The Boat We Row (GxMxM, 18+)

11

Just What I Needed - The Cars

The sun was just beginning to lower, casting a faint orange hue towards the west, when we had locked up the store. I found myself climbing into his 1969 Chevrolet C20. Immediately, I could smell a faint woody scent, explained by the sight of an unlit incense stick which was propped up at an angle in the dashboard by its holder next to an ashtray. Besides that it smelled of aged leather and marijuana. There were clothes bunched up in the backseat as well as a duffle bag. In the bed of the truck were what looked like utility bags full of tools.

He slid into the driver's side, smudging his cigarette in the ashtray. He turned the key in the ignition and the truck heaved wearily, and he tried again and again. At first, I was concerned that it would never start up, but by the fourth try, the engine roared to life.

"Cars overheat a lot here." He turned to me and said when I looked a bit concerned. I popped my eyebrows wondering if that comment was meant to reassure me or worry me.

• • •

"How can you eat all of that?" I said, looking down at Tony's plate as we sat in the Red Barn. I was more shocked than disgusted. I was also a tad bit impressed.

They had come out with plate after plate and set it down in front of him like he was being served a buffet. He has ordered a Cheesebuster burger, French fries, fried onion rings, a fish fillet, an apple and cherry pie, and a Coca Cola. His order took up two seats worth of space and was earning some eyes from other patrons. I was hungry as hell, but all I knew I could stomach was a Big Barney, onion rings and a coke. I knew I would get through that Cheesebuster without hurling it up.

"I'm a man." He stated proudly with his hands rested on either side of the table.

"I bet it was expensive feeding you as a kid." I said, gathering my burger in my hand and taking a bite. I realized how much I missed the taste of pickles and mustard.

"Not really," He said between bites. "since my family grew and raised pretty much everything we ate." He gathered a few fries, dipping them into the ketchup that had squeeze out between the burger and stuffed them into his mouth.

I decided to have integrity and use my manners by swallowing my food first. "So you grew up on a farm?"

"We made use of the hundred and fifty acres we had. Chickens, goats, pigs, cows, horses."

"You ate the horses too?" I said, twisting my smile as I looked down at my misshapen onion rings.

"Yeah, a lot of people don't know, but foals have the best meat." He said.

He paused and waited for me to pick my head up with a concerning look on my face. After a moment, we both looked at each other and snorted out laughs, and I was thankful he was joking.

"No," He chuckled. "We only ate the chickens and the pigs and the goats. I don't think they tasted as good as this though."

I huffed, watching him take another huge bite of his massive burger like it was nothing. I also felt as though I was in an eating contest with him and already knew I would lose by a long shot if that were the case. Still, I couldn't help but steal glances at him. His sizable hands had such a painful grip on the burger that they'd brutalized the bun. Though, he was chomping out chunks greedily, he still was savoring it all as I had already eaten three quarters of mine. Somehow, his table manners were acceptable- no elbows on the table, napkin tucked in his shirt, continuously dabbing away and sauce around his mouth, chewing his food with his mouth closed. He seemed to be brought up well despite unfriendly tendencies and arrogance.