Page 5 of Trash and Treasure
“You’re amazing,” Mico replied, accepting the box with a reverence Jack didn’t usually see applied to food. “You’re so creative with your recipes, and everything is always good.”
Jack chuckled. “You don’t see all the mistakes that happen first.”
Mico shook his head. “They’re not mistakes if you learn from them. A teacher told me that when I was in school, and I think it’s the most important thing I ever heard. Though it’s hard to remember when you’re making the mistakes.”
Jack didn’t know much about Mico. But it seemed to him that a shadow crossed the other man’s face when he spoke, and those dark eyes took on a haunted expression Jack desperately wanted to soothe.
“Try them. Let me know what you think,” Jack urged.
Mico’s response was as enthusiastic as before. His pleasured moan and the way his throat worked as he swallowed gave Jack a raging boner. Jack prayed his apron remained loose enough around his hips to provide a bit of dignity.
“You are a genius,” Mico said when he had finished his orgasmic reaction to the two donuts. “Keep it up, and the café will have its best year ever.”
“I hope so,” Jack replied. “It would be a way to thank Sherrie for giving me a job.”
“Dude. They’re the ones who should be thanking you,” Mico affirmed.
Jack couldn’t hold back any longer. “Do you want to go hiking sometime?” he blurted. “Try a couple of trails, hang out?”
Mico looked startled, with an expression Jack didn’t know how to decipher. He felt his hopes plunge.Maybe this is all he wants—free donuts and a bit of a break in the middle of his evening run.
“I’d like that,” Mico replied, smiling. “You surprised me—I was going to ask the same thing. Guess great minds think alike.”
Jack sucked in a breath in surprise. “Really?”
“Yeah. That would be great. When?”
Jack stared at him with a deer in the headlights expression. He had been afraid to picture Mico saying yes, so his fantasy had stopped short of providing him with an answer.
“Day after tomorrow?” he replied, afraid he might have squeaked a little.
“I usually finish up around three in the morning, so if you give me a few hours to sleep and shower, I could meet you at noon,” Mico said.
“I’m off that day, so it’s all good.” Jack felt like he needed to pinch himself, hardly able to believe his luck. In his mind, his possum strutted and slubbed, wanting to rub up against Mico to mark him as taken.
“Can’t wait,” Mico said, and he looked genuinely excited. “Do you have trails in mind? If not, I can suggest some where the scenery is pretty, and it’s an easy walk, so we’re not too out of breath to talk.”
“That would be great,” Jack answered, still gobsmacked. “I’m new here, so I’m fine with you picking the trails.”
“Great. I’ll show you my favorites. This’ll be fun,” Mico replied enthusiastically. His phone beeped, and Mico sighed. “That’s my reminder. I need to get back on the road. See you tomorrow!”
This time, Jack didn’t go back inside until after Mico drove away. He let himself into the café to finish cleaning up and moved around the kitchen in a daze.
He said yes,Jack repeated to himself, hardly able to believe his good luck.
His possum sniffed.Of course he did. Who wouldn’t want a piece of this fine ass?
Jack shelved ingredients, put the finished donuts away, and wiped down all the surfaces.It’s a hike. No one is getting any ass on a trail. Too many mosquitos.His other half sniffed and disdained to answer, and Jack felt like he’d finally won an argument.
3
Mico
Despite beingup until the wee hours of the morning, Mico woke before his alarm sounded. His raccoon was mostly nocturnal, and that preference seemed to have rubbed off on his human side.
He likes us. I told you so,his inner raccoon chided as Mico dragged himself into the shower and relaxed in the spray of hot water.
It’s just a hike. He might not even think of it as a date.
