Page 4 of Highway To Destiny

We approached La Grande after exiting I-84 onto Highway 30. Mason obviously knew the town's layout quite well. I figured he’d been here before, so I gave him the address of the graduate student dorm, and he reprogrammed the GPS. He’d mentioned he needed to make a quick delivery in town, and I was hoping it wasn’t taking us too far out of his way.

We pulled up to the shady side of the street close to the dorms and brought the semi to a stop, keeping the engine running. “Here ya go,” he said with an easy smile. “Looks like university dorms to me.”

I didn’t want our short ride and conversation to end since we’d had such a comfortable exchange. Plus, he was a feast of eye candy, making the journey much more enjoyable. I turned to face him and stuck out my hand again, hoping for another long physical connection. “Thank you, Mason. Again, you’re a lifesaver, and I really appreciate you giving me a ride.”And yes, I’d ride you anytime.I made sure that thought stayed in my head.

Again, he took my hand firmly, holding it steady between us. “I wish you all the best, Connor. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, and I have no doubt you’ll accomplish great things. Good luck this year.”

The urge to throw my arms around his neck and pull him close surged through me as soon as he said those words. I could almost feel what it would be like to place my head against his neck, breathing in his masculine scent. The brief encounter awakened more in me than I’d ever experienced, and I savored the moment, unwilling to let it slip away. Just being near him made my head swim. I hadn’t been physical with anyone for quite some time since I had been so busy in the last year of my undergraduate studies. His manliness was intoxicating, and although it was hot out, I felt myself flush looking at him.

I reluctantly let go of his hand and opened the door as he helped me retrieve my pack from behind the seat. I stepped down, hauled the heavy monstrosity off the passenger seat, and placed it next to me on the sidewalk.

Before closing the door, I glanced up at him, raised my hand in a quick wave, and said, “Drive safe, and thanks again.” Mason smiled back and nodded as his handsome image disappeared behind the closing cab door.

The semi pulled away from the curb, and I watched it slowly drive down the street and turn out of sight. My heart was heavy from saying goodbye. I’d made it to campus in plenty of time but felt sad about how quickly the rest of my day had gone.

I was happy to be here, yet an ache lingered in my chest—a bittersweet feeling left behind by that fleeting connection with Mason. The yearning was subtle but persistent, a reminder that some connections, no matter how brief, have a way of leaving an impression.

5

MASON

As I pulled away from the curb, having left Connor on the sidewalk, backpack at his side, I was at odds as to why I felt the flutter of infatuation after having just met him and given him a lift. It wasn’t like me to feel that way about anyone, even the few women I’d spent time with over the years. The pull was off-putting. The young man had caught my attention, and it made me wonder if it was only natural to find youth more appealing—even if it was another man.

I knew sexuality was fluid, and people could slide on the spectrum—some more fixed on where they landed than others. I guess I’d always leaned strongly toward heterosexual. Perhaps not now, as I thought about Connor. It could be a scary process, but as an overthinker, I tried to evaluate all sides and eventually find clarity.

A relationship wasn’t in my future. Years ago, I shut my heart off to the idea of romance and relationships and intended to keep it that way. It felt safer not to feel that deeply again. Excruciating heart hurt was something I never wanted to experience a second time.

What surprised me most was that my sudden infatuation wasn’t for a woman. Yet the man had the exact same eye color as someone I once loved deeply. A love I wasn’t sure I’d ever experience again. It was painful to think about, even after all these years. But the funny thing was I wanted to see Connor again and hoped our paths crossed in the future.

I finally shook the thoughts from my head as I arrived at the mom-and-pop convenience store not far from the university. I needed to unload and check the few boxes off my manifest before heading to my last delivery just outside town.

I parked and headed to the back of the truck, unlocked the latch, and pulled one door open. The boxes were just inside the door. I was proud of being a planner, and at each stop, I rearranged the freight in the truck so the next deliveries were close to the door. It sped things up.

“Well, there’s our ever-efficient delivery guy,” I heard from alongside my truck, along with the crunch of gravel. The distinctive, friendly voice belonged to Elmer, the store owner. Years of smoking, and I’m sure an occasional scotch, had infused his voice with a deep resonance.

Elmer and his wife, Ruthie, had owned the store in La Grande since the early 1950s. It was an easy convenience shop for local students and residents. Ruthie also served a mean Cappuccino from the espresso machine they’d invested in last year. I assumed many students frequented the place because of that contraption.

“Hey there, Elmer!” I exclaimed with a cheerful smile. “How’s business been over the summer?” I took his hand to shake it solidly. I hadn’t been on the route since spring, and I missed seeing them when months slipped by and I hadn’t passed through town.

“Pretty slow,” he said with a slight frown. “With the term finishing this month, there didn’t seem to be as many students as past summers. We’re hoping for steadier business come fall.”

I unloaded a dozen boxes and stacked them on Elmer’s hand dolly, which was by the back door. As I worked, I listened to him boast about new developments in town and their expanding flock of grandkids.

Elmer was never at a loss for words, and seeing a friendly face every so often engaged his mind and mouth, which could be entertaining. Ruthie was the observant type, his opposite. Not in a judgmental way, mind you, but she was a smart cookie and often challenged me on a few of my life choices.

Once there was a break in Elmer’s monologue, I asked, “Is Ruthie around? She’s normally out here to greet me with a hug and ask if there’s anything she can get me from your beverage coolers.”

I maneuvered the dolly with half the boxes to the shop’s back door as he continued, “Not today, unfortunately. She’s playing grandma to a couple of the grandkids.” I uprighted the dolly by the door and turned to face him.

“She’s doing good, though?”

“Oh yeah, she’s been good. She’s just been busy with family stuff, mainly the grandkids. I think she’s got a lot on her mind now too, especially with the fall term approaching. Business will pick up with students coming through the door,” Elmer said with little conviction.

“Okay, well, give her my best, and I’ll see her the next time I have a delivery for you guys. I’ll expect my regular hug,” I said with a smile, which Elmer returned.

I finished grabbing the other boxes off the truck and loaded them into the storage room. I liked to put the deliveries in the storage area so they didn’t have to work too hard to unload and shelve items.

I left the hand dolly by the back door and said goodbye to Elmer as he handed me my favorite soda from his cooler. “I’ll forgo the hug Ruthie gives you, but here’s to keeping you hydrated,” Elmer said with a laugh. I chuckled as I reached out and put my hand on his shoulder.

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