by Alice Shaw
I frowned a little, trying my hardest to look calm and collected. The sudden rush of adrenaline I felt made it difficult, but it was slowly fading away. Maybe someday we’d address this again, but for now, I was ready to leave.
“Okay,” Riley said, standing to his feet. “Should we head to the food truck?”
“Let’s do it,” I said, flinching at the implication of the words “do it.”
Driving to the food truck, I stared at the sparse landscape. In a way, it reminded me of home. At the ranch, the fields were nearly empty. The only difference was the lack of animals. I missed them so much.
“What are you thinking about?” Riley asked, glancing at my longing eyes.
“Oddly enough, I’m thinking of home. The ranch,” I said, leaning my head against the window.
“You miss it?” Riley asked.
I nodded slowly. “I miss a lot of things. I miss Sonny.”
“Sonny?” Riley’s eyebrows creased upward with curiosity. “Your brother?” he asked.
I laughed. “No, my brother is Andy. Sonny was my horse,” I said. Then, realizing my error, I added, Is. He is my horse.”
We slowly pulled into the back parking lot of the strip along the bay. “You’re a rider?” Riley asked. “I’ve never seen a horse in person. They must look beautiful.”
I perked up, as memories flooded into my mind. My horse was everything to me. My dad bought him five years ago, right when I got out of high school.
I saw that black stallion, and I fell in love immediately. As soon as my father brought him into the stables, I lost control. I ran to the horse, my father screaming at me. “Get back, boy!” my dad yelled. “He’s untamed, dammit!”
I slowed down, knowing how wild horses could get. But as soon as I hovered close to him, our eyes connected. We bonded for a brief moment. Then, Sonny opened his mouth and gave me a huge lick on the cheek.
“Don’t get too used to him,” my dad said. “He won’t be around forever.”
I knew what that meant. To my father, this horse was a possible investment or failure. My eyes shot down toward the bandages on his leg. He was injured.
In the truck with Riley, my heart sank. “They’re the most beautiful creatures in the world,” I muttered fondly. “But I don’t know if I’ll ever get to see that steed again.”
“You’ll see him again,” Riley said. “I can feel it.”
“It’s okay. I’m ready to move forward,” I whispered, feeling the pangs of grief hit my solar plexus, but I didn’t let it wear me down. This time, I kept moving.
The food truck’s surroundings were empty. There wasn’t a soul in sight, except for the shoppers at the other end of the promenade. “Everybody eats on the other side,” Riley said, eyes fixed on the flashy restaurants across the bay.
Despite the beautiful promenade, the area itself felt plastic and stagnant. It was as if the cement statues and fountains were barely standing up, just waiting to come tumbling down.
I looked at the guests on the other side of the bay. A sandbar had been made for the children to play in the water. Jazz musicians lined around the restaurants, playing a happy, buzzing tune. The guests sat at their tables, talking lively.
It looked wonderful, but I knew that wasn’t me. I’d probably never get the chance to sit at one of those tables. And even though a part of me yearned to know what that felt like, I looked away.
“What even is this place?” I asked him.
Riley gave a perplexed look. “You mean, you don’t even know where you are?” he asked.
I scratched the top of my head. “I was about to pass out when I saw the bay. I pulled over and passed out,” I admitted.
“Belleview Bay,” Riley said, arms outstretched in front of him. “The most beautiful city in the world. At least, that’s how they’re trying to make it seem. They’re trying to build it up, but this is really all there is for now. The strip. The water. My crappy food truck. Cute, ain’t it?”
“You are,” I thought to myself. I kept looking at body, the way he tucked in his shirt, just sliding the fabric against his chest. Small tattoos were barely visible on his bicep. I couldn’t look away, and I didn’t care. I wanted him to know I was looking at him.
“It’s nice,’ I said.
I glanced up at the sign of his food truck. “Riley’s Place.” Not exactly the catchiest name, but you didn’t necessarily need pizzazz to sell food out of a truck.
The sign, however, looked weathered and run down. The tables outside were plastic and dirty. The inviting presence just wasn’t there, but maybe I could help him.
“Honestly, if I had it my way, this whole area would be lined with food trucks. If you want a taco, you could get a taco. If you want a crepe, you could get a crepe,” he said, dreaming a little. “I wouldn’t mind the competition. It would help us all grow. A community could form.”
“Shit, I could eat something new everyday!” I exclaimed.
We stepped inside the cold truck. He turned on the light inside. A faint buzzing noise swelled as a small flash of light formed.
“You know, crepes wouldn’t be a bad idea,” I said.
“Yeah, but we can’t specialize around here. They have the crepes across the bay. Fancy stuff too. The tourists love it, so that’s just how it is.”
The way his eyes changed made me fall into his dream. He helped me believe in something better.
“You could do it, Riley. You’re the first one in the area to have this idea. Sure, there’s no culture here now, but the people are here. All you have to do is make them believe,” I said.
“Maybe someday,” he said, looking a bit flustered.
The truck wasn’t far from the shopping center, but it was far enough. Riley frowned as he we both seemed to ponder the same idea. “I’d have to move a little bit closer first. The thing is, the cops would never allow me to. Remember Brady, the cop?”
I nodded, feeling my cheeks turn hot to the touch. “I don’t think I’ll forget that asshole,” I said.
“It’s people like him who push us out. But it’s not his fault either. It’s the people who built this place. They practically own the city,” Riley said. “But as long as I’m five hundred meters away from their high end boutiques, I’m good.”
We’d figure out a way. We had to because, at this point, I was invested in this. I wanted him to succeed. “Come on,” I said. “Why don’t you walk me through the first steps?”
Riley smiled and put his hand on the top of my back. “You’re a good guy, Holden,” he said.
“You’re the one who took me in,” I said. “I haven’t had a real job since… well, forever.”
Riley grabbed the butter from the fridge. In the suitcase he brought, there were some bottles of oil, spices, and other foreign looking objects. Lastly, he placed the stacks of bacon on the table, alongside the eggs.
“If I know any better, we’ll have about twenty customers today. That’s if we’re lucky,” Riley said, somehow still smiling. I got the feeling that he felt blessed to pursue something he loved, even if it didn’t bring him that much income.
Riley continued, “But all of that is okay. You know why?”
I gave a cheesy grin. “Why?” I asked, feeling a bit chipper.
“Because we have good food, friendship, and… music!” Riley spun around and pressed his finger against a stationary Walkman in the corner. The sound of classic rock n’ roll music filled the food truck. It drowned out the sound of the jazz musicians on the other side of the bay.
“The Rolling Stones,” Riley said. “Ever heard of them?”
He clapped his hands loudly and rocked his hips to the side. My eyes hung wide-open, jaw dropping to the floor. I burst out laughing. “The Stones? You’re asking me if I’ve ever heard of the Stones?!”
“Well then, dance with me,” Riley said, winking. He turned on the burners and cracked a few eggs into a bowl. I watched him intently, trying my best to move alongside him, but I felt a little out of place.
“I can’t dance,” I admitted. I glanced down at my bowlegged feet.
“Sure you can. Here, let me show you,” he said, lowering his voice and intensity. He took both of my hands into his. I nearly collapsed against him as I tried to balance with his movements. “We’ll move nice and slow.”
“Nice and slow,” I repeated.
I closed my eyes as he brought me closer to him. I felt my heart start to pound. Riley was older than me. He had to have been around twenty-eight, at the very least. When I felt the weight of his body move me, I felt so small, so vulnerable. Then, I felt his heavy belt buckle against my pelvis.
“Feel my rhythm,” he whispered. I gulped and began to move with him, starting to loosen up. Slowly, but surely, I was dancing. I was really moving! “There you go, Holden!” he exclaimed.
I opened my eyes to his charming smile. I blushed, but I did not look away. I just kept staring, falling into his deep gaze. His eyes were a chocolate brown, with a slight hazel twist. It was starting to get hard to look away.
At that moment, I felt free. All of my worries seemed to drift away. I was charmed by his authenticity. His warmth was comforting and healing. And just when I thought I’d be lost forever, I did something crazy.
I closed my eyes again and slowly leaned my head forward. I didn’t know if this was the right move, but my heart told me to trust him. I had been left so many times before, as people came in and out of my life without any hesitation. This time, everything felt different.
Our lips seemed to move in slow motion. My pulse was racing, but I couldn’t let go. Just as we were about to have the kiss of the century, a loud rumbling noise came from outside of the food truck.
“Riley! You son of a bitch. Good morning!”
I quickly let go, stumbling backward. My back pressed against the aluminum wall. Out of breath and dizzy with confusion, I clasped the front of my shirt and buried my head. Riley instinctually grabbed the butter and pretended to prepare the breakfast.
“Hi-ya, Jared,” Riley said, calmly. “How’s the day treating you?”
A thick man with a large, unkempt beard stepped off of his motorcycle. He combed his clammy hair back with a plastic comb. He looked friendly, and I could only assume he was a repeat customer.
“The wife’s on holiday, so I’m emotional as hell,” Jared said, as he marched forward. “But life is good. I can’t complain about anything. Who’s the kid?”
“Jared, meet Holden. He’s my guest in Belleview Bay,” Riley said. His cheeks had a tinge of red, but he was maintaining his composure well enough. Jared apparently hadn’t seen us in the moment, which was probably for the better.
“Holden,” Jared repeated. “This is that kid you were talking about the other day. Isn’t it?”
I frowned, suddenly feeling like a complete lowlife again. But when Riley looked over at me and winked, I pushed that feeling away. “In the flesh,” I said.
“Shit, Riley. I told you not to pick up any strays around here,” Jared said.
I didn’t smile. “I’m not a kid,” I said, starting to get a bit defensive. I was slimmer than most guys my age, and it was obvious I hadn’t ever been in a fight in my life. But I wasn’t a child.
“And I’m not a stray. I don’t know who you are, but I’ve been through hell and back,” I said. “So, if you’re going to throw around insults, you can get back on that bike and head on home.”
“Don’t fuck with him, Jared. He’s a firecracker,” Riley said, rubbing the small of my back. I looked up at his tall stature in adoration. When he said those words, I felt proud. I tried not to smile, but it was nearly impossible.
“I’m only joking,” Jared said, suddenly turning flustered. “You know that right? Anybody who’s a friend of Riley is a friend of mine.”
Friend. There was that word again. But even after a day of staying with Riley, I felt like we were more than friends. Something was starting to form between us, and it was more than simple camaraderie.
“Sorry for getting riled up,” I said, feeling a bit ashamed. “I’ve sort of had a bad time here since I got in yesterday.”
Riley poured a plastic jug of pancake batter onto a pan. The delicious smell suddenly filled the air around us. “Brady put a wheel clamp on his truck,” Riley said. “Gave him a hundred and fifty dollar ticket. Can you believe it?”
“Fucking asshole,” Jared groaned. “That bastard has been messing with everyone lately. Meanwhile, he spends his time at my bar, loaded up on women and whiskey.”
“You own a bar?” I asked.
He drummed his fingers against the front of the truck. “Best bar in town. Isn’t that right, Riley?” He looked toward Riley for approval.
Riley simply shrugged. “It’s a total shithole,” he said. Then, turning to me, he whispered, “Hey, babe, mind putting the bacon on the skillet?”
I nearly died when the word came out of his mouth, but Riley kept on cooking as if he didn’t even realize what he had just said.
I grabbed two pieces of bacon and placed it on the hot pan. More tantalizing aroma filled the truck, but it wasn’t the food that I was fixed on. Between the smell of cooked bacon and pancake batter was Riley’s scent.
I briefly closed my eyes and breathed in his fragrance. I couldn’t tell if it was cologne that he used, or if that was just how he smelled, but it brought so many images to mind.
I suddenly remembered my first kiss. Our bodies were shrouded by the green bushes at summer camp. I remembered myself in class, smiling at a boy across the room. There were so many images that flooded my mind, and they were all significant. What was going on with me? Was my heat really that strong?
…or maybe I had met my match. Maybe, his hormones were connected to mine.
No. It couldn’t be. That’s not how love worked. Love wasn’t real, anyway. It was a social construct. If you found the right personality, it worked. That’s all. There was no such thing as “true love.”
“Come on. Wake up. Jared slapped the front of the truck loudly. “You’re going to have to slap on more meat than that. Aren’t you teaching this guy, Riley?”
“First day on the job,” I said. “Give me a break, kid.”
Jared pointed and laughed. “I like him,” he said.
Riley snickered. “I like him too.” He squeezed my shoulder lightly and went to get more batter.
The hairs on the back of my neck were standing straight up. I could feel them. And Riley standing right behind me, breath hitting my sensitive skin wasn’t helping the situation.
“Are you cold?” Riley asked. “You have goosebumps running up your neck.”
I let out a quick laugh and pressed my palm hard against the back of my beck. I swallowed hard and made up a quick excuse. “I just get excited when I smell bacon.”
“God, so do I,” Riley said. Good. He didn’t know. Not like it mattered. He knew what I wanted.
Jared sat down as Riley showed me the ropes. The whole time, the tension inside of this small food truck was rising to an unbearable degree. I didn’t know how I was going to last with him next to me this next week, but I did know one thing.
My heat was growing every single day. And despite taking the stupid medication my parents gave me, it was starting to become overpowering. Every time I looked at Riley, I felt small shivers run up and down my spine.
“What?” Riley asked, smiling. Fuck. That smile. He was so charming, and he didn’t even know it.
“Nothing,” I said, blushing. Always blushing. Living with Riley was going to be hard. But that’s exactly what I wanted it to be. Nice and hard.
Chapter Six
Riley
“You know what? Today was nice,” I said as I closed the food truck up. I counted the bills one by one, adding up the day’s minor profit.
“Here’s fifty bucks.” I handed the bills to Holden, knowing he’d refuse.
“No way,” Holden said. His cute eyes squinted against the fading light above the bay. A few seagull
s swooped by, chirping loudly. It was beautiful outside, but Holden held all of my attention.
“You’re charming when you’re defiant,” I said. I winced when the word came from my mouth, wishing I hadn’t pushed things so fast. I never did this, which is why it was so offputting.
“I’m just helping out,” Holden said. “And you’re housing and feeding me. That’s payment enough. Once we get this thing going, I can head back to the ranch.”
The ranch. I tried not to think about it too much, but it was apparent that Holden was intent on leaving here, eventually. Still, we had time to ourselves, so we had to make the most of it.
“Let’s do something tonight,” I said, changing the subject. “Let’s just have a fun night together.”
Holden laughed and bit the edge of his lower lip. Those lips. Fuck.
My mind raced to other images. Before he could answer, I imagined him dropping to his knees, and letting my cock part his mouth open. I could feel his soft tongue slide against my firm shaft.
“The warmth of his mouth must feel so fucking good,” I thought. Before I knew it, I felt my cock start to rise against my thigh, packed down by the hard denim I was wearing.
We almost had our time together. For a brief moment, we nearly kissed. Fucking Jared. He always came at the worst moments.
“What would you want to do? There’s not much that’s around here,” Holden said, looking around at the underlying landscape held up by construction beams.
I pointed to the numerous restaurants across the bay. The look of the lights along the water was stunning. There was an urge inside of me. I needed to escape with Holden, just for one day.
What was going on with my head? Ever since I met Holden, I couldn’t stop with these ideas. When I looked at him, I wanted to do intense things with him. I wanted to run away to the ends of the earth, to say “fuck it” to everything, and to hear him call for me.
“You want to go there?” Holden looked shocked. “They never gave you a shot, Riley. Screw them!”