Twelve
Keith
I pulled up to the Blue Star Diner and watched as a few people went in while a few more were leaving. “Why did I get here so early?” I grumbled to myself and ignored the town gossip as she eyed me and walked by my truck so slowly it took her a full minute to make it past.
“Hey!” A knock on the passenger side window scared me half to death. There stood Bart grinning like a fool and looking cute as hell. I got out of the truck and met him in front of the bumper. “You okay?”
“You scared the shit out of me. I was keeping track of the town gossip.”
“Yeah, you were definitely tracking her. You’re a little early,” he said.
“So are you. That might seem a little anxious.”
“Maybe, but I don’t care. I’m ready to have some fun. Come on, let’s go eat. I’m starved.”
We walked in and Andrew immediately walked over holding two menus. “Hey, Keith, just the two of you?”
“Yes, oh and this is Bart Martin. He’s Asa Martin’s nephew.”
“Nice to meet you,” Bart said and shook Andrew’s hand.
“Are you helping him out at the dairy?”
“Yes, I’ve been here a few months now.”
“Well, welcome to Foggy Basin. Most people who stay a few months end up staying.” He smirked and glanced back toward the kitchen before asking if we knew what we wanted to drink. “I’ll be back in a minute with your drinks then give you a few minutes to look at the menu.”
“Is he the owner?” Bart asked and opened the menu.
“One of them. He owns it with his brother, and he’s married to one of the local officers.” Bart glanced again at Andrew before looking again at the menu.
“Foggy Basin needs cops? I mean how much crime can there be around here?”
“You’d be surprised. Mostly it’s kids doing stupid stuff, but we do get the occasional fuel or gun theft, and there’s always a speeder to be found on the highway if they get bored.”
“Hm, Foggy Basin is more exciting than I thought,” Bart said.
“So, you said you like the dairy so far,” I said, not sure what else to say but wanting to talk to him.
“I really do, but I feel like I need to start exploring the area. I know there’s a lake and we’re close to the mountains. Do you know if there are any bike trails there?”
“Like mountain bikes?”
“Yeah. There are a lot of places to ride around Auburn, and I sort of miss it. But it’s so flat around the farm. I thought I’d go exploring.”
“I know there are a lot of offroad trails in the foothills. I guess you could ride a bike there. Some of them are pretty steep though.”
“Go with me,” he said.
“On a bike? Honestly, I’m better suited to a horse than a bike,” I said making him smile.
“I’ve never ridden a horse. I’ll ride a horse if you’ll go biking with me.”
He was serious, and I was worried. I tried to remember the last time I rode a bike, and it had to be when I was still a kid. And for sure I hadn’t tried riding up a mountain, or down. Because going up sounded horrible, but going down sounded terrifying. “I’m going to take a raincheck on that.”
“Oh, thank god, I don’t know if I’m actually ready to ride a horse.”
“Well, that’s good because I’m pretty sure I’m too old to ride a bike.” We both laughed at that and any tension dissolved as the two of us went over the menu together.
“I’m starved, everything looks good,” he said.
“I’m going to get the tri-tip meal,” I said, and set down my menu.
“That does sound good. But the meatloaf dinner sounds amazing too.”
“It is amazing. That’s one of my favorites.
” He didn’t need to know how much it reminded me of being home with my family and why that wouldn’t happen again.
I forced my thoughts away from that dark place and back to the man in front of me that was bright like sunshine and made me feel everything good.
“Okay, you convinced me. Meatloaf it is,” he said just as Andrew returned with our drinks ready to take our order.
“Should just be a few minutes,” he said before he walked back to the kitchen.
“Now, tell me how you’re really doing living on the farm?” He looked up and met my eyes; there was still nothing but happiness there.
“I love it. I know I shouldn’t, and I’m fairly certain my parents think I’m nuts. I mean I had a great job with the heat and air business, but I love the cows and I really enjoy spending time with Asa.”
“Wow, so the city boy really has become a country boy.”
“Seems like,” he said, sounding way more country than city.
“So, how do you like mucking out the barn?”
“Now that is one job I could do without. But it’s a great workout.
I’m pretty sure I’ve gained some muscle since I moved here.
” He held his arm up and joked around while he showed off his muscle.
Which did look more defined than the arms he’d arrived with.
What the hell was I talking to myself about?
“Do you ever want to go back to Woodland?”
“No, I’ll never go back there,” I said with so much finality it even shocked me.
“Oh. Sorry if I asked the wrong thing. Someday I hope you’ll tell me why,” he said and covered my hand with his.
“Maybe,” I said and hoped that never happened.
“Here you go, guys,” Andrew said as he set plates of food in front of us, and I hoped Bart forgot about it and never asked again.