Page 22 of Highway To Destiny

“Wow, that’s super-hot, and his first time no less. So, when are you going to see him again?”

“His schedule is super busy through the holidays, and there’s no definite date. We said we’d stay in contact by phone. I, uh, invited him to Christmas dinner in Portland if he’s available,” I replied with a slight grimace.

“Oh, and speaking of Christmas. Yes, I’d love to meet your mom and brother. I’ll head over with you for Christmas break since my fam will be on that cruise. Thanks again for the invitation.” He paused, then asked with a puzzled look, “Are you questioning that you asked Mason to Christmas dinner?”

“We were saying our goodbyes this morning, and in my attempt to savor more time together, it sort of slipped out. We really want to see each other again, and I invited him without thinking. You, you know I like older men, and my angst is about his age being an issue with people who don’t like large age gaps. I mean, he’s my mom’s age. How will she and Kyle react? I don’t want to fret over it, but it does nag me a little,” I said.

“I’ll be there, so that could help any tension,” Spencer said. “But what’s Christmas without some drama?” He laughed loudly, and it made me roll my eyes.

We stood there for a moment until I broke the silence. “Christmas is pretty much settled, and Thanksgiving is in a couple of weeks. I don’t plan to head home. It’s never been a big holiday for my family, and it’ll give me time to get more of my research paper done before Christmas.” I finally said while I arranged things on my desk. “Are you headed home for turkey break?”

“Yeah, since I won’t see family at Christmas. It’s just a few hours by Greyhound bus to Boise. It’ll be the main holiday get-together for all of us,” he replied.

Now it was my turn to get him to spill the tea. “So, who did you frolic with last night?”

Spencer laughed. “His name is Evan. He’s a senior at some fraternity I can’t remember the name of, and he’s on the football team. You said Mason had a nice dick? Evan is a big guy and has a huge one, and of course, with my luck, he’s a bottom.” Spencer threw me an exasperated eye roll. “Why can’t I find a large cock on a guy that’s a top? I keep hooking up with bottoms, and it’s aggravating. We didn’t fuck. Just got naked, made out, and sucked each other off. It was nothing serious. We were both horny after the beers, and the opportunity presented itself. He did give me his number, though.”

That made me laugh. Here we were, Spencer and I, a couple of bottoms, and neither one of us got our asses plowed last night.

That was going to change the next time Mason and I got together.

19

MASON

Once I got back in my rig, I sat behind the wheel and replayed our heated escapade from last night and this morning over and over in my head. I had such an amazing time with Connor, and I hadn’t had that type of passion or pleasure in a very long time. It was more than just infatuation; I wanted to be with him, to learn more about him.

I left La Grande in a melancholy mood but needed to shake off my lusty thoughts. My next delivery was in Lewiston, Idaho, and from there, I would head north, remaining in Idaho up through Moscow, Coeur d’Alene, and Post Falls and eventually to Spokane, Washington. That was the culmination of the freight trip. I was still ahead of schedule, so I decided to spend the night in Coeur d’Alene before the short trip to Spokane the next day. After that final delivery I’d check with my freight broker for additional paperwork.

The highways to Coeur d’Alene could be slow due to winter weather. Snow typically began in late October in northern Idaho, and driving through the Coeur d’Alene Reservation often brought conditions I preferred to avoid. However, I was confident I could make the stop tonight without issue. I had planned to shower and get cleaned up at another travel center close by to remove the dried evidence Connor and I had produced earlier.

My final delivery to Eastern Washington happened the next day. It rained and was in the upper thirties, making it too warm for snow. The heater in my rig kept me at a comfortable seventy-five degrees, which let me drive without wearing a parka until I needed to leave the comfort of my truck. I planned on staying in Spokane overnight and decided to treat myself to a nice dinner. My broker was working on my next trip, and until I received the papers, I had the night to myself.

I had made calls earlier in the day while on the road, making reservations to park my rig at a commercial lot and a dinner reservation at one of my favorite restaurants. Since I’d been through Spokane on previous trips, I’d discovered a couple of fine dining establishments I liked to frequent. I figured once I was parked, I’d change and call a rideshare to go downtown.

As promised, I texted Connor to let him know I’d made it safely through Idaho and was now in Washington state. He didn’t text back immediately, but I figured he’d probably respond later.

I’d spent many years as a trucker. I had been focused and driven, but I was beginning to feel restless. I was looking for something different, yet being a trucker was all I knew. I liked to experience things outside the boring box my rig sometimes confined me to. Having nice vacations and going out to fancy dinners helped my mental well-being. Connor also helped by injecting his life into mine.

I changed into fresh jeans, anavy blue button-down collared shirt, and my nicest boots.A black leather jacket finished the look. The rideshare was prompt, and I got to the restaurant right on time. I liked to treat myself occasionally in larger city bistros, taking in the high-end atmosphere, superior service, and prices that matched.

Dinner was outstanding. I enjoyed a charred romaine salad, a medium-rare steak, and a loaded baked potato. I accompanied the meal with a superb 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley. I took my time to let the meal settle and decided I didn’t want to head back to my semi yet. A thought suddenly came to mind.

I pulled out my smartphone and searched for bars nearby that catered to gay and bi men. As luck would have it, there was one: The Buckhorn. The name invoked a country-western vibe, and I was up for a quick nightcap. I debated whether to test myself around other like-minded men and figured, why not? Connor had opened the door, and I wondered if my attraction could take on a wider scope. I wasn’t looking to hook up. Just see what it was all about.

I settled my bill and headed out into the cold night. The bar was only three blocks from the restaurant, and it was an easy walk. I pulled the collar up on my leather jacket to stave off the chill and noticed quite a few people out and about.

When I arrived at the bar, my hunch about a country-western theme was correct. It had dark wood tones, and the wall behind the bar looked like it had come out of an old saloon, intricately carved with a mirrored back that reflected liquor bottles on clear glass shelves. The bar’s logo was etched in a fancy Western-style script directly onto the mirror. Country music played at a low volume throughout the place.

I took in the sight as I stood in the doorway. A buffalo head on the far wall kept watch over a pool table occupied by a couple of young men as they nursed their beers. Bowls of unshelled peanuts were strategically placed on tabletops and spent shells littered the floor around them.

Very rustic country but charming.

I noticed the bar wasn’t busy. It was only eight o’clock, and I was aware most bars didn’t fill up until later. There was a small group of men and women sitting in a booth with bottles of beer that probably came from the bucket in the center of their table. Two men sat separately at the bar with drinks in front of them.

I decided to sit at the bar, although I felt a tad overdressed. I kept my distance from the other two gentlemen, not wanting idle conversation, and sat at the near end of the bar. The bartender looked my way, and I noticed he did a double-take before heading in my direction.

He lifted his chin with a broad smile and placed both hands on the bar. “Howdy. What can I get you, handsome?”

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