Pick Me Up

by Rebecca Brochu

  The extra money from the diner helped pad his budget enough to tide him over until his first paycheck from the Academy, but things would still be tight for a while.

  He was a good distance from the school, and well on his way to the diner when he noticed a sleek green car slow down at the curb. He didn’t pay it much attention until a familiar voice called his name. Bryce turned slowly and sure enough saw Felix staring at him from the driver’s seat, sunglasses hiding his eyes and a slight smile on his face.

  “Mr. Cranshaw. Do you need something?” Bryce asked, careful to maintain the same polite distance that he had in the staff room.

  “I’d like it if you’d call me Felix, Bryce. Actually I would have liked it if you’d have called me at all.” Felix seemed more amused than discouraged at Bryce’s cool tone.

  “Seriously? That’s what you’re going to go with?” Bryce dropped his polite demeanor at Felix’s less-than-smooth line.

  “Not my best work, but it did get your attention and that’s all that matters.” Felix grinned and pushed his sunglasses up to rest in his hair. The bright slash of teeth caused his blue eyes to crinkle attractively.

  “You were much smoother at the club, you know? Much more effective, too.” Bryce smiled back as he shrugged. He couldn’t deny it. The light-hearted and trite line had taken him off guard.

  “I don’t know about that. Out here in the middle of the day is different than in the middle of some club, especially since we’ve actually been introduced this time.” Felix laughed.

  Bryce shook his head in exasperation and not-so concealed amusement. He wasn’t the type of guy to get upset about stupid pick-up lines, and he had to admit that Felix did have a bit of a point. He was however, the type of guy to get upset about being late to work.

  “I’ve got to go,” Bryce said over his shoulder as he took off at a light jog. He chuckled when Felix jumped at his loud announcement. “I’m sorry, but we’ll have to talk some other time, I’m going to be late for work.”

  “I was under the impression that’s where you just came from,” Felix said with a raised brow, confusion overtaking the amusement on his face. He quickly pulled the car back up along Bryce and kept pace with him.

  “Yeah, but I haven’t exactly gotten paid for teaching since the school term hasn’t even started yet. I’ve still got bills to pay. Thus second job,” Bryce said sarcastically. He focused his attention on making it to the diner on time. Pamela had always been lenient to a degree in the past, but she didn’t like her waiters to be late. With him leaving her short staffed in a few days, she was already in a foul mood.

  “Then let me give you a ride. I’m the one that stopped you, so it’s the least I can do,” Felix said as they turned the corner.

  Bryce debated for a moment. He didn’t really know Felix, but he could handle himself. Plus, he was already running late and with light traffic the car would actually be much faster.

  “Alright, I’d really appreciate it.” Bryce tugged open the passenger door. He slid inside, buckled up, and pointed Felix in the right direction. “It’s Pam’s Perfect Meals on Second, just pull up and I’ll hope out.”

  “I know the place. I haven’t actually stopped by, but I’ve driven past it plenty of times,” Felix said as he pulled back into the main lane.

  “I’ll give you some free pie and coffee if you stop in within the next few days as a thank you for the ride. After that I’ll be officially gone and finally back down to one job thanks to Summer Hearst.” Bryce couldn’t help the satisfaction in his voice. He’d been working his ass off for years now at the diner and tutoring. He was happy to finally be moving on to what he actually wanted to do with his life.

  “That’s good. Less stress and more time for play.” Felix grinned at him, sunglasses back down over his eyes.

  Bryce’s snorted and Felix laughed again, that same dark husky sound from the club that Bryce liked so much. They settled into a companionable sort of silence for the last few minutes of the ride until Felix stopped the car in front of the diner. Bryce hesitated a minute, hand on his seatbelt, before he turned in his seat and smiled at Felix again.

  “Like I said, stop by for that coffee and pie, it’s worth it. But anyways, I guess I’ll see you around the school sometime.” He wasn’t sure exactly how often he’d be seeing Felix, but Bryce had to admit he looked forward to their next encounter.

  “Oh, you can count on it. Me stopping by, and us seeing each other at the school. Now that I know you’re there, I’ll make sure I’m early to every meeting. It’ll be worth Miss Lenzy’s attempts to get me to meet her nephew.”

  Bryce flushed at Felix’s words and hurried out of the car, shutting the door behind him carefully.

  He’d only taken a few steps when Felix called out his name again. He turned, and was surprised to see the driver’s side door open with Felix leaning over the side of the car, sunglasses once again pushed up into his hair.

  “What?”

  “Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I drive by again?” Felix asked him with a surprisingly straight face.

  Bryce stared at him for a moment, completely unable to believe someone as sophisticated and obviously well off as Felix actually used that line.

  “That … doesn’t actually apply you do know that, don’t you? We’ve already met more than once.” He blinked at Felix in surprise.

  Felix just laughed, and with an over-exaggerated snap of his fingers, winked at Bryce and got back into his car. Bryce watched as the man threw him a casual wave out the open window, turned, and drove away.

  Chapter Three

  Two days later Bryce was working his last shift at the diner. Lunch time had just arrived and he was already tired and ready to go home to Snarl, when Felix strolled through the door dressed like a wet dream in another one of his tailored suits. Bryce smiled and waved him towards a seat at the counter while he finished clearing off his current table. After he’d carted the dishes to the back, Bryce made his way around the counter and over toward Felix.

  “You here for that coffee and pie? ’Cause you’re cutting it kind of close, today’s my last day,” Bryce asked Felix as he picked up and brandished an empty mug in his direction.

  “Of course. I told you I’d be by to see you. I’ve been looking forward to it actually. More the seeing you part than the pie part, but now I’m here that pecan does look pretty tempting.” Felix was obviously flirting, and it made Bryce feel warm inside even as he laughed.

  “Trust me, it’s not. That has to be the absolute worst pecan pie on the face of the planet,” Bryce said as he tried to warn the man.

  “I don’t believe you. It looks too good, and I do so like to live dangerously,” Felix said.

  Bryce smirked as he poured Felix a cup of coffee then grabbed him a slice of the pecan pie. When that was done, he cut a slice of apple pie and poured a small glass of water, both of which he set to the side.

  He watched avidly as Felix picked up his fork and dug into the pecan with obvious anticipation. The look of horror on the man’s face when he took the first bite could only be described as priceless. Bryce smothered his laughter beneath his hand as Felix chocked and gulped down the glass of water Bryce slid him.

  “How could that happen? That was … ugh. I didn’t know pie was even capable of tasting like that.” Felix shuddered and eyed the slice of apple pie Bryce pushed toward him distrustfully.

  “I promise this one is actually good.” Bryce grinned, safe in the knowledge that it was well worth the cost of the extra slice of pie to see the look of unguarded horror on Felix’s face.

  “I’m not sure I trust you. I mean, you actually let me put that … poison in my mouth.” Felix stared up at him, blue eyes narrowed suspiciously while a small smile lurked at the corner of his mouth.

  “Excuse me? What happened to living dangerously, huh?” Bryce did his best to sound offended despite wanting to laugh. “Besides, I tried to warn you about it, but you didn’t want to listen.”


  Felix stared at him for a moment, eyes still narrowed, before his mouth curved into a wide grin. “Touché.” He lifted the now empty water glass up in a mock salute before he set it down and picked up the apple pie. Felix braced himself visibly, but when he finally took a bit Bryce watched surprise and pleasure wash across his face instead. “Damn. You weren’t lying about this pie at all.”

  “Let this be a lesson to you about never doubting me.” Bryce scolded Felix. Before Felix said anything else, Bryce noticed the couple at a corner table holding up their coffee cups and looking hopefully in his directing. With a nod in Felix’s direction, Bryce hurried toward the other customers. Felix had just scraped the last of the pie off of his plate when Bryce made his way back behind the counter.

  “I take it you enjoyed it since it didn’t last long at all.” Bryce motioned to the empty plate then topped off Felix’s coffee cup without being asked.

  “Hmm. Someone should call the police.” Felix looked at Bryce over the rim of his coffee cup.

  “Why?” Bryce arched his brows in confusion.

  “’Cause you just stole my heart with this pie.” Felix grinned at Bryce as he drained his cup then stood.

  Instead of freezing like he had the last time Felix used such a cheesy line, Bryce fired back. “If that’s the case, I’ll pass it on to Manuel since he’s the one who baked it. Manuel!” Bryce called out as he looked back over his shoulder.

  “What?” A heavily accented voice answered. Manuel, the wizened and weathered old cook, popped his head out from around the kitchen door, a scowl on his face and an unlit cigarette hanging out the corner of his mouth.

  “Got a customer who says your pie stole his heart and someone needs to call the police,” Bryce said as he grinned at the older man.

  “Unless it’s made of solid gold he can have it back. The wife would cut me, and you know how good she is with a blade.” Manuel looked from Bryce to Felix for the first time. “Well, he’s a pretty one so she might make an exception.” Manuel leered at Felix for a second before he grinned and winked at him

  Bryce barely held in a laugh at the look of horrified embarrassment on Felix’s handsome face as Manuel ducked back into the kitchen.

  “You’re cruel.” Voice low and breathy, Felix glanced at Bryce. “Completely and totally ruthless. If I wasn’t sold on you already I would be now. I admire a man who’s completely willing and ready to humiliate me.”

  “That’s a little bit personal, isn’t it? I mean, I normally don’t have these kinds of discussions until the fourth or fifth date,” Bryce said, proud of the way he shot the retort back at Felix without having missed a beat.

  Felix flushed then smiled, wide and pleased and entirely too appealing. Bryce had to remind himself he wasn’t interested in one night stands or casual sex, had to remind himself that no matter how much he would enjoy climbing Felix like a tree, the aftermath wouldn’t be worth it.

  “Does that mean you’d agree to there being a first date then? ’Cause I’m more than willing to work our way up to conversations of a more personal nature.” Felix smirked and leaned forward, palms planted on the counter that separated them. “All you have to do is say the word.”

  “Don’t you have better things to do than sit here and pepper me with cheesy pick-up lines?” Bryce asked. He leaned against the counter as well and refused to back up, refused to concede the strange flirting game they were playing.

  “Unfortunately, I do have to get back to the office. My office is across town and my secretary’s already going to be demanding a blood sacrifice to make up for me being late as it is.” Felix finally straightened, and pulled out that same slim leather wallet. “How much do I owe you?”

  “On the house, like I told you a few days ago. For the ride to work and the captivating conversation.” Bryce waved Felix’s money away then gathered the dishes together.

  “Ah, but we only agreed to one piece and, even if I do hate calling that pecan thing pie, you gave me two.” Felix placed a crisp twenty on the counter. “So take that and keep the change.” He didn’t acknowledge Bryce’s sputters and protests as he slipped his wallet back into his pocket and headed for the door of the diner. “I’ll be seeing you soon, Mr. Huttner. Like I told you before, I’ll be early to the weekly staff meeting to make sure we have a chance to talk.”

  “That’s really not necessary,” Bryce said to Felix’s back, But the man pushed the diner door open and stopped to flash another wide grin in his direction.

  “Oh, it’s necessary all right. A necessary pleasure that I’ve been looking forward to since we met.” Then with another jaunty wave Felix was gone, the tinkling of the bell above the door left in his wake.

  Bryce stared after him for a moment before he scooped up the dishes on the counter and took them back to the kitchen, smiling at Manuel again as he walked back through. A few seconds later the bell above the door sounded again and Bryce lifted his head, a greeting on his lips, only to pause when he saw it was Felix again.

  “Did you forget something?” he asked as the lawyer strolled up to the counter.

  “Yup, your heart. But I’d settle for your number.” Felix rocked back on his heels, hands in his pockets, and those same sunglasses from a few days before once again pushed up into his hair.

  “That’s the best you got?” Bryce did his best to project an air of unconcerned and unimpressed boredom, but it was difficult while fighting back a smile. A burst of warmth slowly unfurled in his stomach.

  “So cold, so cruel. Now I know I'm no mathematician, but I'm pretty good with numbers. So I’ll tell you what, you give me yours and then just sit back and watch what I can do with it.” Felix winked at him again and Bryce couldn’t help but laugh, a short burst of sound that only made Felix smile wider.

  “Go to work. I don’t give my number out to strange men who only know horrible pickup lines.” He made shooing motions toward Felix when he got himself back under control.

  “Then I’ll just have to wait for you to call me.” Felix sighed sadly. “I’ll just be by my phone, wasting away, waiting for you to call me.”

  “How do you know I still have your number?” Bryce asked. “Maybe I threw it away.”

  “Well, I hope you kept it. I mean it would be a shame if we had to leave that page out of the wedding scrap book.” Felix made his way toward the exit, his voice chipper when he spoke. “I mean, when we tell our grandchildren about this I’d really rather not have to tell them how you rejected me right off the bat.”

  “Just leave.” Bryce couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Why, Mr. Huttner I’m beginning to believe that you just like to watch me walk away.” Felix looked over his shoulder one last time and then he was out the door.

  Bryce laughed again, surprised and unwillingly charmed, as he wiped down the counter. He found Felix’s warm and playful nature to be more than a surprise. From their first meeting at the club, and the way he’d looked earlier in the week at the staff meeting, Bryce would have taken him for the suave and debonair type instead of someone with the sense of humor he’d already displayed.

  Felix wasn’t completely wrong. Bryce did still have the card and he did like watching Felix walk away. It wasn’t Bryce’s fault the man had a fantastic ass.

  Chapter Four

  The first week of his new job was hard, but more satisfying than anything Bryce felt since his actual graduation ceremony. The kids were all eager and ready to learn, respectful and easy to engage with thanks to the academic standards of the school itself. Bryce went home every night that week, and collapsed into an exhausted sleep from all the stress of starting a new job, and the nerves from teaching his first class on his own. Still, thoughts of Felix constantly ran through his mind.

  Despite Felix’s flirting, Bryce was still convinced the lawyer wasn’t as serious as he made out to be, but he found himself interested nonetheless. So when the next faculty meeting rolled around and Felix was there early as he said he’d be, all slicked back
hair and serious demeanor, Bryce was surprised. They didn’t get a chance to talk. Miss Lenzy monopolized Felix as soon as he’d walked through the door. But Felix sought him out with his gaze, and gave him a serious nod before he turned back to his conversation with the headmistress.

  It took Bryce off guard, the way Felix could be so serious, so different from the flirtatious man at the diner. But at the end of the meeting, when the other teachers cleared out, Bryce hung back despite the way he wanted to hit himself for being obvious. Apparently his worry had no basis since as soon as they were alone, Felix immediately went back to flirting with him. He walked Bryce through the school, and graciously bowed out when Bryce made noises about needing to leave and get home.

  It didn’t stop after that, the pick-up lines and the outright flirting. If anything it got worse, more noticeable. Felix obviously found little reason to be concerned with letting anyone know about his interest in Bryce. The looks Miss Lenzy gave Bryce the first time Felix showed up to an early meeting, two cups of coffee in hand from the local café Bryce mentioned liking, had been priceless. When Felix kept doing that every time they met, Bryce was charmed and flattered that Felix would go to so much effort just for him.

  Jamie and Maddy found the entire situation hilarious. Jamie told Bryce Felix sounded like their kind of guy, and invited themselves over for dinner when Bryce finally got around to actually dating him. Seeing his two closest friends pleased at the prospect of him having someone who got his attention the way Felix did made Bryce smile. The couple meant a lot to him, and having their blessing made Felix harder to ignore.

  Felix was never overly-aggressive, never inappropriate, during a teacher’s meeting or anything of that nature. Bryce never felt pressured or hounded. Whenever he had an obviously bad day, Felix always seemed warm and happy to see him. He even laid off on the teasing. The fact that the lawyer was so considerate made Felix all the more attractive to Bryce, especially after the way Trey, his last partner, always acted brash and rude.