19. Ty
Chapter 19
Ty
I t was on Friday afternoon when Gabe called the team together in the glade, drawing Wayne from his wood chipper, Blaze from his trimmer, and Hudson from his axe. Ty was on duty as monitor and distributor of snacks and water and sunscreen, and had felt a little trapped, so he was glad for the pause in the work.
At first Ty thought Gabe was going to tell them they had another few hours to go, but instead he surprised them.
“We’re going to stop early,” he said. “Tonight’s the night the new guys get their phones. We’re all going to John Henton’s Tavern for dinner, so hit the showers.”
Hitting the showers was always a treat, though as Ty turned to Hudson, he knew they could not shower together, not if everybody was there. Still, it was sweet to bump elbows with Hudson, and be surprised, yet again, at how good the valley was to them.
As usual, Hudson looked a little glum, as if he didn’t believe that good things were still happening to them.
“You’ll need a phone,” said Ty, as they put away their tools. “And of course you’ll need my number.”
“Of course,” said Hudson. His expression brightened.
They ambled their way to their tent, and then to the showers, trading kisses in the shadow of the path, finally showing up in the parking lot along with the others on their team.
“Normally, we just take the guys who are getting new phones,” said Gabe. “But I figured it might be nice if the whole team went.”
“That’s fine,” said Ty.
He wasn’t going to argue in any case, just as long as he got to sit next to Hudson. Not just to be near him, but to make sure he had a good time, and didn’t slip into dark places where he believed all of this was some kind of trick.
He could totally understand why Hudson felt that way, and maybe in the back of his head, he kept imagining that it would all turn into some kind of sour joke, too. So he bumped Hudson’s shoulder again while they waited for everyone to pile into the truck.
Since it was such a fine night, he volunteered the two of them to ride in the back. Partly because it would be fun, and so he could once again weave his legs with Hudson’s and watch Hudson watching him through half-lowered lids while the truck’s speed created a sprightly, sweet summer breeze that swirled all around them.
Hudson held his hat in his hand and tapped his cowboy boot-shod foot against Ty’s, and smiled, like he was having a good time. But then, Hudson always seemed happier when on the move, with rubber wheels rolling beneath him and wind in his hair.
By the time they arrived in Farthing, Ty was ready for food and hopped out of the back of the truck almost before Gabe had properly parked it.
“You’ll sit next to me,” said Ty, coming up next to Hudson on the sidewalk. “I don’t know how crowded it will be.”
“Yes, sir,” said Hudson.
In spite of the gathering of their teammates around them, he quickly traced his fingers along the back of Ty’s neck, making him shiver.
They were a bit early for the Friday night crowd, so John Henton’s Tavern was mostly empty. Ty admired the western decor, from the wagon wheels on the walls to the red-checkered tablecloths. The sassy waitresses in their pleated skirts and large white aprons.
They were quickly seated at two tables pushed together and hastily assembled, with tablecloths and cutlery rolled into napkins.
“Hope this is okay for you fellas,” said the hostess. “I’ll be by with menus and water.”
She went away in a sashay of skirts, and while everyone’s attention was on her, Ty tugged Hudson to the seats along the wall, making sure they could sit together.
“The phones you’re getting are practically brand new,” said Blaze as he sat across from them. “You’ll hardly know they’re refurbed ones.”
“How much data?” asked Hudson.
“Six months,” said Wayne, as Gabe nodded his agreement with this fact. “Plenty to get started with.”
The waitress came by with menus and water, and Ty took the opportunity of the general hubbub to lean up against Hudson’s shoulder, as if there was only one menu and they had to share.
“All the food is good here,” said Gabe, flapping his menu open with a flourish. “But the burgers are out of this world.”
Burgers were fine by Ty. He ordered the sloppiest one they had, blue cheese and bacon, cheese fries, and a giant Coke.
Hudson ordered the same, and they smiled at each other so brightly that Ty hoped they weren’t giving themselves away. Though, what did it matter when Gabe and Blaze seemed to be an item? That, or Ty was reading them completely wrong.
Halfway through the meal, Gabe ordered a round of beer to celebrate with, and when the waitress brought over a big tray, Ty noticed there was an extra frosted mug.
“That’s for Leland Tate,” Gabe said. “He’ll be along in a minute.”
“The man himself,” said Blaze with a smile, lifting his mug of beer as Mr. Tate came over to them. “Here you go, sir,” he said.
Mr. Tate, his presence drawing every eye at the table, as well as those tables around him, took his beer and lifted it in a toast. He was tall and graceful, with broad shoulders and a way of standing there that told Ty if Mr. Tate handed out orders, he’d expect them to be obeyed without delay.
“To our men in Farthingdale Valley, and to our two newest recruits.” He drank a healthy swallow of beer and said, “Hudson and Ty, thank you for being part of our team this summer. Gabe said you are both hard workers, and very handy additions to have. And Ty, you’re looking pretty good. How are you feeling?”
“Fine, sir,” said Ty as every eye turned toward him. “Couldn’t be better.”
“That’s excellent to hear,” said Mr. Tate. “Here are your phones, and congratulations on making it to the two-week mark. We don’t have much of the summer to go, but it sure is good having you with us.”
He handed over a white plastic bag to Gabe, finished off his beer, and bid them good night. Ty watched him go, watched everyone move out of his way, out of respect.
“Here you are,” said Gabe. He pulled two sturdy boxes out of the plastic bag and handed them each one. “There’s a little card with a number to start your account,” he said. “You get six months of free data and after that, you have to pay. Let me know if you have any trouble with them, okay?”
Ty bent to open the box that held his gently used phone, then placed it on his knees to watch Hudson, who was opening his phone with careful fingers, his hands shaking a little when the gleaming black cell phone came into view. There was even a square strip of plastic to take off the front, making it seem more like a new phone than Ty had expected.
“It’s so thin,” said Hudson, holding the phone in his hand, his beer forgotten, the carrot cake he’d ordered forgotten. “Am I imagining that they’re so thin?”
“No,” said Ty. “They weren’t even this thin two years ago when I got arrested.” He held the phone to his chest and looked at Hudson. “Promise me the first person you’ll call is me.”
“I promise,” said Hudson, his brown eyes glowing as he looked at Ty.
“I know, I’m such a romantic,” said Ty, not really caring if they were overheard. “Totally ridiculous.”
“I don’t mind,” said Hudson. He placed one of his hands gently on Ty’s thigh, where no-one could see. “You make things good. You just do.”
After dinner, the two of them sat in the back together, smiling at each other in the darkness. Only halfway home, it began to rain, and Gabe stopped and made them all pile in the cab of the truck. Because who would want to ride home in the cold, wet rain?
Ty knew he wouldn’t have minded. He also didn’t mind sitting on Hudson’s lap all the way home, Hudson’s strong arms locked low on his waist.
When Gabe pulled into the gravel parking lot at the bottom of the switchbacks, it was pouring. Everyone tumbled out of the truck and raced for the mess tent, where movie night would commence.
“Shall we?” asked Ty.
He reached for Hudon’s hand and tugged on it. He’d meant to ask whether they should join everyone else, but Hudson led him toward their own tent, running them along the path as the rain came down and their clothes became drenched. So evidently the answer was no, Hudson wanted them to be on their own.
“It’ll be cold,” said Hudson once they were inside.
Before Ty could ask what he meant, Hudson began to take off his cowboy boots and hat, his damp jeans, his rain-speckled shirt.
“But we’ll make it quick.”
“You’re going with me?” asked Ty, a bit dumbfounded that Hudson understood what he’d rather do.
His skin didn’t feel itchy, and he didn’t need to walk in the rain, but to be out there with Hudson, naked to the skin? Yes, and then some.
He stripped quickly to catch up with Hudson, then smiled as he slipped on flip-flops, waiting while Hudson found his. Then, hand in hand, they stepped out into the icy cold rain.
Ty lifted his face to the sky, smiling as the rain danced along his forehead and streaked through his hair. He felt cool all over, except for his side, where Hudson stood close, echoing his movements.
Hudson’s skin was silvery in the ambient light, his dark hair thick with rain, and all of him silky. Ty ran his hands up Hudson’s arm, his chest, wherever he could reach.
“We won’t need a shower,” said Hudson. He pulled Ty into his arms and kissed him soundly. The feel of those strong arms around him, warm against the rain, was amazing, and the taste of raindrops on Hudson’s mouth was sweet. “Unless you want one.”
Ty was content where he was, the connection between their bodies warm against the cool. Then the rain kicked up a notch, coming down colder and harder until they were drenched through and shivering.
“Let’s go in,” said Ty.
They didn’t have far to go to make it to their tent as the wind picked up, sending the rain sideways. Once inside, Ty picked up a towel and handed one to Hudson, who nuzzled Ty as he dried his hair.
Ty was one step away from getting into dry clothes when he paused and looked at Hudson, and listened to the rain coming down.
“Shall we join the others?” asked Ty, though he knew the answer was no. He’d rather it was no, so they could stay in the tent like it was a cave and pretend the rest of the world simply did not exist.
“I don’t think so,” said Hudson.
He was standing there naked, the skin on his shoulders prickling with cold, drops from his hair sparkling like silver. He was so beautiful that Ty wanted to stare at him for hours. But maybe Hudson would rather get warm, and so that’s what Ty was going to do.
“I don’t think so either,” said Ty. “Why don’t we just go to bed early?”
“Bed?” asked Hudson, his eyebrows going up as he placed a hand on his chest, as if shocked and surprised at this suggestion.
Which made Ty laugh as he came forward, kissing Hudson on the mouth, on his cheek.
“You and me,” he said. “Let me make you warm all over.”
Tugging on Hudon’s hand, Ty led him to the bed, moved the towels out of the way, and urged Hudson to lie down, then crawled on top of him, straddling his thighs.
He kissed Hudson’s belly and watched it jump, and saw the moment when Hudson figured out what Ty was going to do. Which was when he put his hands behind his head and looked at Ty with half-lowered lids.
“You’re amazing,” Hudson said, low, whisper soft. “I’ll do you next.”
“I think you’re going to be too wiped out,” said Ty with a low chuckle. “Just relax and listen to the rain.”
Enjoying the feel of Hudson’s skin, his long muscles beneath his thighs, was its own pleasure. As was listening to the rain and bending low to inhale the scent of Hudson’s skin. To watch Hudson’s skin twitch when Ty kissed it. To watch his cock come to life as Ty blew on it, up and down, and then licked it long and slow.
Hudson became hard, fast. Ty smiled as he moved low and took Hudson’s cock into his mouth and gave pleasure to a man who had struggles, just as Ty did. Who was scared and didn’t want to get hurt and yet was laid out, a feast for Ty’s gaze, trusting Ty with his whole body.
“Do you like it fast or slow?” asked Ty.
“Anything, anything,” said Hudson, swallowing hard as though his throat was dry.
When Ty bent to take Hudson’s cock in his mouth again, Hudson’s back arched, and he made a sound low in his throat as though he were in pain.
“You okay?” asked Ty, pausing, still staying low, looking up Hudon’s body, waiting for the answer.
“Want it to last,” said Hudson with a gasp.
“I’ve got some mouth, huh?” asked Ty, and then he wished he’d not tried to joke, because that made Hudson laugh, and his cock go a bit soft.
But that meant Ty could do it all over again, and so he did, loving on Hudson until his body stiffened and he came in Ty’s mouth. Then Hudson laughed again and reached down to tug Ty into his embrace.
“Damn it,” said Hudson, with a little growl, as though he was on the verge of being angry. But then he smiled and plastered a huge kiss on Ty’s temple and drew up the bedclothes to cover them both.
“Rain’ll never be the same,” he said. “Not the sound. Not the feel. Not any of it.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” asked Ty as he turned into Hudson’s embrace, star-fishing his body across Hudson’s.
“Yeah,” said Hudson with a breathy sigh. “A very good thing.”