Chapter Seven
Schuyler found no way to shake the teenage feeling; the hyper-fixation of insatiable thirst his crush on Issac awakened.
The feeling left him antsy, his crotch throbbing, his mind on fire with a barrage of what ifs: What if he does come back?
What if I make a fool of myself? A twenty-year gap meant they were two different generations in a world which continued to evolve quicker than he cared for.
Can I relate to his experiences? Can he relate to mine? Is he emotionally mature enough?
The physical only went so far. Youth was for affairs which lasted a year and ended without a word.
For passionate lovers who never exchanged names.
For wasting six months on toxic ass men because the dick was next level.
Schuyler felt too old to return to playing those games.
Despite the unending desire to be a freewheeling, no-strings-attached love machine, as he once enjoyed, he preferred the anchor of a relationship.
His marriage confirmed at least that, if nothing else.
And without one to ground him he would lose precious years to fuck-bois, questing after those who did not return his affection, or dodging those whose interests outmatched his own.
He’d be wrapped up in endless, repetitive conversations on apps, freely giving his time and energy away to anyone who swiped right.
Sky struggled for weeks on nailing down what he actually wanted. And the answer arrived to him in front of the feminine dryness remedies as he finished stocking the Luna Magica Rapida, a moon-water-based lubricant.
I guess I do want a relationship.
As with most a-ha moments in his life, he acknowledged it, and then went on with his day.
All it meant was that, as gaga as he felt in the moment for the young man, Issac was not for him.
Just a fun distraction All it meant was as gaga over Issac as he felt in the moment, the young man was not for him. A fun distraction.
But his ass. That amazing, delectable ass. I hope it’s furry.
Lazily he continued stocking, pushing the cart through the shop, replacing items, straightening, but all the while daydreaming of beach sex with Issac.
Who’d come in from the from the surf. Schuyler could taste the salty sea on his skin.
They would kiss in the blazer of the burning sun.
Sky’s fingers tugging at Issac’s purple, overfilled speedo
“So, help me, I’m going to slug you.”
Schuyler stopped the cart and focused on the tanned, grey-goateed face in front of him. Beau exhaled loudly, his eyes narrowed, annoyed. He’d forgotten Beau was working in the shop.
“What?” Schuyler asked.
“Girrrl, are you even payin’ attention to what you’re doing?
” Beau moved around him, fixing the display of items Schuyler had put away in his dreamy wake.
There was a certain clean and orderly aesthetic Beau insisted upon.
“You sloppy-ass bottom, I swear to the Goddesses. You left the Rouge Me Right nipple rouges a hot damn mess. How do you expect them to sell? They took forever to make.”
“No one, and I say with this a great amount of certainty, rouges their nipples anymore, Beau.”
“Fancy witches with good taste and a little kink in their step do,” he snapped back. “Not everything is for the Tourists.”
He was not incorrect, while a lot of what was sold in the shop was geared to the Tourists, they also served the residents of Bairwick.
Some witches ran two shops, one on Main and then one in town proper.
Beau didn’t have the disposition, nor patience, to run two businesses so they catered to everyone in a single store.
The items intended for them were sitting out in plain sight—a Witches’ favorite hiding place—but went unnoticed by Tourists.
“And these Sex Demon Summoning Kits, look at this display!” Beau shrieked at the haphazard way they’d been stocked. “C’mon Monkey, do you know how hard it was working with that damn Demon/Witch Coalition to get these approved for over-the-counter use? Where is your head at?”
Schuyler apologized, but he had no real excuse.
“Maybe you should take your lunch. And after, walk your happy little ass up to Endora’s Snack Shack and get me those little gummy cauldrons I love, and a Strawberry Frizzie.
Please and thanks. Okay then, on we go.” He ushered Schuyler away from the cart and toward the door.
“And don’t come back till you’re done being half-dazed about some twink. ”
Beau refused to listen to any counter-argument and Schuyler was out in the street before he even realized.
But his uncle wasn’t wrong. He turned right and started up Main.
The street was bustling with Saturday activity.
A couple of blocks up was the candy shop and he enjoyed being in the sun and air watching the Tourists, who were plentiful, milling about.
Influencers running around making content about the shops and the vibe of Bairwick.
Schuyler put a little bounce in his step as he approached the lime green building that was Endora’s Snack Shack.
Next to it was an English style Pub and Wally’s Wacky Tackies, a small thrift shop.
He had not been this far up on Main since he’d been home.
In front of the candy shop was a small collection of benches.
As Schuyler drew closer, he noticed a familiar face.
Issac sat on one of them, looking at his phone, eating recently purchased candy from the bag in his lap.
Should he? The desire to approach the young man, to make a move was strong.
He went right past the store to get here, if he wanted to see me, he’d have stopped by.
He couldn’t argue the logic. He reached the spot where it was either walk into Endora’s or go to the seating area.
I can’t just approach him. I’d be that old guy who creeped him out.
Youth was for making moves like that. Youth was for being brave.
Hey… was that another read? I’m still young, you ass! Just narrate the story please.
Schuyler, in a bid to prove the bold and fearless swagger he once bandied about still remained, he turned toward the seating area.
“Issac? Hi,” he said, stopping in front of the bench. “How are you?”
It took the beautiful youth a moment to realize someone recognized him. He gave Sky a half-smile as he hurriedly finished his mouth full of candy before saying, “Hi,” then added, “Schuyler, right?”
“Yeah. I didn’t think you’d be back to our lovely town.”
“Ug, I mean… but these gummy wands are so good.” He offered his bag up, and Schuyler politely refused.
“About to get some candy for my uncle. He’s working with me today.”
“Oh, that’s who that was,” Issac mumbled, nodding to himself as he looked around, eating the phallic shaped gummy wands.
Schuyler found himself uncertain. Had Issac been watching him? What should he say next? Something funny? Ask how’s he coming along with the spell? Ask if Issac would sit on his face and wiggle right there in the midday sun?
Or say good-bye and move on since the young man appeared aloof.
No, he shouldn’t press his luck. From his posture to the avoidant stare, everything radiating off the young man screamed defense and disinterest. The conversation was at a dead end.
“Well… okay, good luck with your spell. I’m gonna grab some candy. ”
Yep, walk away, walk away. Best thing to do.
“Oh?” Issac snapped out of his malaise, literally jumping up when Schuyler turned away. He rushed up next to him within a second. “So, you said something about a library last night? I’ve looked everywhere, and there’s no library around here, just a bookstore with a very bitchy lady working in it.”
“Aida,” Schuyler confirmed, “yeah, she’s generally a C-word to everyone. Her husband left her for her own brother, and it pissed her off. She challenged both of them to a duel, and then lost, spectacularly, which left her even more unpleasant.”
There were butterflies on brooms in Schuyler’s stomach, and he wanted to melt, instead he motioned for Issac to follow him. “Walk with me?” he asked, moving past Endora’s and up the street, leading Issac across the median and onto the other side before continuing.
Schuyler stopped at the end of the block. “Natural Witches wish to be left in peace. What do you see?” He motioned to the alley they rested in front of.
Issac looked curiously down the darkened alley way.
“This a trick? It’s an alley. It’s giving ‘gross,’ like drug-den filthy.
No one’s emptied the trash. Why’s there all that broken down furniture?
Do people live there?” Issac backed up and looked down the street, not a speck of garbage littered any of Main.
Schuyler chuckled, “Don’t really want to walk down there, do you?”
“No, I’ve this weird feeling-”
“Like a need to look away?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a lie.” Schuyler walked into the alley with Issac close behind. He heard Issac gasp audibly when they passed through the illusion and stepped out onto Robard Street, the main strip of Bairwick proper. “This is Bairwick where your uncle grew up. Where I grew up.”
“Looks like every other town,” he stated plainly as he glanced around. “Where are the bitches on brooms? People in their robes, you know, the Harry-”
Schuyler threw his hand up, cutting him off.
“Shut up with that mess. Bairwick is like any other town except we’re witches.
You will see some of them walking around in their full regalia.
I mean, the Prestegords on my street are always in their full Gandalf attire: big hats, flowy robes, and those damn oversized staffs.
Ridiculous. But that is what Bairwick is—a safe haven.
A place for us to live and be free as we are. ”
Schuyler started walking as Issac kept pace.
“But you’re witches, you could easily take care of anyone fucking with you.”
“Because we can, doesn’t mean we should.
Hatred can spread among the Tourists easily, as we’ve experienced before.
A lot of them are itching to burn a witch, even if they don’t realize it; it’s in their DNA.
Now if anyone comes here looking for trouble, we’re going to handle business, but until that time, we remain chill. ”
They walked down a couple of streets which Schuyler made a point to have Issac take a note of until they were at the library.
“Here,” Schuyler grabbed his wallet and removed his dog-eared library card, “take this. If they ask any questions, they can call me. Any of the amazing ladies in there can help get you what you need for your spell.” He held out his hand, the laminated card between his fingers.
When Issac reached out, their fingers touched briefly.
The butterflies on brooms in Schuyler’s raced around like shooting stars, making his stomach flip.
“It’s really nice of you to help me,” Issac tucked the library card in his pocket.
Schuyler expected him to leave after that, but Issac lingered, shuffling on his feet. “You’re welcome of course. Come by the shop any time.” Schuyler felt like he should go, but neither of them moved.
Do I say something? Do I not? This guy is hard to read. Is he waiting for me?
“Yeah, well, okay.” Issac said, seemingly reluctant to move, twisting in his spot—until he groaned and threw up his hands. “Fuck, okay, are you free to hang out tonight? Maybe you could help me some more with the spell.”
The butterflies were doing an array of swoopy aerial maneuvers. “I have dinner plans with a friend, but that’s early. So, I’m free later tonight.”
Issac handed Schuyler his phone. “Add yourself, and I’ll text you later.
See ya.” Issac planted an unexpected kiss on Schuyler’s cheek and bounced away up the library steps.
When he was out of sight, Schuyler touched the tender spot where he’d been kissed.
A sweet gesture, which made his heart beat rapidly.
He felt a little flushed, a little lightheaded.
And this time it’s not caused by poppers.
Still reeling a bit from the experience, he smiled at everyone he passed on his walk back. Was Issac hard to read or was Schuyler out of practice? A question which puzzled him until he reached the shop, where he realized he’d forgotten Beau’s candy.