B01MUG7DJX EBOK

by Mathew Ortiz

  “Why unsettling, Mother?” His tone, tight and sharp, drew her cold gaze. Two pairs of blue eyes locked and the stare down commenced. Caleb had told me he and his mother constantly went toe to toe and, as he grew older, he refused to back down to her.

  “Caleb, do you think it’s wise to date Mr. Myer?” She broke the stare and gave me a fake smile. “I’m not being rude…”

  “Sayin’ you’re not bein’ rude and bein’ rude doesn’t make it better,” Mikey chirped up and it earned him a glare.

  “… but our family has a reputation to think of. I’m sure you are a wonderful young man—”

  “Patricia.” His father’s warning fell on death ears.

  “Don’t interrupt, Edward. Caleb is, how I shall put this politely? Upper echelon. You… are not.” I’d never disliked someone so quickly in my life. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and, most times it worked, save for this snobby witch. I was about to get up and excuse myself before I lost my cool, but Caleb beat me to it.

  “Are you for real, Mother?” The scathing tone cut the air and Caleb glared daggers at his mother. “You know, I actually hoped you wouldn’t pull your Queen Elizabeth act but once again you’ve disappointed me.”

  “Now see here, young man!” Patricia wagged her finger at him and Caleb snapped.

  “Robert Davenport raped and beat me when we were together.” You could have heard a pin drop. “You remember, Mother. You adored Robert. You thought he came from ‘good stock’.” He quoted the last two words and his face reddened. “Yes, excellent breeding you said. I recall you also said that, if I must be gay, I should at least stay within my own social circles. I did, but the man you thought so perfect, raped and beat me on multiple occasions.”

  His father paled at Caleb’s words and his mother looked nauseous.

  “Caleb…” His father ran a hand over his face slowly. “Why… why didn’t you tell us?”

  “I was too embarrassed. I let him do all those things to me and I didn’t try to stop him. I’m to blame—”

  “No. You. Ain’t!” Mikey snapped and all heads turned to him.

  “You-you knew?” His mother seemed more appalled that someone knew than by the act.

  “’Course I did. I picked him up from the hospital the last time.” Mikey slammed his fist on the table and Caleb winced. I pulled him close and he shook against me. I wished this hadn’t happened like this. His mother was reeling and his father looked numb. Mikey darted a quick glance at me and I gave him a slight nod, acknowledging to him that I had Caleb.

  “There’s another thing,” Caleb said, rushing onward. “I’m going to testify in court against Robert. I’m putting that bastard away and—”

  “You most certainly will not!” His mother bounced out of her chair. It screeched as she did and she put her hand over her chest. “The scandal! Dear God, the scandal! You cannot do this. It will ruin us and—”

  “I will not let him get away with this!” Caleb leapt to his feet, face red, hands trembling. “He. Raped. Me.” The words hung dark and ugly in the air. “And I wasn’t the only one!”

  “Nevertheless,” she began and Caleb slashed the air with his hand.

  “I came to tell you what I’m doing. Not ask for your permission. You can’t stop me.” He turned and strode out of the room with Mikey running after him.

  Mikey stalked past his mother and seethed. “This is why none of us visit you anymore.” The ugly words hung in the air long after Mikey left. I squeezed my eyes shut and counted to ten before I spoke.

  “Is it better to let his rapist go free? The man beat and assaulted your son for almost six months. Put him in the hospital several times. It took a lot for Caleb to decide to testify. He’s terrified. I’m proud of him for facin’ his demons and I’ll be by his side at court.” I stood slowly, folded my napkin and set it on the table. His father looked shell-shocked, his mother livid.

  “Um… I thank you for the meal, Mr. Jaspers, Ms. Patricia.” I nodded to them and turned to leave. I almost made it, too.

  “You did this!” Patricia spat. “He would never testify and embarrass the family. You influenced him.”

  “No, actually, I didn’t,” I said, keeping my tone polite. “He decided all on his own. Caleb is a remarkable, carin’, funny, smart, generous, brave man and I think I’m fallin’ in love with him, not that I’ve told him that yet.” I stroked my beard and thought a moment before I spoke again. “I really think he was hopin’ you’d support him.”

  “This can’t get out!” she seethed and I drew away from the coldness of the woman. Now she was pissing me off.

  I attempted to leave again and she snarled at me.

  “White trash! My son is too good for you and I do not like you.”

  “Well, Mrs. Jaspers, I can’t say I like you much neither. What kind of mother would rather let her child suffer because she cares more about what her friends think? I may be white trash, but I know my mother loves me… flaws and all. ‘Night, Mr. Jaspers.”

  Chapter 7

  Caleb

  “Hello. I’m Caleb Jaspers and I’m a victim of domestic abuse. I let my abuser have power over me and minimalized my own emotional and physical needs. I’ll never get back my old self, my happy, trusting, wide-eyed self. He’s dead. But the me that emerged out of the cocoon of pain is stronger, resilient and pissed off.”

  *

  My phone practically exploded over the next few days with calls from my mother. I refused to even listen to her messages and deleted them, along with her texts. I know I shouldn’t have been surprised at how she took the news. It only mattered to her if it negatively impacted her life. She’d been that way all our lives. As long as we did well in school and maintained the aura of perfection, we were golden in her eyes. Then Mikey came along and he defied her from day one. I deleted another text, then a welcome one came across my screen.

  You up for dinner with me, my brothers and their guys next Saturday?

  I’d love to. Where are we going?

  Nowhere. Avery, Boone and I are cooking at Avery and Martin’s house. Cool?

  I smiled for the first time all day. Yes. I’m looking forward to it.

  Great. Call me when you get back into town.

  Will do.

  I pressed send and the floor fell out from me. Damn, wonky weather. Normally, I’d be cranky, so would Annie, who happened to be in the front of the plane, instead I smiled wide and whistled as I checked to make sure the galley was secure. I was over the moon. Annie and I had both been hired to start doing the run to London, beginning in three weeks. I finally had the job I wanted. We would be going out twice a week, sometimes three, depending when our flights left. I literally screamed when I got my letter from Cloud 9 Corporate. I had my phone out to call Annie, when her face appeared on my screen. I’d tapped accept and I think whales at the bottom of the sea heard her.

  “OMG I got my acceptance letter for the overseas run!” Annie’s voice reached the upper amplitude and decibel level for bats. I yanked the phone away from my ear and yelled back.

  “I received mine, too. The London run?”

  “OMG, we’re on the same plane, yay!” Another shriek and I joined her. We were going to be together on our runs. We would be the lowest on the totem pole and would have to work the economy section, but it was a start and my hand shook as I held the paper. I reread it and noted I had to contact our Human Resource representative to accept the job. I relayed this information to Annie and her shrilled response, I’m sure, overloaded my phone’s speaker.

  “OMG I’ll come get you right now, be there in ten minutes.” The phone went dead and I waited for her to arrive, all the while doing a happy dance!

  *

  I drove over to Cotton’s house, parked my car in the driveway and made my way to the garage around the back. The garage door hung closed as the cold still had a tight grip on Atlanta. I walked around to the side door and found him covered in grease, sitting on the floor, banging away at hi
s bike. I also spotted another bike, in really rough shape, over in the far corner. Must be the new one he plans on restoring. Cotton sat Indian style as he tightened the bolt on his bike. I marveled how, if he got any grease on a clean spot of his bike, he would stop and clean the offending area up before going back to work. Bloody hell, why did the sight of him in jeans, work boots and a dirty blue T-shirt set my pulse jumping and my cock to plumping. I had it bad for Cotton Myer. In the weeks since our first date, we’d seen each other as much as possible, having coffee, lunch or brunch and, on one memorable night, Japanese ramen noodles at eleven o’clock. He also texted me during the day and didn’t expect me to reply immediately. If I hadn’t responded the moment I’d received Robert’s texts, he’d call and scream at me. I pushed away thoughts of Robert and found a clean-ish spot on his bench to sit and waited until he finished up. He did a few minutes later and swirled on his butt to face me.

  “Hey, Sugarpie,” he drawled and I squinched up my nose.

  “Sugarpie? Sugarpie?” I groaned and he only smiled.

  “What’s up, chicken butt,” he chuckled and I smacked his arm.

  “I received my letter of acceptance from the airline. I was approved to move to the overseas team. Effective immediately.” I held my breath, waiting for him to yell at me.

  “Congrats, babe! I knew you’d get it!” Cotton leaned in and dazzled me with his happiness for me. “When do you leave for your first run?”

  “You-you’re not angry?” I had to know.

  “Angry? Hell no. Excited for you is more like it!” Cotton bounced on his butt.

  “It means we won’t see each other as much.” I braced for the hail of fury.

  “We better make the most of our time together then. Besides, we have phones and Skype.” Cotton’s clean hand slipped around mine and squeezed. “Why are you shakin’? Talk to me, Caleb.”

  “Robert would get mad if my work took too much time away from him,” I admitted.

  Cotton huffed derisively. “I ain’t him, Caleb. Shit, I thought you’d realized that by now. I like bein’ with you and, when I’m not with you, I cain’t wait to see you again. Angry. No. Happy for you. Yes. Hell, I’m proud of you! You got the plum job you wanted.”

  “But I won’t see you as much,” I bemoaned.

  “Cain’t get enough of me?” His expression was smug. “Understandable. ‘Mean look at me. Great hair, fuckin’ awesome beard, tattooed, good cook, great mechanic, rockin’ editor and I suck a mean cock!” He kissed his bicep and I lost it.

  Laughing, I slipped to the floor on my knees and touched his face. His brown eyes, deep and warm, gazed back at me as I leaned in and kissed him. He tasted of black licorice, his favorite candy, and I loved it. I let his lips go and sat back on my haunches.

  “No false modesty?” I teased and he grew serious.

  “I’m a good guy who’s made some bad choices in my life. I’m tryin’ to turn it around and do right by myself. I’m not perfect, Caleb. I have my demons, but I’m honest and upfront. What you see, is what you get. All I can do is show you how much I care for you. Will I miss seein’ you durin’ the week? Hell, yes! Am I happier than a pig in shit for you? Definitely.” He stopped talking and I let loose the breath I’d been holding.

  “I wish I’d met you before… before….” I shivered and he came up on his knees and took me in his arms. The smell of grease, sweat and Cotton tickled my nose. I inhaled deeply and felt safe, really safe, for the first time in ages.

  “I’m here now, babe.” He nudged my face with his chin. His beard tickled my skin and I turned to him as his mouth hungrily sought mine. When Cotton kissed me, I burned for him and unlike the fear I’d had with Robert, I boldly touched him, my hands running over his back and cupping his ass. He bucked in my arms and his tongue delved into my mouth. His shaft pushed against mine, so I swiveled my hips and rubbed us together. The fabric of my jeans strained as my prick tried to burst through. A lock of his dark, floppy hair fell onto my face and prickled my nose. Twitching, I ran my hand through his hair and removed the tickling follicles. I nipped at his lower lip and Cotton groaned into my mouth. I marveled at how much power I had over him, how he responded to my kiss and my touch. Robert never cared if I enjoyed myself when we had sex. Cotton demanded I enjoy myself. He said it revved his engine, the more noise I made.

  He pushed his body to mine and I found myself falling backward. I sat back on my haunches and Cotton’s arms came around me, holding me up as he kissed the ever-loving hell out of me.

  “Cotton? I—well, hello boys.”

  Cotton let my lips go and plopped his face on my shoulder. “Hey, Mawmaw. You need somethin’?” We hadn’t heard the side door open. I probably wouldn’t have heard a bomb go off at that moment.

  Mortified. Simply mortified. Caught snogging like a pair of randy teenagers. I mean, I was practically dry humping her grandson! I like to think I’m well-mannered and genteel, not some common slut drunk from a bar, snogging any guy I could find. Breathing in slowly, I lifted my head and have her my most winning smile.

  “Good evening, Mawmaw.” If I sounded more British, I’d be a presenter on the BBC.

  “Evenin’, Caleb. I saw your car and figured you were out here. Lynnie’s made stuffed peppers and kale salad. She wanted to know if you two were interested in eatin’.” Mawmaw stopped at the door to the garage, pulled a pack of Benson & Hedges from her house dress and lit up. Drawing in deeply, she slowly exhaled a blue grey cloud on a sigh. She tapped the ash to the ground and crossed her arms.

  “Sounds lovely,” I replied. “I’m game.”

  “When we eat, Mawmaw?” He asked and she sucked in another lungful and let it go, puffing out a series of smoke rings.

  “Thirty minutes, give or take.” She tapped her cig again and turned to leave. “Plenty of time for a quickie.” She grinned and I wanted to crawl under a tarp. Cotton wasn’t phased in the slightest.

  “See you in thirty, Mawmaw,” he called out and she cackled as she left. Cotton got up and pulled the side door to the garage closed. The click of the lock echoed in the room and he turned and placed his back to it. A quick flick of his fingers and his cock sprang free. He pumped it once and traced the head and as he pulled his finger away, a glistening line of precum stretched from his slit to his finger.

  “Cotton! Are you mad?” I stood and ran over to him, looking over his shoulder to make sure no more members of his family came to the door.

  “Babe, we have maybe twenty-five minutes and I’m horny as hell. We have four options.”

  “What are those?” Totally confused.

  “I can be the peach to your eggplant. You can be the peach to my eggplant. You can eat my eggplant or I can eat yours.” He shook his cock at me and I puzzled over what he meant for a nano-second and it hit me. Peach/ass/bottom or Eggplant/cock/top. “So, what’s it gonna be… Peaches?”

  “Peaches? Peaches?” I grabbed him and spun him around. “I’ll show you Peaches.”

  Cotton chuckled and pointed to a drawer in his tool chest. “Supplies are in the top drawer.”

  “Seriously?” Lube and condoms in his garage?

  “What can I say? I was a Boy Scout. Always be prepared.” He yanked the shade down on the window, shimmied his jeans down to his feet and pulled off his T-shirt. His smooth ass shone like pale Devonshire cream and my cock throbbed in my jeans. “Come on, shove that sausage in me.” He wiggled his butt and I all but ripped off my clothes, showing him how much I wanted it.

  We may have gone over by ten minutes and, when we got to the house, his Mawmaw only cackled as Cotton walked gingerly past her in the kitchen. Lynnie shook her head and her boyfriend, Bruce, red as a beet, looked upward. Definitely different from any other dinner I’d had before.

  *

  The impact of the wheels hitting the runway jolted me hard. Larger planes touched down harder than smaller ones and I was still getting used to the changes in the aircraft size. I gripped the base of my jump seat and
shot a look to Annie. She wore the same worried look and her knuckles blanched white as the engine roared in reverse. The thundering noise blasted through the cabin and the force yanked my body against my harness, causing it to dig into my skin. It lasted only a few minutes at most and it dawned on me, I had landed in London.

  “We’re here!” Annie squealed and I grinned right back.

  I unsnapped and held onto the wall handle as we taxied to the gate. “Best get started, the passengers are raring to go.”

  The Cloud 9 Heavy class Boeing 757-200 (75D), held one hundred and ninety-nine passengers and twelve crew, so we had a full house. Annie and I manned the back of the plane with Stephanie and Aliyah. Both young women had also just moved up and shared our excitement of being assigned the overseas route. Stephanie flipped her red hair then got up and stretched. Aliyah, graceful as a gazelle, rose from her chair and yawned hard. Her dark mocha skin stood out against her white blouse.

  “Good grief. I’ll never complain about puddle jumper runs, again. Seven hours… seven freaking hours,” Stephanie moaned and pushed on her lower back. Aliyah and I both laughed.

  “Alright ladies… and ladies,” Annie took command and I flipped her off. “Let’s get these people off the plane and enjoy London, baby.”

  We all groaned, laughed and went to work. It took over thirty minutes to deplane the passengers and do a general tidy up. The cleaning crew would prep it more thoroughly, for the next turn around flight. We would be here until tomorrow evening when we would be the red eye going back. Aliyah and Stephanie had other flights taking them home later that night. I liked working with them and hid my disappointment at not flying back with them. All finished, we grabbed our bags and trudged up the gangway to the gate. The air, warmed for the comfort of the terminal passengers, barely held back the chill of an English winter. The joy of being in my homeland swept over me. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being a U.S. citizen, however, I remember living in the UK and I missed it. The smells of petrol, the people and how they sounded. I wasn’t the only one for a change. The English accent, so familiar, came from every person, in a myriad of variations and I reveled in it.