Rory's Rock, page 6
Rory stood and before he could wrap his arms around Jimmy, the other man enveloped him in a hug so tight, Rory was beginning to fear cracked ribs.
“My turn,” Jake said, and forced Jimmy to let go so he could take his turn.
Next to hug him was Barry, then, probably so they wouldn’t be seen to be left out, came Wayne and Liam.
“You forgot a gift,” Jake said, pointing at the other package Zane had given him.
“Oh, yeah.” Rory was a little breathless from the hugs, so unused was he to public shows of affection. Sure, Zane was incredibly demonstrative in his affections, but Rory knew not to read too much into those. Zane was just a very tactile person.
Rory resumed his seat and peeled off the wrapping paper to reveal a pile of white T-shirts. He glanced at the label in the collar—medium. He wondered how Zane knew his size.
“Open one out,” Zane said, almost as excited as if he were the one receiving the gift.
Rory did and laughed. It bore the iconic Superman logo on the center of the chest.
“Look at another,” Zane encouraged.
The second T-shirt was Batman. “I see a theme developing here.” He smiled and opened up the last shirt. It was Captain America.
“I don’t get it,” Jake said.
Rory was about to reveal how Zane’s sister bought superhero-themed clothes for her brother when he realized Zane might not want such things known. The guys, particularly Wayne, would no doubt tease Zane mercilessly about it. “Zane knows I used to read comic books when I was a kid.” This wasn’t a lie. He was picked on when he’d borrowed a Charles Dickens novel from the school library but comic books seemed to be acceptable, so much so, some of the other boys would steal them from Rory’s room. He never reported it, knowing it would only make matters worse.
“But that was when you were a kid,” Jake continued. “You don’t read them now, do you?”
“No. but—”
“Zane probably got them as a gag gift,” Barry told Jake.
“Uh, yeah,” Zane said unconvincingly. He then shot Rory a grateful look.
Jake was distracted from asking more awkward questions by Jimmy telling everyone it was time to go into town and he was going to buy Rory his first legal beer. So once the dessert bowls had been taken into the kitchen, Liam, Wayne, Zane, and Rory left—the latter picking up his gifts—and headed for the bunkhouse.
“We’ll be ready in ten,” Jimmy called after them. “Jakey’s just gotta make himself look beautiful before he can meet his public.”
“Fuck you,” they heard Jake say from inside.
“Take more than ten minutes to make Jake beautiful!” Wayne shouted.
Jake came through the door, middle finger raised. “And fuck you, too!”
Everyone laughed, including Rory. It wasn’t every day he turned twenty-one after all. Despite his pre-dinner anxieties, it had all gone really well. He told himself he should relax and enjoy his evening out. He would be surrounded by people who cared about him—the gifts he’d received were proof of that.
“Brrr!” Wayne rubbed his arms. “It’s colder than a witch’s tit out here.”
“What do you know about tits?” Liam asked. “Except your mom’s perhaps.”
“My mom was a fucking witch,” Wayne replied to much laughter. “Seriously, we could be in for another ice storm.”
Rory hoped not, although if the power went out, maybe he would be invited back into Zane’s bed.
“Nothing about that on the weather report,” Liam said.
They reached the bunkhouse and went inside.
Rory deposited his gifts on his bed and stared down at them. He was so lucky. They rarely got gifts in the group home, and anything they did receive was often taken by the bigger kids. He stretched the Captain America T-shirt over his chest and smiled. He so wasn’t a superhero like Zane. Shaking his head, he set the garment back on the bed and left his room to visit the bathroom. But after taking care of business, Rory returned to his room and the tee and unbuttoned his flannel shirt and changed.
* * * *
“We taking your or my truck, or riding in the backseat of Barry’s?” Wayne asked Liam.
Liam seemed to weigh his options. “Backseat of Barry’s. Least then we can both drink.”
“Sure your fat ass will fit on that seat?” Jake asked Wayne.
Rory knew from personal experience the backseat of Barry’s vehicle was pretty cramped, even for a small guy like him.
“You been checking out my ass?” Wayne asked, twisting to have a look at his ass himself. Turning to Liam, he asked, “My ass doesn’t look fat in these jeans does it?”
Liam rolled his eyes. “Get in the fucking truck already.”
Before Rory could watch any more of the banter, Zane piped up. “Ror’s riding with me.” He put an arm around Rory’s shoulders and guided the smaller man to his old pickup.
Zane fiddled with the catch on the passenger side and wrenched the door open, the hinges complaining. “Should do something about that.”
“Like take it to the junkyard,” Wayne called over just before climbing into the back of the Silverado. “Move over, Liam, dammit!”
“Thank you,” Rory said to Zane once he was seated.
Zane slammed the door closed and walked in front of the hood to get in the driver’s side. They both fastened their seat belts and Zane started the engine and waited for the guys in the other vehicle to sort themselves out. But it looked like Jimmy and Jake were arguing over who should drive.
“Might as well go to the bar and grab a booth,” Zane said, starting down the driveway.
“Sure.” Rory nodded.
Zane reached to his right, inserted a cassette into his radio, and cranked up the volume. “Got Betsie to make me a copy of that CD.”
Suddenly the cab shook with the beat of timpani, bass drum, and tam-tam.
After his ears stopped ringing from the blast of trumpets, Rory shouted, “This is great!” “Fanfare for the Common Man” needed to be played at high volume to best appreciate it.
Zane’s smile, lit by the dash, was broad. “Yeah, it rocks!” He beat time on his steering wheel as he drove.
There were so many things Rory admired about Zane. His positivity, his total enjoyment of life, little seeming to dampen his enthusiasm. He was in many ways the polar opposite of Rory’s shy, quiet, and introverted personality.
Rory was enjoying the ride so much he was a little disappointed when Zane pulled into the bar’s parking lot and cut the engine, the music dying with it.
“Can’t see Barry’s truck,” Zane said, first peering through his mirror then turning his head to look out the back window.
Rory wouldn’t be surprised if they hadn’t set off yet.
He reached for the door handle, only to remember it was missing.
“Hang on,” Zane said, getting out his side and walking around the back of his truck.
“Thank you,” Rory said once he’d gotten both feet on the cracked asphalt. He didn’t need any assistance alighting from the truck, but he’d take any opportunity to be in such close physical contact with the big man.
After Zane had locked his truck, Rory resisting pointing out that no one else would be able to gain entry to the vehicle, at least on his side. The two walked the short distance to the bar. Rory could already hear the loud country-western music coming from the jukebox. Not his favorite, but he reminded himself it was his birthday and he was going to enjoy himself.
“What do you want?” Zane asked when they made it to the bar.
“A Beck’s Light, I think.” Rory had given serious thought to what his first legal drink should be. But if everyone followed through on their promises to buy him a drink, he decided it was better to pace himself.
“Hi, Zane,” the perky brunet barmaid said, smiling sweetly at Zane when it was their turn to be served. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Uh, hi, Tonya. Been busy and, you know, the ice storm and everything.”
She laughed. “The weather didn’t stop most of the regulars from finding their way here.” She rubbed a towel on what, to Rory, looked like an already clean bar top.
Tonya seemed friendly, maybe a bit too friendly with Zane, but Rory told himself he was imagining it.
“What’ll it be?”
“My usual dark beer for me and my little buddy here says he wants a Beck’s Light.”
Tonya frowned. “I’m sorry, but I’ll need to see some ID.”
Rory nodded and reached into his back pocket for his wallet. He guessed being carded was inevitable given that to some he must look no older than seventeen. And wasn’t this all part of the twenty-first-birthday-ritual?
“He’s legal,” Zane insisted, telling Tonya he was buying Rory his first beer.
She examined the ID, smiled, nodded, and handed the card back. “Happy birthday, Roy.”
Rory nodded, put the ID back in his wallet, and didn’t bother correcting her, but Zane did.
“Sorry, Rory.” She gave him a genuine smile, which Rory found himself returning.
Tonya seemed genuinely nice, however, Rory’s opinion of her suddenly plummeted.
Looking back at Zane, Tonya said, “I finish at eleven. You want to maybe go somewhere and…?” She waggled her eyebrows.
Zane shook his head. “Sorry, I’m out with the hands, celebrating Ror’s birthday, and I’m his ride home.” Zane nodded at Rory, who was doing his best to contain his smile.
“Okay, another time then.” Tonya smiled as she accepted Zane’s money, but Rory could tell she was disappointed. Meanwhile Rory was on top of the world. Yes, Zane was straight, but tonight, it was Rory’s birthday, so he could pretend Zane wasn’t quite so straight if he wanted, couldn’t he?
They made their way across the floor, Zane effortlessly parting the crowd, Rory admiring the man from behind. Zane was wearing his black duster that almost reached the floor. When the coat was unbuttoned at the front as it currently was, it swayed whenever Zane changed direction, acting like a cape and making Zane appear even more superhero-like. So what if Rory was being fanciful? It was his birthday and he could fantasize as much as he wanted. Although he hoped they’d find a booth soon because his imaginings were having a visible effect at the front of his jeans.
Rory’s prayers were almost immediately answered because Zane stopped at a booth that had miraculously been vacated mere seconds before their arrival.
Zane motioned for Rory to go into the booth first. He took off his hat, hung it on the peg and gratefully shuffled halfway along the bench, the table and the darkness under it successfully hiding all traces of his arousal. Rory was surprised and secretly pleased when Zane chose to sit next to him rather than take the bench opposite. He was about to tell Zane that someone else might want to sit there, the bar was crowded after all, but he concluded dissuading unwanted interlopers from joining them was well within Zane’s superhero powers.
Rory smiled to himself. Zane sitting on the outside reminded him of how, whenever Barry went out, Jimmy and/or Jake would sit on the outside. Rory was sure Zane’s actions were purely incidental but he still drew pleasure from it.
Rory slowly sipped at his drink, Zane downing his more quickly, although the big man didn’t seem in any hurry to go back up to the bar or flag down a passing waitress to get another. They were able to talk, although had to shout to be heard over the loud music.
Rory was about halfway down his bottle when a pair of red flannel-clad arms slid a tray containing a pitcher of beer, a glass of what looked like Coke, and four empty glasses along the table. Rory looked up and saw that the rest of the Double J crew had arrived. Picking up his drink, he shuffled to the far end of the bench, Zane immediately moving to close the distance. Liam and Wayne slid into the space made by Zane, while Jake, then Barry and finally Jimmy occupied the bench opposite.
Barry smiled. “Safely sandwiched between my cowboys.” He touched first Jake’s hand then Jimmy’s in a brief but still meaningful show of affection.
Rory listened as Wayne teased Jimmy and Jake about their journey to the bar. As Rory expected, Jimmy and Jake had argued over who should drive. It seemed Barry had listened to the banter for a couple of minutes before quietly going back into the house and coming back with the spare set of keys. He’d then got behind the wheel, started the engine, and told his men to either get in the passenger side or he was leaving them behind.
“And then Jimmy said, ‘You wouldn’t.’”
Wayne laughed and shook his head.
“But I would and did,” Barry added.
“He did,” Wayne confirmed. “He drove about twenty yards down the drive, those two morons running after the truck.” He pointed to Jimmy and Jake, who at least had the good graces to look sheepish.
“It made sense as I’ll be driving us back anyway,” Barry said, picking up the glass of Coke.
“Who says?” Jake challenged, obviously not ready to admit total defeat.
“Me,” Barry announced, setting down his drink and pulling out his car keys to show everyone. Jimmy made to grab them but Barry was faster. “Wayne, catch.” He threw the keys and Wayne caught them.
“I got a set of those, too.” Jake smirked and moved his arm, no doubt about to pull out his keys. But the smirk soon turned to a frown.
“You mean these?” Barry brandished a second set. “Liam, your turn.” He threw the keys across the table before Jake could snatch them.
“When did you…?” Jake shook his head.
“Remember when you got all handsy in the truck once I’d parked? Only my hands did a bit more exploring than yours.”
“Reckon Barry’s outsmarted you,” Rory said, laughing at the changing expressions on Jake’s face.
“Who rattled your cage, Brown?” Jake asked.
Rory’s momentary courage—no doubt brought on by the beer—deserted him and he shrank back, emotionally if not physically.
“Ror don’t need no one to rattle his cage,” Zane said, pulling Rory closer to him.
Rory felt some of his good feelings return.
“Sorry, man. Shouldn’t get on your case. Especially on your b-day.” Jake held out a hand to shake, which Rory accepted. “And you’re right, Barry’s got me an’ Jimmy wrapped round his pinky, not that we tell him that.”
Rory smiled broadly. Although he already knew Barry had the two men licked.
“Now everyone’s kissed and made up,” Liam said from the end of the bench, “let’s drink to Rory and his birthday.” He raised his glass, as did everyone else, Zane having moments earlier poured Rory a glass from the pitcher.
“Happy birthday!” they all said together and clinked glasses, Rory having to stand up to reach Jimmy’s and Liam’s glasses.
“Speech,” Wayne called out, the others echoing his request.
Rory groaned. Then thought, oh, what the hell. He took a huge gulp of his beer for courage and plowed forward, not having a clue what to say. “Thank you, everyone, for taking me out and celebrating my birthday with me.” Focusing across the table, he added, “Thank you, Jake and Jimmy, for giving me a home and a job.”
“You’re welcome, bud,” Jimmy said, although had to shout in order to be heard above the music that had suddenly gotten louder.
“Yeah, what he said. You work hard and don’t complain, unlike some,” Jake added, smirking over at Wayne, who raised his middle finger in response.
Rory drank some more beer. “Barry, thanks for all the food, and you’re more of a friend than you’ll ever know.”
“A pleasure, Rory, and thank you,” Barry said, reaching over the table and squeezing Rory’s arm.
Rory looked to his left. “And thanks, guys for being such great work colleagues and for…well…for being there for me.”
Wayne, Liam, and Zane each said something back but Rory couldn’t hear all of it, but he certainly felt the one arm hug Zane gave him.
“Well, thank God that’s over,” Rory muttered, but as he’d said it during a quiet part of a song on the jukebox, everyone in the booth heard it and laughed.
“Have another drink, little dude,” Zane said, setting a refilled glass in front of Rory.
“Thanks.” Rory took a healthy gulp. “Damn, I’m not used to this.”
Zane chuckled. “Probably best you take it easy.”
Rory nodded. But when he’d finished his beer he realized the truism that you didn’t buy beer, you just rented it. “Uh, I think I need the john.”
Zane had Liam and Wayne slide out of the booth before doing so himself.
Rory got out, stood, and wobbled slightly. “Shit, I’m such a lightweight.” He then turned and made his way towards the bathroom, the men laughing about something behind him.
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, stopping his forward motion. “Ror, you’re going the wrong way.”
Rory looked over his shoulder to see Zane smiling at him. “Oh, uh.” He looked around and blushed. “Shit!”
“Come on, I’ll go to the bathroom with you.” Zane slung an arm around Rory’s shoulders and turned him around. “Could do with a piss myself.”
Chapter 5
The men’s bathroom was old-fashioned but clean. After turning a corner, you had the choice of three stalls on the right or a galvanized metal trough on the left.
“Stall or urinal?” Zane asked.
“Just need to piss.” And the more he thought about it, the more urgent the need became. Having sobered up some, Rory broke free of Zane and stepped up to the trough, pulling down his zipper, and fishing out his junk.
But now the moment had arrived, Rory found he couldn’t perform. This was strange, given that he’d grown up in group homes where privacy had been almost non-existent. It didn’t help that something else was on his mind. He tried to resist, he truly did, but he was only human, and as the little voice in his head reminded him, it was his birthday. So when he heard a stream of piss hitting the trough to his left, Rory snuck a quick peek at what Zane was packing and…holy cow!
“You okay?”
Rory just managed to raise his gaze to meet Zane’s in time. “Uh, yeah, sorry. Don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight.”
