2

Spencer Cypress

My goals for coming to Apple Valley are simple: Lay low and work with my lawyer until everything gets sorted out. For now, I cannot return to LA. Luckily, I have enough savings to buy a house available on the market at a discounted price.

And, to add on top, a hunk lives across the street. While I really shouldn't flirt with him because A: He most definitely is straight, and B: It isn't wise with what is going on.

Still, a part of me, like many other gay men, have hopes that an attractive man will notice them and look at them in a romantical way. And while Graham seems to be a nice man, I will still keep my reservations on him.

"City boy, you listening?" Graham said. I stopped looking out the window and turned to him.

"Huh?" I asked. His dog, Juniper, kept his paws in place on my thigh and stuck his head out the window.

Graham chuckled. His light brown hair blew in the breeze like leaves of a tree. His bright blue eyes kept their gaze forward.

"I said you don't have to pay me for taking you shopping." He said.

"No. I want to thank you for everything you've done. We've barely just met, and I've already asked for a favor." I replied.

He kept driving with one hand on the steering wheel. "Look, city boy. Here, people do nice things because it's the neighborly thing to do. Yeah, we just met. But that doesn't mean my kindness is only for those I know." He told me.

I glanced down at my lap. If only people would take his word and follow them.

"Alright then, Graham. But still, I want to make it up to you."

"I'll come up with something in the future." He said, his lips forming into a smile.

The drive took a few more minutes. The entire town was somewhat spread out. Houses and fields were everywhere you looked. But after a while, a small town was in the distance. The town was mostly small buildings, the tallest being only three floors tall. The sidewalks were mostly empty.

But the sidewalks had few people walking about carrying trolleys or wheelbarrows of different produce.

Graham parked in the parking lot. Ahead of us was an alley that was covered atop by a large tarp. The streets were lined with booths, each selling different produce.

"Come on, city boy. We've got shopping to do." Graham said. He hopped out of the car and called Juniper to exit with him.

I also got out. I began to sweat from the heat. Graham did tell me to take off my sweater, but I still believe I need to look good.

"So, do we get a cart or?" I asked. Graham walked over to me. He was tall. That was probably the first thing I noticed about him. His shirt fit him tightly. Over his shirt was a red flannel, which made me cringe.

"Cart?" He asked.

"Never mind." I replied.

Graham had Juniper on a leash. We both walked towards the farmer's market.

"Morning, Graham!" Someone yelled.

"You too, Mr. Willow!" Graham replied. I noticed I was getting a few stares from people. And their whispering grew louder.

Are you okay?" Graham asked me.

"Yeah, I'm okay." I replied. "Loud noises just bother me."

He raised an eyebrow. "But you're a city boy. You grew up hearing loud noises."

"I know." I replied. I stopped when I saw a booth selling grapes. "That's why I always wore headphones. But I seemed to have forgotten them."

Graham didn't say anything. I looked at them and put them in bags. I was surprised by how cheap the fruit was. Back in LA, all the food I got would've begun to reach double digits.

"Uh, question." I said.

"Go ahead." Graham replied. He turned to me with a huge smile.

I looked away while feeling my face heat up. I'm sure it was from the heat. Sunscreen would've also been nice to bring.

"Uh, where can I find almond milk?" I asked.

I heard the lady behind a nearby booth chuckling loudly.

"Almond milk?" Graham asked, his face intrigued. "So are there almond cows?"

I huffed. "I'm sure you know exactly what almond milk is. You're a Californian farmer. Isn't that your main export?" I asked.

Graham calmed down his laughter. "I'm just messing with you city boy. But no, we do not have almond milk." He replied.

"Fuck." I muttered. Curse my body who can't digest lactose properly. "Forget it, then. I'll just forget milk." I said.

I kept walking along with Graham followed close by. It seemed everyone in this town was close as they all greeted one another like old friends. Meanwhile, I was the subject of stares and whispers. Even in a small town they follow me.

Graham wasn't a stranger to these people. I saw the admiration in their eyes for him like he was some pride and joy. Or maybe I was just seeing all the women flirt with him.

"Hold my bag, please?" I asked him. He agreed and took my bags of groceries.

"Anything else, your highness?" He asked me.

"Yes, you." I said without thinking.

"What?" He asked. He genuinely looked like he didn't hear me. Luckily the clanging of noises around us muffled my words.

"Nothing." I told him. He didn't ask again and dropped it. But I'll have to be careful about being blunt around him.

Shopping was done and it was now time for us to return home. Graham loaded up all the groceries in the trunk. By the time I got inside the car, I was sweating through my clothes.

"I told you not to wear that sweater." Graham said. "Mrs. Aspen thought you were going to pass out at any moment."

I was too busy to think about what he said. I had to remove my sweater right then and there.

"I can't do this." I muttered.

"Let me turn on the air." Graham said. The air wasn't much, but it did calm me down a bit. By the time he had started driving, the wind from the open cooled my skin. Leaning back in my seat, with Juniper on top of me, I began to relax.

Today was already a hectic day. I am still getting used to moving in so quickly and seeing the town for the first time.

It was a long day. And that might've been the reason I ended up going to sleep inside Graham's car. The ride was smooth, jostling me to sleep.

I was awoken by Graham shaking me awake and Juniper licking my face.

"Get off of him, Juniper." Graham said. I opened my eyes and saw them both looking at me. They both tilted their heads.

Was I looking at Juniper in human form?

"Are we home?" I asked, sitting up.

"Yeah. Let's get these things inside before they become bad in the heat." Graham said. I nodded and got out of the car. We were parked on my driveway.

Graham brought the groceries to my front door. I helped him, of course. But I mainly sat aside and allowed him to do it because I found it quite attractive.

"Open the door. I'll bring these inside." Graham said.

"No!" I yelled loudly. He stopped and stepped back at my sudden burst. "I mean, I'll bring them in. It's messy inside and I don't want you to see all of that." I told him.

This time, he looked like he wanted to ask more.

"Are you sure?" He asked for reassurance.

"Mhm. I'm sure. You can go and do your chores. I'll finish up here." I quickly said to him.

"Then I'll be leaving now city boy." He said. He climbed down the stairs and got in his truck. Juniper ran across the street and to the front door of the house across the street.

I watched as Graham pulled out of my driveway and parked his truck into his. He got out. I watched from across the street as he walked up to his door and entered it. He peeked his head out and waved at me with a charming smile on his face.

"If you need anything, just ask, city boy!" He yelled.

"You got it, farmer man!" I replied.

He began to close the door.

"Wait!" I shouted.

"What?" he said, once again peeking out.

"Uh, thank you for today! I'll find a way to pay you back one day!"

He gave me a thumbs up before closing the door. I stood there smiling to myself like an idiot.

'That's what got you here in the first place! Flirting with a straight guy!' I told myself. I listened to my words and quickly brought all my items into my house.

While organizing my food, my phone kept ringing. I checked and saw it was them once again. Instead, I ignored them and called someone else.

"Hello?" He asked.

"Hey, any progress?" I asked.

There was rustling on the other side. "Not yet. Have you found what I needed?"

I glanced at my living room, seeing the entire table covered in papers. Some of the papers crumbled, others were marked with highlighters. My laptop was open on a desk nearby next to a printer.

"No, not yet. But soon. I promise." I replied.

He sighed. "Do it before it's too late."

I hung up the phone and threw it on the couch. I grabbed an apple and sat down while looking at the blank wall. When I looked at my sweater that I had taken off, I saw it was covered in Juniper's fur.