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I suddenly grew fearful. “What, is he an ax murderer?”
After a good roll of her eyes, she slapped the table playfully. “Stop. No, he’s just…emo. Very. Being raised on a farm, a rich farm, his mother being dead since the minute he was born, I guess it’s just made him…sad.”
That I could relate to, well, mostly. “That’s got to be hard.”
“Well, on one hand, sure, I feel for him. Still, though, he had his dad doting on him since birth, money, and privilege. I can’t feel too sorry for him, not as sorry as he feels for himself.”
I wanted to scold her for that, but I didn’t know the kid, and since Gwen rarely said a mean word about anyone, I thought maybe she knew a lot more than me and I should just take her opinions. “We all have problems, Gwen.”
“Yeah, I suppose. He’s not terrible or anything, just mopey. He never says a thing to anyone, paints tears on his face like some sad clown.”
There was more to it, but I didn’t feel like pressing her. If she had other reasons to not like the kid, that was on her. I didn’t want her opinions to taint mine. I simply didn’t trust my own judgment right then and would likely glom onto someone else’s too easily.
After I paid my bill, I left the diner and headed back into the rural part of the area, through narrow roads that wound through woods that could be in the center of a fantasy novel. Every second I expected dancing bears to shuffle out onto the road in front of me, all wearing colorful swirls of silken scarves. That was me, my imagination running to the Bollywood extremes. Still, a fair prince on an elephant would take me on a ride deeper into the woods to our charming haveli where he’d make passionate love to me on a thick featherbed. I smiled at the daydream, gently slapping a hand on the steering wheel of my old Nissan. Ten years old and still moving along in a red streak of speed, as I had a terrible lead foot.
When I got to the ranch, I parked and waved to Damon, who was riding one of his horses, Patch. He rode over to me and asked, “How was town?”
“Eventful. I’ve been offered a job…or I might be getting a job, with the mayor.”
“That man is fine as hell.”
I laughed and agreed, “Hot straight men, yeah, there are a few out there.”
As he dismounted with a pat on Patch’s neck, he argued, “I think there’s a little bend in that straight man.”
“Don’t start. He was asking about me to see if he wanted to offer me a job.”
“I bet,” he snipped. “Just be careful. Straight, gay, bi, that guy has some bad luck in relationships.”
“I do too, if we want to be technical.”
“Two guys with no luck in love. That sounds like a winning team,” he said, laughing.
I laughed too. Damon was brutal with his words at times, but not to be malicious. He was just trying to get a point across, and I knew that. “What made your two men like you so much?”
“Big dick.”
“Ah! Right-O.”
We were laughing when Burke walked up to us. “What’s so funny?”
“Damon’s bragging about his dick and telling me I shouldn’t go for the hot mayor.”
“Kendrick Belish,” Burke sighed. “Please, tell me he’s gay and wants to play.”
“That’s Kanan’s pookie.”
“P-pookie? What’s a pookie?”
“Damon’s stupid word for…love interest, sex interest, whatever. You like him?”
I looked at Damon, who was cracking up at his own joke. “No!”
“Liar,” Damon accused. “You like him, you love him, you want to make babies with him.”
Burke laughed but scolded his partner. “Leave him be, Damon.”
“Why? It’s fun. Fucker is so cute; he’s turning straight guys gay. We need to keep him around as long as possible. In fact, we’re taking him to the rodeo next time Joel goes for a roping event and let Kanan stand there with us. He’ll draw over all the guys that Joel misses.”
