Page 105 of Delicious (Delicious #1)
Chapter Two
Kiefer
I t doesn’t matter that I’m pretty sure what I salvaged tastes nothing like machboos—though to be fair, I’ve never tried the authentic dish, let alone made it before—but Carol and Ben don’t seem to mind all that much.
What they did mind, though, was me trying to escape after helping their only son.
For the third time, my wine glass is topped up. I should say no, since I drove here, but I can order an Uber. Plus, I can’t remember the last time I simply sat and relaxed. Work has been manic. The bar where I’m a chef might not carry any Michelin stars, but I’ve worked hard at building the reputation and fine-tuning the menu over the past seven years since relocating to Gympie. What that means is I’m always busy, and I kind of have an inability to let go and step away.
So, the red wine is definitely going down smoothly, and it’s not even the cheap shit I usually buy myself on the rare occasion I drink.
Carol leans forward, her smile warm as she rests her chin on her hand. “So, Kiefer, Ben and I have decided we’re going to retire next year.”
That perks me up. “Oh yeah? Big plans?”
Ben nods. “We’re thinking of taking the caravan and doing the lap. It’s been on our bucket list for ages, and we figured it’s time to stop talking about it and just do it.”
“They’ve got a thing about becoming grey nomads,” Ste says with a fond chuckle.
I glance his way and smile, taking in the slight flush in his cheeks and the way his hazel eyes all but sparkle. He’s only had a couple of glasses so far, but he’s more of a lightweight than I am.
“That sounds incredible,” I say to his parents. “I’ve always wanted to travel more. Never really had the chance, though.”
Ste perks up at that, his wine glass halfway to his lips. “Wait, you’ve never done the lap? Or gone overseas?”
I shrug. “Not really. I’ve been up and down the coast a bit, but nothing too adventurous. And overseas? Forget it. I’ve barely had the time or money.” Apparently, this hasn’t come up in any of our hundreds of conversations over the past few years.
Carol’s eyes widen. “Well, that has to change. You’re not getting any younger, Kiefer.”
“Thanks, Carol,” I say drily, though her words strike a chord. I’ll be turning forty-three on my next birthday, and I’m really starting to feel my age. Hell, every time I stand up, I grunt from the aches in my lower back and how my knees click. “It’s not like I’ve had much reason to.”
Ste shifts in his seat, his gaze fixed on his glass. “I used to travel heaps with my folks here when I was younger. They dragged me to every museum and historical site they could find.” He grins at them before continuing. “But I haven’t been anywhere in years. Not since I moved to Gympie.”
“That’s almost six years now, right?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Yeah,” he says, his lips quirking into a small smile. “I was young and dumb and thought a change of scenery would fix everything.”
Carol glances between us. “And did it?”
Ste laughs softly. “Not exactly. But it brought me to some good people, so I can’t complain.”
I raise my glass to that, knowing he’s talking about his messy break-up with his ex. “To good people.” And fuck do I mean it. The out LGBTQ community is pretty small out here, and I value his friendship so much.
Ben joins in, grinning. “And to finally getting Kiefer out of Queensland one day.” He looks at the two of us, adding, “And maybe the two of you should think about going together.” He follows up with a wink that has my eyes widening and Ste choking on his wine.
Carol presses her lips together, apparently not worried about her son dying. “I think that sounds like a wonderful idea.” She shoots us both a shit-eating grin. “There’s so much of Australia to still explore, let alone the rest of the world.”
And honestly, how fucking amazing would that be? Discovering new places with Ste at my side. I love spending time with him, and definitely more than I should since I friend-zoned him.
Ste’s “Maybe” draws my attention to him. His cheeks are flushed and his smile a little reserved, but his eyes… hell, what I see in them is enough to have me swallowing.
The conversation shifts to lighter topics, but Ste’s earlier words linger in my mind. Almost six years ago, when we first met through the Gympie LGBTQ group, I never would’ve guessed we’d become as close as we are now. Back then, he was this charming, slightly chaotic whirlwind, and I was fresh out of my own break-up and more guarded than I care to admit.
I still remember the night he… made his feelings clear. We were out in Brisbane, celebrating something or other, and he had a few too many. He leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear, and said things that made my heart stop. Things I thought about long after that night. But I turned him down—gently, I hope. The timing was awful, and I didn’t want to be the rebound guy. Plus, he was so drunk he probably wouldn’t have remembered it the next day if I hadn’t brought it up. We never spoke about it again, and somehow, we stayed friends.
But lately? Lately, it’s been harder to ignore the way my chest tightens when he smiles, or how my pulse quickens when he laughs at one of my terrible jokes. Spending so much time together, especially since his office relocated closer to the bar, has only made it worse. We’ve fallen into this routine of meeting up for a late lunch or coffee, catching up about everything and nothing.
“So,” Ste says, breaking into my thoughts, “have you given any more thought to the Outback Boys thing?”
I glance at him, surprised. “I didn’t think you were serious about that.”
“Why not?” he asks, his tone defensive. “You’re always saying you want to get out more, and I’ve been meaning to do something outdoorsy. It’s perfect.”
Carol claps her hands together. “That sounds like a fantastic idea. You boys should do it. What kind of activities do they offer?”
“Hiking, kayaking, camping… stuff like that,” Ste says. “The club offers mostly weekend trips, so it’s not a huge commitment.”
I chuckle. “You know I’m not exactly Bear Grylls, right? I’ll need to up my game if I’m going to survive any of that.”
“You’re fitter than you give yourself credit for,” Ste says, his gaze warm. “Besides, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about having fun.”
Ben chimes in. “He’s right, you know. And you might surprise yourself. Sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone is exactly what you need.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I say, waving them off, but I can’t help smiling. “I’ll think about it.” The idea of spending more time outdoors, doing something active, does sound appealing, and if I can properly give up the reins at work, it’ll make getting a weekend off a month possible.
“Good,” Ste says, his voice quieter now. “You should.”
For a moment, our eyes meet, and something unspoken passes between us. Maybe it’s the wine, or the warm glow of the evening, but I feel… lighter. Like maybe, just maybe, taking a chance isn’t as scary as it seems.
Carol and Ben eventually excuse themselves, leaving Ste and me alone in the soft light of his living room. The silence stretches, comfortable but charged, until Ste breaks it.
“Thanks for staying,” he says, his smile genuine. “I know you’re busy, and… it means a lot.”
“Anytime,” I reply, and I mean it.
For him? Always.