So, as I left my condo this morning, I decided to do a little recon. It just so happens, I live ocean front, right next to the Fishing Company. I’m not brazen enough to go up there, but I do walk my happy ass across the street to Fran’s Coffee House. I know for a fact all the fishermen stop in there throughout the day for their caffeine fix and maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll run into my mystery man.
I find a chair near the front entrance and sit down. I pull my laptop out so I can get some work done and not look suspicious for sticking around a while. After I get myself settled, I walk up to the counter to get a drink.
“It’s nice to see you so bright and early, Kian,” Fran says. “I don’t normally see you until evening before you go to work. I see you’ve set up shop over there.”
“Needed a change of scenery while I do some budgeting. Can I get my usual, plus a cranberry orange scone?”
“Of course. I’ll bring it over in a minute.” Fran takes my money and I make myself comfortable at my table.
I try to focus on the numbers filling up my screen, but every time someone walks through the door or walks past, I look up. So far, no Archer. Maybe he’s already been in today, or maybe he doesn’t even like coffee. I dismiss that idea. Men like him love coffee. The dark bitterness speaks to their souls.
“Here you go.” Fran sets my citrus black tea and scone down on the table. “Someone special you’re keeping an eye out for?”
“No. Just distracted today, I guess.”
“You wouldn’t be wanting to check out Brigs Ferry Bay’s newest resident, would you?”
“No.” I gasp in mock incredulity.
“If you were, I’d tell you he comes in at ten-thirty every morning when he takes his first break.”
I sigh, looking at my watch and seeing it’s only ten.
“Ah-ha! I knew you weren’t here just to work.” Fran cackles.
“How did you know?”
“You forget I’ve known you since you were in pampers.”
“Don’t I know it.” I playfully roll my eyes.
“Remember, I used to babysit you. You and Jax both. You boys were always thick as thieves. Whatever happened to you two?”
We fell in love and had sex. It was such a magical experience I wanted to come out as boyfriends, but he chickened out and then stopped talking to me and ignored my existence. At least until recently when he apologized.
“Just grew apart,” I say.
“Such a shame. Well, anyway. If you need anything else, you let me know.”
“I will, Fran. Thank you.” I watch her walk away, but then get an idea. “Do you know anything about him? Archer, I mean.”
Fran places a hand on her hip and thinks. “Not much. Probably no more than Jarrett knows, and I know Chatty Cathy has already spilled his guts to you. But I can say one thing, he’s sad, just like his sister.”
“You got that, too, huh?” I guess I wasn’t the only one who saw Archer carries the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“He’s not like you, so go easy on him.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I huff.
“I just mean you’re an open book, you say whatever’s on your mind and don’t care who knows.”
“I do not,” I argue.
“Son, how many times has that mouth of yours gotten you in trouble? I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. I think it’s good for people to know where they stand and be called out on their bologna when they spout it. I’m just saying, some people keep things closer to their heart and you can’t always pry information from them.”
I try to speak, but nothing comes out. Do I do that? I think about all the spats I’ve gotten into around town. Damn it, Fran’s right.
“I just like to keep an open and honest line of communication,” I sputter.
“For some people, that requires trust.”
“I can’t help it if I have no filter.” I defend my own honor. “Plus, I’m only being friendly with Archer. Moving to a new town where everyone is so close already, it’s bound to be intimidating.”
Fran shoots me a look and then effectively ends the conversation by escaping behind the counter, leaving me to rethink my entire dating career.
I’m so absorbed in my thoughts, I don’t even look up when I hear the tinkle of bells on the entrance door. But I snap out of it the second I hear Archer’s deep bass voice.
“Can you fill this up with regular black, please?”
“Of course. How are you today, Archer?” Fran asks.
“Can’t complain. Been bringing in a decent haul,” Archer says.
“That’s good work you boys do. Our economy depends on you catching those sea bugs.” Fran giggles at her own joke.
“Happy to do it. It feels good being back on a boat.”
I lean back in my seat and crane my neck so I can hear every word of this conversation. Despite what I told Fran, I’m interested in this man. I want to know everything about him.
“Oh? You were a fisherman before coming to our quaint town?”
Archer hesitates. “Um, yeah. I fished crab in Alaska.”
“That’s a dangerous job. I’m glad you made it out alive,” Fran says, concern in her tone.
“I need to get back. The coffee, please?” His voice turns flat, like he’s no longer interested in their casual conversation. Interesting. He shut down when I started questioning him about his past too.
“I’ll get right on it.”
I chug my still-hot tea, burning my tongue, but needing an excuse to go over to the counter.
“Archer. Fancy meeting you here,” I say, stepping into line behind him. I forgot how tall and beefy he is. I’m five-foot-eleven and nowhere near eye level with him.
“It’s funny how everyone says Archah around here.” He chuckles.
“Isn’t that your name?” I ask, confused.
“My name is Archer.” He emphasizes the R sound. I grew up here. I know what locals sound like. It bothered me that tourists would mock our accents. So I worked at hard to rid myself of the nasty habit, but it still comes out when I’m flustered.
“Okay, Archer,” I say pointedly.
“That’s better.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “Don’t get used to it.”
His expression changes from amused to suspicious, like he’s suddenly not so happy to see me. “What are you doing here?”
It’s a stab to my ego, but I can’t let it stop me from trying to win him over. Although I don’t know he’s gay with any certainty, my gay-dar is very rarely off and although he was affronted by my flirting the other night, he wasn’t disgusted. It was something else I haven’t figured out yet.
“Yep. Just doing some work.” I hook a thumb over to my table.
“Here you go.” Fran hands Archer his thermos.
“Thanks, Fran.” He turns to me. “Well, I better get back.”
“Why don’t you come join me for a minute? Surely your break is longer than just enough time to get coffee.”
He drags his meaty fingers through his beard, expelling a breath. “Sure.”
I internally fist pump, but very cooly drop my cup off with Fran and ask for a refill before leading Archer over to my table and pulling a chair out for him. He eyes me warily but accepts and plops his large body down.