Real World, page 7
part #2 of Love is Blind Series
This was bullshit. These kids interviewing weren’t even as old as his niece and they weren’t near as cute as Grainger. Seriously? Were these folks old enough to bear arms?
Dan had done his homework. He knew Austin had a higher percentage of recent college grads than almost any other major city. The job market sucked hairy donkey balls. Still, Dan had more risk management in his pinky finger than these kids did in their whole bodies and Austin was home, dammit.
How many of these people could say that? That Austin was where he’d been born and raised?
No one was actually from Austin anymore.
“Mr. White?”
Dan stood, smoothing his jacket into place, and smiled at the receptionist. “That’s me.”
“Jake will see you now. Conference room three.”
“Thank you.” He swallowed down the nerves. Steady on, get the fucking job done. That was what his old lieutenant would say.
Of course, Jake the interviewer was maybe two years younger than Dan. Maybe three.
“Captain White?” The guy’s voice was honestly shocked. “No shit?”
“No shit.” Jake Worthington. He’d made first LT before mustering out. “Hey, Jake. How’s it hanging?” Dan held out a hand to shake.
“Good. Good, how the hell are you? Please, sit.”
“I’m feeling like a fish out of water,” Dan admitted. “You know how long it’s been since I had to do an interview from this side?”
“No sir, but I get it. This is a whole new world. What brings you to Austin?” He got a grin, a curious look.
“I was born and raised here. My folks were up in East Texas for a bit, but they came back down, and all of my brothers are here, so it seemed like a good idea.”
“Rock on. I came for a woman. She’s a grad student at UT. Good lady.”
“That’s the best reason, bud.” He chuckled. “This a good company?” Ask questions, Dan, he told himself. Be interested. Engage the interviewer. Knowing Jake was bonus but no guarantee. Hell, it might be a deterrent for Jake that Dan had been his superior.
“It is. I’ve been with them for a little over a year.”
The temptation to make some smart assed comment about being a short-timer was huge. He bit it back. “Sounds great.”
“So, I know your experience. Tell me why you’re interested in working for us.”
He also bit back his “I need a job. “I feel like risk management is a field that requires immediate reaction, good pre-planning and someone who can keep up with changing technology and new threats. All of my previous experience speaks to that, and your company is listed as one of the top growers in the Austin area.”
Jake nodded, taking notes on a laptop, fingers just flying. God, he felt old and more than a little out of touch, which was ridiculous. He was on top of his shit, knew his job, his place.
Dan just needed a chance to prove that to someone else.
“Do you have a salary requirement?”
God, he hated that question. Too high and they immediately ruled you out, too low and they fucked you over from the start. “Well, to be honest, my research shows I’d be somewhere in the forty to forty five range on the low side, but depending on the combination of benefits, I’m willing to go with something fairly entry level like that.” He tried not to hold his breath.
“I have to be honest with you, Captain. You’re… you’re totally overqualified for this job. I mean, this is… shit. Still, I’ll talk to my bosses, let them know that you’re my top pick, huh? I know that it’s tough to break in here.”
“Thanks.” Dan grinned wryly. “If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t get separated involuntarily, I don’t have any dependents, and I could easily make it on that kind of salary.”
“So you just mustered out? So close to retirement?”
Six years wasn’t all that close.
“There weren’t going to be very many promotions, man. Not the way they’re downsizing. I might have made major by retirement, but I wanted to spend some time with my family.”
“I get that. You found a house yet?”
“God, no. I’m staying with my brother for now. My folks are out in Georgetown, but that was a little, uh….”
“Intense? Parent heavy? Like being sixteen again?”
“Exactly. You did time when you got out, too?”
“I lasted twelve days. Twelve.”
“Oh, now, see? I made it from late October until just after Christmas. By New Year I was at Dix’s. Hell, he has two kids and it’s better than being with Mom.”
“Two kids, huh? How old?”
“Nine. Both of them. Not twins, thank God.”
One eyebrow went up, Jake obviously trying to work that out.
“My brother’s girl Randi is nine. He got married not too long ago, and Grainger is also nine.” There. He wasn’t going to go into sexuality with someone who might be hostile.
“Ah. Right. That’s cool. Mazel tov.”
What did that even mean? Dan pasted on a smile. “Anything else you want to ask? I need the practice.”
“Well, tell me about what you can bring to our particular table.” Lord, open-ended stupid questions. Yay.
“I think the armored car delivery system is a ripe for all sorts of problems, and I think background checks and route assessment are both underserved. I think with my experience in supply chain risk management, I can bring a unique perspective to both.” He felt like he was at a spelling bee.
All the rest of the questions were just as pointless and, by the end of the interview, he was fixin’ to lose his shit in a nuclear sort of way. Total meltdown.
Dan breathed deeply, his chest swelling enough to press his shirt buttons into distress.
“You did great, Cap.” Jake chuckled. “Go have a beer with lunch, huh?”
“Yeah. Thanks.” He handed over a business card. “Give me a holler, huh?”
“I will. One way or the other.” Jake waved when he walked out, and he kept his chin up even though he knew he’d never get this freaking job.
This was fucking demoralizing—begging for work and jumping through hoops for cash. He was a fucking soldier, goddamn it.
He tore off the jacket and the tie. Right. Time for that beer and maybe a burger. His phone buzzed, a text coming in. Dixon.
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Another text came in. Dalton’s name coming up.
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Damon’s text followed on its heels. <
Damn. His brothers rocked so hard. Illiterate as they were.
He couldn’t be down, not with his brothers waiting for him, to commiserate.
In fact, Dan thought things might just be looking up.
He turned back toward his truck, a goofy-assed grin on his face.
8
“Come on, son. Get a move on!” He blew kisses to his little ones. His mom was taking Maddie to volleyball practice, Mel was watching the others for him, and he had to get Jakob to guitar lessons. Jakob, who was still not out here. The kid was blind; how much primping could the kid possibly fucking do? “Jakob Nathaniel Weldon! Move your ass!”
“Dad!” The word had maybe five syllables, Jakob drawing it out, which made him clench his teeth. “Maddie hid my hat!”
“Quelle horreur. Did you find it? Do you really need one with the amazing helmet of hair you’re developing? If we’re late, Dixon might beat you.”
“He has to catch me. Where’s Pepper?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Pepper!” He was immediately swamped by every fucking dog in the house besides the lab.
“Where the hell is Pepper?”
“Daddy! You said hell.” MacKenzie ran by. “I hear her. I bet Jakob locked her in his room again.”
“Weren’t you leaving with your granny, Mel?”
“I forgot my baby!”
He rolled his eyes so hard he imagined them getting stuck. Christ, some days he wanted to scream.
“Y’all get your asses outside. Pepper, harness! Jakob, now! Kenzie, if you don’t find your baby right now you have to leave it!”
“Okay, Daddy!” She came pattering back with Pepper and said baby. “Love you, bye!”
“Love you, baby. Jakob?”
“Ready, Dad. Let’s go!”
He got dogs into the yard, and hopped in his truck, gravel flying as he hit his wireless. “Call Audie,” he said. “Jakob, you call Dixon and tell him we’ll be eight minutes late.”
“Yessir.” Jakob pulled out his phone.
“Hello?” Audie’s voice crackled across the line.
“Hey, man. Weldon. We’re running late. There was a baby doll and hat incident. Jakob’s calling Dix.”
“Okay. No worries. I’ll have Dix snarl a little.” Audie sounded amused, which he was gonna take as a good sign.
“You’re a good man. See you in a jiff.”
“You got it.” Audie hung up, and Weldon was pleased to hear Jakob apologizing without laying blame.
“Sorry, Mr. Dix. I was running late. We’ll be there in just a few. Yes, sir. Thank you.”
He nodded. Personal responsibility was the first step to being an adult and he’d be damned if he didn’t raise his kids to not need him anymore.
Weldon was proud of the man Jakob was becoming. Never waffle, never make excuses. Take charge.
He pulled into the long drive of the Diamond D ranch, and he slowed. Audie was still in the process of fixing the fence and the man’s cattle wandered like mad in search of the greenest pastures. You really had to keep an eye out.
Jakob chuckled. “Any cows on the road?”
“Not yet. That big brahmer is out to get me, though.”
“Yep. Your nemesis. Thanks, Dad. For bringing me, I mean.”
“You’re welcome.” He couldn’t decide if he wanted to run into Dan or not. Part of him wanted to see the man, admire the hard little body. Part of him knew that he wasn’t the type of guy that did friends with benefits. He was a serial monogamist.
Dan was worth another try, though, wasn’t he? He liked kids, it was plain; clearly Dan just had no idea what to do with them.
He parked the truck. “We’re here. You got Pepper?”
Weldon would get Jakob into the main house, from there, he was comfortable to get to the studio. Hell, Jakob probably didn’t need his help to get to the big house.
“Yep.” Jakob got the harness handle gripped, then grabbed his guitar with the other hand. “Okay, see you in an hour?”
“Indeed. You think you can make it to the house on your own?”
“Dad, I have Pepper.” Jakob sounded so much like a teenager that all of Weldon’s fond thoughts about his maturity whooshed away.
“Right.” He stuck his tongue out. It would have worked better if Jakob could have seen it.
He watched every step, every second of the mostly confident walk to the door.
Audie came trotting out and hopped into the passenger side of his truck. “Drive. Away.” Audie made a dramatic hand motion toward the windshield.
“Right. Let’s go. Want one of those froufy coffees that comes with sprinkles and whipped cream?” He backed out.
“God, yes. With extra whip.” Audie looked a bit wild around the eyes. Kids must be ramped up all over.
“Hate the first week back at school, man. I was going to have to kill half of mine.”
Audie shook his head, this amazing Muppet noise escaping him. “Grainger and Randi decided they needed to practice doctoring the horses. On Boomer. He’s covered with iodine solution.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I assume the house is painted, too?”
“Yep. Jeez, can you imagine if we’d stayed in that fancy white house Dix shared with Ron?” Audie shuddered.
Audie’d told him all about it. They’d met at the school for the blind and had hit it off in seconds between cattle and kids and horses and trading woodworking for guitar lessons.
“Jesus, that would have been a pain and a half. You beat them?” He pulled off onto the farm to market and headed into town.
“I left them with Dan.” Audie cackled, the sound pure evil.
“Oh, you are an evil bastard. I totally fucking approve.” Sometimes a dad just had to escape before someone died a gruesome death.
“Yep. He’s got them marching around snapping off salutes as they clean. Like The Sound of Music dad.”
“I like it. Did I ever tell you about when Emma threw red Kool Aid on Krista’s new sofa? I was working a job in Wimberley and thought for sure that baby was going to die before I got home.”
“Oh, God. What color was the sofa?” Audie’s smile was already firmly back in place.
“Light gray. She wanted it so bad and I bought it for her birthday. It lasted two days.”
“Christ.” Audie snorted. “You can’t have little kids and nice things.”
“No shit on that. Kids. Dogs. There’s probably more, but I cain’t think of them.”
“Hmm. Cowboys.” Audie hooted and slapped the dash.
“Musicians, too, because damn.” They both got to howling like loons, and he pulled into the Starbucks in town, head back on the rest as he let the laughter fade.
“Blind guys are hard on furniture,” Audie finally said between chuckles. “Man, you saved two lives, at least.”
“Well, at least Dixon won’t be able to see how bad it is, right?” He had to say it.
Had to.
“Or the horrified stares of people wondering what happened to poor Boomer when they go out in public,” Audie agreed. “Oh, man, no more eggnog lattes. Sad now.”
“We’ll ask if they still have the goo. If they do, you can still get it, they’ll make it.” He had teenagers. He knew these things.
“Oh, good deal.” Audie bounced out of the truck, boots clattering on the pavement. “Man, I needed to get out of the house.”
“I hear that. I’m working on those cornices for the hotel downtown so I’m never out and about.”
“Lord, that’s some detail work. Better you than me.”
Yeah, he’d seen Audie’s idea of woodwork. Usually involved a chainsaw.
“It’s not everybody’s idea of a good time.” Him? He could spend days in his workshop with his radio and his tools. The trouble there was getting an unbroken stretch of time. Thank God for his mom.
“I can’t wait to see it when it’s done,” Audie said. “Do y’all still have the eggnog stuff?”
“Let me check. Give me two shakes.”
Weldon grabbed his phone and pulled up his app to pay. He loved this shit. What did he do before smartphones?
Audie bounced when the little girl came back. “We do! Hot or cold.”
“Hot, please. Venti with extra whip.”
“I’d like a caramel macchiato with an extra shot of espresso as big as my head, a tall vanilla latte, and… what do the brothers drink, man?”
Audie perused the board. “A venti iced latte with soy milk and a venti triple shot cinnamon dolce latte with extra whip.”
“Rock on.” Now if Dan was the one who ended up with the venti, it could be love.
They stood together waiting for the drinks, talking rodeo of all things. Audie knew the bucking horses as well as most folks knew the riders.
“I don’t know that the roughstock guys deserve all the glory, man. They’re making a shitload of money for being idiots. Ropers got to have a real skill.” He loved playing devil’s advocate.
“Sure they do. That’s why they miss so much. I am so ready for Rodeo Austin.”
“They’ll be announcing in a couple weeks. Y’all gonna go down to Houston again this year?”
“Probably. I mean, it was a little overwhelming for Dix, but Boomer is a huge help.” Audie shifted from foot to foot, rocking gently. Always moving.
“Well, if you want, the kids can stay with me. Jakob is going skiing on spring break with school and Maddie is going to Padre with her best friend’s folks.”
“Seriously?” Audie’s grin bloomed into this huge thing. “God, that would rock. I would love that.”
“Totally, man.” The men were newlyweds, for fuck’s sake. They needed some time alone.
“Dan would totally help. So would Dalton. Especially if anyone needs rides or anything.” Audie grabbed the drink carrier. “God, we could get a hotel room.”
“A hotel room. A beer. The need for lots of lube.” He got it.
“Hell, yeah.” Audie gave him a sideways look when they settled back in the truck. “I guess Dan was a one-time thing?”
“I guess so, yeah. He…. He was a good guy, but real honest with me. He’s not into a guy with kids. I have more than my fair share.”
“You do at that.” Audie sighed. “None of my business and I know it, but Dan could use a solid guy like you. He’s adrift.”
“Well, I can’t pretend like I’m not tied down.” It was just as hard to pretend like Dan didn’t do it for him.
“Not asking you to, buddy.” Audie patted his arm. “Sorry. I’m all in love with love.”
“Yeah. He’s a special guy. I hope he gets happy.”
“Me, too. Hey, if it’s awkward to see him I’ll let him know. I just know he can be a huge help with Randi and Grainger while we’re gone.”
“No. No, it’s cool. Like I said, he was totally upfront, even before we… spent the night.”
“Good deal. I’d hate to have to kick his ass out every time you came over.”
“Nah. Just don’t leave us alone. Last thing I need is to fall for the guy. You know I can be a dipshit that way.” He had the whole know thyself thing down.
Sucked, because everyone assumed that being bisexual meant you didn’t know, but that wasn’t true, leastways not for him. He just liked sex and loved some people and the gender didn’t matter. He’d never known anyone else who felt like he did, but they had to be out there and, if they weren’t, he didn’t really give a fuck. He was who he was.
“Got it.” Audie winked, then sipped his coffee. “Oh, that’s good shit.”
