I didn’t have any trouble getting a table, and the prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes was excellent.
I finished my dinner right as the place was starting to get completely full.
My phone chimed. It was Finn. All I could see on the preview was, “Charlie’s okay. He got emotional because our flirting reminded him of his....”
Well, I could guess the rest. My formerly delicious dinner sat heavily in my stomach.
Did I want to read the remainder of it now?
Alex, Mickey, Jason, and Sam were walking toward a back room with some big blond guy.
I could go hang out with them. I looked down at my phone.
I’d never be able to relax with that fucking text hanging over my head.
At least if I got confirmation that Finn and I were done, I could drown my sorrows without any additional stress.
Sighing, I opened the text thread.
Finn:
Charlie’s okay. He got emotional because our flirting reminded him of his parents.
We talked it out and he agreed to go to therapy if I went with him.
He’s good with us seeing each other. I’m sorry it took me so long to get in touch.
I had to feed Charlie, then my phone died and while I was charging it I fell asleep, and a bunch of other bullshit reasons that are completely my fault.
Please forgive me. I hope you’ll still let me help you clean your chicken coop. [winky face emoji]
I sagged in my chair. Thank fuck. As today had proved, I was not ready to let Finn go yet.
On the other hand, apology aside, where did he get off not contacting me for—I checked my watch—over seven hours after what happened earlier? That must’ve been some nap he’d had. We’d been pretty active on and off all night, but still.
A little payback was in order. He could put some effort in.
Me:
Glad to hear Charlie’s okay, and that he’s okay with us. I’m out having drinks if you want to join me.
Finn:
Yes, please. Where are you?
With an evil smile, I shut my phone off. This restaurant was about equal distance from Finn’s house as The Striped Maple, but in a different direction. I’d see how long it took him to track me down.
Was it petty? Yes. Was it fair? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes.
Sometimes I let myself act my age. Brattiness for the win.
The server brought my check, so after I paid, I took the rest of my beer and wandered to the back room to see what the guys were up to.
They were all standing around a bar-height table. Sam was the first to spot me. “Hey, Drake! How are you?”
“Great. You mind if I join y’all?”