Chapter 10
CHAPTER
TEN
Kendall
I floated through the next day with cartoon eyes—at least that’s what Roger said when I ran into him in the pharmacy, shopping for the same things I was.
“Aw, shit, it’s happening, huh?”
“Lower your voice,” I said to him, unable to hide my smile. “The possibility has been agreed upon.”
Roger rubbed his hands together. “All right, all right. You’re gonna need the good stuff. Water-based is best—”
“It hasn’t been that long,” I said. Then a thought occurred to me. “It has been that long with someone who, uh—”
“Was born closer to the two thousands than the late nineteen hundreds?”
I blew out a breath and dropped my head. “Yeah. That. The last guy I dated was older than me,” I said. “What else should I know?”
“Did you two talk about role preferences?”
I want to ride your fireman pole. “We did, yep.”
“Good, because not all guys are into penetrative—”
“We cleared that up, thanks. Anything else?” As much as I loved Rog and Arnie, they were into some interesting, advanced shit that I didn’t think would come up with Francis, at least not yet. God, what if he expected other things that I had no clue about?
“There’s a whole lot of things. Like, is he into toys, is he into kink—”
“I think those are topics for later negotiations. Thanks, though.”
“Sure, sure. I gotchoo.” He looked me up and down. “You got something nice to wear tonight?”
“I… maybe? I was going to wear my black Levi’s, a collared shirt—”
“Dude. No slacks? You got dress shoes?”
“Only for my dress uniforms, and I hate them.”
“Fine, fine. It’s casual, just no blue jeans, got it? Now, how are you for manscaping? You got a good shaver?”
“You mean…” I looked down. Oh God. “That sounds miserable.”
Rog held up his hands. “Hey, man. He probably knows what he’s getting. You’ll figure it out.”
“What? Come on, I’m not like Sasquatch or anything.”
“Can I help you find something? Were you looking for Dr. Squatch? That’s on aisle ten.”
We turned to find a young woman in a red vest stocking the shelves with what looked like… Is that a prostate massager? In the CVS?
I was really feeling my age.
“Thanks, no, we’re good.”
I turned back to find Roger biting his lip and holding in laughter.
“You suck.” I had nothing more mature to say.
“I do, thank you.” He smiled smugly.
“I just don’t want it to be weird,” I said. “He’s so much younger than I am.”
Roger rolled his eyes. “Like that matters. He’s not hung up on it, is he?”
“He likes to tease me, but I gather that’s because he can tell I’m sensitive about it.”
“It’s really not a big deal, Kenny baby. If he was weirded out by it, he wouldn’t be cooking for you and asking you to be his date for the dance. Come on, get what you need and get your head on straight. You bringing him flowers?”
I grinned. “Nah. Something better.” I had another couple of stops to make. “I’ll see you over there?”
Rog’s grin faded a bit. “Yeah, but just FYI, Derek asked us to keep things chill tonight. His mom doesn’t know about the three of us dating, and he doesn’t want to freak her out. So maybe don’t say anything?”
“Of course,” I said, patting his shoulder. He was really concerned about it. “Have you met her yet? She’s great.”
“Not yet. He said he’d introduce us to her tonight, but he’s not ready to tell her. We have to take turns dancing with him.” He rolled his eyes, and I had to fight not to laugh.
“That’s not so bad. Gives you a chance to watch both your guys, huh?”
Roger’s mouth fell open, and he swallowed hard. “Yeah, you’re right. I think, um…” He turned back around, grabbed another bottle of lube and box of condoms, scanned the shelf, and grabbed one of the prostate massagers. Then he grabbed a second one. “Okay, I think I’m ready.”
“After you,” I said, chuckling at his attempts to be cool when the same young girl called us over to her check stand.
“I can take you right here.”
“Go ahead, Rog. She can take you.”
He glared at me, and I turned away to wipe the tears out of my eyes.
I had the hiccups again. When it was my turn, he started asking her questions about whether these were the top brands they sold, and if she knew how many reviews they had.
I stomped on his foot, and he pressed his lips together, squeaked out a thank you, and limped out of the store at my side.
“She’s just a kid,” I said.
“Oh, come on, I’m sure she’s sold freakier shit before. Relax.”
We bro-hugged and went to our trucks. “See you over there in a bit.”
Roger tossed his bag inside and rubbed his hands together. “It’s going to be a great night.”
I hoped he was right.
I stopped off at Nuts and Bolts to pick up the gift I’d had made for Francis, and while I was there, I put together a tool bag for him.
It was more complete than the stuff I’d given him.
They asked if I wanted the bag personalized, so I had them embroider “Saucy” on it.
Cheesy, I know, but I wanted to shower him with gifts.
I never stopped thinking of him. It was even more intense now than when I’d first realized he was my new neighbor.
After introducing him to my crew last night and having to tear myself away from our kisses when he went for my dick, I’d done what he said he was going to do.
I’d spent way too long in the shower, working myself over and going to sleep with a smile on my face.
We’d talked so much about everything. Now that I knew he wanted to take things to the next level, I thought of all the things I didn’t know yet.
I’d shared with him all the biggest bits of my baggage, and he hadn’t balked.
He’d been engaged and intrigued by my animals, even asking to touch Richard Burton.
That shocked me, but it also made me relax a bit. He hadn’t made excuses and left.
This was something real, and my romantic heart was so full of joy. At my age, to find something so good felt like a miracle. I just hoped I wasn’t overlooking anything or missing any red flags.
I didn’t want there to be any.
I was driving back to my place to clean up when my phone started buzzing.
“Hey, it’s Berto. Are you on your way back?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
He exhaled into the phone, and my heart thudded to a stop.
“I got here a little bit ago, and everyone’s okay, but two things…
One of the lamps in with the rhinos is out, and I don’t see any replacement bulbs, and when I was in there, I noticed that Elizabeth Taylor had a cut on her tail.
Only a little blood, but I looked around and found a piece of metal that I think was the culprit. ”
I’d already turned around. “Yeah, I don’t have any more of those bulbs. I forgot to order some. I’ll run over to Miller’s Point and grab one. Is she okay?”
“Oh yeah. Didn’t need stitches or anything, I just wanted to let you know. I’ll work on filing the metal down or covering it so she doesn’t do it again.”
“Thanks, man.” Always something. I was beginning to think I should have waited until I was completely retired to start the sanctuary, but I’d gotten tired of waiting for something I’d wanted my whole life. “I’ll be there in about forty-five minutes.”
Shit. It was already five. I didn’t want to be late.
In fact, I’d hoped to be early, in case Francis needed any help, which he’d told me not to worry about, but still.
As his… date—was it too early to say his boyfriend?
—I wanted to support him in everything. Would he continue to be so understanding if me being late became a regular thing?
“All right. Don’t worry, I’ve got feeding handled. I know you have your date to get ready for. The place next door looks amazing. There are tiki torches all around the back patio and the pool. The music’s already going.”
“Thanks, Berto. See you soon.”
Forty-five minutes turned into ninety when they had to check the back for more bulbs, and then the owner of the reptile supply store talked my ear off about a customer’s ball python that needed to be rehomed, and I had to remind him that I wasn’t taking any snakes, but that I’d check with my assistant Alberto.
Then Mom called.
“I want you to know that I’m fine, everything’s fine, but I’m going to be having a procedure tomorrow…”
It took a bit for her to get to the part where she let me know it was a routine colonoscopy, and her best friend Carla was going to take her. They took each other to all the medical stuff. My heart took longer to settle down than for her to finish the story.
“I just wanted to let you know,” she said. “You always want to know my medical stuff.”
“No, I’m glad, thank you. I’m very glad you called. If it’s something you need me for, you know I’m happy to come out, I just need a little notice. Sorry, I’m just getting ready for a thing tonight.”
“Of course, honey. You got a hot date?”
I laughed, the relief helping to loosen my shoulders. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Tell me all about him. Or her?”
“Him. Francis.”
I hit traffic going through town as someone’s ancient truck had broken down in the intersection in front of the fire station.
The crew on shift was out there helping him get it out of the street, and they waved me off when I started to pull over.
That gave me plenty of time to fill my mom in on the basics about my neighbor… and love interest.
“That sounds wonderful. You’ll have to send me pictures.”
“I will. Good luck tomorrow, okay? And if you’re not up to it, please have Carla call me?”
“I’ll be fine, dear. It’s just routine. You’ll need to get yours in two and a half years, isn’t that right? You’re turning forty-eight this fall.”
“Yeah, Mom. Thanks for the reminder.” More people giving me shit about my age was not helping.
“You’re welcome. Have fun dancing the night away.”
“Love you, Mom. Good night.”
I parked the truck next to Berto’s Honda Ridgeline and turned the engine off. The music was indeed on, and I could hear it through my windows. It was already six-thirty, and I hadn’t showered yet. And I needed to press my shirt.
I found Berto in the barn.
“Oh, good. Here, let me do this. You go get ready.”
“Thank you. I hate being late.”