Chapter Thirty-Five
Jamie couldn’t help but admire Mike as they all ate.
He had nice table manners. He seemed at ease in handling the cutlery, even though his hands were huge.
His smile could light up a room, and it was genuine.
He also couldn’t help noticing how his biceps bulged, hardly contained by the short sleeves of his uniform.
“Hey... earth to Jamie.” Joesph poked him on the shoulder. “You done?”
“Oh. Yeah.” Jamie held his plate up to Salzy, who had gathered the others already. “Sorry. I was thinking about the kitchen.” He tried to not let anyone know he was perving over Mike.
“Would anyone like coffee?” Joesph asked, giving Jamie the all-knowing eye. The man didn’t miss much, and it was clear he knew that his friend had not been thinking about the kitchen.
“Yes, please,” Mike answered. “Cream and sugar since it’s so late.”
“That’s no for me.” Jamie casually said, “Coffee keeps me up at night if I have it too late.”
“Why I doctor it up with cream and sugar,” Mike explained. “It does help. But it’s black for me first thing in the morning.”
“I agree. I have to have black coffee first thing.”
Salzy had already rinsed the plates and got them ready for the dishwasher when he went to get another beer. “Anyone need anything to drink? The server is on a break.”
Joesph didn’t even turn around but flipped him a middle finger over his shoulder after he set down the two coffees.
“There’s some apple pie left,” Jamie said. “And a bit of vanilla ice cream.”
“Oh yes, please,” Joesph said immediately.
“Nothing for me,” Salzy said as he set a fresh bottle of beer down in front of Jamie.
“I’d like that,” Mike said, smiling at Jamie, a definite twinkle in his eye.
“Okay, then.” Jamie pushed back from the table. “Two apple pies coming up.”
“No ice cream for me,” Joesph said.
“That’s fine. You weren’t getting any anyway. There’s only enough for one serve.”
Joesph huffed. “Do you see what I have to put up with? It’s like I’m a second-class citizen around here.”
“You poor, poor thing,” Jamie said, putting down a plate with pie on it in front of Joesph. “Your life is so hard.” He set a bowl with pie and ice cream in front of Mike.
Mike took a big bite and closed his eyes. I bet he looks like that during sex, Jamie thought and quickly asked, “How’s the pie?”
“The crust is perfect, but there’s something... in the pie filling I can’t figure out.” He looked directly at Jamie.
“Oh?” Jamie asked innocently as he sipped his beer.
“There is, isn’t there?” Mike cocked his head slightly. “I just can’t put my finger on it.”
“There may be.”
“You’re not going to tell me either, are you?”
“Nope.” Jamie didn’t bat an eye. “I never give out my secret recipes.”
Salzy snorted. “Hell, even Walter can’t make the biscuits. It’s a family secret. If Jamie goes on vacation or dies, there’ll be a riot in this diner.”
Mike laughed. “Okay. I won’t ask again. I only hope this becomes a staple.”
Jamie nodded. “Actually, I’m going to put in a pastry station. Right where we’re sitting, to be exact.”
Mike’s eyes opened wide. “Really? That’ll be amazing. There are usually only two desert options, and it was whatever Ms. Mattie cooked up. Her banana pudding was delicious.”
Jamie laughed. “Glad you thought so. That was my recipe she used.”
“Not even slightly surprised,” Mike said, smiling.
“Ah-hem,” Joesph cleared his throat. “If no one minds, I think I’m going to call it a night. I have a couple of really busy days ahead of me, and I need my beauty sleep.”
“Wait,” Salzy said also standing. “You’re not going to help with the dishes?”
Joesph lowered his gaze at him. “I’m a drinks server, not a dishwasher.” He looked at the other two men. “Good night. Ta-ta.” And with that he sauntered to the door. Gave another look at Salzy over his shoulder and left.
“Drama much,” Salzy said. “It okay to run these few pans through the dishwasher?” He asked Jamie.
“Yeah, everything can go through.” He stood and collected the dishes, cups, and other remaining items from the table.
“I should get going too,” Mike said as he got up. “Is it okay if I leave through the back door?”
“Of course,” Jamie said. “See you tomorrow?”
“You can count on it. I’ll be here for dinner for sure.” Mike smiled. “’Night, Sal.” And then he was gone.
Jamie stacked the rest of the dishes into the rack for the dishwasher.
Salzy stopped and looked at him. “I wish you’d just sleep with that man. It’s like watching a corny rom-com.”
“I have no idea what you mean,” Jamie said, washing his hands.
“Oh, jeez.” Salzy slammed the door down on the big dishwasher and pressed the start button. “The two of you were making goo-goo eyes at each other all night long.” He turned towards Jamie. “You don’t have to go and marry the guy, but at least go and do the nasty tango and get it over with.”
“Since when has my sex life become everyone’s hobby?”
“I’d say it’s because you and Mike have something between the two of you, and it’s like watching soft porn. It’s... almost embarrassing watching the pair of you.”
Jamie sighed. “I can’t help that he’s that good-looking.”
“Yeah, he is hot.” Salzy leaned against the big sink.
Jamie lifted his eyebrows at him.
“What? I can admit when a guy’s super-hot. I’m not blind.”
“Then you have sex with him.” Jamie stretched and yawned.
“Uh, no thanks. He’s hot, but I still like women more.” Salzy jammed his hands into his pockets. “You think I stand a chance if I ask Terry out?”
“I do. She is hot.” Jamie smiled. “And no, I wouldn’t sleep with her.”
“That’s good to know.” Salzy smiled. “Let’s call it a night.”
He draped his arm across Jamie’s shoulders. “So, you think she’d go out with me?”
“I think she’d be crazy not to.” Jamie closed and locked the door to the diner. “I also think she’d say yes. Take her to that Mexican place.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Jamie pushed Salzy off. “Go. Get some sleep. Lord only knows what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
Salzy smiled brightly. “’Night, boss.”
Jamie rolled his eyes. “Good night, Sally.”
He let the door close softly behind him before locking the screen door, leaving the main door open, hoping to catch a breeze. He could see the light on in Joesph’s room, the door open. He knocked softly, seeing the man propped up in bed, a book in his hands. “Everything okay in here?”
Joesph looked up and smiled. “Yes. Just winding down, trying to settle my mind before I turn off the light.”
“You think I’m doing the right thing?” Jamie looked towards his feet. “You know... moving down here and doing all this?”
Joesph closed his book and set it on the nightstand. “Jamie, how long have we known each other?”
“About six years, maybe seven.”
“Right. We’ve been through stuff that only real friends... well, go through together and still remain friends.”
“Yeah. I’d say so.” Jamie shifted, leaning on the door frame. “Good and bad.”
“Very true. Jamie, I think this is your destiny. It’s where you belong and I think you know that. I do hate the thought of my best friend being two hours away though.”
Jamie smiled. “Yeah, I know, me too, but it... feels right. Like I’m finally home and I know myself. It’s like everything was leading up to this.” He looked around the old room that his grandparents had shared most of their lives. “I have roots here. Deep roots.”
Joesph nodded. “And it shows.”
“Okay.” Jamie pushed himself upright. “Good night. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Jamie.” Joesph waited until Jamie had turned back to face him. “I also don’t want to see you throw away something that could be really good for you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Mike.”
“Oh, not you too.” Jamie banged his head against the door.
Joesph raised one hand, palm out toward Jamie. “Now hear me out.” He took a deep breath. “Not everyone is like Chris. Not everyone is a lying cheat. I don’t think Mike is like that, and I think you need to give the man a chance. I think he could be good for you and you him.”
“You know how I feel.” Jamie could feel the heat rising in his cheeks, gearing up for a battle.
“Look,” Joesph leaned forward, his hands in his lap.
“There are certain... powers that the universe has, and it’s pushing the two of you together.
It may work out, it may not. But if you don’t take a chance, you’ll never know.
Don’t be afraid to at least try. Don’t let fear hold you back.
And years from now, you don’t want to be asking yourself, ‘what if?’”
That deflated Jamie. “I hear what you’re saying, but I don’t know. I don’t want... I can’t do that again.”
“All I’m saying is get to know the man.” Joesph shrugged. “What’s the harm in that?”
Jamie didn’t say anything for a long while. “I’ll think about it.” He looked at his friend. “That’s all, okay?”
“That’s good enough for me.” Joesph lifted one eyebrow. “And Jamie, we’ve got to do something about this apartment. It is unbefitting of a well-to-do businessman.” He waved his arms about. “This is not a place to bring a date to.”