Page 10 of Rainbows Over Cedarwood

“Dad, stop.” Wyatt scrubbed both hands over his face and groaned. “I’m not a baby.”

“You’re wearing your ice cream,” Ashley said. “Want to go next door to the park? I’m ready to get out of here.”

Not because of him, Colt hoped. “Works for me.” The store wasn’t that busy, but he welcomed the fresh air outside. He gathered up his napkins and keys. He wanted the chance to talk to Ashley without much tension.

“Cool.” Wyatt grabbed Ashley’s hand and yanked him through the small store then out to the sidewalk. He didn’t stop pulling until they reached the park. “I’ll be on the slide and swings.” He raced away, leaving Ashley in the dust.

“Is he always this energetic?” Colt asked. He licked his cone and the latent sexuality of the move wasn’t lost on him. If only Ashley would look to the side and notice. He dragged his tongue over the vanilla cream.I can lick your dick with the same zeal.

“He’s had sugar, so he’ll be extra energetic for a while. I try to regulate how much he gets, but it’s a Saturday.” Ashley finished his ice cream and tossed the empty container into the trash. “As far as he’s concerned, it’s a great day for him. A treat and the park… He’s in heaven.” He smiled but didn’t look at Colt.

“But you’re not having such a wonderful time. I’ll try to be a better ice-cream date when we get together again.” Colt preferred to cut on himself if it meant making his partner or friend happy. “I won’t even lick my cone like a perv.”

“You’re fine.” Ashley nodded to a bench close to the swings and slide. “How about we sit?” He put his hand in the air and stopped. “Wait. Did you say…?”

“Uh-huh. Go sit.” He followed Ashley to the bench and as they walked, he gawked at Ashley’s ass. Damn. His mouth watered. Yeah, that was the kind of ass he wanted to grab. Once he got Ashley to loosen up, then they could make jokes and get to know each other better.

Ashley settled on the bench and crossed his ankles. “It’s the crap at the ice-cream shop. I usually get beyond it, but this time…she pissed me off. I can’t think when stuff like that happens.”

“What did she say?” Colt sat beside him and draped his arm across the back of the bench. Part of him wanted to touch Ashley and comfort him, but the rest of him held back. They weren’t much more than friends and here he was trying to push things. He couldn’t deny the attraction. Did Ashley feel it, too?

“She was from this coalition. Said she wanted to help the gay community convert to heterosexuals. I’ve never heard anything like it. Then she told me I was screwing up my kid because if he grew up with two dads, he’d never understand that women were good and should be part of the family.” Ashley dropped his hands onto his lap. “Christ, Wyatt has a mom.”

“I’d assumed so. You tend to need a male and a female to make a kid. Parenting them can happen in lots of different ways, though.”

“She’s dead.” Ashley dipped his head. “It’s messed up.”

“But he’s got you. That’s pretty good, or is someone challenging the adoption or something? Your old partner?” This time Colt couldn’t resist. He trailed his fingertips down Ashley’s neck. “Things happen.” He understood part of the reason Ashley seemed so down. He wanted to perk the guy up—in more ways than one.

Ashley didn’t say anything right away, but he seemed to relax into Colt’s touch. He sighed. “There isn’t a partner trying to gain custody.” He finally looked over at Colt. “She wanted a baby and I helped her.”

Colt frowned. Wait. What had Ashley said? She? “Hold up. I know I heard you say she. Are you trying to tell me you were the sperm donor?” Part of him wanted to be irritated, but honestly, he knew how babies were made. A female was needed in order for the whole process to work.

“Yes and no. I slept with her. The only woman I’d ever fucked and only for the sake of having a kid.” Ashley chuckled. “She trusted me. If she was going to have a kid, then she wanted the guy she knew would stand beside her to do it. Me.”

His respect for Ashley grew. What a remarkable guy—even if he’d stuck his dick in a pussy. “That’s awesome. No, really. I’d love to have a friend who’s so dedicated.”

“When she died, I took custody of Wyatt. Her folks are dead and my mom didn’t want to raise kids. I don’t blame her. She’s sixty-two. She probably could’ve raised him, but he’s my responsibility.” Ashley flattened his palms on his thighs. “I guess that’s what irritated me about that lady at the shop. She had no idea what I’ve been through or what I’ve done to make sure Wyatt has a good childhood and yet she felt the need to insult me. So I’m gay? Who gives a fuck?”

“I don’t care what you are.” But knowing Ashley was gay did make a few things a lot easier. He’d known since he’d met Ashley at the diner after the group meeting that his new friend was a homosexual and hadn’t cared. What he wanted was for them to try a date or two without the snarky woman interfering. He wanted to keep touching Ashley and explore the sparks between them.

“You’re one of the few.” Ashley stared in the general direction of the swings, where Wyatt happily kicked his feet. Up and down, higher and higher with each swing.

Although he’d relaxed into Colt’s touch, he didn’t seem interested otherwise. Colt didn’t mind. He’d keep working on Ashley.

“This is why we need the festival. Some folks in this town don’t give a rat’s ass about who anyone else is tunneling. Some care too much. The support group and anyone else who wants to join in needs to show the rest of Cedarwood that being gay isn’t a curse. We’re like everyone else.” He splayed his hand on Ashley’s back. Now he understood why Colin and Jordan wanted him to get together with Ashley. The sizzle wasn’t imaginary and he wasn’t reeling from the lack of sex. He liked the geeky-looking art teacher. He wanted to curl himself around Ashley and find all the spots on Ashley’s body that made him moan.

Ashley glanced over at him then returned his attention to the swings. He cleared his throat. “Your boyfriend is a lucky guy.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend.” Colt stretched his legs and slid down in the seat a bit. “My last relationship ended because he said I loved the diner more than him. He was right.” He loved the diner more than he loved a lot of people.

“You’re a stickler for work?” Ashley folded his hands but remained bent over. “Or was he that boring?”

“Number two. When you own a business, you can’t take days off to goof around. If things sink, then it’s your livelihood. Jay didn’t get that. When I first took over the restaurant, I had to pour my money into fixing it up. The place was up to code, but I had standards. He wanted to club. We didn’t mesh and he walked. I learned a few lessons from him, too, but it wasn’t all a waste. I needed that solo time to get the diner sorted out. If I want to now, I can take some time off. I know my workers and I trust them to keep the place from burning down.” He’d never talked about Jay to anyone else, but with Ashley he wanted to open up and rip open his scars and get beyond the past.

“Makes sense. I’ve always wanted to work with kids at a school. At first, I thought I’d like to work in a high-school setting. I student taught at an affluent school and that experience opened my eyes. Kids will be kids, but the older they got and the more money they had to play with…the less they respected anyone.” Ashley stood. “I’m going to push Wyatt awhile on the swings. Come along?”

“Stay put? And miss this conversation? Heck no! This is the best conversation I’ve had that doesn’t involve a messed-up order, angry patrons or an incorrect plate of chicken.”I’m pretty sure I’ll follow you anywhere.Colt stretched then adjusted his pants when he stood. He needed to hide the burgeoning erection. Yes, he liked talking to Ashley, but a vital part of him wanted to tunnel the teacher’s ass. He crossed the grassy expanse and watched Ashley’s butt.

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