Let It Beatle Box Set - 7 Gay Romance Stories Page 2

  When I reached Room 120, it was ten o’clock and warm outside. I knocked on the door. “Housekeeping!” I announced, and hoped Wheeler wasn’t there.

  “Come in,” was the muffled reply. Oh well.

  I unlocked the door and entered. Wheeler lay on the bed, TV set on low volume while he typed away on his laptop. He glanced up, his mouth dropping open when he saw me emptying the trash and doing a quick cleanup of the room.

  “You do this stuff, too?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him close the laptop and sit on the edge of the bed. “I thought you only worked at the front desk.”

  I busied myself with changing out the towels in the bathroom before answering him. “I’m a small business owner, Mr. Ridley. I do everything, and if that’s what you’re here in town to do, open up your own business, you’ll find that out sooner or later. Or perhaps you know that already.”

  I wiped down the bathtub and tiles, cleaned the toilet, and did some light dusting. I ended with vacuuming the carpet. Before I left, I asked, “Everything in order? Internet working? Cable?”

  “Yes, yes, it’s all good. Thank you,” he said impatiently. “Where’s the lady that normally cleans?”

  “It’s just me this week,” I replied as I exited his room. “Have a good day, sir.” I closed the door behind me and pushed the cart to the next room. There was a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the doorknob, so I kept on going.

  “Hey, wait up!” I looked behind me to see Wheeler heading in my direction.

  “I’m busy, Mr. Ridley.” I turned back to the cart and continued to the last door on the floor, the final unit to be cleaned, thankfully. I knocked and announced myself, but no one answered. I unlocked it and went inside. The room was empty.

  “You didn’t go for your morning run,” he said, but before he could step inside the room, I stopped him.

  “Only I or the paying occupants are allowed in here right now. Not you.”

  “Oh. Sorry,” he said, and remained in the doorway.

  I picked up the trash strewn all over the room and then dusted. “I didn’t have time to run this morning,” I said. After changing the sheets, I swapped out towels, wiped down the bathtub, and washed the sink and toilet.

  I barely heard Wheeler when he said, “I missed seeing you out there,” since by now, I was vacuuming the carpet.

  “Don’t see why that should stop you from running,” I replied when I turned off the machine. I stashed the dirty linen on the cart, packed everything up and locked the door behind me.

  As I headed back the way I’d come, Wheeler said, “Well, you inspire me, all that sweat pouring down your chest.” He was practically licking his lips.

  This was too much. I’d put Wheeler Ridley behind me years ago, and he needed to stay there. I stopped the cart and turned to face him. “What do you want, Mr. Ridley?”

  “You don’t like me, do you?” he asked, as if surprised by that reality. “Something I said?” Wow, so clueless.

  “How does my liking you or not matter? What, you were hoping for a quick roll in the sand with the innkeeper?” The flush on his cheeks said it all.

  Time to come clean. “You know why you think you know me, Ridley? It’s because you do. Or, you used to. We grew up together, went to the same schools, played the same sports. But we hit high school, and went our separate ways. You were my best friend and the first boy I ever lo—” My eyes widened at what I almost said. “Things changed between us, and we stopped hanging out. I left home after high school, and I hadn’t given much thought to your existence until you turned up at my motel.” There, I’d said it.

  He was stunned. “Wait. Tory…Cuthbert, right? But you…we weren’t best buds, were we? Or at least, that’s not how I remember it.” Wheeler scratched his head. “Kids grow apart, don’t they? Things are kind of fuzzy before high school. There were a bunch of us who used to hang out, though, right? But then we all drifted apart. I certainly never thought of you as…” The expression on my face must have been tragic because Wheeler looked shamefaced. “Forgive me, Tory. I said that wrong. I—” But I tuned him out as I processed the truth.

  Fuck me. Wheeler hadn’t seen our friendship growing up the same way I had. I’d wasted all this time pining away after something that had only existed for me, and Wheeler hadn’t ever given two shits beyond being casual childhood buds. I’d let him get to me. Again.

  I turned my back to him so he couldn’t see my face. “Well, now you know who I am, which, apparently is still the pathetic loser I was in high school. If we’re done here, I have a business to run.” I walked away briskly, pushing the cart ahead of me, but not really seeing where I was going. I didn’t care.

  “Tory! I’m sorry…” I heard Wheeler call out, but I didn’t stop.

  * * * *

  The rest of the week I was too busy with work to worry about Wheeler Ridley—much. My mistaken assumptions about us as kids were much too painful to dwell on, anyway.

  Interestingly enough, whenever I stopped by his door for housekeeping the “Do Not Disturb” sign was on the door. It was probably for the best.

  When Saturday evening came around, I was exhausted, crabby, and ready to drop. Maury turned up at seven o’clock saying he’d work the front desk the rest of the night and do the laundry so I could get some sleep.

  I staggered out from behind the desk and said, “What makes you think I haven’t slept?” My words were slightly slurred.

  Maury smiled. “Oh, just the bags under your eyes, your sallow skin, that whole bloodshot thing you’ve got going on. Gives it all away.” He took my spot in front of the computer. “You look like you could sleep for days.”

  “You saying I’m not the handsome devil you see every day?” Apparently I was so tired my mouth spewed out stupid stuff.

  “Oh, we’re not arguing your looks, Tory. No amount of exhaustion will ever change how gorgeous you are.” I saw his cheeks flush, but his eyes were focused on the screen.

  “Maury—”

  He held up a hand. “Don’t worry about it.”

  Feeling like shit, I turned and headed for the door. “I hope Sheila and the kids are better. It’s great to have you back, hon.” And I realized I meant that.

  “It’s great to be back,” I heard him say as I left.

  * * * *

  I slept like a rock for ten hours. Sunday morning, after setting up breakfast as usual, I headed to the beach. As it had been a week since I’d done any kind of exercise apart from running after the guests, I took it slow as I jogged in the early dawn along the shore.

  It felt good to get back to my routine, though my legs and back didn’t thank me for the absence of said routine. When I finished my three miles, I showered and returned to the front desk. Maury was updating me on the night’s activities when Wheeler Ridley entered the room with his shoulder bag. Oh right, he was leaving today.

  I was sure my facial expression was as embarrassed as his. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Maury glancing back-and-forth between the two of us, and then his eyes widened slightly.

  Before he could say anything, I took matters in hand. “Ready to check out, Mr. Ridley?”

  He cleared his throat and said, “Yes, please.”

  I nudged Maury to bring up his records, but he didn’t do anything for a few seconds. I looked at him, noted his glower, then nudged him again, harder this time. Reluctantly, he brought up Wheeler’s information, and we closed his account and charged his card.

  I handed over the receipt. “We hope you enjoyed your stay, sir,” I said. “Have a safe trip home,” I said and gave him my best fake smile.

  “I’m sure I will, thanks,” he responded, as sincere as I’d been. After pocketing his receipt and credit card, Wheeler asked, “Uh, may I have a word with you outside, Tory?”

  I could feel Maury beside me, practically vibrating. When I glanced at him, I was surprised at the death glare he gave to Wheeler. What was up with him?

  “Sure,” I replied to my ex-guest, and we
nt around the desk. “I’ll be right back, Maury.” He grumbled something in response, but I couldn’t make it out.

  I walked with Wheeler to his car and waited as he placed his bag in the trunk. After that, he came around to where I stood by the driver’s side door.

  “I’m here, Mr. Ridley. What do you want?” I crossed my arms on my chest and stared past him at the beach.

  “Look at me, Tory. Please?” he asked, and reluctantly, I did.

  His eyes were filled with remorse. “I can be a bit of an ass, and self-centered, and clueless. I don’t say these things to redeem myself, but simply as fact. Unless someone slaps me on the back of the head, I’m always the last person to realize when I’ve done something dumb, or hurtful. What I said to you the other day was thoughtless and…I apologize for the pain I caused you then, and so many years ago.”

  “You flatter yourself that I care,” I said, still raw. I felt like such a fool.

  “You do care, and that’s a good thing. It’s something I still have to learn, apparently. I know I’m asking a lot, but if you’d consider forgiving me, it would mean a great deal.” His self-deprecating smile made me thaw out, a little. Maybe. After all, this whole thing had been a disaster of my own making.

  “I’ll think about it.” A lot. While running myself to death on the beach, probably.

  “Thanks. That’s all I can ask. Shake on it?” He held out a hand, and after a few seconds, I shook it. “You’ve done well with your life, Tory, and maybe in time you and I could be friends. For real, this time.”

  I stared at him quizzically. “What do you mean?”

  He grinned. “I’m opening a gym in town. It’ll be a franchise, the fifth like it in the country. I started the concept a few years ago, and it’s done well. One of the locals is looking to sell, and I made an offer. I’ll convert the place, and then, we’ll be neighbors!”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Yes,” he said with the most evil grin on his face.

  I sighed and turned to walk away. “I wish you the best of luck, Ridley. I’m surprised to hear you run successful operations. From what I’ve seen, you really are pretty clueless.”

  “But you’ll be there to give me advice when I need it, right?” he asked, and I could hear the smile in his voice. Incorrigible.

  “Don’t push it, Wheeler.”

  “You can’t stay mad at me forever.”

  “I can sure try,” I replied, but I didn’t really mean it. I just needed to get over my stupidity.

  “By the way, that guy in the office?” he called out.

  I stopped and turned to face Wheeler from a few feet away. “What? You’re chasing another piece of ass already?” Why did that make me feel…strange?

  “He has it bad for you, Tory. That glare he aimed at me could kill at fifty paces.”

  Huh? I knew Maury had a crush on me, but it wasn’t like that, was it? “What are you talking about?”

  “And you call me clueless?”

  * * * *

  When I got back to the office, Maury stood and walked around the desk so I could take his place.

  “Thanks for pulling an all-nighter for me,” I said.

  “He was the one, wasn’t he?”

  I was confused. “The one?”

  “The reason you don’t let anybody in,” he murmured.

  “Uh…”

  Maury looked down at his hands. “Did you guys sleep together?” he asked.

  “Excuse me?” Since when was my nonexistent love life his business?

  “Well, did you?” he persisted.

  “Why is this any concern of yours?” I asked sharply, and realized I’d gone too far. “Maury, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

  He waved away my apology, although he still looked like someone had kicked his puppy. “It’s because I’m too young, right? I don’t have anything to offer, like he does, yeah? Just a wet behind the ears kid who’s never been anywhere except Disneyland and the Grand Canyon, and lives with his sister.” I wasn’t sure what to say.

  Maury nibbled at a cuticle, and then stared me dead in the eye. “Well, I finally get it. You’re not interested, you have history with this guy, and I never had a chance in the first place.”

  He shook his head. “I think it’s better that I find somewhere else to work. Mr. Murray at the bookstore says he’s looking for somebody to train to take over the business, since he’s looking to semi-retire in the next few years. It’ll pay better than all the odd jobs I do combined, and is guaranteed work all year, not just seasonal.”

  I was taken aback. “But Maury, what about—”

  “I’ll work with you until the end of the month, and then I’ll start with Mr. Murray. Bonnie Novak’s son just came back home from Afghanistan. He needs a job, so I’ll send him over. He’s a nice guy, from what I remember, and you know you need the help.”

  “Well, yes, but why do you—”

  “It’s time, Tory. I need to move on, get my head out of the clouds and on realities. I have to think of family, too. You understand, don’t you?” His gray eyes begged me to.

  What could I do? “I’m sorry it has to be like this, Maury. It won’t be the same around here, without you.” I thought about whether I could afford to hire him full-time, but knew I couldn’t, not without some major changes to the way business went during the seasons.

  “Thanks, Tory.” He ran a hand through this hair, those gorgeous curls grabbing my attention like never before. Why hadn’t I noticed the way they caressed his fingers? How the light reflected on each strand to make them glow? “I’ll be back tomorrow at the usual time, and I’ll bring Mrs. Novak’s son with me.”

  “I guess that’ll have to do, won’t it,” I replied, and he winced at my response.

  I watched Maury leave, his faded jeans snug across his ass, moving sensuously with him as he walked away, every step breaking my heart. How could I have been so stupid?

  Damn you, Wheeler Ridley!

  * * * *

  It turned out that Leonard Novak was indeed a good fit—not that Maury hadn’t been great as well. Leonard learned quickly, was good with the guests and very reliable. The only issue was…He wasn’t Maury Landrum.

  I slapped myself mentally every day for being so stupid. I’d let Wheeler, the man I’d thought I’d put out of my mind and heart years ago, ruin my life, and the reality of him and the truth of the friendship I’d thought we had—all of which had been overblown in my head with teenage angst—had caused me to lose something that had been in front of me all along.

  Leonard, Sheila, and I dealt with the busy season as best we could. Whenever I went into town to get groceries, I stopped by Maury’s new job, just to see him. He was usually hard at work helping customers, so conversation was impossible.

  I found myself thinking about him all the time, and it was driving me nuts. I tried talking to Sheila about him, but all she’d tell me was that Maury was loving his new job, and things were really great for them now, with his guaranteed steady income. That made me feel about ten inches tall.

  To complicate things, Wheeler Ridley had setup his gym over the summer months, the renovation not taking as long as I’d thought it would. He opened to the public in September, and the locals were delighted to have a new place to work through their frustrations, or that third latte.

  Wheeler kept asking me out, and I kept saying no. It just wasn’t going to happen. I told him he’d be better served sowing his oats in someone else’s ass. He’d thought that was funny. Moron.

  By November, the cooler weather had arrived, and the pace slowed down to a crawl everywhere. I thanked Leonard and Sheila for their hard work, and said I’d see them in the spring. Leonard shook my hand and left. He’d lined up a job at the grocery store. Good for him.

  Sheila hugged me and invited me over for Thanksgiving dinner later in the month. I told her I’d think about it. When they were both gone, I went for a long walk on the beach. The motel had no occupants, and it was
unlikely that anyone would call in. I forwarded calls to my cell phone, though, just in case.

  A bit of fog had come on shore, so it was gray and bleak. I was lost in thought, remembering my brief encounter with Maury as we’d almost bumped into each other on the sidewalk yesterday.

  He’d been surprised to see me, but had offered a quick hello and a brief smile before asking how things were going at the motel. He looked really good, the bright green turtleneck he wore the perfect foil for his blond tresses.

  “Slow,” I’d replied, “since it’s that time of year, as you know.”

  “That’s right. Yeah.”

  We’d gone on like that, awkward and stilted until Maury had said he needed to get home, and I let him go. I watched him walk away, the black slacks he wore hugging his ass in the best way possible. I didn’t know how to get us back to the easy friendship we used to have. And maybe more.

  I decided it would be best not to go to Thanksgiving dinner at the Landrums. Not that I couldn’t leave the motel for a few hours, but I felt easier in my mind if I was around. Perhaps that made me compulsive. Or a coward.

  Truth? I wasn’t sure I could face family cheer if it meant more stilted conversations with Maury. I should just leave it alone.

  * * * *

  Thanksgiving Day, there were no guests in sight, and only one reservation and that was for Saturday. After the sun set, I nuked a turkey dinner I’d bought in town.

  As I sat to eat, my cell phone rang. I looked at the screen but didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”

  “What are you wearing?” came a husky voice over the phone. It was Wheeler.

  “Don’t you ever give up?” I grumbled. “And how’d you get my number?”

  He chuckled. “I’m just that good. And I won’t give up until I know it’s a lost cause.”

  “Listen closely,” I replied. “It’s a lost cause.”

  “Damn,” he said.

  I knew he was messing with me. “What do you want, Wheeler?” Teasing aside, Wheeler and I were actually pretty good friends, now.