Page 2 of Keeping it Casual
“You’ll change your mind once you meet Jeremy,” she says. “Everyone loves Jeremy.”
Amanda is right about one thing. Everyone in Mineral Creek does seem to love this Jeremy guy.
News that I’ve just arrived in town and I’m gay—and therefore a potential boyfriend candidate for Jeremy King—spreads ahead of me like wildfire.
Vince, the guy I’ve hired to mow my lawns, turns up to introduce himself just as the moving guys finish unloading the last of Lachie’s and my possessions from their van. He lasts exactly three minutes before he starts extolling the virtues of Jeremy King, telling me what an amazing guy he is and how he’s a miracle worker for fixing his shoulder.
“He fixed your shoulder?” I’m not quite sure I’ve heard that right.
Vince nods vigorously. “He’s a physiotherapist. He has magic hands.”
“Oh. Right.”
While it’s quite an appealing idea to meet a guy with magic hands, I’m still not looking to date.
After Vince leaves, I walk the block to the corner store to pick up bread, milk, and other basics to last Lachie and me until I can get to the supermarket.
The store is one of those old-fashioned corner dairies that used to populate most New Zealand neighborhoods but have slowly diminished due to giant supermarkets and online shopping. This one looks to be thriving though, with shelves that have a little bit of everything and an elderly lady with curly white hair behind the counter who gives me a welcoming smile, which I return.
This is what I wanted with our move to Mineral Creek. My job as a legal consultant for the regional council means I can work from anywhere, and I’d wanted a simple, uncomplicated place to get Lachie through his teenage years without the distractions and temptations of city life. A place with a sense of community and old-fashioned values. Mineral Creek, only an hour-and-a-half drive from Auckland, seemed like a great choice.
The lady behind the counter peers at me over the top of her glasses as she rings up my purchases.
“So, I haven’t seen you before,” she says. “Are you passing through?”
“I’ve just moved here, actually.”
Her eyes light up. “Oh, you must be the new guy who’s moved into the O’Neilly’s old place. It’s so lovely to meet you. I’m Joyce.”
Small towns. It’s going to take some getting used to.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Joyce. I’m Dustin.”
“So, have you met Jeremy King yet?”
I’m slightly startled at the swerve the conversation has taken. “Um…no, I haven’t.”
Apparently, the whole town of Mineral Creek is just a giant Grindr site where all swipes lead to Jeremy King.
“He’s lovely. You won’t want to miss out on that.” She accompanies her words with a lewd wink that has me blinking.
What the hell is the mineral in the creek here? Something that makes the residents wildly inappropriate?
“Ah…thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.”
I retreat home, clutching my bread and milk, to find my son has emerged from sorting his bedroom to look through the half of the kitchen I’ve unpacked. Lachie’s recently had a growth spurt and gained about a foot in a short space of time, which still startles me sometimes. It’s like someone has taken my son and stretched him.
“I’ve got some bread and margarine,” I announce.
Lachie greets the news with one of his grunts, which seems to have become his main mode of communication in the last few months. I interpret this grunt as one of approval.
His messy dark hair flops over one eye as he rummages in the boxes before finally giving up and turning to me.
“What box is the peanut butter in?” he asks.
I shift a few boxes stacked on the counter until I find one labeledspreads.
“Here.”
