Page 11 of Joy
I WORKEDuntil dark. I didn’t have anything else to do besides go back to the B&B and sleep or play Candy Crush until my phone died, so I helped through the dinner rush. One of the part-time cooks made me a decent sandwich before I left too, so I didn’t have to worry about feeding myself. I zipped up my hoodie as I stepped outside and headed the opposite direction from my temporary home to explore a bit.
The temperature dropped a lot around here once the sun went down, but the cold air was nice—so refreshing and invigorating. I stopped walking and briefly shut my eyes, taking a few deep breaths. Each lungful felt as if it were bringing light to dark places. And as I exhaled, that painful lump of insecurity and feeling ofwhat the fuck am I doing with my lifethat lived in my gut seemed to get a little smaller.
Not that I had found direction or purpose or anything deep.
It was just… the wide-open skies of Lancaster didn’t make me feel crowded for the first time in my life. I felt I could finally stretch and relax a little. There was no fight to be the best out here, no constant struggle to be number one and make my mark. It was kind of a relief, really, to simply be surrounded by people who were content with going about their day-to-day lives.
Alien too, but nice.
“Hey, kid!”
I jumped at the voice that disrupted my thoughts and turned to the left. Two guys were standing outside a building, smoking. I caught the sign.
Bucker’s.
Ah yes, the guy who didn’t likeflatlanders.Suchan insult.
Although he apparently didn’t like gays either. Which I found more amusing than not liking folks from out of town, because seriously? Yes—behold Gideon’s mad cock-sucking skills! Be afraid!Ooooo!
“Yeah?” I called back from where I stood on the sidewalk.
“Some little girl mistake you for a coloring book?” one asked.
The other man laughed.
“Want to go get inked together?” I returned. “I bet you pass out first.”
“You think you’re stronger than me?” the first guy asked, squaring his shoulders.
“I’ve had needles drilled into my neck, so yeah, probably,” I replied. I wasn’t one for antagonizing drunk strangers, but don’t insult a man’s tattoos.
The guy flicked his cigarette butt and took a step toward me, but halted when the door to Bucker’s opened and Silas walked out.
Jesus H. Christ. Did this town consist solely of me and him? Why was he everywhere I was? But then my heart sank a bit, because if Bernard and Bridget were serious about the clientele who frequented Bucker’s, did that mean Silas was a homophobic jerk like the owner? I guess that answered why he didn’t want to be within an arm’s length of me. Not that I was parading around with a sign, but some people were good at detecting. Gaydar, I guess.
That sucked.
Stupid, hot asshole.
He ignored the two drunk guys as he left the front door, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
The dumbass who wanted to fight me sneered. “And don’t come back!” he shouted at Silas.
Silas ignored the comment. He looked up from watching his feet and stopped abruptly near me. “Gideon.”
“Remembered my name?”
“Of course.” He shifted from foot to foot. “Why are you here?”
“Just taking a walk,” I said. “Your buddy stopped me.”
Silas glanced over his shoulder. “Don’t go in there.”
“I had no desire to. I’ve been briefed on the lovely people who frequent it.”
I admit I’m not the smartest man at times. I shouldn’t have made a scene, but knowing I had to pay back someone who hated me based on intimate bedroom details not relevant to whether I was a decent human being—it bothered me.
“I keep hearing what a nice guy you are. Didn’t think you were the sort to be friends with people like that.” I nodded at Bucker’s.
