Chance Encounter

by David Horne

  “Are you working on something?”

  “Yeah. I’m trying to design a few apps to go into business for myself.”

  “Really?” Alex looked interested in it.

  “Yeah. I know it’s kind of odd, but I had some money saved up and decided to give a shot.” Benjamin shrugged.

  “What kind of app?”

  “Well, it’s mostly a game, but one that places a few cents out of your account and puts it into saving or some sort of investment with each play. It won’t be much of anything.”

  “To help people save their money?”

  “Yeah. Like that. We’re not going to make much money at it, so I need to keep my costs low. Which means working on it on my own.”

  “How long do you think until you finish?” Alex seemed very curious.

  “Probably a couple of months or so? Depending on how much the office calls me.”

  “Your office still calls you?”

  “Yeah. I do some freelance work to help pay my bills.”

  Alex nodded. “That’s probably a really great idea.”

  Benjamin noticed a strange look on his new neighbor’s face like he was considering saying something. He couldn’t help but wonder if it was due to the sexual energy that seemed to be suddenly buzzing between them. “Something wrong?”

  “I was just thinking about what it would be like to do that kind of work,” Alex spoke quickly.

  “Would you like to come in and take a look at it?”

  “I wouldn’t know what I’m looking at, but sure.”

  Benjamin laughed. “I can explain it. I’d offer you a beer, but I don’t have any.”

  “Wish I could help, but I haven’t been grocery shopping yet.”

  “How long have you been over there?”

  “Just since yesterday.” Alex shrugged. “I got called into work just after setting up the bed.”

  “They called you in right after you moved?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What do you do?”

  “I’m a bouncer.”

  Benjamin laughed. “You definitely look the part.”

  “It takes some practice.”

  “You practice looking like a monster of a man?” Benjamin realized that he had that flirty lilt to his voice and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. “Not that it’s a bad thing.”

  “It takes some work in the gym, good genetics and a lot of tattoo work.” Alex smiled as Benjamin showed him to the couch.

  They sat close to each other. Benjamin was very aware of the body close to his. The heat radiating from Alex was almost intoxicating. It was a feeling that the man had never felt before. “I’ve got none of those.”

  “You don’t work out in a gym?”

  “I do some walking to stay in shape. But not really.”

  “Maybe I can take you someday?”

  The offer made Benjamin’s heart skip a beat, he loved that idea. Being close to him, hot and sweaty. He forced it out of his head because it was leading to a dangerous direction. “Sure, that sounds like a great idea.”

  “Do you really mean that?”

  Benjamin laughed. “I would probably give up in about five minutes.”

  “That sounds like a lot of people.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m a nerd. It’s kind of what I do.” Benjamin shrugged, laughing.

  “Maybe you can find a nerdy gym. Where they talk about elves and hobbits and stuff.” Alex offered.

  This made Benjamin laugh. “I don’t think a gym like that exists in the world.”

  “Maybe you should open one.”

  “Right, because I look like someone who even belongs in a gym.”

  Alex smiled. “You look like you can belong anywhere you want to.”

  That hit him like a ton of bricks. That was a very clear flirt and it made his heart thump in his chest. “Thanks.” It was all that he could say about it. This man had a smile that could make the rest of the world disappear.

  “Was that too much?”

  “No. I guess not.”

  Alex looked a little embarrassed. “Sorry about that. I wasn’t expecting to have a neighbor like you in this neighborhood.”

  “Yeah. I moved here because it was cheaper.”

  He nodded. “Saving money for your business?”

  “It lets me survive longer to work on it.”

  “Do you have to make yourself work somedays?”

  “It takes a lot of dedication.” Benjamin knew that his work ethic could be a lot better, but he was at least getting something done every single day. “I’m learning what it takes.”

  “What do you do?”

  “I try to set deadlines, but still remain flexible. But when you have to flex once, it gets easier to do it the next time.”

  “Oof, that’s a challenge.”

  “A lot of it is just sitting down and making myself work on it. I have a little trouble with that.”

  “And you said that I probably couldn’t help you.” Alex smiled.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m an expert on self-motivation.” He flexed his muscles at Benjamin.

  “Yeah, that’s pretty clear.” The computer programmer smiled. “Maybe you could moonlight as a personal trainer.”

  Alex laughed. “I didn’t think of that.”

  Benjamin went for it. “I think you would be pretty damn popular.”

  He never expected to see the tattooed man blush. But Alex did. “Thanks.”

  He smiled. That made him feel a lot better with what Alex had already made him feel. “Which bar do you work at?”

  “Bolt’s.”

  “I was just there last night.”

  “With the big group in the corner bar?”

  “Yeah, that’s the one.”

  He smiled. “I saw you.”

  “How did you know it was me?”

  “Remember the guy that bumped into you in the hallway last night?” Alex didn’t look at him. “That was me. I saw you then.”

  “Why didn’t you introduce yourself?”

  “You seemed like you were busy.” The man shrugged.

  Benjamin paused and looked up at him again. The man looked almost embarrassed by what was said. It was like he had been chastised. “Sorry about that. I just get involved in stuff sometimes.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I figured I would stop by today and hope that it was a better day.”

  The programmer was kicking himself for not looking up the other day. It was amazing some of the things that he missed by focusing so much on the work. An old habit that caused him to miss out on some pretty amazing things. And that was exactly what happened. He was happy that Alex had tried once again to talk to him. He would have missed this entirely. “It’s a problem with all of us, really.”

  “Kind of like getting stuck in something artistic, where you can’t think of anything else?”

  “Happens the worse when I’ve got some kind of block going on.”

  “Like writer’s block?” Alex must have been reaching for a close analog, but he looked honestly curious about it.

  “Yeah. Like that.” Benjamin nodded.

  “That’s got to suck, right?”

  “Yeah. It drives you crazy. I can’t focus on anything else when it gets that bad.”

  Alex looked over the apartment, letting a moment of silence settle between them. “So, what do you do when that happens.”

  “Sometimes it’s as simple as a beer to kind of cool the nerves. But it’s not a guarantee.”

  “Nothing ever is.”

  “I just stress myself out over it a lot.”

  “Have you tried just doing something else for a while?”

  “I usually try to do that sort of thing.” Benjamin shrugged. “But it’s hard to get distracted here at the house.”

  “Maybe you need a sounding board? Someone to talk to about it? I’ve heard that people do that.”

  “Isn’t that a writer trick?”

  “Yeah, I guess it is.” There w
as a long moment of silence as the conversation died awkwardly between them. Nervous fidgeting seemed to make the only sound in the place.

  The sexual tension seemed to buzz between them until Alex cleared his throat. “Well, I should go.”

  “Thanks for coming by.” Benjamin felt like he was coming out of a daze.

  He waited for Alex to let himself out of the place. Then he was left alone to think about the handsome man that shared a wall with him. He glanced over the direction of the neighboring apartment. He could feel his heart thump faster in his chest. Something about Alex just called out to him, but the man still felt like he had an edge of danger to him, like the man had known more than a tattoo parlor and the inside of a gym.

  Chapter Five

  “Five minutes to open.” Tracey’s voice called out through the bar. It was a Saturday night and the entire staff braced for nights like that. Alex was a little nervous about it. After all, the place had been doing a lot better in the past years thanks to rising wages in the area. People had more money to spend than they had in the years since he had left.

  Of course, that meant that people had to work harder at jobs like this is. But he didn’t mind. He actually liked it. “Great. I’m pumped.”

  Jan rolled her eyes. “You cannot be serious.”

  “I totally can be serious.” It was getting easier for Alex to joke and laugh with his family. There had been a few awkward moments when he was trying to get back into this life, but they had been understanding and had shown him all the love that they could. It was the reason he had shown up a few minutes early to help prep for opening.

  “But you’re at work. Nothing happy about work.”

  He laughed. “Speak for yourself. I love it.”

  “That’s because you’re a nerd,” Jen spoke up, over her twin sister.

  “He actually liked working in the kitchen,” Taylor spoke up through the window that allowed dishes to pass through to the dining room from the kitchen.

  “I did.” Alex didn’t deny it. He couldn’t. He was happy to have an honest living.

  “What a nerd.” Jan agreed with Jen.

  “I’m not a nerd.”

  “Totally are. You’re turning into a nerd.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  Jan laughed as Taylor answered. “He spent the whole prep time back here talking about this computer app that some guy is making.”

  “I may be a little excited about it.” Alex had to admit.

  Jen stepped up. “I think you’re more excited about this guy.”

  “Hey, slow down now. We just met.”

  Jan spoke. “When are you going to ask him out?”

  “I don’t know.” He thought about it. It had been a few days since they had officially met, but he didn’t want to do much to fast. After all, he still had a lot going on.

  Still, they had spent a lot of time together over the past few days. Benjamin had come over to his apartment and they had spent a few hours talking. And now, two days later, Alex was happy but knew that his lack of sleep was going to catch up to him eventually.

  “Yoo-hoo,” Jen called out. “What’s on your mind over there?”

  “Nothing.” Alex shook the thoughts out of his head.

  Taylor laughed. “We’re ready over here. Open the doors!” He gave the order and Alex walked open to unlock the front door. It wasn’t prime hours, so it wasn’t like there was a crowd waiting outside to see them, in fact. It was so anti-climactic that they all laughed when no one came in right away.

  “Look at this crowd.” Alex laughed.

  “I don’t think we can keep up.” Tracey grinned from across the bar. They were still laughing a minute later when the first customer filtered into the building. It drew some strange looks from the people that came into the bar, but it didn’t last long.

  Food started to be ordered and drinks were poured. It was a nice time, something that they enjoyed. The atmosphere stayed light and happy, with no dangerous drunks that day.

  And it wasn’t until after ten at night that Alex felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. A face walked into the building and he knew it. “Popper.” He whispered the name with terror. A man that he had known in his former life. Someone that he had never expected to see.

  Alex tried to fade into the background, but Popper’s eyes still met his. “What are you doing in these parts?”

  He decided to play it cool. “I could say the same about you.”

  “Figured I would come to check out the local bar scene.”

  “What are you doing in Kansas City at all? Don’t you guys normally stay more west?”

  “We’re thinking about expanding our rides out to here.”

  Alex groaned internally, but he fought to keep it from showing. Nothing good would come from letting Popper visibly get to him. “That so?”

  “Yeah, expanding the business and all that.”

  “You might have some competition out here.”

  “You know that we can handle some competition.” He smirked at Alex.

  The bouncer didn’t like this at all. If they were here it was for a reason. And he knew that he wasn’t going to like that reason at all. “I’m sure you can. What made you all think of starting up here?”

  “Figured we could find someone to head up the operation here.” Popper waved at the other man.

  Alex nodded. “I’ve got to get back to work.” He didn’t want to be a part of this conversation anymore. It was the worst thing that he could think of happening. He hadn’t hidden fully but assumed that no one would come this far to find him. And for all the talk of business, he knew that his old gang was coming to look for him. He had been too high up to just let go easily. And he knew too much. They would have the first goal of getting him back into the business, but if that didn’t work, they weren’t above killing him. That was the last thing that he wanted to happen.

  But all he could do was go back to work. He needed to do some major thinking, but couldn’t stop glancing at Popper who stayed until the last call was announced. Popper would just grin at him from over his beer, raising the drink his direction. So casual and calm.

  But Alex could feel the tension in the air. He was terrified of what might happen now that danger was back on his doorstep. There truly was no safe place for him. No way he could survive under the radar. They would track him down.

  That’s what Popper being there meant. Part of him considered doing something about Popper, making him disappear, but he had never been much of a killer, focusing more on intimidation that he knew would never work on someone that he had worked with for so many years.

  He thought about the life that he used to have. The scary moments. The beating of people to get money from them. Armed robbery. A thousand other little crimes that would add up to make anyone see him as a horrible person. He saw it too. He was a terrible person. Popper served to remind him of that fact. He wasn’t going to go back, but he knew that he may have to run again.

  He thought about the possibilities if he stayed. He thought about Benjamin. Even though he had barely met the man, he knew that he might have a chance if he stuck around.

  It was a problem that needed to be solved. Somehow. Maybe he didn’t deserve to have the kind of happiness that he felt when Benjamin was around. Maybe that was why he was stuck here in this situation with Popper staring at him hard from a seat over by the bar.

  He was still lost in the crazy train of thoughts when Popper walked out of the building. “Why don’t we have a talk outside, man?”

  “I’ve got some work to do.” Alex tried to get out of it.

  “I’d hate to have this conversation here.”

  “It’s closing time, you can’t stay here.”

  “You know I’m just going to come back, right?”

  “I’m not causing any trouble.”

  “You know, once you’re family, you’re always family, right?”

  “I just wanted to come home. What’s the big problem with that?”
Alex knew that he had to get out of there. He walked outside with Popper.

  Jan looked up at him concerned but didn’t speak.

  Tracey called out. “What’s up?”

  “Just an old friend.” Alex forced a smile.

  “What kind of old friend?”

  “Nothing bad, I promise.” Alex realized that they had to know what his life was before.

  Tracey didn’t look like she believed him, but she let him go anyway. Popper led him out toward the bike parked right next to him. “Are you going to play at this?”

  “Play at what?”

  “Being all honest and stuff.” Popper scoffed.

  “I left all of that behind. I haven’t gone to the cops. Just trying to live like a normal guy.”

  “You took a massive pay cut, you know that?”

  “Yeah. I know that.” Alex shrugged. “But my cost of living has gone down now that I don’t have to live on the road anymore.”

  “We don’t let go easily. You can come here and play house, pretending to be something you’re not.”

  “How do you know I’m playing?” Alex frowned. A part of him was afraid that what Popper was saying was true. It hadn’t necessarily been easy to leave that life behind. But he had done it. And he was eager to get started in a new life. But was that eagerness enough? “I like this life.” He wasn’t going to quote his concerns to this man.

  “You like being a paid tough guy at a bar. You used to actually use that power.” Popper indicated his muscles. “You can’t do shit about the trouble here.”

  “You think I like fighting?”

  “I think you’re built for it.” Popper smiled. “You loved being on the road. Letting the wind go by with nothing to tie you down.”

  “Living afraid of being arrested every day wasn’t exactly appealing.”

  “We’re not stupid enough to get caught.”

  “Neither am I.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I’m not going back.” Alex stood his ground. “I deserve better than the life I used to live. I want to live someplace. A permanent home. Don’t you ever think about that?”

  “You turned your back on us. Betrayed your family.”

  “A family doesn’t sling drugs and rob stores.” Alex scoffed.

  “We gotta survive, man.” Popper snorted. “You think you’re so much better than us then?” He climbed onto his bike. “You know we don’t like it when people leave.”