“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin
1.
Austin lay back, naked, cock rock hard, and spread his legs so Hayes could move on him. Cock rubbed against his thigh then slid alongside his own cock.
“Fuck,” Austin uttered breathlessly and he felt Hayes put cock against his opening.
“Austin,” Hayes whispered as he pushed into him.
Austin shivered as he stretched to take the cock. He took his legs behind the knees and pulled them back, spread apart as cock bore into his depths. He watched how Hayes moved, the hips working cock inside him until his own hovering over his abdomen began to leak.
He felt every inch as Hayes fucked slowly, pushed inward nearly all the way, then tugged outward until only the head remained inside him. The slow push and tug of his tight opening pushed his arousal, and he tilted his head back and moaned. He took Hayes fuck until he wanted it to be faster. He needed it to be faster.
“Hayes; fuck me. Fuck me harder.”
Hayes grabbed his ankles and spread his legs wide apart as he increased his pace, vigorously hammering cock into Austin’s depths. The cheap bed began to rock in its frame, squeaking in rhythm to their fuck.
“Fuck!” Hayes exclaimed, as he slid hands down the calves until holding Austin’s legs behind the knees. He pushed the legs forward then down until thighs were tight to the chest. He bore down on them and fucked harder.
The bed began to tap the wall as it rocked beneath them. Hayes held himself over Austin, working his hips with a brutal pace. At times he pulled completely out of Austin only to slam back into the stretched opening. He fucked and fucked until his body glistened with sweat.
“Hayes,” Austin uttered as he rocked with their fuck. His own cock flopped against his stomach between his thighs as Hayes fucked relentlessly.
Hayes eased down on top of him, bear hugged him, cocooning his smaller body frame, while pumping cock into his depths. Hips ground against upturned ass and the bed settled to a squeaking.
“Fuck!” Hayes exclaimed as he pushed into Austin all the way and shuddered with release.
Hayes lay between his legs sucking his cock. Austin watched how Hayes held it up, licking the drooling head and down the shaft. He watched him lick his nut sack, working them around then tugging on one making him shiver. He watched Hayes slip lips over the head of his cock and descend, inch after inch disappearing in the mouth until Hayes had over half of it.
He was too aroused to hold back. Being fucked pushed him to the edge and now he felt his body respond to the mouth on his cock. How muscle tightened, toes curled, and he was gasping for breath.
“I’m going to cum,” Austin exclaimed.
The mouth descended further than before and Austin came, pumping cum down the throat then filled the mouth as it moved up holding just the spurting head.
Austin bathed Hayes, ran soapy hands over the muscular body. Hayes was six foot two inches tall, and at least one hundred eighty, maybe ninety pounds. He knew Hayes worked out regularly, wondering what it was like to afford such an extravagance. He watched Hayes push dark brown hair back, looking into the green eyes wondering how Hayes viewed him.
He ran soapy hands down the chest, over the impossibly flat stomach to the now flaccid cock. He pictured it erect, every bit of eight or nine inches. He pictured how the head became such a flared form and the long hanging nuts would tighten in their sac.
In every way, Hayes was better, bigger, more masculine than he. He was average in every way. Five foot ten inches tall, average build at one hundred fifty-five pounds and a cock that got a little over six inches long when erect. Everyone said his best feature was his sandy blonde hair, but they were wrong. He knew his best feature, the one Hayes had pointed out when they had first met, was his vivid blue eyes.
Hayes took the soap and began to bathe him, running hands over his body. He stood out of the spray and let the hands move freely over him. Hayes smiled, gave him a quick kiss, then playfully soaped his cock and nuts.
Austin couldn’t believe they had only been dating for two months. They had met at Sean’s Pub, the small gay bar in the Elizabeth neighborhood. He had seen Hayes come into the bar with two friends and found himself staring at him, thinking there was no way. Not in a million years would someone like that give him the time of day, so it had been a surprise to find Hayes next to him at the bar asking him his name and buying him a drink.
An hour later, Hayes followed him to his apartment, a small one-bedroom in one of the older complexes on the west side of town. It was a place he could afford. He wondered how Hayes would view it as they left Sean’s. He had walked toward his nearly thirty-year-old Jeep Cherokee only to be relieved to see Hayes going to an even older FJ Toyota.
Nice Jeep. This thing will last forever, Hayes had said and he had complemented him on the old FJ. Yeah, I love that old thing, Hayes had replied.
Over the next two months, Hayes came to his apartment, mostly on weekends, for it seemed his job had him traveling a great deal. Hayes had been vague about his work, saying it was in financing and had him constantly sucking up to businessmen. Austin just knew the job was far better than his job as a salesman for an auto parts store. He had a high school diploma and enough smarts to know his lot in life would not be easy. He had to work his ass off to make ends meet.
Austin didn’t know why Hayes never invited him to his place, assuming there might be a roommate. As he dried the muscular body, he wanted to ask, come up with a reason for Hayes to invite him to his place.
“Can you stay the night,” Austin asked instead. It was so rare when Hayes stayed overnight.
“I wish I could, but I have to be up early in the morning and catch a flight to Seattle.”
“Seattle?”
“Yep. I hate the flight, especially the one I have in the morning, flying through Phoenix.”
“Why do you have to fly out on Sunday?”
“I have meetings early Monday morning.”
“When will you be back?” Austin knew how he sounded. Almost jealous of the time others were able to command Hayes’ time.
“Thursday night. I have to go from Seattle to Chicago before flying back. What time do you get off work Friday?”
“I have to close,” Austin replied, hating how their schedules seemed never to align.
“Why don’t I come over and prepare something simple for a late dinner?”
“That would be nice.”
Austin stood at the window, towel wrapped around his waist, as he watched the old FJ pull away. He had Sunday and Monday off and Hayes would be gone. He shook his head and stepped away from the window thinking how life was anything but fair.
2.
Austin came out of the parts store to find Hayes sitting in the parking lot. It was a warm night, the sky clear with the halfmoon hovering over the eastern horizon, and Hayes had the top and doors off the old FJ.
“Is your Cherokee still in the shop?” said Hayes.
“Yes, but I’ll pick it up in the morning,” said Austin. The Cherokee had stalled out the day before and refused to crank. The mechanic said it was a simple fix, but what troubled Austin was the cost. He had to dig into his savings or use his credit card, neither were a good option for someone living paycheck to paycheck.
“Come on, jump in. I’ll take you home.”
While Austin took a shower and put on clean clothes, Hayes prepared a simple pasta dish with sauteed vegetables. They sat in the living area on the sofa to eat. Austin had not bought a dining table which made the apartment feel too open, as if he had not really moved in. Austin put on music through his old laptop for television reception was bad with the small antenna and no cable connection, and they ate talking about their week.
“The meetings in Seattle went well, but the one in Chicago was a fucking disaster. I’m going to catch hell over it, I know it,” said Hayes. “What about you? How was your week?”
“It was fine. Well, other than the Jeep stalling out on me yesterday and on Tuesday I had this guy accuse me of selling him the wrong part, even though he had given me the wrong engine size in his Chevy truck.”
“Really, he didn’t know the size of his engine?”
“Nope, but it was my fault the belt didn’t fit.”
“What did Bill say?” Hayes asked, referring to Austin’s manager.
“Told me not to worry about it for it happened all the time.”
“I don’t know how you deal with the public.”
“And you don’t?”
“Yeah, but I’m dealing with people who know they have their necks stuck out too far, so there is some give and take on their part,” Hayes joked.
“Thanks,” said Austin.
“For what?”
“For coming over and cooking, and…just listening to me complain.”
“My pleasure,” Hayes replied and he leaned over and gave Austin a kiss on the cheek. “If you are finished, I’ll do the dishes.”
“No, you cooked and I can do them.”
“How about I wash, and you dry.”
“Deal,” said Austin with a smile.
Austin was on his knees and elbows, feet hanging off the bed, ass right up to the edge of it taking Hayes’ fuck. He rocked with it, the physical nature of it moving him in that familiar rhythm. His own cock swung heavily between his thighs as Hayes pumped cock into his depths.
A hand slid up his back then back down it. A smack to the right ass cheek and Austin moaned while pushing his ass back on the cock. Hayes took him by the waist and fucked harder, faster, until the bed rocked and squeaked and hips smacked against ass.
“Fuck. Don’t’ stop,” uttered Austin.
Hayes kept fucking, didn’t slow. He hammered Austin’s insides until Austin’s cock dripped precum. He pulled out and stepped back. “Roll over.”
Austin flipped to his back and held his legs behind the knees, up and apart. He watched Hayes stroke a hard cock, them move to him. The cock raked across his ass, centered on his stretched opening, and sank into it all the way.
“OH, fuck,” Austin exclaimed.
Hayes held his legs and fucked. Fucked hard. Fucked until sweat trickled down face and chest, and he took it. Took every thrust while stroking his own cock. He felt it, the need for release.
“I’m going to cum,” exclaimed Austin.
“Do it. Do it for me,” uttered Hayes as he kept fucking.
With cock pumping into his depths, Austin stroked his slick cock until shuddered with release. He cried out and shook with every ejaculation as cock moved through his spasming opening. Cum hit his chin, the roped up his chest, and rained down on his stomach.
Hayes pushed his legs down until thighs smeared cum over his chest, and resumed fucking. Fucking with urgency, hips smacking against his ass.
“Oh…Austin…” Hayes uttered breathlessly, then he shoved into Austin’s depths and jerked and shook as he filled him with his load.
They stood under the warm spray of the shower, bodies clean and muscles relaxed, their exertions finally revealing their fatigue.
“Can you stay tonight?” asked Austin.
“I’m sorry. I have a meeting at seven in the morning in Raleigh with the board of directors.”
“Seven, on a Saturday? Are you serious?”
“Yes. It seems two are flying out for Singapore and want to meet before leaving, so everyone has to be there at seven.”
“Why you?”
“Austin…I’ll explain it to you one day. It’s complicated,” said Hayes as he turned off the shower. “I need to get dressed and go.”
3.
Austin came out of his apartment to run to the grocery store. He locked the door and moved to the stairs looking over the adjacent building at the clear blue sky. It was Sunday and he wished Hayes were there. There had been a phone call early the previous morning.
Hey, Austin, I have to go with one of the directors to Singapore. I’ll be gone for a week, maybe longer. I’ll call you when I get back.
Austin moved down the stairs wondering about Hayes’ job. What did he do exactly. He wasn’t sure. He wasn’t even sure of the company name, just that it involved financing and investments. He had thought Hayes was just an employee, someone low on the totem pole of hierarchy, but over the last week he had begun to wonder. A trip to Seattle, then Chicago, now a flight to the other side of the world for meetings in Singapore. Who had business in Singapore? It didn’t make sense. Hayes drove an FJ that was over forty years old and was typically dressed casually, jeans, T-shirts, simple pullovers or a plaid shirt.
On the sidewalk, Austin followed it to the drive, his Cherokee parked on the opposite side. He was approaching the end of the walk ready to cross the drive when a black Mercedes Benz pulled up. It was the big sedan, and it came to stop with the driver’s window where he stood. It lowered and a man behind the wheel turned to him.
“Are you Austin Jacobs?”
“Yes, but whose asking?”
“Mrs. Marshall wants to meet with you.”
“Mrs. Marshall? Hayes mother?”
“Yes. Get in.”
Austin sat in the back seat looking from the back of the driver’s head to the passing scenery. They were in a neighborhood he had only heard about, never visited, for it was too opulent and exclusive for someone like him. The driver turned, taking them deeper into it until they were motoring past large homes with vast yards, some larger than the property his apartment complex sat upon.
They came to a drive with stone pillars holding decorative metal gates, and the driver slowed to a stop waiting for the gates to swing open, then he eased along the asphalt drive. Austin was stunned they were going to what could only be described as a mansion. A residence people called an estate, not a house. The driver pulled to the front parking on a paver stoned court and came around opening the door for him.
“Sir, this way.”
Austin followed him to the large front door, and he looked up estimating the door had to be nine or ten feet tall. It was swung open noiselessly and he followed the driver into a large foyer. Marble floor, two stories in height, with a grand staircase that curved up to the second floor.
“This way,” said the driver, leading Austin through double doors to the right. It was a library, a true library with walls lined with shelves filled with books and in front of him a large wood desk. Leather armchairs sat in front of it, but what really caught his eye was the woman sitting behind it. Late forties, hair pulled back, wearing a jacket over a white blouse, and she was focused on a computer screen. He approached cautiously wondering what was going on. Why had Hayes kept this from him. It didn’t make sense.
“Mr. Jacobs, please take a seat.”
The voice was commanding despite its feminine tone. He moved to the right armchair and sat.
“You wanted to see me?”
“Yes, Mr. Jacobs,” she replied, finally looking up to face him. “I’m sorry we have to meet like this but my son…”
She inhaled and sat back looking frustrated. “I know my son and have allowed his dalliances but…”
Austin realized she was choosing her words carefully.
“Hayes is my youngest son, and therefore we’ve not held him to the same level of responsibility as Stephen and Bradley. But the family and its investments can no longer afford Hayes recklessness.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry, that was rather rude. But Mr. Jacobs, Hayes has certain responsibilities and it is past time he begins to live up to them.”
“And I’m…a dalliance?”
“Yes.”
“I…” Austin was stumped. Everything was too much to take in. The estate, the obvious wealth behind it, and Hayes’ mother who seemed more formidable than most men he knew.
He looked down trying to work out what to say. She was telling him they had to stop seeing each other. He looked up to protest and saw a white envelope being slid across the desk until it was in front of him.
“I know what I’m asking may seem unfair to someone like you, but there is no other way. This should be some compensation.”
“Compensation? For me to break up with Hayes?”
“Yes. It’s best if you break up with him. I’m afraid the family forcing him to do it won’t do and Hayes does seem smitten with you. But you must realize by now you are not suitable for my son.”
Austin was stunned at the suggestion but another part of him was wondering the same thing. Maybe she was right. It would never work, not in the long term, and it was best he ended it. He looked at the envelope not liking what it represented in the bargain with Mrs. Marshall.
“I know it seems rather unsavory but do take the envelope. Just consider it some small compensation for coming to an arrangement that benefits all of us.”
“This is insane,” Austin whispered.
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing. Can I be taken back home now?”
“Yes, of course. I do thank you for coming to meet with me.”
Austin stood and turned to leave.
“Mr. Jacobs.”
He turned to see what else she wanted to say. She pointed at the envelope. “Go on, do take it.”
Austin picked up the envelope and headed toward the foyer where the driver waited.
Austin sat on his sofa staring at the envelope. It lay where he dropped it on the coffee table, still unopened. He knew it had to be money. A bribe to get him to break up with Hayes. It infuriated him. It made him feel embarrassed to be considered so lacking. He knew in Mrs. Marshall’s eyes he was sorely lacking in every way. Is this why Hayes had not given him any insight into his life? Was he just a dalliance, a fling with someone poor just to see what it was like.
With shaking hand, he picked up the envelope and slipped the flap open. He saw the top edge of a check and slipped it out. It was made out to him using his full name: Charles Austin Jacobs. How much did she know about him, he wondered as he looked at the name of the account: Marshall Enterprises, LLC, then the amount. In a neat cursive handwriting, the check was made out for ten thousand dollars.
Is that what his relationship with Hayes had been valued? Is that what was deemed appropriate to end it. Ten thousand dollars was a lot of money to him, but in so many ways it was lacking in any real compensation. He was suddenly consumed by anger. He had not gone out with Hayes looking to be taken care of nor did he think he deserved to be treated in this manner. He slipped the check back into the envelope and tossed it back onto the coffee table. He sat back and exhaled.
It would be a week or longer before he could talk to Hayes about it. If Hayes happened to call in the meantime, he would pretend nothing was wrong and just ask when he was getting back.
4.
Austin drove across town heading to the restaurant where he was to meet Hayes. He had suggested they grab dinner for letting Hayes into his apartment when he had to break up with him seemed more than he could handle. He knew Hayes might push back, try to get him to change his mind, or at least he hoped that was the case. Otherwise, it meant Hayes’ mother was more correct about their relationship that he wanted to admit.
In the parking lot he saw the old FJ and wondered if it was a decoy, a vehicle Hayes used to hide his wealth. Was there another vehicle in a garage somewhere, one nice and new? A Ferrari or a Porsche, or maybe a Lamborghini. He pulled into a parking space near the back of the lot and away from Hayes’ FJ. He climbed out and put on his blue sports coat, so he had a place to put the envelope.
Entering the restaurant, he saw Hayes at the bar, a cocktail in front of him.
“Hey, you want to get a drink first, or should we go ahead and get a table?”
“Let’s get a table.”
Austin knew his tone was all wrong. He was letting Hayes know something was not right.
“What’s wrong?” asked Hayes.
“Let’s get seated and we can talk.” Austin made it sound like it could be something from work.
“Okay,” Hayes replied, but he didn’t sound as sure of it.
The hostess took them to a table along the front wall; one positioned at one of the large windows. Austin frowned because it would feel like they were on display.
“Okay, tell me what’s wrong.”
“Last Saturday I had a big Mercedes pull up at my apartment and the driver informed me Mrs. Marshall, your mother wanted to meet with me.”
“Oh shit…no. Please tell me you refused.”
“Hayes, how could I refuse. And…why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to tell you everything, but I’ve had a problem with guys wanting to go out with me because of my family and the money, and...” The voice trailed off, Hayes seeming to understand his mistake.
Austin sighed, knowing Hayes was going to say that. He had a week to think about it, and it was the only thing that made sense to him. He looked down, fighting for the courage to continue. Hayes’ reply changed nothing. He took the envelope out of his jacket pocket and set it on the table between them.
“Oh no, she…shit mother what are you doing?” Hayes uttered to himself.
“It’s a ten-thousand-dollar check.”
Hayes nodded.
“It is a lot of money to me, but…is this what our relationship is worth? Is this the monetary value of it?”
“Austin, don’t. Please, stop. Let me talk to her—”
“Hayes, this really angered me at first. But you know what? She’s right. I’m not good enough for you.” Austin pushed the envelope toward him. “Give this to your mother and tell her I did as I promised and didn’t need some bribe to do it.”
“Austin?”
“I’m sorry, Hayes. I really like you and hoped….” Austin stood up and looked toward the front door. He just had to get out of the door and to his Cherokee and this would be over. Once back at his apartment, he could take time to be saddened and angry about it, then move on.
“Austin, let’s talk about this. I don’t think of you as not good enough. I want—”
“Hayes, the first time I meet anyone in your family, I’m told to break up with you and given that,” said Austin pointing at the check. “It’ll only get worse if…I can’t…I don’t want to be treated like this. And what hurts the most, is your mother is right.”
Austin walked toward the door as quickly as he could while not drawing attention to himself. He pushed through it and out into the sunlight and staggered. He sped up, rushed to his Cherokee and climbed in. As he was pulling away, Hayes ran out and tried to stop him, but he swerved to miss him and drove recklessly out into the street, causing someone to have to brake and blow the horn at him.
Hayes pulled up to the rear of his childhood home, the house that most would describe as a mansion, or at best, an estate. He rushed in through the French doors into the living area the family utilized most often finding it empty. He went to the foyer, his footsteps echoing in the high-ceilinged room, and through the double doors to the library.
His mother looked up and she didn’t look surprised to see him. She was expecting him.
“Why do you continue to meddle in my life?” Hayes barked as he came up to the desk.
“I’m doing you a favor.”
“A favor? Bullshit. You’re more concerned with the family’s reputation and investments than my well-being.”
“That is not true.”
“Really?”
“Your well being is of utmost importance. It is important for the family—”
“Don’t give me the speech about family and our business being too intertwined to consider separately. I heard you give that speech to Bradley to get him to break up with Sarah McCullough.”
“But—”
Hayes saw his mother blanched as he took out the envelope and lay it on the desk. “Austin said he didn’t need your bribe.”
“He didn’t cash it?” She sounded truly surprised.
“Not everyone can be bought; mother.”
Hayes turned and walked toward the door.
“Hayes, we need to talk.”
“I think you have talked enough, mother,” said Hayes and he pushed through the double doors then roughly closed them behind him.
Mrs. Marshall looked at the envelope then at the closed double doors. She had never seen Hayes so defiant, but then again, of her three boys, Hayes had always been the most independent. The one to challenge her. At times she wished he was more like Stephen who acquisition to her every demand, but she knew Hayes defiance was something she had to admire for it reminded her of herself. She looked at the envelope for it was something else that challenged her. She had never had someone refuse money from her. She picked up the envelope and took the check out. She frowned, wondering if Hayes would accept the breakup. What could that boy do for him. There was no benefit in their relationship. She tore the check, then tore it again. She tore it until it was small pieces, then let them fall from her hand into the waste basket.
She looked out the window in time to see Hayes pull away in that old Toyota. She hated it. Numerous times she had tried to get Hayes to get rid of it, going so far as to buy him a Range Rover. Hayes had gotten rid of the Range Rover. At least he kept the little Mercedes his father bought him a few years ago. She wondered if she should offer to trade it for a new one. Maybe that would help Hayes get over that boy.
5.
It had been two days, and Hayes still felt angry with his mother. Stephen had called him the night after the confrontation wanting to know what mother had done this time, and he told him. Stephen was the oldest, the one who bent to their mother’s will the most, feeling an obligation to do so, but when it came to Hayes, Stephen agreed it didn’t make sense their mother was so concerned about who he dated. She eventually accepted he was gay but still clung to the notion he needed to be with someone who benefited the family and in turn their businesses.
Hayes paced around his home, angry with himself for not bringing Austin to it sooner, for it made him look as guilty as his mother. It had not been what he intended. He tried to call Austin and found his calls were blocked. He drove by Austin’s apartment a few times, even late the night before, and each time the Cherokee was not in the parking lot and the apartment was dark.
Austin’s family was two hours away in some small town and he wondered if Austin would go there for a few days, but a phone call to the auto parts store found Austin was there working his normal shift. He went to the store to catch Austin getting off work only to find Austin had left early. It was frustrating how Austin kept slipping through his fingers, always one step ahead of him.
His cellphone rang and he saw it was Bradley.
“Hey, are you back from Geneva?”
Yes. God the place was overrun with tourist. But Austin, how are you? Stephen told me what mother has done.
“Good news travels fast.”
Come on, Hayes. I don’t know who you were dating since you kept them sequestered away from us, but was he important?
“I think so.”
Stephen said he didn’t take some money mother offered him.
“That’s right.”
Well, if he could afford to tell her no, then I don’t know why—
“That’s just it; he could really use the money.”
Damn, a man of principles.
Hayes laughed while feeling like he could cry.
Have you talked to him?
“I can’t get in contact with him. He’s blocked my number and it appears he is staying somewhere other than his apartment.”
I could see it really hurting him.
“It appears…”
What?
“I’ve got to go.”
Hayes rushed to the garage and to the 95 SL500, the car his father had given him. He loved to drive it but refrained when he worried about how some would look at him. None more so than Austin. He had used the FJ sitting in the next bay when meeting Austin, never the SL500. He unlocked the door, unconcerned about how it would look this time for he was in a hurry. He had to come clean with Austin if he hoped to make things right.
As he backed out of the garage, he considered the irony of how a thirty-year-old car was still considered such an upper-class vehicle, but then again, the old car saw its value increase. When he pulled into the street, he accelerated briskly until pushing just past the limit.
He rushed across the city as fast as he dared, taking routes that provided the fewest traffic signals, until finally pulling into the apartment complex. Two guys were out taking their dogs for a walk and Hayes saw the look, one questioning what he was doing at their complex. He was on the wrong side of town, but Hayes didn’t care how they viewed his arrival. He eased along the main drive, then turned on the one leading to Austin’s place. He drove past the building with Austin’s apartment and circled around to the back side. He eased along slowly, making another turn that had him running parallel to the drive in front of Austin’s place. He knew the buildings lining the drives had a green space between them, an amenity Austin’s apartment didn’t afford him. But it wasn’t the buildings he was looking at. He was about halfway down the drive, the intersection to the main entry drive just ahead of him when he saw it: Austin’s Jeep Cherokee. It meant Austin was home despite the dark windows.
He circled back around and parked near Austin’s apartment and made his way up to the third floor. He listened at the door then leaned over the railing looking for any light spilling around the curtains covering the windows. The bedroom window had a light on, one that barely lit up the small gap, and he knew it was the lamp on the nightstand.
Hayes took a deep breath, then knocked, firmly, three raps against the metal door embossed to look like a traditional wood door. He waited, hearing no movement inside, then knocked again, this time six firm raps.
“Come on, Austin, open up so we can talk,” Hayes said as loud as he dared. Then lower, not loud enough for Austin to hear if in his bedroom, “please open the door.”
Austin had been in the kitchen when the first knock came. He eased the refrigerator door closed and moved through the dark room to the door. He looked through the peephole seeing Hayes standing at it. He grimaced, then turned to go to his bedroom, but something held him back. He wanted to open the door. He wanted Hayes to explain it to him, make everything make sense. He eased down to the floor and sat back against the door. He felt the harsh vibration of the second knock through his skull then Hayes call out to him.
It was too soon. He wasn’t ready to discuss it. No matter how tempted he was to open the door, he couldn’t do it. Then he heard the soft plea. “…please open the door.” Tears trickled down his cheeks as he waited for Hayes to give up.
“Okay, Austin, I’ll give you more time, but I need to talk to you. Call me when you’re ready,” said Hayes through the door.
Austin heard Hayes walk away and make his way down the stairs. He sat on the floor and began to tap his head against the door. “What are you going to do, Austin Jacobs,” he whispered to himself. Hayes’ effort to get in touch with him spoke to some seriousness on his part, but Austin wasn’t sure it was enough. That white envelope sliding across the desk to him, a payoff to break up with Hayes, showed how the Marshall’s considered him. Just something to pay to get lost.
Hayes drove around the city, through downtown and around a few of the surrounding neighborhoods, just easing along with traffic trying to decide what he was going to do. While sitting at a traffic light, he pulled up Bradley.
Hey Hayes, what’s up?
“There’s something I want you to do for me, if you have time.”
Sure, name it.
6.
Bradley went to the outbuilding that had been the old carriage house. He opened the doors for the right bay, swinging them outward revealing a 1978 Range Rover. It was archaic, the white paint faded with scratches and small dents from years of use. It had been his grandfather’s, an impulsive purchase, a friend of a friend had had it up for sale. It was bought for the property up in the North Carolina mountains, used for hunting and surveying the acreage until his grandfather decided he needed something more reliable with an automatic transmission. Bradley had been sentimental about the old thing, the vehicle he learned to drive in, so he had bought it. He had intended to refurbish it but all he did was get the engine serviced then drive it for fun during the last five years.
He looked at it thinking of how it was going to come in handy with his mission. It had begun to run rough, idling poorly and stalling at times. As he moved to the driver’s door he thought of Hayes’ request.
Can you go to the parts store and see if Austin will talk to you. If I go, he will hide in back or slip out a back door. He’s avoiding me so maybe you can get in front of him.
With the engine running, lightly pumping the gas to keep it running, he made a mental list of what he was going to buy. Oil, oil filter, air filter, plugs, and wires. He thought the plugs and wires would be the fix for the engine. The SUV in reverse, he eased out into the bright sunlight, smiling at taking it out for a drive.
He eased through the neighborhood, then out on the main road that would take him back toward downtown. He kept right, maintaining just enough speed to keep up with traffic. He had the windows down letting the swirling wind circulate inside the cabin.
After twenty minutes, he pulled into the parking lot of the auto parts store. A man in a minivan pulled out of a space right in front and he waited for him to pull away, then slipped into the space. He shut off the engine as he looked through the storefront at the two guys behind the counter that sat perpendicular the storefront. Then he saw Austin Jacobs come up to one of them asking a question, then moved away out of sight, the reflection on the windows not letting him see all the way into the space.
He swung the door open hearing it squeak (that needs oiling he thought) then climbed out. He ambled into the store rehearsing what he was going to say. He picked up a blue basket and headed to the section for oil while checking out Austin at the last register away from the storefront. He was ringing up two young Latinos who were buying a belt.
Back at the counter, he watched the two Latinos walk away and quickly moved to Austin’s register.
“Did you find everything you need?” said Austin.
“There are a couple of other things I need. Oil filter, air filter, plugs, and wires,” said Bradley as he set the blue basket on the counter.
“Vehicle make and model and we can look it up for you.”
“It’s that old Range Rover out there, a 1978 model.”
“Oh, we may not have what you need. I’ll check. What engine is in it?”
“The 3.5 with the manual transmission…if that makes a difference.”
“It does,” Austin replied, eyes glued to the computer screen. He frowned and Bradley smiled, knowing the store would not have what he needed.
“I guess I’ll be swinging by the dealership,” said Bradley with a humorous tone.
“Sorry, but between the age and model, it is not something we carry parts for.”
“Well, there is one other thing you can help me with. Might I ask when you get off for lunch?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry, this is rude of me, but I’m afraid I had no choice. My brother has been—”
“Your Hayes brother,” Austin interrupted.
“Why, yes, I’m Bradley, the middle one. I’d love to buy your lunch somewhere and just talk a minute.”
Bradley saw the rejection coming, saw it in the eyes and the way Austin stepped back as if to run.
“Go on Austin, we’re slow now, get that free lunch,” said the man at the next register.
“But I’m not scheduled to go until one.”
“I’ll swap with you. It’s not everyday someone offers to buy you lunch.”
Bradley saw it. Austin didn’t want to go to lunch with him. But there was resignation too, and Austin just nodded then looked back at him.
“I’ll go clock out and meet you out front. There’s a Mexican place in the center next door that is good.”
“Sounds good; I’ll wait for you outside,” said Bradley.
Bradley hadn’t been in such a restaurant since his trip to Mexico City a month ago. Most places he dined had linen table clothes and wait staff impeccably dressed. But to Austin’s dismay he was just as comfortable in such a place, often finding them as good as the high dollar restaurants that had to keep up appearances.
Looking across the table at Austin in his work shirt and jeans, he knew it was all about appearances; the reason he was here to speak on behalf of his younger brother.
“What do you want to say?” said Austin, as the waitress set their drinks on the table.
Bradley waited until she went back to the kitchen to reply. “First of all, we want to apologize for what our mother did to you. She is so…consumed with appearances and business. Everything has to have an angle; every decision is based on what improves the family business. Our older brother bears the burden the most and gladly, because Stephen aspires to take over from father and bows to the whims of mother, down to who he married.”
“He seriously married for business reasons.”
“In his case, he did like Cynthia, so not just business reasons, but yes, it was what mother arranged.”
“Damn, that is insane.”
“I have to agree. I’m afraid I’ve been avoiding mother’s marriage plans by not seeing anyone seriously. I just keep busy with work and…have flings.”
“Your mother calls them dalliances,” said Austin. He took a breath while looking at Bradley. “Isn’t that lonely?”
“Not for me. I’m not sure if I’ll settle down. I’m twenty-six and like my freedom. That may change in the future.”
Austin scratched the back of his head and looked away. Bradley knew he was losing him. He knew how it sounded and he needed to bring the focus on Hayes.
“Let’s talk about Hayes.”
“I’ll never be good enough for him, so why doesn’t he just move on.”
The outburst surprised Bradley but he waited for Austin to settle down. “You know he knew nothing of mother’s plan to pay you off and when he found out it really upset him.”
“But she was right.”
“About your differences? So, what.”
“So, what? Do you really think some guy who barely graduated high school who works in some shitty low wage job will ever be good enough for the Marshall’s youngest?”
“If Hayes doesn’t care about your different backgrounds, then that should settle it.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“It is. Austin, Hayes was slow to bring you into his confidence, to reveal himself to you as he should have done right at the start, but he has had a few guys go after him because of the wealth.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“That has been made obvious by you refusing the money, but that is the kind of thing that takes time to reveal.”
“Hayes told me nothing about you, or your brother. There were some vague references but when I asked about you he would change the subject. He told me nothing. Now he wants me to take him seriously?”
“Yes.” Bradley sat forward staring at Austin seeing him fidget and look away. “Did you ever really like Hayes?” he asked in a low calm voice, almost a whisper.
Austin flinched and turned to him, eyes watery, tears pooling in each. “Yes, more than I care to admit. I thought we were similar at some level. We drove old SUV’s and dressed casually, and…I knew something was off. Hayes dressed too nicely at times and that old FJ is worth a fortune and he kept his personal life from me. Did you know I have never been to his place.”
“Yes. The house would have helped set the record straight, for it is a nice house, but ironically it wasn’t from the immediate family. It belonged to a great aunt that mother couldn’t stand. But Hayes loved her. He would spend days at her house when he was twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and continued to see her until she passed away when he was eighteen. She left her grandchildren the stocks and bonds, properties in Europe and UK, and…I think there was a vacation home in Costa Rica or somewhere like that, but her home here in the city, the one she resided in the most, she left that to Hayes.”
“Do you hear yourself?”
“I…huh…I guess I’m not making Hayes case very well, am I.”
“Not really, but…does he really want to talk to me?”
“I think you know the answer to that. You had to block his number and from what Hayes told me, you hide your car at your apartment complex and sit in the dark to make it look like you’re not there.”
Austin smiled. “Yeah, I guess so.”
Bradley laughed. “Damn what we will do when we’ve been hurt or insulted.”
Austin suddenly looked sheepish.
“What?” said Bradley.
“It’s just…tell Hayes to call me.”
“You deleted his number.”
Austin nodded. Bradley laughed, good naturedly. “Oh, brother is going to have to make sure he doesn’t fuck it up again; you’re not one to let others hurt you.”
“I get hurt all the time. I just try to prevent a second or third time.”
Bradley leaned back as the waitress set their plates before them. “This looks good. Thanks,” he said to the waitress. “Let’s eat then you can call Hayes.”
“Hey, it’s me,” said Austin into his phone as Bradley stepped away from him.
You met with Bradley?
“Yes.”
Can we meet and talk?
“Yes. When do you—”
I can come over after work, and…”
Hayes’ voice trailed off and Austin waited for him to continue.
No, this is all wrong. It’s just picking up where we left off. How about you come to my place? I can cook dinner and we can talk.
“Really, you want me to come to your house?”
Austin, please don’t say it like that; I know I messed up, and of course I want you to come over. I should have done it sooner.
“I don’t even know where you live,” Austin uttered.
Is Bradley still there?
“Yes.”
Get it from him and if you don’t know the address he can help with directions.
“Okay. I need to go and get back to work.”
“After work, go home and clean up, then come on over. I’ll be waiting.
7.
Austin drove along the tree lined road looking in shock at the houses that lined each side of it. He knew the houses in the neighborhood would be large, stately, with perfectly manicured lawns. But to see them was beyond what he imagined. He drove along the gently winding roads until he came to his turn. The road was narrower, the trees creating a canopy over it. He counted the houses, looking for the sixth house. He pulled up to it seeing a house not as large as those on the previous road, but still stately, with a large front door centered in the red brick façade with two large double windows on each side. The second floor was the same except for a small window over the entry doors.
Austin pulled to the curb in front and stared down the road, then up at the house, wondering if he was where he should be. He climbed out and went to the sidewalk that led straight to the front door. He hesitated, stood on the sidewalk staring at the front door. It opened and Hayes came out wearing an apron and holding a large spoon.
“Austin, come inside.”
Austin saw the gentle smile and he smiled back, forgetting his anxiety. He moved to Hayes until standing before him.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. I’m glad you came. Let’s get inside.”
Austin sat opposite Hayes at a small table off the kitchen. To his left was a large sitting area focused on a fireplace and a large flat screen. It was obvious this was the room that Hayes lived in the most, the formal living and dining rooms at the front looking rarely utilized.
“Did you enjoy the piccata?” said Hayes.
“Yes,” said Austin looking up with a smile. “You can cook so much better than I.”
“I’d like to do it more often.”
“Really?”
Hayes chuckled at how Austin was still holding back. “Of course. Can we forget what mother did and pick up where we left off. I’d like to correct my mistakes.”
“Your mistakes?”
“Yes. I held back from you, and it was wrong and it made mother’s interference take on more weight than it should have.”
“It’s just…she was right. I’m not—”
“Stop,” Hayes interrupted. “We have different backgrounds, come from different classes, but that should not separate us. It should give us something for us to learn about each other. Besides, I knew in the beginning you were not wealthy and worked at a low wage job. I didn’t care then and don’t care now.”
Austin looked around the room that was twice the size of his apartment, then back at Austin. “This is a really nice house. Bradley said you got it from a great aunt.”
“That’s right. It is bigger than I need but not as large or ostentatious as my parents’. There are a lot of good memories here and I just couldn’t let it go.”
“She let you stay here.”
“She wasn’t like any of the others. Such a wonderful person.”
Austin looked at his watch wondering if it was time for him to leave. If felt like he should do so as if this were some first date and they needed to give it more time before taking things further.
“Will you stay?”
Austin looked up wondering if Hayes was talking about the night or in general.
“You want me to stay tonight?” He smiled and then sat back and laughed.
“Let me clear up the dishes and we can watch a movie or something.”
“I’ll help.”
It was suddenly like evenings back at his apartment. The two of them moved around the kitchen, one loading the dishwasher while the other brought everything from the table. Once the dishwasher was loaded and turned on, Hayes wiped down the kitchen as Austin wiped off the table.
In the sitting area, Hayes flipped to a movie directory. “See anything you want to watch?”
“I don’t care; you can pick something.”
Hayes flipped the TV off and used another remote. Music filled the room. “Let’s just talk.”
Austin stood by the bed letting Hayes remove his clothes. Shirt, shoes, socks, pants, boxers, Hayes removed each garment until he stood naked. He looked down at him as he felt a hand manipulate his cock. He responded to it, grew aroused until Hayes could stroke his cock to full erection.
“Hayes,” Austin exclaimed as Hayes took his cock in the mouth.
Austin fell into his role of lover, the past turmoil fading like darkness of a new day. All he could think about was Hayes. The man before him, the man that took him into such intimacy it made him breathlessly. He began to move, working his cock through the lips and over the tongue. No matter how hard he tried to make it last, he was soon at the point of release.
“Hayes,” Austin uttered, letting himself fall into the moment of release. “Hayes!” he exclaimed, pushing forward, his cock nearly all the way into the mouth, and he came. He shivered with the feel of the suctioning mouth.
Hayes stood before him, and he reached out for him. He touched the chest, the stomach, then felt the hardening cock. He leaned forward, kissing Hayes on the neck, then up and along the jaw until lips pressed against lips. He fumbled with the buttons on the shirt until it finally fell open. He touched the bare skin feeling its warmth.
Austin became frustrated, desperate, for he wanted Hayes naked. He began to tug and pull at Hayes clothing until he had him naked. He stood on his knees and captured the hardening cock in his mouth. He sucked with lust. He sucked with desire, and longing. The cock elongated and thickened until he struggled to take it.
Austin braced himself on the thighs as Hayes began to move, a struggling fuck, trying to hold back and unable to do so. The cock flexed, swelled thicker, then gushed cum, filling his mouth. He swallowed until all of it was consumed.
Austin lay on the bed. He was fully exposed to the eyes staring down at him. It was familiar and it was a new sensation. He stroked his cock watching Hayes doing the same.
“Fuck me,” Austin whispered.
He spread his legs and held out his arms luring Hayes to him. He gasped for breath at the weight of the body. He moaned at the feel of it, how the cock pushed against his own then rubbed his ass until he wanted the penetration. He kissed at Hayes blindly, eyes closed, going by feel. He kissed the warm skin then licked at its saltiness.
“Don’t shut me out again,” Hayes uttered in his left ear, the lips grazing it.
“Nooo,” Austin exhaled.
The cock penetrated him. It stretched him open then held still until he adjusted to it.
“Fuck me Hayes. Fuck me,” Austin uttered as he moved his ass to take more of the cock.
Hayes held him down with their fingers laced together and began to slow fuck. He moaned as the cock slowly sank into his depths deeper and deeper until he savored the fullness of its penetration.
Hayes fucked and Austin moaned and worked his body to take it. To take every inch of the cock as his own began to drool on his stomach. He was being pushed to the ragged edge. The rub of Hayes body against his own. The hot exhales against his neck. The hands holding his own pressed against the bed. And the cock, the thickness of it moving inside him.
“Fuck!” Austin exclaimed.
Hayes increased the pace of their fuck, driving cock into Austin’s depths. He shifted, slipped arms underneath Austin’s legs and brought them up and over, each one hooked in the arms at the elbows. Austin slapped his hands down on the bed as Hayes thrust cock into his depths until hips bumped against his ass.
“Austin…stay with me,” whispered Hayes gently as he fucked with such physicality the bed began to rock and squeak beneath them.
“Yes,” Austin gasped.
Austin felt the desperation of Hayes’ fuck. The forcefulness of it. How cock sank into his depths leaving him breathless. His own cock rubbed slickly over his stomach. He wanted to cum.
“Fuck!” Hayes exclaimed as he shoved into Austin’s depths and shuddered with release.
Austin lay on the bed looking up at Hayes. The skin flush, the cock dripping the last of its cum. He was shocked to see Hayes move over him, take his cock in hand and ease down on it.
“I want everything to be perfect,” uttered Hayes.
Austin watched his cock disappear as he felt the tightness slide down his cock. He clutched the bed and tilted his head back as the ass took every inch of his cock. It settled on his abdomen, then began to move. Up, down, over and over until they were in a fuck. The bed rocked beneath them, and he opened his eyes to look upon Hayes. The glistening skin, the open mouth sucking in air, the dripping cock slapping down on his stomach. And the ass moving on his cock pulling at his arousal until he was gasping for breath.
“Hayes. I’m going to cum,” Austin exclaimed.
“Do it. Do it, Austin. Come inside me,” said Hayes.
Austin gripped the flexing thighs and pushed upward. With his cock buried in Hayes, he came. He shuddered and jerked with his release until finally spent, and Hayes mercifully eased down and stopped moving.
Austin came out of the bathroom towel drying his hair. He wanted to climb into Hayes bed and go to sleep, but he felt as if he should dress and leave. He didn’t want to push things too hard with Hayes. He picked up his boxers to put them on.
“What are you doing?” said Hayes coming out of the bathroom toweling his hair dry.
“I was going to dress and go home.”
“What? No, no, no, you have to stay with me. You promised, remember.”
Hayes’ tone was playful, but Austin saw the seriousness of it and he smiled as he dropped the boxers back on the floor. “Okay, Hayes.”
8.
Austin was nervous. Nervous in a way that made him laugh at the silliness of it. He looked over at Hayes driving through the city, eyes on the road. The thirty-year-old Mercedes-Benz carried them quietly, confidently through the city. The two-seater was luxurious compared to anything he had ever been in and even after riding in it often over the last three weeks, he still felt somewhat out of place in it.
“What is it?” said Hayes.
How does he do that, wondered Austin. “It’s just…I’m a bit nervous.”
Hayes looked over to see if he was serious, and Austin shrugged his shoulders, showing he knew it was ridiculous. They laughed.
“Nothing to be nervous about. Stephen has been wanting to meet you since we got back together. Actually, he wanted to meet you when you refused mother’s demands,” said Hayes.
“Do none of you ever tell her no?”
“Oh, Bradley and I do it all the time. It’s just that no one outside the family ever dares to stand up to her. They’re afraid she’ll buy their companies out from under them or something worse.”
“You’re joking.”
“Yes, but not entirely. We’re here.”
Austin turned to see an old church, red brick with large windows along the sides with three-pointed arches. Through the windows he could see patrons at tables and toward the end that would have been the sanctuary when it had been a church, it was now a bar that overlooked an open kitchen area.
“I’ve heard about this place. It is supposed to be good.”
“Bradley says it is good, and more importantly not as pretentious as some of the other restaurants, like the one Stephen suggested.”
“Where do we park?”
“Back in the neighborhood,” said Hayes as he turned by the old church and drove into the residential area behind it.
Austin followed Hayes through the front glass door into the large open space. He looked up at the exposed roof rafters, the ceiling having been removed, then toward the back at the flames rising from wood fired grills.
“There they are,” said Hayes pointing to a table with three people seated at it. Bradley and Stephen, and a woman who must be Stephen’s wife.
Austin followed Hayes down the central aisle and over to the table. Bradley, then Stephen stood to greet them.
“Hey, Austin, it’s good to see you again,” said Bradley.
“And for us to finally get to meet you. This is my wife, Nancy,” said Stephen.
“It’s good to meet everyone,” said Austin.
“Take a seat and let’s order drinks,” said Bradley.
Austin followed Hayes out of the restaurant and down the steps to the sidewalk. They swung around and back alongside the old church heading to Hayes’ car. He wondered why he had been so anxious earlier. He found Stephen as friendly as Bradley, and he adored Nancy. She was humorous with such sarcastic wit, he wondered how the boys’ mother felt about her. And the way she dressed, a simple dress that he knew had to cost a fortune with a small pearl necklace. She was elegant and casual in equal measure, thus approachable for someone like him.
“This has been a nice evening,” said Hayes, slipping his hand into Austin’s and leading him down the sidewalk.
“Yes, it was,” Austin replied.
“Let’s get home,” said Hayes.
Austin took note of every time Hayes referred to his home in a manner that included him. There had even been hints of him moving in, but he quickly pushed them away. It was too soon, and despite how it was going with Hayes, he could not make such a commitment. Not yet anyway.
9.
Hayes was sitting against the headboard holding up his cock. It was wet, Austin’s spit still covering it.
Austin moved over Hayes’ lap and pushed his cock up the chest and took Hayes’ head between his hands pulling it to his chest. He undulated against him, cock pumping up and down the stomach until it was leaving a slick trail.
“Fuck; Austin,” Hayes uttered, and he kissed the chest.
Austin smiled at how he could wind Hayes up. He eased down until the cock touched his ass. He moved back and forth over the head until he felt Hayes shivering with the manipulation. He centered his opening over it and eased down until it breached his tightness, and he held still adjusting to it.
Hot exhales hit his neck then lips kissed it, and he eased down further, slowly, taking inch after thick inch. When he had over half of Hayes’ cock inside him, he began to move up and down, feeling the cock tug at his opening then give him a sense of fullness that made his own cock flex and drool on Hayes’ chest.
Hands held lightly at his waist doing nothing to hold him back. He continued to move on the cock until he wanted all of it, every inch, and he descended further and further until taking all of it. He leaned back, resting on one hand and worked his ass on the cock. A rapid movement up and down on Hayes’ cock that pushed his arousal until he couldn’t bear it. He took his own cock in hand, stroking it as desperately as he fucked his ass on the cock. Rapidly, urgently, pushing both to the point of release.
“Fuck,” Hayes exclaimed, sounding like he exhaled the word instead of spoke it.
Austin kept up his fuck, working his ass on the cock until his own swelled thicker in his hand. He looked down his sweaty torso at the blur that was his hand on his cock then at Hayes. They stared at each other, both gasping for breath. Austin came, thick ropes of cum hitting his neck and chin, then up his chest. He didn’t slow, kept working his spasming ass on the cock as his own spurt wad after wad. His hand became slick with cum as his cock finally dribbled out the last of his load, and he kept moving on Hayes’ cock, slamming his ass down on it.
“Fucking hell,” Hayes exclaimed. He slammed his head back against the headboard, then shoved upward as best he could as the ass came down. He grabbed the thighs holding the ass down on his spurting cock as he shuddered with his release.
Austin felt Hayes spoon against his back, the two of them exhausted after fucking to three releases. He settled into the comfort of the bed about to close his eyes, when he felt a kiss to the back of his neck.
“Austin?” Hayes whispered.
“Yes, Hayes?”
“Move in with me. It’s been six months and…I want you here all the time. Your lease is coming to an end next month and—”
“Hayes, have you really thought about this?”
“All the time. On the way to work or the ride home. When I watch you leave to go back to your apartment. But never more than in times like this, you in bed with me. Don’t renew your lease. Give them notice you’re moving out and move in with me.”
“Your mother will have a heart attack.”
“She’ll be angry, but she won’t have a heart attack; she’s too tough for that,” Hayes joked.
Austin knew it was his way of pushing past the topic of his mother and her belligerence toward their relationship. And if he was honest with himself, he had considered it and what it could be like. To be sharing their lives together, day in and day out.
“What will I do with my furniture?”
“Sell it. Give it to charity, except for that old chair you got from your grandmother. You have to keep that.”
Austin was trying to think of what else that had to be done.
“You’re considering it. Just say yes or I’m not letting you get to sleep,” said Hayes.
Austin chuckled at the childishness. “Okay, I’ll plan on moving in at the end of next month. If you change your mind—”
“I won’t.”
“Okay Hayes.”
Austin lay awake listening to Hayes’ irregular breathing as he contemplated what it was going to be like. To be Hayes partner, living together in his house. It seemed a dream, a fairy tale, and he wondered when it would feel natural, or if it ever would do so.
Sometime later, trying to think of what he needed to pack to bring over and what would need to be packed to discard in some manner, fatigue finally overtook him. He went from boxing up the kitchen to dreaming of Hayes and him cooking together in the kitchen.
10.
Austin pulled around the house and parked in his usual spot next to the garage. He entered the sunroom and moved to the kitchen. Hayes was going to be an hour or so later than normal, having a meeting late in the day. He went to the front of the house to check the mail. The mailbox was full of solicitations addressed to Hayes, charities looking for donations, and advertisements regarding investment opportunities that he knew to toss in the recycling bin. Hayes had charities he supported, and the rest was considered junk. Back in the kitchen he thumbed through the mail, taking out the legitimate pieces laying them on the island. He came to an envelope addressed to him, recognizing the handwriting as his mother’s. She wrote once a month despite their weekly phone calls, telling of gossip and news not mentioned on the phone. He tossed the junk mail and sat at the island to read her latest letter.
He heard Hayes pulling around the house, then saw the old FJ pulling up to the rising garage door to enter it. A minute later, Hayes entered the kitchen.
“Hey, how was your day?” said Hayes.
“Good; how was yours?”
“Long. I’m glad its over. I hate a day of long meetings.”
“You want me to cook?”
Austin wasn’t the best in the kitchen, only able to do the simplest dishes, but he cooked whenever Hayes was tired from a long day.
“No, I’ll cook. I need to do something other than sit on my ass,” Hayes joked. “Anything in the mail?”
“Your usual business stuff and mom wrote.”
“Any good gossip from back home?”
“I haven’t read it yet.”
“Let me go change, then you can read it to me.”
Hayes headed to the front foyer to go upstairs, when he stopped at the door. “Hey, did you hear back from Stan?”
Stan was an old high school classmate who had his own landscaping firm, doing designs and installations. Hayes had set up an interview for a position on one of the installation crews.
“I haven’t checked my email yet.”
“Check it,” said Hayes and he smiled, then walked out of the room.
Austin sensed Hayes knew something. He went over to the laptop they kept in the kitchen and opened it up. He brought up his email account and scrolled through the day’s postings. Most were spam, or worse, scams, and he deleted them as he went down the list. He came to one from a friend back home and began to open it when he noticed three down from it, one from Stan.
Austin, we want to offer you a position on our new installation crew. Give me a call tomorrow to let me know when you can come in and talk about final arrangements and the starting salary. Tell Hayes hello and I look forward to your call. Stan
He sat back and smiled. He was going to quit the job at the parts store and do something that actually interested him. And the money promised to be better. It would let him pay off his debt and buy a truck. Hayes kept wanting to help him, but he wanted to do it on his own. Something to give him a purpose in his daily life, a sense of accomplishment and not feel like he was totally dependent on Hayes. He had let Hayes buy him a closet full of clothes and pay for everything when they went to visit his parents.
Hayes came back into the kitchen and went to the refrigerator to pull out what he needed to prepare dinner.
“You can read me the letter.”
“Okay, but about the job offer, you knew Stan was going to offer it to me,” said Austin, slipping the letter out of the envelope. He unfolded the three pages and spread it out in front of him. He started to read.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” Hayes cut in. “Mother wants us to come to dinner tomorrow night.”
“What?”’
“Dinner, tomorrow night.”
“She wants me to come too?”
“It’ll be fun,” joked Hayes. “Now read me the letter.”
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