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CONNOR

I had been hiking in the oppressive heat for about twenty miles, which took most of the day and my energy. My old hiking pack, stuffed full of the supplies I’d need to begin my first year of grad school at Eastern Oregon University, grew heavier by the mile, reminding me of life. I’d been on my feet for almost twelve hours with the occasional break, but I was spent.

I’d decided to hike from Pendleton down to La Grande since the bus had brought me there from Portland, my hometown. I could have taken the bus the rest of the way, but why not make an adventure out of it? I wanted to get extra steps in for my daily goals, and hiking fit the bill. I figured it could be fun.

I was wrong.

I had about forty miles to go and knew I wouldn’t make it before classes started in a couple of days. My attempt at hitching a ride had proved fruitless, so half the time, I didn’t even stick my thumb out as vehicles passed. I knew it would get dark in about three or four hours, but I’d noticed a sign for a rest stop a ways back. I hoped it would be a safe place to rest for the night. Although I was a relatively intelligent guy, I hadn’t really thought things out.

My classes were scheduled to begin in two days, and at the rate I was going, I’d be cutting it close. The pack dug into my shoulders with every step, its straps frayed at the edges like my nerves. What was I thinking, trying to hike in the time I had? I asked myself in exasperation.

The highway stretched endlessly before me, shimmering under the beating sun. Waves of heat rose from the asphalt, distorting the horizon and making the road ahead seem like it extended into infinity. I was surprised at the lack of traffic on a major highway, but suddenly, a distant rumble approached from behind—probably a large semi. I quickly made sure I was a safe distance from the road.

It roared past, whipping up dust and a sizable gust of hot air that almost threw me off balance. I was stupid not to have turned faster to stick my thumb out, but I doubted the driver would have stopped, especially since my luck trying to snag a ride hadn’t been successful all day.

I labored on.

Although exhausted, I was proud I’d walked so many miles with a heavy pack on my back. I was in good shape, having been a competitive swimmer through high school and the first two years of college. I took a break from the swim team in my junior and senior years at Portland State University to focus on my studies, which paid off when I graduated with honors. I continued with the physical weight training for competitive swimming, and I loved to swim after the demanding workouts.

A couple of guys I’d dated casually were drawn to my swimmer’s physique, and I liked being wanted for my athletic appearance. I dressed casually but never looked sloppy. I’d always worn snug-fitting T-shirts and jeans and noticed men and women giving me second glances. But damn, put me in a suit when it was called for, and I was sex on a stick.

I hiked around a bend and finally saw my respite a few hundred yards away through the waves of asphalt heat. It was one of the larger highway rest areas, for which I was grateful. I figured it might be easier to bed down there for the night if I did so on the boundary, out of sight of vehicles. Luckily, the nights were still warm enough to sleep outside.

I noticed a couple of cars parked and the same semi that had roared past me. I took notice of the bright red cab and the newer white trailer it was hauling. It didn’t have company logos but sported plenty of yellow and white lights along the sides. As I got closer, I noticed the driver behind the wheel with the engine running, but I ignored him as I forged ahead.

I made a beeline for the far side of the brick building where the men’s room entrance was. Slipping the pack off and stretching my overused back muscles felt good, and I sighed in relief. I used the facilities, washed my hands, and splashed my face with cold water. Feeling slightly better, I hefted the pack back on my shoulders and decided to scope out the land around the building to find a place to bed down later.

I left the men’s room and was close enough to see the man in the driver’s seat of the big rig since he was parked close to the building. Perhaps I was staring too long, trying to make out his features, when I noticed him staring intently back at me.

His face was striking, with angular features and a strong jawline. He wore his hair just over his ears under a baseball cap emblazoned with a logo and sported a close-cropped beard just past the scruff stage. He looked older, which only intensified my lustful thoughts.

I’d never pursued an older man before, but I’d held that fantasy for a few years now. As a young, recently graduated college student, I had kept my desire to experience the company of an older man hidden from my family. I found older men, like my past professors, to be more interesting and mentally stimulating. I’d casually dated a couple of guys my age when I was an undergrad, sticking to the norms, but I didn’t find their company interesting—except for the sex. Those casual relationships always fizzled out.

I didn’t grow up with a father. He’d been a cop and had gotten killed in the line of duty. I was a little over a year old at the time. My mother never remarried and focused on raising two young boys. When I was old enough to understand, my mother told me I’d been adopted as a newborn. They’d wanted a larger family after my brother had been born, but she had a couple of miscarriages, and because of that, they agreed not to keep trying. Instead, they decided to adopt.

My father was killed about fourteen months after I was adopted. I’d always longed for a father figure in my life. Perhaps that translated into my fascination with older men. I felt that if I’d made my attraction to older men known to my mother and brother while still living at home, they probably would have thought I had daddy issues. I kept that fear to myself.

The truck driver didn’t avert his gaze when I caught him looking at me. Instead, his eyes, under the brim of his cap, lingered long enough to send a jolt of want through my chest. I froze momentarily, unsure if I should look away and keep walking.

I bashfully turned away but looked back at him with a slight smile. His gaze didn’t falter, but my gut told me there was nothing to indicate he might be dangerous. My heart skipped a beat as I kept the smile on my face.

I spent the next ten minutes walking around the rest area, trying to find a place to park myself for the night, but there weren’t any secluded spots where I wouldn’t be seen. The thought of being roused by a highway patrolman in the middle of the night didn’t set well, and I didn’t need any further aggravation.

Disappointment and frustration settled in. “Shit…now what?” I said out loud with a grimace.

Suddenly, I had an idea, and a smile crept up to the corners of my mouth. Throwing caution to the wind, I decided to take a brazen step, not truly thinking it was the smartest thing to do.