Chapter 28 #2
When Kitt realized Austin planned to drive, he grabbed two more beers for the road.
Austin took it as some sort of encouragement that his sexy boyfriend needed to be drunk to be seen with him in public.
Well, maybe it wasn’t that, but the thought did cross Austin’s mind, and he chuckled.
If Kitt needed a good buzz, it was fine.
Austin didn’t say a word, he was just relieved he kept the refrigerator stocked with the required Bud Light for times just like this.
Austin had made plans for this outing a couple of days ago, but hadn’t had the nerve to suggest it until tonight.
Even when he’d brought it up, his heart had been thumping like mad in his chest, and he had covered his face with shaving cream to hide any reaction that might show.
He knew from experience, the more they shied away from this, the more people would speculate.
They needed to be out as the couple Austin told the world they were.
The no-touching thing would be hard. They needed to act like a couple.
There was a fine line there, but Austin needed to walk it tonight, and so did Kitt.
If Kitt needed to get tipsy to help make it happen, then Austin would DD it tonight, and maybe get in a peck or two in front of the others, claiming this man as his.
Because without a doubt, Austin knew the reporters and photographers were still in town, trying to be incognito.
This night out would-be front-page tabloid news tomorrow morning.
“Babe, what constitutes a PDA?” Austin asked driving down the dirt road leading to the main highway into town. He turned on the local country classic radio station, the one Kitt liked the most. Kitt drank the beer down in one gulp before answering.
“No touchin’, no kissin’. Stay an appropriate amount of space from me.
” Kitt answered clearly and efficiently, reaching over to search the stations.
The move confirmed how nervous he was as he went through station after station, not really listening to the music, just pushing buttons.
After a minute more of eternal scan, Austin stopped him by entwining their fingers and pushing the radio button back to Kitt’s favorite station with his index finger.
“If I can’t touch you all night, at least let me hold your hand now.” Austin brought Kitt’s knuckles up to his lips and placed a soft kiss on the back of his hand. “I love you. It’s gonna be all right. I promise.”
“There’s no way you know that.” Kitt turned to look out the window into the night as they drove along the darkened highway. Austin could see a small smile on Kitt’s face through the reflection in the dark window. The smile didn’t match the statement, and Austin hoped it was a possible joke.
“I do because no matter what happens tonight, I’m bringin’ you home, lyin’ with you in my bed, makin’ love to you and wakin’ up in the morning with you in my arms. So no matter what happens, it’s all gonna be all right in the end.”
Kitt didn’t say another word. The smile stuck, so did the quiet, but he was calmer even as Austin pulled into a front parking space. “You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” Kitt got out and looked around the lot. Austin came to the front of the truck and waited, watching Kitt take the full minute looking at the other vehicles parked around them. Finally, perhaps a little reluctantly, Kitt came to stand in front of Austin.
“After you, babe.”
“No name callin’,” Kitt said, immediately amending the rule as he stepped past Austin to walk straight inside.
As Kitt hit the front door, slowly every head in the place turned his way.
The jukebox played, but other than that, the noise in the room slowly died off as Austin came in the front door to stand directly behind Kitt.
There was no PDA, but he stood as close to him as he could without touching and stared back at everyone.
He pointed at a table and touched Kitt on the back.
“How about that booth in the corner?” It broke the silence, but not the focus.
People openly stared. Austin vaguely remembered some of the faces from back in the day as they passed, but Kitt had to know them all.
Yet, no one acknowledged him. It was like they didn’t see him while staring directly at him.
Austin, on the other hand, was watched like the celebrity he was trying not to be.
Every girl in the place looked at him as he walked through the restaurant.
Much to their clear vocal regret, Kitt took the side of the booth facing them and Austin sat with his back to the room.
“Well, that wasn’t so bad.” Austin grabbed a menu from behind the napkin dispenser.
“Whatever. I think that was about the most awkward thing I’ve ever done in my life.” Kitt stared at Austin as if he’d grown another head as they walked in.
“You haven’t been in my shoes the last ten years, that felt almost normal,” Austin said, reading the menu.
He looked up and saw Kitt still staring at him and reached over to hand him a menu.
Kitt took it, but laid it down, not looking at it.
A perky little waitress came over to the table, handing Kitt a beer with two waters.
“Hey, Kitt. I talked to Kylie. She says she’s back at school now and everything’s calmed down. I’m glad all that died down. It was crazy around here, but the tips were great! What can I get you to drink, Mr. Grainger?”
Austin wanted to jump up and hug this waitress. Whoever she was to Kylie, Austin was forever in her debt for approaching the table like a normal, reasonable human being.
“Call me Austin, and I’ll have a Bud Light, please,” Austin said, looking her directly in the eyes. He gave the grin he’d been taught to give. It didn’t matter the grin felt awkward on his face. He’d been told the ladies loved it, and he loved this waitress, so she got the grin.
To her credit, she did stare at him for a long minute, smacking her gum, before she began to fan herself. “Whew, you sure are good lookin’. Do you know what you want for dinner yet?”
Austin looked over at Kitt, but the waitress answered for him.
“He always gets the T-bone, medium, baked potato, no sour cream, green beans. Right, Kitt?”
Kitt gave a nod, and Austin smiled bigger.
“I’ll have the same but add his sour cream to mine. I love the stuff.” Austin dropped the menu back behind the napkin dispenser, grinning at Kitt.
“All right then, I’ll be back with your Bud Light in a bit.”
“Bring me another.” Kitt lifted his beer. She raised her eyebrows but stayed quiet, nodding once before she left them alone.
“The décor hasn’t changed much over the last fifteen years. Still very nineteen seventies up in here. You come here a lot?” Austin asked.
“I used to. Before you moved in.” Kitt’s eyes left Austin’s, and he scanned the room. Austin had no idea what Kitt was seeing, but his expression grew harder, and Austin didn’t like it at all.
“Babe, pay attention to me, no one else. I’m your date,” Austin said, pulling Kitt’s attention back to him.
“No ‘babe’ tonight, Austin,” Kitt immediately responded, looking directly at Austin.
“I’m sorry but stay focused on me. Ignore everything else, okay?
” Austin nodded his head trying to get Kitt’s agreement.
“Trust me, if you get comfortable with this, so will they. They’re pickin’ up what you’re puttin’ out there, and it’s tension and judgment.
Let it go. We’re a couple. Couples eat together. ”
Austin worried about Kitt. He didn’t let him too far from his sight, and anytime anything was brought up about them, Austin dodged it and moved Kitt away from the question.
He also kept Kitt too busy at night to watch the news or surf the net.
He didn’t want Kitt stumbling across all the gossip and accusations being flung around about him.
It was clear the world thought Kitt had cheated on Austin with Fisker.
It was absurd, but it was the only way the reporter had to spin the story without looking like a sleazebag for exposing Kitt.
It concerned Austin; he’d even reached out to Sean to make sure he was good.
That had been one of the most interesting conversations he’d ever had.
Austin went into the conversation jealous and testy, but Fisker was loving all the attention of his new fame.
Fisker was fine being considered the man Austin’s lover cheated on him with, and his social life couldn’t have been any better.
What bothered Austin the most was Kitt’s staff.
A little more than half ended up walking out.
It took a couple of days, but six out of ten left the farm.
Kitt also got a few cancellations on scheduled insemination gigs he’d had set up in the area, and two of the largest farms pulled their hay baling from Kitt.
No matter how Austin tried, he couldn’t shield Kitt from those kinds of things, but Mike worked his magic and got Kitt focused on Austin’s farm.
They were going to become a shorthorn breeding farm.
It would definitely require Kitt start an artificial insemination program with the new cows and heifers arriving.
Mike also moved his range cattle over with Kitt’s, combining them, helping to keep the integrity of the new breed stock intact.
Every bit of this was done to prevent Kitt from being able to take a minute to breathe and realize everything he’d lost because of Austin.
The beer was put in front of him, and Austin smiled a thank you. Kitt drank his first one down, and a replacement was put in his hand.