Twenty-One
Bart
“Did you want to get some breakfast?” Keith asked. He’d relaxed a lot from how he was when we first met at the diner the day before, but he was still tense. Not nervous. More like waiting for something bad to happen. I wasn’t sure what he thought that could be.
“What do you think of getting something to take to Asa? I know he’d appreciate it and it would be a nice surprise for him. Do you know he cooks every meal for us every day?”
“You did tell me. That old man has a lot of secrets,” Keith said.
“I think he has more than anyone ever knew about or suspected.” There were so many times I knew he had something he wanted to say, but so far, every time he started to tell me, he stopped.
“Like what?”
“No clue. He hasn’t told me.”
Keith leaned in and kissed me slowly and deep with not even a hint of a thought about morning breath. “I like that idea. Shower?” He held his hand out, but I took a second to take in that body. I really did get lucky.
“Hell yes,” I said and took his hand.
An hour later, after quick handjobs in the shower, we were driving to downtown Foggy Basin. “What do you think of breakfast burritos? The taco place has them every weekend,” Keith said.
“That’s perfect, but I think we should get some pastries and coffee too. Do you mind?”
“Bart, I can’t remember the last time I went to breakfast with a cute guy and I really like Asa, so hell no I don’t mind. Let’s get the burritos first so the coffee stays hot. Did you want to get your truck?”
“Yes, but not until we get everything else.” The truth was I really liked our time together and didn’t want it to end. “Didn’t you say you worked today?”
“They rescheduled to next week. They never change appointments, so I was more than happy, and it gives us a little more time. Does Asa have you doing chores today?”
“Well, there’s always a cow that needs milking, as he’d say.
But today he and Noah did the early routine then I’ll help with the late one.
I’ll probably help with feeding and cleaning when I get home.
It’s funny, when I was working in Auburn, I would have been so pissed to have to work the weekend, now I don’t mind.
I actually look forward to being around the girls. ”
“You’ve got the heart of a country boy,” Keith said as he drove us to the taco place.
“I can’t believe I never noticed this before. I should cook tacos for dinner one night, give the old man a break.” We got out of the truck and walked up to wait in the small line that had formed.
“It’s really good, and they only do breakfast burritos on the weekend so anyone who went out last night usually shows up hoping to cure the hangover.”
The guy in front of us turned around, his eyes red and his skin glistened with a sweaty look that said he’d had a rough morning already. “Amen to that, I’m praying for a miracle.”
“You’ll never learn, Randy, we’re not as young as we used to be,” Keith said and shook his hand. “This is Bart Martin. Asa Martin’s nephew. Bart, this is Randy Meek, we went to school together.”
“Nice to meet you, Randy,” I said and shook his hand.
“I swear I’m not typically this wrecked but I went out last night with my girl celebrating her new job. I am way too old to be celebrating like that.”
“Randy,” Keith said and put his hand on the guy’s shoulder. “I hate to break it to you, but you’ve been too old to celebrate like that for a few years.”
“Can you tell my girl that? I swear she’s trying to kill me.”
“Nope, you can take care of that yourself,” Keith said. Randy’s turn in line was up, and he walked forward to place his order. “His girlfriend is fifteen years older than him and can party harder than any man in town then turn around and work the next day.”
“Wow, wish I could do that. A beer or two for me is plenty. Any more than that and I’d be looking like Randy.”
“Don’t be like Randy, go home before the shots come out,” Randy said as he walked by us to stand aside and wait for his order.
We ordered four burritos in case Noah wanted one, which I had yet to see him turn down a meal, and after putting them in the car we walked over to the bakery for coffee and donuts. “What’s this place again?”
“Well, it’s a bakery, but they have very special pastries.
I guess the baker was a big deal or something.
I’m not sure. All I know is everything here is good,” Keith said as we walked inside.
Once again there was a line, but it moved fast and the guy that took our order looked more like he was ready for a workout than working at a bakery.
His biceps were defined and I forced myself not to stare but he was hot.
“Keith, here’s your order,” he said and slid the bag of baked goods and a packed coffee carrier across the counter.
“Thanks, Percy. Oh, this is Bart Martin, he’s new to town.”
After wiping his hands on his apron, he shook my hand. “Welcome, Bart, and thanks for stopping in today.”
“Keith said you had the best bakery in town, so we had to stop by.”
“Well, I think we might be the only bakery but thank you. I hope you enjoy it.” He moved on to the next person while Keith picked up the coffee carrier, and I took the bag of goodies.
“Let’s get you back to your car so we can go feed Asa while it’s still warm,” Keith said. I was so tempted to just leave my car in town, but I knew I’d regret that decision, so we walked back to his truck, and he drove us to where I’d parked and pulled in next to me.
“Thanks again for last night,” he said before leaning across the seat to kiss me.
“You’re not getting away that easy. Come on, let’s go see what Asa’s got going for today,” I said, not wanting to end on a low note. It had been a great night, and I hoped the day would continue to be good.