High Test

by Elizabeth Noble

  “Hayden!” Neal shouted through the phone.

  “I… sorry… watching the news.”

  “You had no idea, did you?” Neal’s voice was soft and kind.

  “No.” Hayden’s phone beeped. “Can I call you back in a bit? I’ve got a ton of calls to return.”

  “Sure. Whatever you need and whatever I can do, just tell me,” Neal said. Hayden felt horrible. Neal sounded truly distressed over the situation. If only he knew the full extent of what was going on.

  What can you do? Let’s see, a place to live and a large pile of money for what my loans and scholarships don’t cover for starters.

  Don’t panic. You can work this out.

  Hayden’s little internal pep talk wasn’t working. He had books to buy and rent to pay, not to mention that little detail about needing to eat on a regular basis.

  “Thank you,” Hayden whispered. “I’ll… um… call you in a bit, and I’ll be seeing you Friday for sure.”

  Neal let out a long breath, and his voice changed immediately. “As selfish as this is, I was so worried you were going to cancel. I’ve been looking forward to you joining me so much.”

  Hayden laughed softly. “Me too. I was a little worried you wouldn’t want me there now.”

  “No. No, never. Neither of us is a company. You’re the person I care for. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t care in the least about a family business. I’ll talk to you later,” Neal said, and they ended their call.

  It almost didn’t register that Neal had said “a family business” not “your family business.” He didn’t have time right now to dwell on Neal’s words.

  The morning was taken up with conversations with Steffie, Rick, and Hayden’s parents. He tried getting in touch with his store manager but only succeeded in leaving voicemail messages. Next he tried the corporate office, but that number was disconnected with no forwarding number.

  When he spoke to the office that managed his building, the woman was very sympathetic and kind but also adamant about Hayden’s rent being due on time. Sighing heavily, he thanked her and ended yet another call.

  A quick check of his bank account showed the same small amount as the day before. He was hoping that even though their check statements hadn’t arrived, the money would still be deposited in his account. That didn’t happen. Not that he’d expected it to, but trying to remain optimistic was a coping mechanism for Hayden.

  His next call was to Rick again. “Can I catch a ride to school with you? I have to talk to my advisor and the financial aid department and—”

  “You also have to get classwork done,” Rick reminded him.

  “Yeah, I know. But if I can’t pay all my tuition and get the books and supplies I need, it won’t matter. I have to find a new job, and fast. I’m hoping to get some leads from school.”

  “Be there in an hour,” Rick said.

  Hayden showered, gathered together his laptop and books for the day, and stuffed it all in his backpack. He clomped down the stairs and waited for Rick outside. The warm sun and pleasant temperature lightened his mood a bit. Rick pulled up, and Hayden reached for the door handle. As he got into the car, he saw an older pickup drive down the cross street.

  “Ready?”

  Hayden turned and looked out the back window. “Yeah.”

  “What are you looking for?”

  Fastening his seat belt, Hayden shook his head. “Nothing, I guess. I saw a pickup truck, and I thought it looked like Neal’s.”

  “Jesus, how many cars does the guy have?” Rick guided his car through traffic toward the highway.

  “Uh, his everyday car—a Lexus—his Aston Martin, and there was a pickup truck. Red.”

  “Yeah, there aren’t many of those around,” Rick said and grinned. “Why would he be driving around this neighborhood anyway?” He paused for a few seconds, then shrugged and said, “Hey, uh, I’m fed up with where I live. How about I move in with you?”

  “It’s a studio apartment.”

  “That’s not an answer, and so what? I still have money for groceries and rent coming in.” Rick glanced sideways at Hayden for a second. “Give it some thought. You’re still going to Neal’s thing Friday night, aren’t you?”

  “Oh yeah,” Hayden said. “No reason not to, and skipping it won’t change a thing. Neal sounded so happy when I said I’d go. No matter what, I need to set the record straight with him, really make him understand. Besides I promised to be there, and that needs to be worth something.”

  “We’ll make sure you look good.”

  Once they arrived at the college, Rick left Hayden at the financial aid office.

  “I’ll meet you in your studio in a bit,” Hayden said and waved through the window at Rick.

  The financial aid department didn’t have many job leads. It was the middle of the school year, and most of the places that hired through the school had all their positions filled by now. The same service had provided him with his job at the coffeehouse. There were other places to look; however, those tended not to pay as well. They were also less likely to schedule employees’ shifts around class times.

  One more year. One more year and he’d be finished. As the man in the financial aid department pointed out, if he was forced to leave school now, it wouldn’t be long before his loan payments would begin. Without finishing his degree, he’d never get a job that paid enough for him to afford to pay back his loans.

  When he met Rick in his on-campus studio, his friend was true to his word. The tux Rick had fitted Hayden for earlier in the week was altered and ready for him to wear. The fit of the clothing was perfect and showed off all of Hayden’s best qualities. It was made out of luxurious material, and the tie and shirt Rick created accented Hayden’s eyes wonderfully. The way the material felt against his skin made Hayden feel special and confident.

  “I told you a good suit makes all the difference,” Rick said. He pulled out a camera. “Now I need some photos for my project.”

  Hayden spent the next hour showing off the tux from every angle while Rick took pictures. When Rick was finished, Hayden took off the suit, placed each item on a hanger, and put them in a garment bag.

  “I’ll meet you back here around five?” Hayden asked.

  “Will do,” Rick agreed.

  Hayden spent the rest of the day buried in his school-project lab and his classes. Neal wasn’t the only one who was driven. Hayden hadn’t reached the successful part of his life yet, but he was determined to get there. Being able to focus had always been something Hayden was capable of, no matter what. Right now his personal life had the potential to hit the skids, and there wasn’t much he had control over, which in turn simply made him throw himself into his work even harder.

  The next day was spent much like the day before, minus the part where Hayden was fitted for formal wear. He replaced that task with walking around the neighborhood near his apartment and putting in job applications. His plan was to start in that area and expand in an outward radius. It wasn’t a perfect plan, but it didn’t totally suck, either.

  Hayden’s schedule didn’t work out with Neal’s for that few days, but they spoke and texted several times a day. Neal never once brought up the closing of Owens Coffee Company, but he constantly spoke of the upcoming party and how excited he was to have Hayden joining him. Every night Hayden jacked off to thoughts of Neal’s hands on him and fell asleep to fantasies of them being together.

  Finally it was Friday morning. The day was cool and overcast, but Hayden didn’t pay much attention to the weather. After packing an overnight bag and making sure his tux was safe inside the garment bag, he called Rick.

  When Rick’s car pulled up, Hayden put his belongings in the trunk and opened the front passenger side door.

  “What are you doing?” Rick asked in a completely deadpan tone.

  “Huh? You said you’d—”

  Rick jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Get in the back seat, doofus. It’ll look like I’m with a
driving service.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Hayden grinned and slid into the back of the car. “Good thinking.”

  “You’d better give me five stars for this. Steffie will be your return-trip driver. We worked it out.”

  Hayden shook his head. “You are way too good at this stuff.”

  “The world of fashion is all about presentation,” Rick said over his shoulder.

  When they arrived at the hotel, Rick stopped the car, and they both sat there gazing at the elegant building for a minute.

  “I’ve always wanted to see the inside of this place in person,” Rick said. He turned the car’s engine off, jogged around to the trunk, and extracted the garment bag and Hayden’s overnight bag. “Thank you for the generous tip you included with payment, sir.” He turned so only Hayden could see him, grinned and winked, then whispered, “In case anyone is paying attention.”

  “You’re getting into this a bit much.” Hayden slung the garment bag over his shoulder and gripped the overnight case in one hand. “Thank you.”

  Rick nodded politely, got back into his car, and drove off, leaving Hayden to stare at the facade of the hotel.

  The building was brick and at least ten stories tall. From a show he’d seen on television, Hayden knew there was an enclosed pool on the top floor. About halfway up the building, a line of American flags fluttered in the soft breeze. Hayden could tell which windows were the guest rooms; each had a small balcony. Hayden strode toward the door but stopped to let an elderly couple through first.

  Once inside, Hayden came to a halt and took in the lobby. The walls were mahogany paneling, buffed to a soft, rich luster. Lamps crafted to resemble old-fashioned carriage lanterns hung from the walls at regular intervals. Large tropical plants in soft corals and vibrant reds dotted the perimeter. Marble covered the lobby floor. Pillars rose from floor to ceiling, and between them were groupings of deep-cushioned chairs and tables with oriental rugs beneath them. The ceiling was copper panels with a raised fleur-de-lis pattern. Fireplaces lined the side walls, and the reception desk was opposite the entrance.

  “Help with your bag, sir?” one of the attendants asked.

  “No, thank you, I’m good.” Hayden settled in one of the chairs and took out his phone, sending a text to Neal that read, I’m here.

  There was a return text immediately. Got hung up at the office but should be there within the hour. Tell the desk you’re there and they’ll show you to our suite.

  Hayden collected his things and went to the guest check-in. “Hello, I’m Hayden Owens, a guest of Neal Kirchner.”

  The woman behind the desk smiled and spent a minute consulting her computer. “Ah, yes there you are.” She slid a keycard across the desktop. “Do you need help with your bags?”

  “No thank you,” Hayden said softly.

  The woman pointed to the left. “That elevator will take you to the ninth floor.”

  Hayden nodded his thanks and made his way in the direction she indicated. The inside of the elevator was lined with mirrors. Gold and red lines ran through the glass, simulating marble. He relaxed once the doors closed.

  By the time the elevator reached the ninth floor, Hayden was the only rider left. As the car stopped on lower floors, he’d gotten a glimpse of the corridors. They were nice—tasteful and elegant. But when the bell dinged and the doors slid silently open on the ninth floor, Hayden gasped and almost forgot to leave the elevator.

  The walls of the hallway were painted with a mural of the city. A uniformed attendant stood near the elevator, obviously waiting for Hayden or anyone else who’d be staying on this floor. He was a short, slightly heavy man with thinning blond hair and twinkling blue eyes. Next to him was a luggage rack on wheels. The man smiled broadly at Hayden and asked, “Are you Mr. Owens, Mr. Kirchner’s guest?”

  “Ye-yes.” Hayden nodded.

  “I’m Nathan. I have been expecting you. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. If you need anything, simply dial 03 from your room telephone and I or another of the suite concierges will see to it immediately.” He stepped to the side and held out one arm, indicating the way to where Hayden would be staying. “This way. The Frank Lloyd Wright suite is right around the corner.”

  Nathan relieved Hayden of his luggage and placed it on the luggage rack. Fortunately Nathan was busy adjusting something and didn’t see Hayden’s faltering steps. After stopping to one side of a heavy oak door, Nathan swiped a card and the door popped open with a soft click. He pushed the door wide and moved aside so Hayden could enter. Nathan followed with Hayden’s bags. The garment bag he hung in a closet with other clothes already inside. Nathan set the other bag carefully on top of a low bench near the bathroom.

  “Mr. Kirchner had a lunch ordered. It will be here shortly.”

  “Th-thank you.” Hayden dug in his pocket for his wallet.

  Nathan waved him off. “No need, sir. Mr. Kirchner is always very generous with me and the rest of the staff.” He turned to leave, then stopped. “If you don’t mind me saying, I’m very happy that Mr. Kirchner finally found someone to join him here.” He winked. “I hope you enjoy your stay. First time in the Riverfront?” Hayden nodded, and Nathan continued, “Well then, welcome, and again, have a pleasant stay.” With that Nathan left, closing the door softly behind him.

  Hayden stood in the middle of the suite gazing all around him. The floor was dark wood. A marble fireplace took up part of one wall, with a small dining table with settings for two in front of it and a bar tucked against the wall beside it. Over the fireplace was an enormous television, and Hayden caught a glimpse of a sound system behind the bar. A thick woven cream-colored rug sectioned off a sitting area with a love seat and two deep armchairs grouped around a marble-topped coffee table. There was a matching end table between the chairs. A glass-encased terrarium reaching from the floor to the ceiling divided the room in half.

  Set into a recessed alcove with wooden pillars on either side was the largest bed Hayden had ever seen. It had a delicately carved wooden canopy frame without any material draped from it. The look reminded Hayden of a grape arbor without the vines.

  A thick pale brown comforter covered the bed, and at least a dozen pillows of various sizes—ranging from dark brown to the palest of cream—lay piled against the headboard. One wall of the room was comprised of windows with a spectacular view of the river and the historical section of Greenville. The suite had a balcony a bit larger than the ones on the lower floors and contained an iron bistro set and two chaise lounge chairs.

  Hayden jumped at a knock on the door. He’d been standing in the middle of the suite gawking. He hurried to the door and opened it to stare at Nathan and a serving cart loaded with covered dishes and a bottle of wine.

  “It’s customary for me to bring the meal inside,” Nathan said and chuckled.

  “Oh God, I’m sorry. Come in.” Hayden stood to the side while Nathan wheeled the cart into the room.

  “Will you gentlemen be dining inside, or would you prefer the balcony?”

  “Um… I… ah.”

  “It’s a bit windy outside and inside by the fire is much more private.” Nathan, bless the man, trundled the cart through and placed everything on the small dining table. “You’ve never been in a hotel such as this one, have you?” He added a tall, narrow vase of fresh white daisies that gave off a very pleasant smell.

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “I see a lot of guests. Spotting the first-timers is easy.” He took the empty cart and headed for the door but stopped beside Hayden and patted his arm. “I’ve known Mr. Kirchner for years. He stays here often, and he’s never had a guest. You’re important to him, so your secret is safe with me.”

  “You really like him, don’t you?”

  Nathan nodded. “He’s a kind man.”

  “He is,” Hayden agreed.

  “I think you’ll be good for him.” Nathan nodded. “Enjoy your stay.”

  “I see I’m right on time.” Neal came strid
ing through the suite door and nearly took all the breath from Hayden. “I’m glad I had my things sent ahead. Traffic was more of a snarled mess than usual.” He wore a light gray suit with a subtle pattern and sheen to it. As he walked across the suite, he loosened and pulled off his tie and tossed it to the back of one of the chairs in the sitting area.

  “Mr. Owens and I were getting acquainted, and I was telling him how much I hoped to see him here more often,” Nathan said. “I’m always delighted when you are our guest, Mr. Kirchner. Now, you gentlemen had better eat your lunch before it gets cold and I get in trouble with the chef.”

  Neal laughed. “You have that chef talk to me. You’re the reason I stay in this hotel. Thank you for making Hayden feel at home.”

  Nathan nodded, wheeled his cart out, and pulled the door shut as he left.

  “I have missed you,” Neal said, his voice breathless and his cheeks flushed suddenly. He closed the distance between them in seconds and pulled Hayden into his arms to hold him close.

  Hayden slipped his arms around Neal’s waist and relaxed, opening his mouth at once to Neal’s hungry kiss. Warmth coursed through Hayden and settled in his groin, making his jeans tight and his thighs quiver. Neal ran one hand through Hayden’s hair, gripping it and holding Hayden steady.

  Easing apart, they both drew a deep breath. Then while Neal ran his tongue over Hayden’s neck, Hayden nipped at Neal’s ear and was rewarded with a deep moan.

  Breathing hard, Neal moved back a step and held Hayden by the shoulders, rubbing his thumbs over them. “I think if we don’t eat our lunch, we’ll miss out.”

  Hayden nodded. “Uh-huh.”

  Neal put his arm around Hayden’s shoulders and walked him to the table. “Dinner isn’t until nine, and we don’t have to be in the ballroom until seven thirty to greet the guests.” He dropped his voice and blew hot breath in Hayden’s ear while saying, “We’ve plenty of time and all night later.”