“Yeah, but it’s not unheard of for a ten-month-old to start walking,” I said. “I was reading up on it last night, after he fell asleep.”
“I know I’ve said this a thousand times over these past few weeks, but I still can’t believe you’re actually someone’s dad.”
“Tell me about it.”
As I popped a piece of muffin into my mouth, my friend tried to look annoyed. “This is my favorite part of our calls, watching you eat carbs while I pedal my ass off.”
I exaggerated my chewing. “Mmmm. Carby goodness.”
“You suck.”
“I know, but you could have a muffin if you wanted to, Mr. Fitness. You said you were retiring from modeling, which means you can eat anything you want.”
“Old habits die hard. Now pay attention! It’s almost time.”
I had an ulterior motive for coming to this bakery, one that arrived on a vintage motorcycle right around seven forty-five every weekday. “I am! And here he comes, I can hear his engine.”
“Let me see.”
“Spying on him like this always makes me feel like such a perv.” I flipped the camera around anyway and tried to be subtle about pointing it at the small, funky diner directly across from the bakery.
“Not even. You’re just letting me admire your dream man. You’d be a perv if you recorded him and fapped to it afterwards.”
“Yeah, that would definitely be pervy.”
Like clockwork, the aforementioned dream man rode up and parked at the curb across the street. As he climbed off the bike, my gaze went straight to his perfect ass, showcased as usual in a pair of tight, faded jeans.
“Here comes my favorite part,” I said.
Hot motorcycle guy took off his helmet and shook out his shoulder-length dark hair, like a model in a shampoo commercial. I was definitely buying whatever he was selling, no question. I took in as many details as I could, including his short beard and broad shoulders as he hung the helmet on the bike’s handlebar and unzipped his black leather jacket. Then he went into the diner, and I sighed as I flipped the camera back around.
“Damn, that man is sexy,” Hal said. “You really need to go over there and talk to him.”
“Oh, obviously. Who doesn’t love a sweaty, unemployed single dad in a ratty old outfit? He’d be all over me.”
Hal rolled his eyes. “You’re selling yourself short. Not that it would be the worst idea to invest in some new clothes. I’m pretty sure you used to wear that sweatshirt to gym class in high school.”
“I think I did, actually. But my entire budget has already been blown on this luxurious five-dollar breakfast, so the gross sweats will have to do.” While I said that, I wiped the baby’s mouth with a napkin. He gave me a big, gummy smile, and I smiled back and said, “Isn’t that right, Owen?”
My friend took a drink of water from a sports bottle before saying, “One of these mornings, leave the bambino with his Uncle Lark for an hour. Then put on a cute outfit, go have breakfast at that diner, and strike up a conversation with your dream man. Now that you’ve escaped the clutches of your awful parents, you can finally explore your bisexuality! Aren’t you dying to test the waters?”
Hal and I both came out to each other when we were fourteen, but given the way my parents had treated my brother, I knew I had to keep my sexuality under wraps as long as I was living at home. “Yeah, I guess I am, but I wouldn’t start with someone as hot as motorcycle guy. That’s just guaranteed rejection.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Sure I do.” I finished my coffee, then said, “I’d better go, the baby’s getting impatient.” Owen had finished eating and was slapping his palms on the tray like a tiny dictator.
“Okay.” Hal sighed and told me, “I wish you weren’t so far away. That new Marvel movie’s out, and it would’ve been fun to see it with you.”
“It would have been fun for sure, but make your boyfriend go with you. He always acts like he’s too highbrow for stuff like that, but I think he secretly enjoys it.”
“Maybe. I just miss you, Logan.”
“I miss you, too.”
He grinned at me and joked, “That’s understandable.”
After we said goodbye and ended the call, I threw out the trash and tried to clean up the baby with a wet wipe. He laughed and pulled his hands away like he thought it was the most hilarious game in the world.