Page 35 of Big Britches

Pedro nodded. He was quiet for a while, and Barb felt forced to break the silence. “Don’t overthink it. Just go. Enjoy yourself. When was the last time you were on a date?”

“Never.”

“Never?”

“I used to hook up with gay tourists on Holbox Island.”

“Escandaloso!”

“It was decent money.”

“Even more scandalous. You little hooker, you.”

“Not anymore. I was desperate to get out of Mexico. It was just an easy side hustle.”

“You may have the advantage there. I’m fairly certain Titus has never… well, you know. Not with a guy.”

“I see. But as far as dating, I’m the virgin.”

“Then you’re both flying blind in different ways,” Barb said.

“It’s just—I worry what would happen if word got out.”

“How? You’ve seen how isolated that house is. And Titus is closeted, remember? He’ll want to lie low too, for a while, at least. Roz is a vault. She won’t say anything, and you know I won’t.”

“Yeah. But if Silas somehow got word… I don’t know. I have a feeling things would end badly.”

“Valid. Silas and Titus have a history, too, you know?”

“What kind of history?”

“Relax. It’s nothing you need to worry about. Youthful squabbles, unbridled testosterone—typical teenage bullshit. I’m sure he’ll tell you all about it.”

“Has it got anything to do with why people call him Big Britches?”

“No.” Barb reconsidered. “Well, maybe. I don’t know. That’s also something for you two to discuss. I feel bad enough talking behind his back as it is. Better for you to get your answers from the horse’s mouth. This town thrives on gossip if you haven’t noticed. A lot of things get misconstrued. We all have baggage, you know? That’s why I take my personal life to Macon. I don’t need people all up in my business.”

Pedro raised his eyebrows inquisitively.

“I don’t mean you should do the same,” she said, recovering. “Titus is a great guy. You’ll see. Once you get to know him, you’ll thank me.”

Pedro stared at her for a moment, contemplating, then reached for the swimsuit. “OK, then. Guess I’m going on a date.”

Nine

Pedro could not stop thinking about Titus.

If asked the day before whether he’d be returning to a customer’s house after hours for a date, he would have laughed. Recalling his conversation with Miguel earlier that morning, he felt almost like a hypocrite. How could things have changed so fast? How could someone he’d just met dominate thoughts of anything else? Titus had completely surprised him, sweeping in and knocking things off kilter, like a bowling ball blasting pins for a strike. Pedro was perplexed, his periphery a hazy sea, with Titus being the sole beacon.

It hadn’t been the first time that day he’d felt disoriented, though. Miguel’s astute comment had also jarred him, forcing him to consider his perception of himself.

Am I uptight?

He didn’t think so. Performing a mock-striptease splashdown on the job would certainly not qualify as being uptight.

But that’s why you did it, isn’t it? To prove to yourself that you can let loose when you really want to.

Partly. But it was more than that. Truth be told, Pedro had sensed Titus’s arousal upon meeting, and something deep within him had wanted to reciprocate that urge.

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