AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Still, my idea of perfect was how I remembered them. Sitting on the grass at our favorite park, a blanket spread under them while they flirted and spoke in whispers while I played nearby. My idea of a relationship may have been painted a brighter color than it was, but it didn’t matter. That was the way it imprinted on me, and that’s what I wanted. After having less, I knew I’d never be okay settling again.
Chapter Six
Noahcamethatmorningas we were having coffee on the front porch. Joel was polishing a saddle and Noah stopped to give him a pointer about that practice before he shook hands with Burke, then me in turn. “How are you both?”
“We’re good, Noah. How’s Eli?Where’sEli?”
“Doing his chores. He’s taking the lead with that new colt my mare had this spring.”
I admired the relationship of the man leaning on the rail in front of Burke and me. He and Eli were completely in love and monogamous. Not that Burke and his men were wrong. I admired them too, in their way, but what I wanted Eli and Noah had.
“Burke told me you were thinking about working for the mayor, tending his kid, or whatever.”
“His son…I guess you’d say he’s sheltered. He’s about to go off into the world, as he’s leaving for college in the spring.”
“Why the spring?” Burke asked.
“Late admission to UC Boulder. I wasn’t told why.”
“Lots of reasons for that, sure. I’d bet his dad secured it that way, glad to get him to go to school closer to home,” Burke concluded.
Noah’s brow was raised at me, which made me nervous. “What are you thinking?”
“Oh, lots of things, Kanan, but mostly, why’s he asking a guy he’s barely met to take care of his kid?”
“My thoughts too, Noah,” Burke said. “I think there’s more to it, even if our mayor doesn’t realize it.”
“Smart man, Kendrick Belish. Went to Harvard, some grand college after that. Still, we don’t always know why we do things. I say take the job and do well at it, Kanan. It’s a good job, got your own place and all, help you save up like you was doing here, but be careful. If he’s having a pull to you in a way he’s not realizing is sexual, or whatever, he might blame you for it.”
“I don’t understand.”
Burke explained, “People that don’t realize they’re gay, or in this case, I’m guessing bi, they may feel their own attraction and think it’s the other person coming onto them. Even if that person never does anything of the sort, their own hidden feelings may make them strike out.”
Grunting, Noah expanded, “He’s a good enough guy, doesn’t believe in all this new crap my former political party is spewing right now, but people are weird when it comes to their sexuality.”
“Had a few o’ those,” Joel piped in from where he sat on the porch with his saddle. “They fucked me, ‘en wanted to beat the tar out o’ me.”
“Exactly,” Noah grunted.
“I see what you’re all saying.”
“Noah,” Burke started, laughing at him. “You were a Republican?”
“Raised as one, sure thing. When that second Bush started on the gay marriage bullshit, I switched right over to independent and mostly vote for whoever seems less full of shit. People can change, ya know, Burke.”
He held up both hands in surrender. “No offense, Noah!”
I took their warnings to heart. I knew I’d take the job right then, but the fear of that happening was real.
Calling him later that morning, I felt my stomach do a heavy flip when he answered, “Mayor Belish.”
So formal…
“Mayor, or…Rick, it’s Kanan.”
“Kanan! Great! Have you thought over my offer?”
I’d done little except that, but I had to sound more casual. “I did, and I’d like to take it. I’ll need a few days to give the diner notice, and I’ll get my friends to help me move, not that I have much.”
