Chapter 56

Ted smiled. He knew exactly where the Red Roof was. “I’ve been by there a few times. I think I can find it.”

Erik gave Ted the room number and they said goodbye.

Ted glanced at Randy, who had looked up from his reading. “That was my buddy, Erik. He was the one who came by earlier.”

“I figured,” Randy said.

“I may be late. Can you take care of Dixie for me?”

“Don’t I always? What did your friend want? As if I didn’t know.” Randy waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

“He didn’t say,” Ted replied, wondering himself why Erik had come all this way to see him. “And besides, he’s straight. Going to get married soon. I’m going to be his best man.”

“Really,” Randy said. “I could’ve sworn my gaydar pinged when I saw him.”

“Not Erik. He’s as straight as they come,” Ted said, picking up his car keys.

* * * *

Ted knocked on Erik’s motel room door. As he waited, he looked up and down the balcony at the doors to the other rooms. He wondered how many he’d been in with clients. Had he been in the one Erik was in now? Probably. Would he be able to tell? Not likely. They all looked alike. Maybe I should have carved a notch on the headboards for future reference, he mused with a sad smile.

Erik opened the door. “Hey, man! Good to see you.”

“You, too.”

Erik pulled Ted into the room and they shared their familiar hug and fist bump greeting. Ted looked Erik over. His friend looked good, looked fit. A ripple of desire went through Ted which he quickly dismissed.

Ted gazed briefly around the room. Yep. One looks just like all the others.

“What brings you to State? How’s Jennifer by the way? Plans coming along for the big day? I was expecting to hear from you. Have you set a date yet?”

Erik ignored Ted’s questions and asked, “Can we go somewhere for a coffee or something?”

“Sure, but if you want to have more than coffee, I know a place that doesn’t card. The Pretzel Box is a pretty famous bar here,” Ted said, puzzled at both Erik’s lack of response to his questions about the wedding and his apparent rush to get out of the motel room.

“That’d be great,” Erik said, picking up his key card, turning out the light, and almost pushing Ted out of the door.

Ted led Erik to his car. As they got in, Erik asked, “Wow, nice wheels, man. How do you afford this on a server’s tips?”

Here we go again, Ted thought. He decided he wasn’t going to continue lying, especially to people he cared about. However, he would only give the information they asked for. “I don’t work for the restaurant anymore.”

“Where do you work now? You do work don’t you? Or did a rich uncle die and leave you his fortune?”

Sort of, Ted thought. “I work for a place called Morrison’s. It pays pretty good.” He braced himself for the inevitable question of what he did at Morrison’s. But it didn’t come.

Ted glanced over at Erik as they drove along. Erik was looking out the window. He seemed distracted—like he was trying to think of ways to explain to Ted just why he was here.

They arrived at the Pretzel Box, went in, walked over peanut shells that coated the floor and crunched under their feet, found an empty booth, and sat down.

“Interesting place,” Erik said, looking around at the heavy, dark stained wooden tables and ornately carved bar.

Ted agreed. He handed Erik a pocket knife that was in the holder with the catsup, mustard, salt and pepper, next to a large bowl of peanuts. “Here. Carve your initials into the table. That’s the tradition. First timers make their mark. This place has been here for decades. Some of those initials are from students who are now famous in all sorts of ways.”

Erik went to work putting his mark on the booth. Just as he was finishing, a nice looking server came up. He was dark, handsome, buff, and, Ted knew immediately, gay.

“What’ll it be, guys?” he asked in a deep, sexy voice.

Ted caught himself looking the handsome young man over and quickly checked to see if Erik had noticed. But Erik was looking very intently at the beer menu.

“We have a great selection of our own micro-brewed ales and beers,” the server said. He leaned over, pointed to the list Erik was perusing, and laid his hand lightly on Erik’s shoulder.

Shit! He’s scoping him out!

“I’ll try the Amber Gold Light,” Erik said. He smiled briefly, barely looking at the server.