Only for the Weekend

by Jen FitzGerald

  Everyone begins to disperse back to their clusters and conversation, but they all pat him on the back, shake his hand and offer a thanks, and he’s completely mystified.

  “What’s wrong?” Cole asks.

  “Nothing? I don’t know. No one even seemed to think that Doug’s accusation had merit.”

  “Well, of course they didn’t.”

  “No, Cole, not ‘ of course they didn’t .’ Because people do , Cole. Anywhere else and I might have been arrested. But your family…they just didn’t .”

  “I don’t know what to tell you, honestly, except of course they didn’t. There’s no reason at all for them to think you would ever look twice at Nathan like that. First of all, you’re here with me and you’ve been very attentive. Second, there are far too many gay men in this family for anyone to think gay means predator. Doug obviously has issues. Maybe he was abused by a gay man.”

  “That’s not even funny.”

  “I’m not trying to be funny. Maybe something happened when he was at college or something, I don’t know. His homophobia isn’t home grown, so it has to come from somewhere, right?”

  “I suppose so.” Tucker knows there are gay men like that, much as he hates to acknowledge it.

  “Not that it excuses his behavior, but it could explain it, you know?”

  “You’re too nice for a guy who has apparently taken too much shit from an older brother.”

  “Maybe, but our paths don’t cross much and the high road and all that. But if this hasn’t proven to one and all how much of an ass he is, I don’t know what will.

  “There were some pretty surprised faces.”

  “I was too focused on Nathan to pay much attention. I would have fought him. Physically. I would have lost, but I would have done it.”

  Cole slings an arm around Tucker and hauls him in for a hug. “I know you would’ve, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

  Tucker clings to him, breath warm against Cole’s neck.

  “Why don’t we go get some ice cream?”

  Tucker snorts.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I was planning on going home and eating ice cream till I puked in order to drown my sorrows.”

  “Hey, none of that. I promise you that no one here has any second thoughts about you. Look, they’re all back to minding their own business as if nothing happened.”

  “Yeah, but they’re all talking about it.”

  “Even if they are, who do you think they’re really gossiping about?”

  “Doug?”

  “That’s right. And probably Nathan.” Cole nudges Tucker with his shoulder. “Hey, let’s kidnap Nathan and go get sundaes from the Dairy Queen. After that, we’ll go buy little ice cream cups for everyone else.”

  Tucker’s eyes light up. “I have a better idea…if you think it’s appropriate.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  An hour later, ice cream forgotten in the thrill of the idea, Cole and Tucker return to the lake.

  Tucker scans the area and points. Nathan’s sitting on the end of the dock, shoulders hunched.

  Poor kid. He’s been through a lot this afternoon. His family rallied around him, though, so there’s that. Unlike Tucker’s. Hopefully, his surprise will cheer him up and not backfire on Tucker. He gives Trevor a nudge down the hill and toward the dock.

  Trevor is a cutie pie and Tucker sees what Nathan must find attractive. He’s personable and funny, telling them a story or two about Nathan on the drive back to the reunion. Trevor makes his way across the grass and walks lightly down the dock. About mid-way, he calls Nathan’s name.

  Nathan whips his head around so fast, Tucker’s neck hurts just from seeing it. The look of delight on Nathan’s face is a sight to behold. He scrambles to his feet and closes the distance between them. He chatters the whole way, but his words are lost on the afternoon breeze. Trevor is enveloped in a quick bro hug, which is followed by a chest bump. The boys turn in tandem and Trevor points at Tucker and Cole. Nathan waves, all shy smiles. Cole and Tucker return the gesture.

  “Who is that? What did you do?” asks Connie, coming to a stop beside them.

  “That’s Nathan’s best friend,” says Cole. “Tucker thought Nathan could use a pick-me-up—”

  Tucker snorts at his word choice.

  “—so I called Serena and asked her if it’d be all right and if she could reach out to Trevor’s parents for the okay. And, well, you see…”

  The boys return to the end of the dock, jostling each other and bumping shoulders. There’s a shout and some laughter and then Nathan’s in the water. Trevor tugs off his tee shirt, toes off his sneakers, yanks off his socks, and falls in after him. Nathan tosses his own soaked shirt and flip flops to the dock. They float around one another, talking and laughing.

  Cole had mentioned their “suspicions” about Nathan and Trevor’s feelings for one another, but Serena had still been all for the idea. Her thought, and Tucker agreed, was that if they really did like each other, then they’d probably already been exploring intimacy in private, so hanging out in public should be fine. No one besides Tucker officially knew about them, so they weren’t likely to get couple-y in front of people just yet. Maybe they never would. Some people, unlike Tucker, weren’t public about their relationship.

  Tucker wanted to wonder what Serena even saw in Doug, but there must be some, even a lot of good in the man. She had married him for a reason and they seemed happy after at least sixteen-ish years, if they were still so physical with one another. And Nathan is a decent kid. Cole is probably right about Doug having an unfortunate experience with a gay man. Hopefully, Doug will get some help. As much for his own sake as for Nathan’s as well as their relationship.

  They leave the boys to their conversation. It’s almost become second nature for his and Cole’s hands to tangle when they walk now. The feeling of Cole’s large warm hand wrapped around his is like a cast fishing line. The lure sinks deep into Tucker’s being. If he’s not careful, there’ll be no removing it from his heart.

  He doesn’t let go though. It wouldn’t be fair to Cole. Not only because Tucker promised him a boyfriend for the weekend, but also because Tucker has a sneaking suspicion that this is the first time Cole has allowed himself to feel anything for quite some time. Tucker won’t ruin his healing process, even if his own heart breaks a little bit as a result. It’s nothing he can’t handle.

  They join the group gathered around Granny Evie, and Tucker lets go of his doleful thoughts. He can lick his wounds in private later, at home.

  If there was any talk about Doug or Nathan, everyone must have gotten it said and done while Cole and Tucker were on their field trip. There’s talk of babies—Rachel and Tim’s; the new school year—for all the kids as well as Tim and Helen; and then the holidays: namely who’s hosting Thanksgiving—Jed and Helen.

  “Tucker, if you don’t have family obligations, we hope you’ll join us,” says Helen, offering him a warm smile.

  That lure snags uncomfortably in his insides; his hand automatically covers his heart. Also, it’s nice that they assume his family wants anything to do with him. He doesn’t say as much, because he might need the excuse at some point. “Well, y’all have just been so welcoming. Thanks so much, Helen. I appreciate the invite. I’ll let you know as soon as I can.”

  Cole squeezes his hand like he’s excited about the prospect, and Tucker looks over to see an equally keen expression on his face. Tucker doesn’t know what to think now. The weekend’s almost over and they’ll go their separate ways. At some point, Cole will come up with some song and dance as to why Tucker’s not in his life anymore. Tucker will make plans for his move to Midland and push the weekend and Cole into the back of his mind. Eventually, it and he will just be another fond memory among many. The thought stings a little.

  “So, Tucker, how’d you become a librarian?” asks Granny Evie.

  He’d caught his name, but not the question.

  “
What? Oh…” It takes him a moment for it to register. Tucker leans forward. “Well, there was this woman. Vernice Williams. Helped me finish school. Helped me learn some independence. She sorta took me in. Which was something, considering I’m me, and she was a sweet little ol’ black woman. Her family was none too pleased, but she didn’t pay them no never mind. Said she would always offer a helping hand if she could. It turned out mutually beneficial though. I helped her out too—some housework, some yard work. Whatever she needed.

  “Anyway. She was a librarian. When I finally got a chance to better myself, it seemed fitting that I honor her.” He shrugs. “So here I am.”

  “That’s a lovely sentiment. Does she know you did that?” Granny Evie asks.

  “No.” Tucker shakes his head. He’d been run out of Montgomery on a rail and had never looked back, although he’d often wondered about Miz Verny, as he’d taken to calling her.

  “If I were her, I’d be mighty delighted to know someone appreciated what I’d done for them that much.”

  Tucker nods. It hadn’t occurred to him, but Evie’s right. “I don’t know if she’s still with us. She seemed older at the time, but I had little concept of age.”

  “Well, maybe you should put those library skills to work and see if you can track her down. That’s from one old lady on behalf of another.”

  “I sure will, Miz Evie. I really would love to see her too. To thank her. Things between us ended rather abruptly.”

  “Let me know how it works out, you hear?”

  Tucker nods. “I will. I promise.”

  Conversation lulls for a moment. Most of the millennials except Cole have their phones in their hands or close by, glancing at the screens upon the chiming of some alert or another. Tucker has some manners—this isn’t his family after all—and he’s resisted the urge to check Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram unless he’s using the little boys room. Of course, he’s tweeted here and there and posted a couple of pictures to Instagram and Facebook, but that’s it. He’d made a commitment to Cole for the weekend and has tried to honor it to the best of his ability.

  “Oh my God,” exclaims Connie into the relative silence. Her gaze spears Tucker. “You’re moving to Midland?”

  Tucker stiffens, goes cold all over.

  The space around them goes still. The weight of everyone’s gaze lands on him.

  Well, fuck.

  “Why would you ask that?” he asks, keeping his voice pleasant and even. He hopes it’s neither confirmation or denial, but he is curious as to how she even knows. He hasn’t said anything to anyone.

  “I work real estate in Midland,” she says. “I just received an application for a Tucker Naughton. Can’t think there’re too many of them in Ten Rigs looking for an apartment in Midland.”

  “Well, shoot.” He keeps his tone light.

  Cole’s head swivels toward Tucker, his expression one of disbelief and hurt before it goes blank. He swallows, his eyebrow arches, challenging Tucker to offer a reasonable explanation as to why.

  Tucker’s heart breaks—he never wanted to cause Cole any sort of hurt. And now look.

  Does he deny it? Does he admit it? Does he cocoon it in a lie?

  Dammit all to hell. What were the freaking chances of this even happening? There was no reason whatsoever for him to tell Cole he was getting a new job and moving to Midland. They were supposed to share the weekend and go their separate ways.

  But, now, things have changed. If Cole’s even amenable, Tucker wants to see what could happen between them for longer than a weekend. He’s got one chance to save this…one chance to not reveal the hoax they’ve been perpetrating, to not break Cole’s heart any further, and to save whatever shot he might have at a real relationship with Cole.

  With an airy wave, he says, “Oh, my goodness. I submitted that application a couple of months ago and then the job I applied for was filled. I didn’t even think to withdraw the application.”

  “Mmm hmm…” Connie hums, looking skeptical, her gaze flitting between Tucker and Cole.

  * * *

  Cole doesn’t believe him for a minute.

  Cole clears his throat. Connie and Tucker both look his direction.

  The knowledge that Tucker plans on leaving is like a blow to Cole’s chest. He wanted to ask Tucker out, to see if what’s been sparking between them this weekend was more than just lust and a good time. Tucker had no obligation to share his plans with Cole. It would have been useful to know, of course, but it’s too late now. He’s done gone and grown feelings for Tucker. No, it’s not love, but it’s more than Cole’s felt in years. It would have been nice to explore them a little more.

  Regardless, Tucker had done him a favor by spending the weekend with him, so Cole doesn’t want Tucker thrown to the family wolves for loving and leaving him or something equally silly. Cole’s a grown man. If he’s learned one thing from the weekend, from Tucker…it’s that he’s finally ready, really ready, to move on. If it can’t be with Tucker, he’ll be sad about it, but he’ll move on. For real this time.

  The fact of the matter is, Tucker had probably applied for that job way before Cole had had his big gay crisis and had simply been doing his due diligence for a move. The fact that Connie worked at the agency that Tucker applied to for an apartment—that was just sheer bad luck.

  Tucker claiming he didn’t get the job is a lie for Cole’s sake. For the sake of the performance. Cole knows it is, appreciates it even. He really does. But it’s not fair either. Especially not after what happened with Doug and Nathan. The fact that Tucker was willing to sacrifice his good name to protect Nathan means something. Means everything. Tucker should be able to be happy about getting the job.

  “You got the job, didn’t you?” Cole asks, hoping the implication is that he knew all along. Hoping that Tucker reads him correctly.

  Tucker’s eyes widen a little and he appears a bit flummoxed, as if he’s uncertain where Cole’s going with his question. Their gazes lock for long seconds as Tucker stares hard, tries to suss out what’s going on.

  Tucker finally nods. Slowly. “I didn’t know how to tell you. This thing with us caught me by surprise, and now I’m not even sure I want to go.”

  Now it’s Cole’s turn to be perplexed. Is Tucker saying that to save face, to continue the act?

  “Yeah?” Cole asks, voice gruff. Hope flickers in his gut, but he can’t let that flame catch just yet.

  “Yeah.” Tucker nods. Tucker sounds earnest, looks like he’s begging Cole to believe him. It’s in the eyes, his gaze steady and sure, boring into Cole’s.

  Cole’s breath catches. His heart stops and then revs zero to ninety in a beat. “Really?” he asks, his voice catching. Is Tucker being for real right now? Cole wants that more than anything. Except for maybe having the rest of this conversation in private, which they absolutely should do.

  Tucker wraps him in a hug. “God, really,” he says into Cole’s neck, kissing it to punctuate his sincerity. They cling to each other for a little bit longer until Pammy calls out, “Enough with the mushy stuff already. Some of us want to be able to eat.”

  Cole would flip her the bird, but there are children present.

  Tucker chortles wetly and pulls back. He looks a little shiny-eyed and fans his face. “By the way, Helen, consider this my RSVP for Thanksgiving dinner.”

  Chuckles circle the group.

  There are discussions to be had, but, deep inside Cole, the warm flame of promise shimmers brighter than the Texas sun.

  End Notes

  Thank you for downloading this e-book. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your vendor of choice and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.


  The following trademarked items appear in Only For the Weekend . The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmark mention in this work of fiction: Houston Astros, Converse Chucks, Texas A&M University, Gilmore Girls , Chunky Monkey Ice Cream, How I Met Your Mother , Blue Bell’s Pralines ‘n Cream Ice Cream, Orange is the New Black , Blue Bunny Bunny Tracks Ice Cream, Disney, Disney’s version of J.M. Barrie’s Tinkerbell, Abercrombie & Fitch, Charles Schultz’s Charlie Brown, Mattel, Inc.’s Barbie, Ford Mustang, Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat, Hasbro’s Monopoly, Hasbro’s Sorry!, Hasbro's Trouble, Mack Trucks, Dairy Queen, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  About Jen

  Jen FitzGerald has loved romance since her Winnie the Pooh days. Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh have always been platonic soul mates. As a teen, Jen cut her romance teeth on Silhouette’s teen romance line and Danielle Steele books concurrently. She’s still an avid reader, but these days, Jen has added writing romances of her own to her list of fun things to do.

  Jen lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband and dog. Their three children are now adults and out terrorizing the world at large instead of them. When not working her day job, Jen spends a lot of time reading, writing, watching sports, and perusing her social media platforms of preference. She also enjoys music, cross stitching, and chatting online with writer friends.

  Find her online at her blog, A Time for Everything or on Facebook .

  Books by Jen FitzGerald

  For the Love of Scott

  Ten Rigs Texas, Book 1

  Love On Deck

  Ten Rigs Texas, Book 2

  Absent Without Leave

  Ten Rigs Texas, Book 3

  Rock the Cradle of Love

  Ten Rigs Texas, Book 4

  Coming to Grips

  Ten Rigs Texas, Book 5

  Only For the Weekend

  Ten Rigs Texas, Book 6

  Three more Ten Rigs Texas books are in the works.

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