Chapter 12
Twelve
L eslie
Leslie figured taking Joe to the Ford dealership in Leonard would be a good bet.
Tim Caldwell was a former teammate and good friend.
Tim had a great sense of humor and handled all the jokes about being a cliché former NFL player-turned-car salesman.
He would give Joe a low-pressure sales pitch.
Les had no idea how much money Joe wanted to spend; they hadn’t really talked that much in detail.
Joe had simply asked for Les’s advice on the best vehicle to handle the Iowa weather and Leslie had jumped at the chance.
“You asked me to come with you today but I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
Joe turned to face him. “What I’m thinking? ”
Les smiled. “About a car? Besides being good in weather, is there anything else?”
“Hmmm,” Joe said. “Well, I’m used to my Porsche. I’ve had it for twelve years. It just didn’t seem like the right car for out here.”
“Not exactly, unless it’s one of their crossover models. They probably have all-wheel drive.”
Les snuck a glance at Joe when he didn’t answer. “What?”
“You know, I don’t mind admitting when I don’t know much about a topic, but there’s something about being male in this country that if you don’t know cars, you’re less of a man.
You say all-wheel drive and I think ‘yes, I’d like all of the wheels to drive, thank you.
’ So when I asked you to come, my intention was that you would help me avoid total emasculation. ”
Leslie gave Joe a very obvious once-over, taking his time as one can do on Iowa highways where nary a car is in sight, as was the case today.
His gaze lingered on Joe’s thick thighs, which pulled the fabric of his mid-thigh-length Bermuda shorts tight, the way the light dusting of dark hairs on his legs seemed to accentuate the cut of each muscle.
Then his gaze landed on the sizeable bulge in the front of Joe’s shorts that was not merely the curve of the zipper.
Leslie had yet to see all of Joe’s incredible body unclothed, but there was little mystery about what he would find behind his fly.
Leslie’s eyes went back to the road and he sighed.
“What was that?” Joe’s tone had an edge to it that hadn’t been there moments ago.
“That was me mentally cataloging all the ways you are the epitome of masculinity.” Leslie’s eyes wandered over Joe’s corded forearms and long, graceful, thick fingers, also faintly sprinkled with dark hair.
Joe Judd was the quintessential example of male beauty and perfection.
Les had always thought so, and Joe had only become more so with age.
“Whatever. Ogling me is not helping the situation. I need you to tell me what questions I should ask so I don’t sound ignorant and you don’t look like my daddy buying me a car.”
Leslie choked on that word. “I know I’m older than you, but I highly doubt anyone would consider you my… Ohhhhh.”
The back of his neck burned as he caught Joe’s knowing smile.
“Come on, man. We’ve never been that way with each other. That’s not…you know.”
“ We know that, but if we go in there and you do all the talking for me while I just stand there looking fabulous, it’s going to be obvious.”
Leslie barked out a laugh and shook his head.
“It just so happens that the dealer is a friend, not just someone I played ball with. He knows I’m gay, but more than that, he knows me . He’s going to be curious, but I let him know you are new to the faculty and in need of reliable wheels. I don’t think it’s going to be awkward.”
Joe turned sideways in his seat. “Fine, but shouldn’t I know about torque and horsepower?
And how many wheels drive I need? God, it was so much easier when my agent just bought my car for me.
I told him I wanted a Porsche, and he bought me one with my signing bonus for the second season of Dance Machine . ”
Les reached over and squeezed Joe’s knee. It was instinctual, but then he lifted his hand as if he’d touched a hot surface and looked at Joe for his reaction.
Joe grabbed his hand, laced their fingers together and sat it back on his knee. When Leslie just stared, and swerved the car a little, Joe exhaled.
“Okay, watch what you’re doing, Payton. It’s just holding hands. It’s not like I reached for your fly.”
“Stop it,” Leslie said, putting on his blinker to make the turn onto a state route that was a shortcut to Leonard. “I’m sorry, I just don’t know what’s okay with you. I want to respect you.”
Joe pressed his free hand to his chest. “You better respect me, gosh.” Leslie couldn’t understand how Joe could be so worried what people would think one minute, and then flippant about something so intimate and familiar.
“What I mean , Twinkle Toes, is that we’ve been in this holding pattern for so long, is it okay to touch you? When we’re alone, I mean?”
Joe ran his finger over their joined hands and looked down at them thoughtfully. “I’ve never been much of a hand-holder. It’s nice. Yes, holding hands is okay.”
Leslie pressed his lips together. There was so much he wanted to do with Joe. Alone. In person. No more phones or prying eyes.
“Touching your hair?” Les’s voice cracked, making him feel like a young man again. “Can I touch your hair?”
Joe squeezed his hand and licked his lips. “You can touch me wherever you want, Leslie Payton. I know we have to wait to go public, but in private? Let me make it clear that have my permission to touch me however you like.”
Leslie wanted to pull the car over in the middle of the cornfield and take Joe up on his offer, but he’d never been one for brave spontaneity.
Instead he squeezed Joe’s hand back and kept driving, his heart racing faster than the car.
No, he was too polite to maul Joe in a car in a cornfield.
Really, he was. Despite his current salacious thoughts.
He’d been the perfect date for girls in high school, always the gentleman; they always knew they were safe with him.
In fact, they sometimes fought over him.
Moms approved because the prom pictures would always turn out great and he had a reputation for being “the nicest guy.” He never touched the girls he went out with.
Never touched boys either, not until college, but he had been focused.
Football always came first, so there was no time for dating or carrying on.
He used that as an excuse for a long time.
The first time he’d met Joe Judd, it was like the moment their knees touched under the bar it unlocked a desire in Leslie so strong it made him think, football who ?
And though he wished Joe would have been his first, he made up for lost touching time for a few years.
He was careful, but he decided to come out publicly just in case pictures got out or paparazzi caught him with his pants down.
“Oh-kay. I guess I’m going to need to up my game a little,” Joe said with a laugh when Leslie didn’t respond to his offer.
“Sorry, but if you up your game anymore, I’m going to embarrass myself.” Leslie shifted in his car seat. “This is not me resisting you. This is me wishing to have you the way I want you the first time. I’m willing to wait to do right by you. I told you I don’t want to have to sneak around.”
“Oh, but sneaking can be fun, too.”
Suddenly the car emerged from the cornfield and came to an abrupt stop, jarring them both out of their banter.
“Where the hell are we?” Joe looked around. “It all looks the same here. How do you know where you are?”
Leslie shrugged, looked both ways, and turned left onto the highway. “I grew up driving these roads with my brother. You’ll get used to it.”
But would Joe? Would he get used to the roads, the weather, the lack of culture?
“We’re here.”
He pulled into the lot and found Tim standing outside with one of his other salespeople, his daughter Tamara.
“Leslie Payton.” Tim’s booming voice rang out and he moved as swiftly as a white man in his fifties with two blown-out knees and a bad back could, and he pounded on Leslie’s back.
“Good to see you, man.” Leslie had always liked Tim.
They played for a few years on the 49ers together, then a few years as rivals when Tim went to the Cowboys, and when they retired, they’d both returned to their home state and set down roots.
Their families had gathered for cookouts and he and Tim had supported each other through their respective health issues as only brothers in pigskin could do. “Hey, Tamara!”
“Coach, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Judd.”
“It’s Coach Judd, Tamara. Joe’s working at Greenvale this year, coaching cheer and teaching dance.” He knew the pride came out in his voice. He couldn’t help it. He could take no credit for Joe’s phenomenal career, but he’d been there in the shadows, watching and cheering Joe on through it all.
“That’s so great! My little sister is starting there this year. She always loved to dance, but she’s too shy to go out for cheer.”
Joe smiled and shook Tamara’s hand. “Tell her it’s not scary. I’d love to have anyone with experience come to fall tryouts.”
“That sounds great,” Tim said. “Now, I hear you’re in need of a vehicle.”
“Yes, I am,” Joe said, sucking in a breath. “I want something that I won’t have to worry about the weather while I’m here. Something that handles well but is fun to drive, too.” He nodded when he finished and then snuck a look at Leslie, who nodded back. Joe was doing just fine.
Tim looked around and leaned closer to Joe, speaking in a low voice.
“I might have just the thing for you. It’s kind of a secret.
If people knew I had this baby, I’d have to beat them off with a stick.
Come on over this way.” He made another covert glance around and guided Joe toward the back of the lot.
“Daddy,” Tamara said. She rolled her eyes and turned to Leslie. “He’s so dramatic.”
“That’s what made him a great tight end, sweetheart.” Leslie squeezed her shoulder and she laughed.
“Now, Coach Judd, what I’m about to show you is—”
“A twenty twenty-two Bronco Outer Banks model, two-door, with a Sasquatch package in Rapid Red,” Tamara said, cutting off any more of Tim’s antics.
She launched into a very detailed but not overwhelming spiel about the car before they even laid eyes on it.
Once they did, Leslie was in love, but even better, Joe and Tamara carried on a lively conversation.
She walked him around the car and pointed out all of the practical features as well as the fun aspects of the car.
“So, how’s it going?” Tim asked Les. Les had told Tim about Joe years ago when it seemed as if nothing would ever come of their correspondence. Tim was his closest friend outside of his family and he trusted his discretion.
“It’s too soon to tell, but I’m trying to be hopeful.”
Tim looked him in the eye and held up a fist, which Leslie bumped and then they joined Tamara and Joe around the front of the car.
“So I’ll be okay in snow and ice in these tires? I won’t have to do anything else?”
“No, these tires are more than capable of handling anything Iowa throws at you, and since this one came in with a hard top, one of the few, you don’t have to worry about the cold.
The marine-grade vinyl is easy to clean and if you do decide to take it out into the wilds, there are rubberized floors and drain holes for easy cleaning. ”
Joe was looking at the sticker and Leslie thought for sure he’d seen a twinkle in his eye.
“Joe? You want to look at the trucks or an Explorer?”
“I’ve got some certified used selections—”
“This is perfect. I’ll take it.”
Leslie couldn’t blame him for being enamored with the Bronco. His dad had one back in the 80s and he’d loved it. Randy had a 1968 model he’d restored as well. If Les didn’t love his truck so much, he’d buy one of these babies…maybe he would anyway.
“This was a canceled order or else we wouldn’t have any in stock,” Tim said, once again the conspirator. “They’re selling as fast as we get them off the truck.”
“Will you be financing?” Tamara asked.
“I’ll be paying cash, thanks,” he said, winking at her.
It probably wasn’t often that she made a deal that good. She stumbled over her words a bit as she explained the price was slightly over MSRP and he smiled and nodded, but Leslie could see his excitement, which was probably just as much about him handling the sale himself as the car.
“Great, Coach Judd. We’ll get started on the paperwork then,” she said, gesturing for him to follow her inside, but he held up a finger and walked over to Les.
“Hey, you can take off,” he said, glancing between Tim and Les. “I know you have practice.”
Well, look at you , Leslie thought.
“Would you excuse me?” Tim asked, giving them privacy like a good wingman.
“Are you sure about this?” Les asked him. “I mean, I couldn’t have picked out a better car for you, but this part can be aggravating.”
Joe shrugged. “I’m okay. I can’t thank you enough. You told me what I needed to know and this whole process was smooth because you were here. If I couldn’t afford it, that would be another matter. All the money stuff can be overwhelming, I hear.”
“Right, and don’t let them sell you a bunch of extra shit. Extended warranties and all that.”
Joe bumped him with his shoulder, but kept his hands behind his back. “Now I can sneak off campus,” he said in a low voice. “And we can…hold hands.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Leslie laughed with his whole self, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Definitely hold hands.”
“Soon?” Joe asked.
“Very soon,” Leslie answered.
He could so get used to this, this rapport, this connection they had.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” he said, hoping it didn’t break the spell of the day.
“Me too,” Joe said. “Really glad. Now go on. Go run those poor kids into the ground. Make them do burpees until they puke or whatever you football types do.”
“You’ve got practice starting soon too. Somehow, I think you’d run a helluva tough practice.”
Joe raised his eyebrows. “You’ll have to see for yourself. Doubt you could handle it.”
“That’s not saying much,” he said with a laugh. “Some days I can barely get off the toilet.”
“Whatever,” Joe said, but he squeezed Leslie’s arm. “Seriously. I can’t thank you enough for making this such a good experience. Everything’s better with you, isn’t it?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” Leslie said, enjoying the teasing.
“I’ll see you back at school,” Joe said, backing away.
“You sure you can find your way? I should have left you breadcrumbs or something.”
Joe kicked his chin up. “Tamara said it comes with navigation. I’m all set. See you later.”
Oh, Leslie liked this way too much. Later. But hours this time, not weeks or months like they’d always been separated before.
Try as he might to protect his heart, it was too late. He was in it to win it…win Joe all to himself. Nice guy Leslie Payton was at first and goal with victory in his sights.