Chapter 16
Mateo
“I’m back.” I holler into the bar, knowing that Betts is in the back room gathering up supplies for the evening. The week has flown by, and I’m actually surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed working at the bar. Staying busy has kept my mind off a lot of things. And for the first time in weeks, I’m not anxious for this life to be over.
But in the back of my mind, there’s always Chase.
I don’t know why but I can’t stop missing him. Even though I told him to leave me alone, I keep wishing he would call so I could hear his voice. But no matter how much fun we could have for the short-term, that will still end in the same way. He could never be a long-term situation for me. Or rather, I’d never be a long-term situation for him.
It’s better if he doesn’t call. He’ll just want to know how things are in L.A., and I’ll have to lie and say that I’ve found a great job and lots of new friends. I chuckle to myself when I realize that last part is true. I have found a job that’s kinda great…and a few new friends.
At least for now, I think I’m going to stick around and help Betts until her normal bartender comes back. Then I’ll be ready to end my struggles in this world. The bar scene is pretty much what you’d expect in a small town like Galley’s Gulch. The usual crowd of workers come in after they get off work and before heading home.
I’ve even learned a few of their names.
Some of the women who come in seem excited to see a young guy behind the bar instead of just the two women. And male or female, positive attention is never a bad thing
The tips have been nice, but I always leave them for Betts. She needs the cash more than I do. For the most part, there’s been a steady flow of customers every night. But Fridays must be the busy night because the usual working crowd doesn’t come in right away. Most of those guys don’t come in until around eight o’clock. And there are a lot of people I haven’t seen before who all pile into the small dive bar.
Bets and I stay busy all night long. This town doesn’t allow alcohol sales after midnight, so at eleven, even more people crowd the place, trying to get their last drinks before everything closes. Between wiping down tables and keeping everyone’s glasses filled, I’m exhausted when Betts finally yells out, “Last call.”
There are people everywhere, and it takes me a minute to realize it when someone grabs my hand. “Yeah? What can I get you?” I look up into the beautiful green eyes I noticed the first night I was here. His dark hair is smoothed back and his smile lights up the entire room.
“For now? Or later?” he asks with a chuckle.
“Um...” I don’t really know what to say. He’s clearly flirting, but it’s so unexpected that I’m left speechless.
“How about a Bud Light for now? And then, you can let me take you home later.”
I nod in stunned silence. Is he suggesting an anonymous hookup? Is he just being nice? I’ve never really been the guy in a bar who gets picked up. I’ve always been the one soliciting or hitting on others. This is all new to me.
Obviously, he’s just looking for a good time in this small town where hardly anyone appears to be gay. And if they are, you wouldn’t know it by looking at them. A boulder forms in my belly as I continue working, trying to decide what to do. I don’t actually care about hooking up with this guy. If I did, I’d be imagining he was Chase the entire time. Yes, he’s attractive but I’m not interested in him at all. But maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe that’s what I need. If I sleep with a few strangers who mean nothing to me, maybe that will help erase Chase, the one man who has ever really meant anything to me, from my mind. Maybe this will help me move on the way I keep asking Chase to move on.
The man sits at the bar this time, nursing his beer. Betts and I work together to get the bar closed down and everything washed up as quickly as possible so we can both get out. But when the last few people head out, I realize the mystery man is no longer there.
Oh, well. It’s probably for the best. I couldn’t even get a hardon thinking about hooking up with him tonight. If I tried and failed, that would just be pathetic.
After the chairs are on the tables and everything is put away, Betts and I step outside and say our goodbyes. I’m walking toward the hotel when I hear a voice call out.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
Startled, I turn back and notice the guy sitting on his Harley at the edge of the parking lot. “Hi. I thought you left.”
“Just needed some air.” He holds up a brain bucket helmet and cocks his head. “Want a ride?”
“Actually, I’m staying here. But thanks.” I glance at the motel behind him.
He looks disappointed and continues to hold up the helmet. “Oh, come on. It’s a nice night. We can just cruise around for a while and I’ll bring you right back here.”
I hesitate for a second before giving in. “Sure. That sounds fine.”
“Excellent.” His eyes sparkle, making me feel a little better about what I’m about to do. “I’m...”
“Nope. No names. Let’s just let what happens happen. Okay?”
“Sure.” He pats the seat behind him and cranks the bike. It roars to life, and when I get on it, the vibrations remind me how much I miss my own. He takes off, letting the wind whip past us as he heads toward the edge of town. I’m not sure where we’re going, and I don’t really care.
Once we’re beyond the city limits, he pulls off the road, letting the engine die. There’s a bit of light coming from a street light across the highway, so we can still see, but we’re far enough away that our little outdoor tryst will go unnoticed.
I hop off the bike first, taking a look at the stars above us. “I miss riding. Especially on nights like this.”
“You like to ride?” He slides his hand in the front of his pants, adjusting his growing cock. Apparently, he’s not talking about the bike anymore. He pulls his shirt up, revealing his firm and muscular chest and six-pack abs. “You can ride this.”
So he likes to play games... I guess if I’m going to do this, I have to play along. “Yeah. I do.”
“Come get it.” His smirk is a mix of lust and conceit. He reminds me of a client from The Vault. This should be easy enough. I’ve done it a million times before.
With a resigned sigh and a fake leer, I step forward, reaching out to caress his body. His smooth skin almost glows under the moonlight as he flexes his muscles, showing off for me.
“That’s hot,” I say, inching closer to him.
“I’ll show you hot.” His eyes twinkle again but there’s something dark about the look he’s giving me. Then he releases his shirt. He’s a tease.
“I don’t get to touch?” I ask playfully.
“I want to touch you first.” He smiles, his white teeth gleaming in the moonlight.
“Okay.”
His arm raises, but the gentle touch I expect doesn’t come. Instead, it’s a sucker punch to my face that takes my breath away.
“Fuck!” I scream out, stumbling backwards. Another punch comes from the left, causing me to lose my balance and fall to the ground. Then the shuffling sound of feet is followed by a kick to my stomach and then my head. I’m not sure how many come my way, but they hurt like hell. “Stop. Please...” I cry out for mercy, but he doesn’t stop.
“Fucking faggot. We don’t like your kind around here. So, let this be a lesson. Get the fuck out of here.” He bends over me, replacing his feet with his fists as he drives them into my sides. One hits the side of my face, and I’m sure I hear my jaw crack.
His final punch is followed by a wad of spit on my face. “Goddamn queers. You’re lucky I don’t kill you.”
The next sound I hear is the revving of his bike as he speeds away, leaving me lying in the dirt, broken and bruised...and all alone.