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Whatever it is, sweetie, you know you can talk to me or Lonnie and we ll be there for you. You
know that, don t you?
Yes, but I ll be okay. I just need a little while to get over it, okay? But thank you.
I got strong shoulders to cry on if you need em, honey. She patted his arm and walked off the
stage.
He sat at the piano thinking yet again about his sadness when his phone rang. He looked at it and
frowned. Jacob. Might as well get this over with.
Thought I said not to bother calling me.
Aren t you gonna at least say hello and let me try to explain?
Hello. And how could you begin to explain running out on me like that?
Would you please give me a chance? I do have a reason; maybe not one I m proud of but at least
I d be leveling with you. I could come over to your place or we could meet somewhere.
Jacob, why should I? How can I believe anything you say at this point? Do you have any idea
how hurt I felt that you couldn t even stand to look at me or talk to me Sunday morning?
God, that s not at all what it was! You re so amazing to me it s scary and that s part of the
explanation. It was all on me, Gray. Please at least meet me for some lunch or even just a cup of
coffee.
All right. I ll listen but I ll make you no promises.
You know the Cherokee Inn on the main drag close to you?
Yes. When?
Now?
How far away are you?
I m there now. I was hoping.
Okay, give me ten. I ll just walk over. But know this upfront, Jacob: I m a once burned, twice
shy kind of guy.
I can t blame you. I can only tell you what s in my heart and the rest is up to you.
* * *
The instant Gray saw Jacob sitting by himself in the booth at the Cherokee Inn he wanted to
simultaneously grab him, hug him, kiss him, and forgive him. Jacob looked terrible. He hadn t
shaved probably since Saturday, although that in and of itself was sexy as hell to Gray.
But Jacob also had bags under his eyes and wrinkles Gray had never noticed. And those same
cobalt blue eyes not yet seeing Gray looked puppy dog sad as they stared into empty space.
But despite the temptation to forgive, Gray was determined to keep up the wall of resistance that
Jacob s desertion had built.
Hey, Jacob, Gray said quietly, standing in front of the booth.
Jacob, apparently lost in his thoughts, jumped from the table in surprise, nearly knocking it over.
He clumsily pulled it back down and gave Gray a weak smile. Uh sorry. God, I m so nervous.
Please sit down.
Gray took a seat on the opposite side. Jacob, something s obviously not good here. You look
terrible.
I haven t slept or eaten. I screwed up so bad it s the only thing I can think about. I even took a
sick day today and it s the first time in six years with the Park Service.
Gray remained polite but dispassionate. I m sorry. I guess I must have done or said something
that caused you to be really upset, huh?
No. Well, yes. But not in the way you probably meant. You didn t do anything wrong, Gray. It s
all my issue and that s the problem.
Hi ya ll!
A chubby blonde girl about eighteen or nineteen interrupted them. She wore a plastic Indian
headband with a single feather sticking up in the back. Gray thought it one of the most politically
incorrect things a restaurant could ever have as an employee uniform. But, then again, this was
Pigeon Forge.
Welcome to the Cherokee Inn. My name is Nikki and I ll be your server today. Have ya ll had a
chance to look at the menus? She pointed to the two unopened laminated folders still standing
upright in a wire holder between the salt and pepper shakers.
No ma am we need a couple of minutes, please, Jacob answered.
Just some iced tea for me. Unsweetened, Gray said to her. He had already learned to make the
distinction when ordering tea or else it would arrive as way too sugary sweet.
Please have some lunch, Gray. It s on me.
Nah, you go ahead, but thanks. I m not hungry.
Jacob gave him a disappointed frown that made Gray think that he Jacob thought he had just
failed some important first test.
Gray couldn t stand seeing Jacob look that way. He turned back to the server. On second
thought, how about a BLT on wheat. You got that?
We sure do.
Hold the mayo, please.
Yes sir. And you?
I ll have the same, Jacob answered. Keep the mayo, please. And make my tea sweet.
Coming right up, gentlemen.
They stared into each other s eyes seeking some glimpse or hint of what the other was thinking.
I think you called this meeting, Gray finally started.
I really appreciate you coming. Listen for starters I am so sorry for leaving like I did. It was
the stupidest thing I ve ever done. Even dumber than climbing on icy river rocks. He smiled and
hoped Gray would get the humor.
Gray returned the smile, albeit a polite one. I guess that s pretty dumb, huh?
Wait I brought you something. He reached in his pocket and pulled out Gray s camera. The
one Jacob had plucked from the river when he carried Gray to safety.
Why are you giving me this? It must be ruined.
Power it up.
Gray pushed the power button and the camera lens opened as normally as it always did.
I sealed it in a zip-lock bag full of uncooked rice and the rice drew all of the moisture from the
camera. Works for cell phones too.
Thanks. That s a neat trick. Too bad I didn t get the picture to send my folks.
Hopefully I can show you some even better photo places sometime.
Why don t we get to the reason we re here, Jacob?
I ran away Sunday morning because you scared the hell out of me.
How s that?
What we did Saturday night well, it was the best night of my life. I felt things I d never felt
before. I said things I d never said before. But when I woke up and saw you sleeping there, it was
like this big hammer hit me and said, You told a man you loved him. You re gay now and your
life is changed forever. I panicked and ran when instead, I should have waited for you to wake
up so we could talk about it. If I could do it over again, I would, Gray. I m so sorry. I just want
you to know that everything I said to you was true. It wasn t a lie. I think I do love you.
Gray steeled his stare into Jacob s and didn t blink. So if I m hearing this right, what you re
really saying is that I m the first guy you ve ever been with?
Yeah.
Shit. Why didn t you just tell me that upfront? I not only wouldn t have minded it would have
made it even more special for me.
I m sorry I just assumed you wouldn t want me if you knew. I was afraid with you coming
from Milwaukee and New York City and all, you wouldn t want anything to do with some
closeted park ranger who lives like a hermit.
And you re entirely in the closet, right? Not out to anyone?
No I mean yes. He looked confused. Sorry you asked a yes then a no question. I m not out
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