Mitch
MITCH COULDN’T quit fidgeting on the bench. He knew he couldn’t put it off any longer. He had to let Craig know about the call he’d received.
He took a drink of his beer and glanced across the picnic table at Craig. When Craig winked at him, his cheeks heated up. Craig had been acting strange all evening. Flirty. It was nice, but he knew it was all going to change when Mitch spilled his news.
He was surprised just how much he’d enjoyed sitting outside, eating at an old picnic table, but it was incredibly peaceful.
“All these years, I never knew you could grill out. The steak is incredible.”
Craig grinned. “My dad taught me when I was a kid. We used to grill out most weekends. Steak, burgers, hot dogs. Even shish kebabs.”
Mitch scooped up a bite of potato salad. “Well, we are definitely making this a tradition. You grill, I’ll buy the potato salad.” He slid the bite of food into his mouth and pulled the fork out. It wasn’t until he saw Craig’s wide eyes that he’d realized what he’d just said. Shit. Maybe Craig would let it go.
“Tradition?”
Of course he didn’t. He took another swig of beer. “Uh, yeah. Guess I wasn’t thinking.” Not like they could fly back every year to spend time in Branson. The sun had set by then, but the light next to the front door was enough to illuminate Craig’s eyes and he froze, his beer still in his hand. The way Craig was watching him shot desire straight to his dick. Damn. This was just going to confuse things. It was time to tell him.
“So, I got a call this morning,” he began, meeting Craig’s gaze across the table and shifting uncomfortably on the wooden bench.
“I remember.” Craig’s voice was quiet. Reserved. But his stare never wavered.
“It was my new boss. In West Virginia.” He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “They want me to come out early. Apparently the guy that was supposed to cover some big store opening fell and broke his leg and the rest of the staff is already on assignment.”
“When?”
“I would fly out day after tomorrow.” Mitch’s heart sank as he waited for Craig to say something. Anything. To help him figure this out. His heart was telling him to go to California, but did that make him irresponsible? Was he overthinking it all? It was almost like he was waiting for a sign.
Craig was silent as he rose from the table. Mitch’s heart began to crack, thinking he was leaving without talking to him, but instead Craig held his hand out to him.
“Come with me.” Craig’s voice was husky, and Mitch nodded, slid off the bench, and put his hand in Craig’s.
Craig led him over to the side of the porch where he dropped Mitch’s hand so he could pull his phone from his pocket. He fiddled with it until he found a station playing music, set it on the railing, and held his hand back out.
“Mitchell?”
He trembled when he gave Craig his hand. The music was some pop song that Mitch recognized, but it could have been opera for all he cared. Craig pulled him close, his arm wrapping around Mitch’s waist until their chests were pressed together. He pulled his arm up, still gripping Mitch’s hand and held him close as they danced in the dirt.
The stars were bright over the treetops, and Mitch could hear chirping over the music. Craig let his hand go and Mitch slid it around Craig’s waist, leaning into him as they moved together slowly. Hope sprouted in his chest, and for once, Mitch didn’t fight it, letting it grow and spread through him.
As they danced, they gradually moved away from the cabin, the phone too far away to be heard. Instead, they danced to the music of the woods. The cicadas, the wind blowing through the trees, a frog croaking nearby. It was magical, and Mitch laid his head on Craig’s shoulder, giving in to the pull, wanting to burn this moment into his memory. This would carry him through the lonely times ahead if he chose West Virginia.
Craig tightened his grip and Mitch leaned his head back to look at him, trembling again when he saw the intensity in his eyes. Craig’s lips brushed against his, and Mitch gasped. There was something different in this kiss. It wasn’t lust. It wasn’t just desire. It was too much to hope for.
He kissed Mitch again, and Mitch moaned, eager for more. In just a few days, he’d become addicted to the taste of Craig. He needed more. He needed everything.
But Craig pulled back and tucked Mitch’s head back onto his chest, then gently rested his chin on top.
Mitch had no idea how long they danced, but he never wanted it to end. He sighed and nuzzled his face against the soft fabric of Craig’s shirt, breathing him in. Memorizing his scent. He was surprised to feel Craig tremble under him.
“Mitchell? Don’t you know how I feel? Don’t you know I need you in my life?”
Mitch gasped, tears springing to his eyes.
“I can’t let you go to West Virginia. Wait, that came out wrong… if you want to go to West Virginia, you should. But I’d rather you come to California with me. Or if you prefer, I can move to West Virginia. I don’t care where we are, Mitchell, as long as we’re together.”
Mitch leaned his head back and looked at him. “You want to be with me enough that you’d give up your new job?”
Craig’s lips curved up into a smile and he cupped Mitch’s face with both hands. “I want to be your boyfriend—and not a long-distance one. You’re already my best friend and you always will be. How could I not love you?”
“You… love me?” His heart pounded hard against his chest as the tears fell. “Truly?”
“Yes.” Craig chuckled. “To both questions. Yes to everything. I love you, Mitchell.” He wrapped his arms around Mitch and pulled him up off the ground, planting a kiss on his lips. “Remember the picture we had taken at Silver Dollar City? With the cuffs and the key?”
Mitch nodded, unsure where he was going with this.
“I was trying to tell you that we had the key to our happiness. The key to love.” He laughed loud. “God, that’s cheesy, right?”
Suddenly everything made sense to Mitch. He wasn’t meant to go out east. He was supposed to go west. Like those pioneers they’d learned about in St. Louis, he would travel west with love and hope in his heart. And, of course, a car. No wagons for him.
He threw his arms around Craig as his heart fairly flew. Laughter bubbled up in his chest and escaped as his future lay out in front of him. “Oh, I love you too, Craig,” he confessed. “Let’s go to California!”
That night they danced under the stars, talked throughout the night, making promises and plans, wrapped up in love, their promising future together finally clear to both men. Their love story had started in Missouri, the Gateway to the West, and that’s exactly where they were going. Out west. Facing the unknown together.