by Faith Gibson
When they got to the bank, Bryan turned the motor off but didn’t get out. He ran his hands down his massive thighs. Taking a few deep breaths, Bryan finally pushed the driver’s side door open and slid to the ground. It didn’t surprise him that Bryan was nervous. He was naturally quiet, and from what Andy had seen, shy as well. Andy had news for his friend; he wasn’t going to make matters better. He would be Bryan’s friend, but as for a wingman? Hell fucking no.
Chapter Fourteen
Bryan
Bryan should be happy. Life was good, for the most part. He and Andy were learning all about raising cattle. Seeing the calves being born had been an amazing experience. From what Mal said, it was the easiest season he’d ever seen. All the births had gone smoothly, and it had been a one-hundred-percent success. The hard part was done, and now they were spending most of their time with Walt. The man was becoming a daily fixture at the farm now that the calves were there. As much as Bryan liked being around Mal, Walt was much more talkative. Having been in the military himself, it gave them that extra something that bonded them even more than just working together. Over the last three days, Bryan had become the talkative one, and Andy had less to say than normal. Bryan didn’t think there was anything wrong other than the stuff already plaguing his friend’s heart.
Thankfully, there had been no more jacking off sessions that Bryan was aware of. He’d not waited outside Andy’s door hoping to catch him. That would have been ten kinds of creepy. But lying alone in bed, Bryan’s thoughts strayed to the room across the hall. His mind was becoming a strange place as Bryan imagined Andy naked. Andy giving Bryan a blowjob. Bryan giving Andy a blowjob. Bryan sliding his cock into Andy’s hole instead of Andy using a toy. Bryan had gone so far as to pull up some gay porn on his phone to see if he was attracted to all men or if it was only Andy who did it for him. Some of the stuff he watched was entertaining at best. Some was educational. Others he went back and watched more than once. When he realized he was stroking his cock while he watched one of the scenes, Bryan had to admit to himself he was at the very least bisexual, if not fully gay.
Now that Bryan knew his feelings for Andy were real and not some crazed part of his lonely mind playing tricks on him, Andy was keeping his distance. There had been no fun flirting. No innuendos. No mention of strip poker when they’d played cards the night before. Andy was barely looking at him, if truth be told. Bryan thought back to the last few days to figure out what could have happened to change things between them. He finally came to the conclusion it had been all in his head. Bryan only imagined Andy calling out his name the first night he’d listened to Andy jacking off. Was Bryan so hard up for attention he had to conjure up a false longing from his best friend? Well, fuck that. If Andy didn’t want him that way, Bryan would settle for any attention he received from him.
Bryan held the door to the bank open, allowing the object of his obsession to walk through first. Andy’s blue jeans were tucked inside his combat boots. His T-shirt stretched taut over his wide shoulders. His blond hair was hidden underneath his patrol cap. Remembering he was in public, Bryan kept his eyes locked to the back of Andy’s head instead of traveling down to the round globes of his pert ass. Yep, Bryan had been noticing.
“Can I help you?” A lady asked from the desk in front of them. If this was Addison, Mal’s definition of pretty was different than Bryan’s. She wasn’t bad looking, but she wasn’t a knockout, either.
“He wants to open a checking account, and I want to cash my check,” Andy answered for both of them.
“I can help with the account, and Addison would be happy to help with the check. If you’ll step over to her window…” The woman was giving her best Vanna White impression like she had just introduced a new puzzle. Bryan glanced over to where Addison was waiting. She smiled at Andy, and when she looked past him to Bryan, her smile faltered just a bit, but never went away. Nope. She didn’t like what she saw. He forgot about her as he took a seat in front of the other woman. It took about twenty minutes, but Bryan had a new account opened. He should have already taken care of his banking once he got out of the Corps, but he’d not bothered with it. Most of the jobs Bryan had were paid in cash, so the need to have a checking account in Nashville had been moot. His savings account was with a bank in Chicago, and he saw no reason to move it. Yet.
Before he pushed the door open to walk outside, Bryan chanced another look at Addison. She was with a customer, but she glanced his way and smiled. Okay, maybe he’d misread the first look. He smiled back and went in search of Andy. He should have given him the keys so he didn’t have to wait outside. Bryan found him leaning against the front fender, beefy arms crossed over his glorious chest. The scowl on his face made Bryan hesitant to say anything. He didn’t have to, because Andy did the talking. “Here, I got you her number.” Andy shoved a piece of paper toward Bryan. He grabbed it before it could float to the ground.
“Uh, thanks?” Bryan replied. “If you got her number for me, why are you pissed?”
“I’m not pissed; I’m hungry.”
“Then by all means, let’s get to the store and get you home so I can feed you,” Bryan offered, trying to lighten the mood.
Bryan knew Andy well enough to know he was lying. Instead of arguing, he shoved the paper into his front pocket and got into the truck. While he drove the short distance to the grocery store, Bryan kept one eye on the road and the other on the volatile mountain of a man sitting next to him. When Andy was smiling and happy, he didn’t seem much bigger than Bryan. But when his mood turned dark, it was like the Hulk was being let loose, only Andy didn’t turn green. He kept his fury bottled inside, and Bryan was waiting for him to explode. He’d only seen Andy mad one other time and that was right after Bryan had met Laurel. Bryan was seeing a pattern. But if Andy didn’t want Bryan going on dates, why did he get Addison’s number, and why was he pissed?
“And what the fuck are you going to feed me? A jelly sandwich?”
Bryan barked out a laugh. It wasn’t really funny, but he couldn’t help it. “I’ll at least put peanut butter on it. Damn, what do you take me for?” Andy didn’t answer, but at least the hint of a smile edged his mouth.
Grocery shopping with Andy was a trip. Where Bryan didn’t bother looking at the price tags, Andy stood and studied every purchase, making sure they were getting the cheapest price per unit. Most of the costs were already listed on the price tags, but when there was a sale, Andy calculated the new price in his head. Bryan was also used to buying whatever brand he wanted. Growing up, they’d been poor and always had to get the generic stuff. When he got out of the Corps and had money he didn’t have to share, Bryan bought the name brands. Same with his clothes. Growing up, his clothes came from the thrift store or eBay. He didn’t care, because they looked new, and he would never burden his hard-working mother with something so trivial. The jeans he’d worn to the bar the previous Friday were some fancy brand that cost a whack. He bought them because the sales clerk told him they made his ass look fine. And yes, the clerk had been a cute twink.
Thinking back on that shopping experience, Bryan knew the guy was flirting, but he thought it was so he’d get the commission. Now, he wasn’t so sure. Had Bryan flirted back? Had the guy’s gaydar gone off? No, he was sure the clerk only wanted the sale. That was too many months ago, and before Bryan had an inkling he might be into the rougher sex. Thinking of rougher sex, Bryan had seen some pretty rough shit when he was watching porn. There was no way a guy could fuck a woman that roughly and she not get hurt in the process. But the men who were being pounded had enjoyed it if their hard dicks and shooting orgasms were any indication. Fuck. Now his dick was coming to life. He grabbed the shopping cart away from Andy, hoping to hide his crotch from the other customers. “I’ll push. You cipher,” he said when Andy scowled at him.
“Do you like seafood?” Andy asked when he stopped in front of the counter directly past the lobster tank. It surprised Bryan that a town this small would have live
lobster.
“Uh, yeah. Sure.” Honestly, he’d not eaten any type of seafood other than the frozen fish sticks he and his siblings ate at least twice a week when they were growing up. Those and mac ‘n cheese were staples in their kitchen.
“I haven’t heard Mal mention eating seafood, and I didn’t see any in the freezer. I’ll get this for us to eat while he’s off–”
“What can I get you?” An older man asked as he stepped up behind the counter. His apron was covered in blood, so Bryan figured he doubled as the butcher.
“I’ll take all your crab legs.”
Bryan glanced down at the counter and almost choked when he saw the amount of food Andy was getting. Andy didn’t talk while the man was bagging the legs.
“Anything else?”
“That’ll do it. Thanks.”
The man mumbled under his breath, but Andy ignored him. Bryan, who was leaned over with his forearms on the cart handle, pulled up to his full height and gave the man a scowl of his own.
“I’ll cook these while Mal’s off fucking Cade in Nashville,” Andy said, finishing his earlier thought once they were away from anyone else.
“Cade’s coming to Nashville?” Now that was something to get excited about. Bryan wasn’t star struck, but he couldn’t wait to meet the famous drummer.
“Eventually. I overheard Mal on the phone. Not that I was eavesdropping. Mal was walking from his office to the kitchen. He obviously didn’t care that I heard, because he didn’t stop talking. It was weird, though."
“What was?”
“Well, it was like Mal almost didn’t want to see him. He kept putting him off, telling him we were busy with calving season. We’re not that busy. The mommas do all the work; all we have to do is keep an eye on them.”
“Truth, and he’s crazy about the man. I don’t think Mal realizes how much he talks about him.”
“I’m sure he has his reasons.” Bryan couldn’t imagine not wanting to be with the man you were dating especially when they rarely saw each other.
“Hey, do you like chicken in a biscuit?” Andy asked.
Bryan thought that was an odd question because Andy had seen him put a piece of fried chicken on a biscuit for breakfast. “Yeah, and I like sausage and bacon on biscuits, too.”
Andy looked up from the box he was holding. “What?”
“You asked if I liked–”
“I know what I asked you. I meant these.” He shook the box. “Crackers.” Andy pointed at the name. Chicken in a Biskit.
“I’ve never had them, but if you like ‘em, I’m sure I will.”
“I haven’t seen these since…” Andy tossed them in the cart and looked at the list again. They already had most of the things Mal wanted with the exception of milk and eggs, but those were on the other end of the store. Their cart was over halfway full with stuff Andy wanted.
“Hey, can you make some more nachos? Those were great,” Bryan asked. Andy had thrown together some cheese and leftover chicken on chips and nuked them in the microwave. Bryan loved nachos, and Andy’s were better than any he’d ever had.
“Sure. We need to get some salsa and sour cream. Don’t let me forget.”
Bryan thoroughly enjoyed his shopping experience with Andy. It felt domesticated, and Bryan could envision them shopping together for many years to come. Right. Except Andy had gotten Addison’s phone number for him. Maybe Bryan should go on a date with the girl. Maybe being around a female would change the way Bryan saw Andy. Addison Miller was definitely pretty. Her smile was sweet where Laurel’s had been predatory. Bryan had no doubt if he’d gone to Laurel’s, the woman would have expected sex. Maybe Addison would be okay with going to dinner and a movie. The thought of calling her and asking was as exciting as shoveling out Callie’s stall. Still, he owed it to himself to at least try.
Now that he’d thoroughly depressed himself, he tagged along quietly as Andy filled their cart the rest of the way full. When they got back to the farm, Bryan helped Andy unload the bags and take them to the kitchen. On the way home, Andy had Bryan stop at the discount mart so he could get a small charcoal grill. The grocery store had their steaks on sale, and Andy couldn’t pass them up.
“What the hell?” Mal asked when they walked into the kitchen loaded down with bags.
“Don’t worry, Boss. I paid for all this. I don’t expect you to feed us on your dime. Plus, I got a grill. I was wondering… What would you think about us building a small deck off the back porch? I’d pay for it, if you okay it.” Andy had mentioned the idea to Bryan and asked if he was willing to help build it. Of course Bryan was on board with anything Andy wanted.
“It’s not my house anymore, but I don’t think the company would be opposed. They’d consider it an improvement and probably pay for the materials. I’ll give ‘em a call and ask.”
“Awesome,” Andy beamed. It amazed Bryan how the man could go from pissed to happy in the span of a shopping trip. “Hey, B. Will you do me a favor?”
“Of course. What do you need?”
“Will you get the grill out of the truck and see what we need to put it together? I’ll finish putting the groceries away and marinate the steaks for later.”
“No problem.” Bryan gladly left the two men to the food, because he really didn’t know where shit went anyway. Since they’d gotten a charcoal grill and not a massive gas one, all that was needed was a screwdriver. Bryan found one in the barn, and before Andy came outside, Bryan was tightening the last screw. “Tada,” he said, shaking it to make sure it was nice and sturdy.
“You didn’t have to do that, B.” The grin on Andy’s face said he appreciated it.
“Didn’t have to, but I wanted to. You do all the cooking, even though you pretend you’re teaching me. Little stuff like this is the least I can do to repay you for your kindness.” Bryan reached out and grabbed Andy’s shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. Andy gasped and looked at Bryan’s mouth. Okay, he was not imagining the way Andy was staring at him like he wanted to devour him. His cock twitched behind the zipper, warmth filling Bryan from his head to his toes. When Andy licked his lips, Bryan felt himself leaning in. The back door opened, and Bryan took a step back, letting his hand drop to his side. Fuck! Had he really been about to kiss Andy?
“Since y’all are in a buildin’ shit mood, how ‘bout we install that doggie door? I figure between the three of us we can’t fuck it up too bad,” Mal said.
“Yeah, sure,” Andy said at the same time Bryan muttered, “No problem.”
Bryan was an idiot. Andy had made it clear over the last few days he wasn’t interested. If the lack of conversation and eye contact hadn’t been enough of a clue, the phone number in his pocket was. But Andy had wanted to kiss, hadn’t he? This shit was more confusing than trying to figure out how to cook without burning everything. Bryan couldn’t look at Andy. He didn’t want to see the rejection in his eyes. He was already embarrassed enough.
Mal returned with a jigsaw and the pet door. Andy was like a kid hopped up on Pop Rocks. Bryan enjoyed the dogs being inside, but having them around was good for Andy. Moe had become his constant companion whenever possible. Mal had joked about the dog being a traitor, but Bryan had seen the way Mal smiled at the two of them together. Mal might seem like a good-ole-boy cattle farmer, but the man was smart. When he and Walt were talking business, it never ceased to amaze Bryan how much Mal knew at such a young age. Hell, Mal was the same age as both Bryan and Andy, and here he was running a business. He’d been in charge of both the farm and the bar for such a long time. It almost made Bryan ashamed that he hadn’t accomplished more in his twenty-six years.
Bryan remembered what his mom said to him when he told her he wanted to be a boxer like his daddy – “It doesn’t matter what you do with your life as long as you do it to the best of your ability. The busboy and the dishwasher are just as important as the chef. If you don’t have clean tables and clean dishes, it doesn’t matter how good the food is.”
His
mom had been a hell of a waitress. Bryan had been a hell of a Marine. He’d given his country eight years, and he’d given them to the best of his ability, sometimes giving more than he thought he had. He could have given more if he’d gone on to MARSOC like his CO wanted him to. Bryan knew in his heart he couldn’t give one hundred percent to the Special Forces team, so he opted out completely. Now, he could be one hell of a farmhand. It payed more than some white collar jobs. He’d read articles about folks graduating college with a degree only to be stuck without a job at all. So, Bryan was okay with what he was doing, and he was going to make sure he gave it his all so his mom would always be proud of him. If there came a time down the road when he figured out he’d rather do something else with his life, he’d worry about that then.
It didn’t take all three men to put the pet door in. Since Andy was the one who asked for it, he offered to be the one to install it. Bryan read the instructions while Mal sat on the ground petting the two animals and keeping them out of the way. As soon as Andy was finished, he called the dogs to him and opened the flap. One after the other, they stuck their head past the vinyl covering and disappeared into the house. Less than thirty seconds later they both came back out. The three men laughed as the dogs ran in and out. It felt good to laugh. When Andy looked his way with that beautiful smile on his face, something hit Bryan hard. Being with Andy felt like home.
Chapter Fifteen
Andy
