Chapter 12
HOPPER
I scanned the menu at the Stag Pub, where I’d met up with Lyle and Truman.
Fried chicken tenders, hamburgers, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, nachos. All standard pub fare that I’d ordinarily salivate over, even if it was terrible for my aging football physique.
At twenty-eight, I wasn’t metabolizing as fast, and my abs had retreated behind a layer of padding.
But tonight, the food didn’t look nearly as appealing. Not after experiencing Noel’s Thanksgiving meal. I mean, truffle-infused mashed potatoes? Goat cheese and cranberry crostinis? How could a local pub compete with that?
“I’ll put our orders in,” Lyle offered. “What do you want?”
I tossed down the laminated menu. “Just get me a Philly and fries, I guess.”
“Someone’s excited about the food,” Truman teased.
“Well, when you’ve got a home chef, these menu items start to look less impressive,” I joked.
Dawson Wood arrived just then, with his young husband, Evan, at his side. Dawson coached the Granville High football team now. Kind of funny that I was friends with so many people who would have been my rivals back in high school.
I still got over to Riverton occasionally—and had a few friends there as well—but I liked how Granville was smaller and friendlier.
“A home chef?” Dawson said. “Did I miss the news of you winning the lottery?”
I chuckled. “No. Noel is home for a visit.”
“Noel?” Evan asked, brow furrowed, as he took a seat next to me. “Do we know him?”
“He’s the Grisolds’ son,” I said.
“And the guy Hopper’s crushing on,” Truman said with a grin.
Two hands dropped onto my shoulders from behind and squeezed. “I thought I was Hopper’s crush.”
The pouty voice gave away Kevin in an instant. I glanced back over my shoulder. “Sure, Kev. Whenever you decide you want to kick out Garrett, we’ll run away together.”
“I didn’t say I wanted to return your affection. You’re supposed to pine for me, devastated you’ll never have my heart.”
“You’re so mean,” Evan said with a laugh.
“Oh, Hop knows I’m kidding.” Kevin sauntered around the table to grab an open chair.
Tonight, he wore black tights and an oversized lavender sweater that reached his thighs but fell off one shoulder.
He was a very pretty boy, though not as much my type as…
well, as Noel was. “Tell me more about this guy of yours.”
“He’s not my guy,” I grumbled. “He’s just visiting his parents at the tree farm, and he happens to be a great chef. He made Thanksgiving dinner, and it was incredible.”
“That’s lucky.” He cocked his head. “You all don’t host events out at the farm, do you?”
“What kind of events? We do some things.”
“My parents have a big anniversary coming up on December nineteenth. Hunter and I have been trying to organize a dinner party. We don’t really want to have it at the house, but everywhere we call is already booked for holiday events. We should have gotten organized sooner.”
I grimaced. “Yeah, sorry. We haven’t ever done that kind of thing.”
“Damn.” He wrinkled his nose. “Now I have to persuade Hunter to host it at his house so I don’t have to do it.”
I chuckled. “Sorry. Wish we could help you out.”
“That’s okay,” he said with a sigh. “We’ll keep looking for a place. Who knows? Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
It was a shame we didn’t have a good space for an event like that. Noel really was a great chef, and I was sure he could give Kevin’s family a dinner party to remember.
“We can barely keep up with the old Christmas events, unfortunately,” I said. “Mr. Grisold had to have a stent put in his heart a few weeks back.”
“Oh, no. Is he okay?”
“He is,” I said quickly. “But as you might imagine, we’ve fallen behind. Noel is a go-getter, though. He’s been baking up all kinds of Christmas goodies to sell in the shop.”
“Ooh. We’ll have to come back out,” Truman said, turning to Lyle as he returned to the table with a pitcher of pale beer and six glasses. “Right, babe?”
“What’s that?” he asked as he set down his load.
“We should go back to the tree farm. Noel’s been baking Christmas treats.”
Lyle’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, Noel has, huh? Well, we wouldn’t want to miss out on Noel’s goodies.”
Truman laughed. “That would be a shame.”
I glowered. “Just stick to your own goodies and leave Noel be.”
“Hopper has a cruuuuush,” Truman singsonged.
I rolled my eyes, but I didn’t bother denying it. Noel was a pain in the ass, but I wanted him to be my pain in the ass. Maybe literally. I shifted, a stray thought of how that might go flitting through my mind.
“Must you all act like we’re still in high school?” I complained.
“Of course we must,” Kevin said with a smirk.
“We’re all boring and settled,” Dawson added. “We have to live vicariously through you.”
“Boring?” Evan said, sounding offended.
Lyle laughed. “Watch it, Dawson, or you’ll end up sleeping on the couch.”
“Not boring,” Dawson said. “Just, uh, stable.” At Evan’s unimpressed face, he tried again. “Content? Super happy, I mean. So in love that I can’t possibly be happier. So happy that I have to ask Hopper about his life because I can’t even remember what it’s like to be single.”
Everyone snickered at Dawson’s backpedaling.
“Better,” Evan finally said, letting him off the hook with a grin. “We are pretty settled. I just like giving you a hard time.”
Dawson rolled his eyes. “And you look so sweet and innocent.”
“But you know better,” Evan teased, leaning over to kiss his husband.
“Speaking of being single,” Lyle said, looking back at me. “It has been a long time since you’ve dated.”
“Yeah, well, Heather was kind of a disaster,” I muttered.
“Mm-hmm. You click better with men,” Truman said.
I shrugged a shoulder. I did like being fucked, but the right woman could peg me just right. I’d had a one-nighter with Calista years ago, and damn, the woman knew how to wring out pleasure. But Heather hadn’t been comfortable with that—or the fact that I was bisexual at all.
Noel certainly checked all my boxes, though.
He was petite and cute, with a little nose that wrinkled in irritation. He was assertive and determined, which pushed my buttons. Most importantly, he hadn’t batted an eye when he saw those dildos I use on myself. A lot of guys would have made a comment about it, been surprised I liked to bottom.
But Noel’s reaction had been to tell me to think of him. That had to mean he enjoyed topping, right? That I was going to imagine him fucking me.
It’d been a long time since I’d met a guy whose preferences lined up with mine. I could always find someone to top me on an app, but to really meet and connect with someone for more than an orgasm? I’d given up trying for that.
Not that I’d really get it from Noel either. He was going home soon. But the connection was there, and I had a feeling the sex would be fantastic, even if it was short-lived.
I just wasn’t sure it would be wise to fuck Noel when I worked for his parents. I mean, what if shit went sideways and Noel wanted me gone? It could get messy.
And I didn’t do messy. Not since Heather.
Our food arrived, and thankfully, the subject changed. Kevin talked about a new drag show he was putting together at the gay club, Glitter Balls, in Riverton. Maybe I should get back over there and try to meet someone again.
Someone who wasn’t Noel.
Dawson and Lyle talked shop about football season for a while, and I chimed in.
“That Harvey kid is looking good, even though he’s still young,” Lyle said.
Dawson nodded. “Sure is. He’s got some growing up to do, but I’ve got high hopes. His uncle stops by to watch practices sometimes.”
“The sheriff?” Lyle said with a chuckle. “No pressure, then.”
Dawson chuckled. “I know, right?”
“Oh, Dalton is a puppy dog,” Kevin said. “He’s besties with my brother. He’s dating this hot bad boy now. Axel Wilder.” Kevin looked at me. “Do you know him?”
“Axel?” I said in surprise. I hadn’t heard that name in a while. I thought he was a freshman when I was a senior. “That skinny kid with a bad attitude?”
“Not so skinny now.” Kevin pulled up his brother’s Facebook page to a photo of a group of guys hanging out. He held it out. “Axel’s the one with long hair and all the tats.”
I whistled low. “Well, hell. I’ve seen him around. Never would have matched him up to the kid from high school.”
“He grew up nice,” Evan said appreciatively as the phone got passed around.
“Hey now,” Dawson protested. “I’m sitting right here.”
Evan patted his arm. “You grew up nice, too. That’s why I let you sleep in my bed.”
“How very gracious of you,” Dawson said dryly.
“Oh, don’t pout,” Kevin said with a grin. “Evan was crazy about you from the day you met. He even tried to flirt with you.”
“Tried being the operative word,” Evan muttered, sounding a little embarrassed.
Dawson wrapped an arm around his shoulders and kissed his cheek. “Aw, babe, I’m sure you were adorable, even though I didn’t know you were trying to flirt.”
Evan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. You didn’t even notice me.”
“Well, not then. But soon enough.”
I’d heard some of the story. Apparently, Dawson had never been with a guy before Evan, and Evan wasn’t the smoothest operator, so his attempt at flirting went nowhere. But they’d become friends and eventually more when Dawson decided to teach Evan how to flirt.
Yeah, he coached himself right into the cute geek’s bed and never left.
It was an adorable love story. Made me a little jealous. I’d never had that kind of luck in the love department. Even with the few relationships I’d had, they’d been very pragmatic. We met at a bar or at a party, went on a few dates, and then…it ended.
No great romance had swept me off my feet and probably never would.
On that happy note, I called it a night and paid my share of the check.
I drove back to the farm. It was late, so everyone would probably be in bed. Probably for the best, because messy or not, I hadn’t been able to get Noel off my mind.
He’d burrowed under my skin, into my fantasies, and I couldn’t help wondering if the connection we shared might be the closest I’d ever come to what Lyle and Truman had or what Evan and Dawson shared.
Maybe it wouldn’t be forever. Maybe it’d be complicated, and I’d regret it.
But damn, I was so tired of going to bed alone.
I parked the pickup and trudged across the yard, walking through slushy, melty snow that would probably be gone by morning. I pulled out my key and quietly unlocked the back door, rubbing my feet on the mat before taking off my shoes and hanging up my coat.
I tiptoed into the kitchen…and startled at the sight of Noel at the table.
He jumped, too, hand flying to his chest. “Oh, geez. Don’t sneak up on me.”
“Didn’t mean to,” I said, gaze dropping to the pan where he was breaking up peanut brittle. “You’re still working?”
Noel picked up a handful of broken brittle and dumped it into a Tupperware. “I want to be free to work on other things tomorrow.”
I took a few steps closer, drawn to him and unable to resist. I stood, conflicted, burning for Noel and trying to fight it, as I watched him finish packing up the last of the brittle.
“Are you just going to watch me all night?” he asked lightly.
“I like watching you.”
He turned in his chair, eyes meeting mine. “I wasn’t sure you’d be home tonight.”
“Why not?”
“Thought you might hook up with someone…”
“Noel, there’s only one person I really want, and he’s sitting right here in this kitchen.”
His lips curled up, eyes sparking. It was the only warning I got before he surged up from his seat and kissed me hard.
His fingers threaded through my hair, holding tight, pulling a little, and I gasped as Noel nipped my bottom lip.
“Take me upstairs,” he murmured, “and let me show you how much better I can be than those fucking toys.”
I groaned, cock hard and aching, ass clenching, at the thought of Noel pushing inside me.
It might be a mistake, hooking up with the Grisolds’ son, but in that moment, I couldn’t care about anything but the taste of Noel’s tongue in my mouth and the sound of his voice, offering to make all my fantasies come true.