3. Kai
Chapter three
Kai
Leaving the boutique at sunset after changing to a cream linen shirt and matching shorts, I see there’s a pizza place across Main Street, but we turn right and cross a side street to the bar called Pints and Pool.
The temperature doesn’t feel as though it has dropped much in the hour since I stepped foot in Foggy Basin.
Ezra and Avery continue their discussion about fabrics and I fall into step beside Olly. He’s not as talkative, but still friendly, and I’m glad to know Ezra won’t be the only person I know in town. Granted, I have met a farmer and mechanic from my few hours here before.
“Missing Hawai’i in this heat?” Olly asks as he holds the door for us to enter, letting the cool air wash over me.
“It does rarely hit ninety degrees there,” I comment, waiting for him to walk in before we follow Ezra to the bar. I have a feeling I’m going to be having a lot of conversations about the weather. “But I hear this is a dry heat. Less tropical.”
Olly nods and we step up to the bar beside the others, with him wrapping his partner from behind, their bodies aligned from head to toe.
Looking around the half-full establishment, I don’t see anyone bothered by the two men showing affection.
I feel a rush of queer joy that this small town is possibly as accepting as Ezra promised.
Even in cities, you got idiots who thought two men holding hands was a problem. Hopefully the small town was too polite for that.
“What’ll you have?” The bartender asks and I subtly check him out. He’s tall and bearded, and I immediately think of my farmer. Well not my farmer…
“Kai?” Ezra asks to get my attention. He’s blinking at me with a small smile and I realize my mind wandered. He probably thinks it was about the bartender. “Foggy Basin has a local brewery and a new meadery, which I highly suggest.”
“Don’t know if I’ve ever had mead,” I comment and turn to the bartender. “What do you suggest?”
“We’ve got Celestial Cask’s wildflower honey mead and spiced mead in now. I like the spiced one, but I suggest starting with the classic honey mead for your first.”
“Sounds good, thanks.”
“Ooh, me too,” Ezra says.
“Me three,” Avery nods in agreement and we all look at Olly.
He shakes his head and requests something else, “I’ll have the Foggy Basin Brewing Company’s lager, thanks.”
“Coming right up,” the bartender raps the polished wood bar with his knuckles and turns to fill our glasses.
Facing the room, I take in the rustic decor and handful of pool tables. There’s also darts in one corner and I hear country music playing from speakers. It’s clean and I notice a rainbow in one window, so I feel welcome.
“Nice place.”
“Isn’t it?” Ezra replies and points toward the back door. “They have camping spots out back and rentals upstairs. I was going to suggest it before you said the pull-out couch would work.”
“If you feel like staying longer, it could be an option,” Olly adds as our drinks are set in front of us.
Taking a sip, I hum at the sweet flavor. “This is delicious!”
“Enjoy,” the bartender tells us and moves to a new customer before I can ask his name. He’s probably straight, anyway.
“That’s Nate, he owns the place,” Ezra tells me as we move to an open table.
“Oh?” I perk up. I love a self-sufficient man.
“With his partner, Kit,” Ezra adds and I deflate.
So he isn’t straight, but he’s taken. I was thinking he might be a nice distraction from my farmer fantasy.
Well, it was more than fantasy, since I gave him a blow job, but the idea of Hayes had been blown up to so much more in my mind.
It was highly possible he wasn't as tall or handsome as I remembered.
An internet rabbit hole one night led me to find one picture of Hayes online from his high school football days.
He only had a bit of facial hair then, and no cowboy hat or jeans, sadly.
Maybe it’s better I don’t see Hayes again and ruin the illusion I have of him.
No one can live up to the memory I’ve built him up to be.
No, I’m here for work. Not play.
“Ezra, tell me about your new line?” I asked to get the conversation rolling.
It’s the right thing to say, and Ezra lights up. He tells me about the concept and vibes he’s going for, and I get my phone out of my pocket to take notes. If I’m going to help him build his social media presence, I need to start planning.
While I have my phone on the table, I also take pictures of my drink, the decor, Ezra with his hands and face animated, and have Olly take a selfie with us all using his longer arm. I’m in the middle of thinking up hashtags and tagging them on my socials when the sound of the door opens and closes.
“Might get busy soon,” Ezra comments. “We should order some food.”
“Yeah, there’s a baseball game tonight,” Olly adds, and I look up to see a giant TV tuned to show a baseball field. I’m not into sports, except surfing, but I get the appeal of gathering to enjoy it together.
Looking toward the bar to see what’s going on over there, I see there’s two men in plaid, short-sleeve shirts with the taller one in a tan cowboy hat.
His ass looks amazing in tight jeans, one pocket worn from the wallet he has tucked there.
A wild thought has me wanting to replace the wallet with my hand and I clear my throat.
“What kind of food do they have?” Avery asks.
“Oh, your usual bar food,” Ezra answers. “Filling but not overly complex.”
The men finish ordering and turn to face the room, laughing and looking toward the TV by the pool tables. The shorter man is handsome, of Asian descent, and is wearing shorts over sandals. His clothes match the weather, but he’s instantly forgettable when I see the man beside him.
Broad shoulders, a thick beard and manicured mustache, and that same tan hat I remember frame the face I thought I’d exaggerated. He’s hot in a rugged, lumberjack way. His arms are bare, covered in hair over tanned skin. Not light brown like me, but darkened by working in the sun every day.
Hayes is standing across the room from me.
What are the odds? Considering it’s a small town and we’re in one of the only places to get a drink, maybe not that low. Still. Wild. Would he be interested in a round two?
“Order a couple appetizers to share,” Ezra says and I realize I’d tuned out their conversation.
“I’ll come with you,” I blurt and stand. Thankfully, Ezra takes my eagerness as general enthusiasm and links his arm with mine.
As we get closer to Hayes and his friend, I realize how weird it would be to come onto him. I have no clue if he’s out. I decide to go for a simple hello when Hayes finally catches sight of me and freezes. I’d like to think I’m witty and charming, but I don’t move or make a sound either.
“Leon, Hayes! Good to see you two,” Ezra greets them, and now I have a new worry. Is Hayes dating the man beside him?