Page 58 of Cherry Picked
“And if you’re still looking for volunteers to help with your Environmental Committee,” Drew said, “I’m ready to bust out my love beads and protest songs. I feel kinda bad that I haven’t made that a priority. I support you, you know that.”
“Really?” I glanced up at him. “That would be amazing. Yes, I’d love your help. Thank you, Uncle Drew.”
He gave me a wink.
“So, Hawk, speaking of genitals—” Marco turned in his seat to look at me.
“Ooooh, no.Wewere not speaking of them,” I reminded him, looking back down at my food. “For the record, I had no part in that conversation.”
“—any luck in the cherry department? ’Cause if you’re in the market, Gage heard from Drake, who heard from Van at the Tavern that he’s got a new server over there who’s a real looker—”
“Chris,” I supplied.
“No, not her. It was a guy.” Marco narrowed his eyes at me. “Thought you were gay. Not that you need to, you know, label yourself or whatever, but—”
“I am gay.” I rolled my eyes. “There are two new employees at the Tavern. Crys, short for Crystal, who’s my friend, and Chris, short for… I don’t know what, who’s a guy.” I shook my head. “I don’t get it—he’s worked at the Tavern, like, five shifts a week for the past three months, but no one seems to know the man. It’s a little creepy. When Gage moved to town, everyone in the Hollow knew his favorite kind of cheese, his top five Christmas memories, and his thoughts on the Bruins’ playoff chances within the first week.”
Marco shrugged. “All I know is what I heard, and what I heard is that he’s a cutie pie who’s real sweet and quiet. Now, Gage made it pretty clear this guy’s not as hot as Knox, but then again, Knox was sitting right there, and Gage knows where his bread is buttered. A man’s morally obligated to downplay the relative hotness of every other eligible man in the vicinity when the love of his life is in the room. It’s one of those compromises folks make when they commit to each other.”
“Wait just a minute.” Drew narrowed his eyes. “The other day when we heard that Jayd Rollins’ song on the radio and I asked you if he was better-looking than me…”
“Anyway, Hawk,” Marco said quickly. “If you want me to get the guy’s number—”
“Marco.” Drew looked affronted. “Next, you’ll be saying Jayd’s a better guitar player than I am!”
Marco shot him a guilty look, and Drew gasped.
“Uh, thanks anyway, but I’ve got the situation taken care of,” I said, hoping to extricate myself from an awkward conversation before it got worse.
When two pairs of eyes turned to me, cards forgotten on the table, I realized I’d fully intricated myself into that awkward conversation instead.
“Is that so? Care to tell us who the lucky fella is?” Drew asked, acting ridiculously casual. He lowered his voice. “You can trust us to be discreet.”
“’Course you can. We’re the verysoulsof discretion,” Marco agreed solemnly.
“Sure you are. Both of you can expect dictionaries in your Christmas stockings this year.” I seasoned my tomatoes and slapped the bread together. “Because those words don’t mean what you think they mean.”
Marco narrowed his eyes. “Spill your tea, boy.”
“No, thanks.” I took a big bite of my sandwich, which, handily enough, made speech impossible.
My uncle and his partner made significant eye contact before both turned to look at me again.
“Well,Ithink you should hold out for Jack,” Drew said. “He’s a sweet potato, and he cares about you.”
I choked on a crumb of bread. Had Drew heard about my proposition? Had Jack told Webb who told Drew? No. I couldn’t imagine that scenario.
“You mean… JackWyatt?” I croaked, like the Hollow was littered with Jacks who cared about me.
Thankfully, they didn’t laugh.
“Why not? All the best lovers start out as friends. Plus, Jack’s a great cook, he’s good at bocce, and he’s handsome—nearly as handsome as your uncle, the love of my life,” Marco added gamely.
Drew rolled his eyes and kicked Marco under the table. “Most importantly, Jack’s whole attention is on you whenever you walk in a room. Been that way for years.”
“And why wouldn’t it be?” Marco demanded. “Our Hawkins is the bee’s knees. The heart and soul of the Hollow.”
I shook my head. I definitely wasn’t that. “I’ll consider it, but only since you made such a compelling argument,” I told the two of them. They exchanged a smirk so self-satisfied, and I couldn’t help adding, “Maybe I’ll show up at his place naked tonight after the Pye Day Potluck and see what happens.”
