Page 27

27

MASON

I was going to be on the road almost indefinitely, with only a day off here and there as I made my way down the coast. I preferred driving in the southwest states during the winter. It kept me out of snowy conditions up north toward the Rockies. Not being able to be with Connor was excruciating, though. I’d gotten a taste of the man, and the memories of our nights together had begun to fade. We had our weekly video chats, which ended up with us mutually jacking off together, but I missed the warmth of his smooth skin against mine.

The weeks quickly passed, and I had the opportunity to extend my stay in Arizona. Spring training for baseball’s Cactus League was underway in late February, and baseball was my second favorite sport after football. I’d become a fan of Seattle’s team, and I got tickets for two of their preseason games in Peoria. Their franchise had recruited hotshot players over the past couple of years, and they were destined for the playoffs at the end of the regular season.

I’d played the game throughout my youth, Little League, and then into my high school years. My dad had played some minor league ball when I was a toddler, and his love for the game rubbed off on me. He even helped coach my Little League team the last year I played, taking us to the national playoffs. We didn’t get past the second round, but it was the best year of true bonding I’d had with my father.

After the preseason games and the pleasant sunny Arizona weather, I procured other routes up through Utah and into the western half of Wyoming, then I'd head back down south to New Mexico. March seemed to be one of the wettest months, with driving rain and sporadic slushy conditions. It slowed me down, and I didn’t like the pace I was setting, but I wasn’t about to risk rushing. I knew I’d get back on track when I headed south and into the sunnier climes again.

Spring break was the end of March for Connor, and I was going to propose what I wanted him to consider for the summer months. He’d told me he was headed to Las Vegas with Spencer for about five days over their break. They wanted to get out of the bleak Oregon gray skies for some sun and fun. If I could make it work with a Vegas delivery, we could meet up.

It was now March twenty-fourth, and it so happened I was swinging through Vegas after my last delivery to Laughlin, Nevada. Connor and I had chatted the other day about how he and Spencer had hotel reservations at the Flamingo, and they planned to see RuPaul’s Drag Race Live there that night. He said he’d get me a ticket so the three of us could go. What was I in for?

I had a business contact who let me park my rig at their facility once I got into Vegas, which made it easy to visit anywhere in Sin City. I took a rideshare to The Strip, and the guys told me where to meet up for a quick lunch and possibly hit a casino to try our luck. I wasn’t concerned about my appearance since Las Vegas was quite casual. I wore nice jeans and a polo shirt under a light jacket. It was still March, and even with the warm sunshine during the day, the nights got quite chilly.

I hadn’t seen Connor since Christmas, and I felt slightly nervous, probably more excitement than anything else. Even though we’d been in constant contact over the past three months, being with him now got my blood heated. I was pretty sure he and Spencer had figured out some scheme where the two of us could get physical later today.

No sooner had I gotten out of my Uber than Connor grabbed me in a tight hug and a kiss. We were completely exposed to the passing tourists, and I flinched a little, unbeknownst to the man wrapped around me. I looked over his shoulder after our kiss, and no one walking by was paying any attention. Spencer stood a few feet away with a smile and his hands in his pockets. I gave him a wink.

Connor released his grip, and I noticed he had unshed tears. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

He bowed his head and shook it. “Nothing, I’m just so happy to see you,” he replied. The tender-hearted man had started to steal my heart, and I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with that.

“Okay, you two. We have lunch reservations at The Paris, so we’d better get moving,” Spencer said musingly, breaking our eye contact.

We ambled with the rest of the sidewalk tourist traffic, and it took us about fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant. It was a beautiful day at seventy-two degrees, and Connor brushed my hand as we walked and eventually hooked his little finger in mine. My heart fluttered at his touch.

As we waited for our lunch orders to arrive, I decided it would be the best opportunity to ask him about the summer. I’d spent enough time around Spencer now and was comfortable enough to talk to Connor openly in front of him.

I took a sip of my iced tea and looked at Connor. “Remember when I told you I wanted you to consider something?”

“Yes,” he replied with an inquisitive look and a smile that always melted my heart.

“What are you planning on doing for the summer months once your term ends?”

His smile faded, and he gave me a slight frown. “I’m not exactly sure. Spencer is headed back to Boise, so I planned on just going back to Portland. I’ll try and find a summer job to make extra money for my final year.”

I lifted my gaze from the table. “What if you were to work for me? We could hit the road together, and you can experience most of the West Coast in my rig. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not a sightseeing trip. You’d be my lumper.”

Spencer opened his mouth before Connor could even reply. “He’d be your what ?”

“My lumper.” I had to laugh at Spencer's emphatic question. “Someone who works with the driver to load and unload freight, a helper if you will. You’d never drive my truck but be my ride-along and help me with deliveries.”

The guys looked at each other, and Spencer gave him a shrug. Connor’s eyes went wide when he looked back at me. “Really? You’d want me to help you out so we could be together?”

“Connor, honestly, having this long-distance thing we’ve got going on is difficult. No, it’s hard as hell for me, and I want to spend more time with you. I thought this might be a solution for both of us. That is if you’re willing.”

After Connor had taken in what I suggested, he reached out and grabbed my hand. “Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be in a big rig touring the countryside. Plus, I can get a closer look at the trucking business.” He squeezed my hand. “I’d love to be your lumper where you can be bossy with me.” Spencer giggled at that.

“I’m sure you’re used to that anyway,” Spencer snorted as he looked at Connor. Connor’s face flushed.

I laughed. “We’re bossy with each other.”

When our lunch arrived, the guys regaled me with what they’d been doing all term and about the students they’d been tutoring. My heart soared with Connor’s acceptance of my offer, and I let myself relax and enjoy the meal and the sound of their voices.

Once lunch was over, we strolled down Las Vegas Boulevard to burn off calories until we came to The Cosmopolitan. They wanted to see the Chandelier Bar, and I felt it was time to scratch my gambling itch. My game of chance was craps, and I hadn’t had the opportunity to play in quite some time. I found a table with a twenty-five dollar minimum bet, so I threw five hundred-dollar bills down in exchange for chips.

The table was comfortably full, and no one crowded one another. The guys didn’t know the game, so I gave them a brief overview. They stayed behind me, confused by all the chips on the table, as the action unfolded. I started with a minimum bet on the pass line. The shooter rolled a seven. As the dealer placed a matching twenty-five-dollar chip next to mine, Connor questioned why I got money when the shooter threw a seven. I then had to explain when sevens are both good and bad.

As the game of chance progressed, the guys were enthralled with the swift work of the dealers and chips being thrown down and picked up. The shooter eventually rolled a seven, ending his time with the dice.

When it was my turn to be the shooter, the dealer pushed the five small red cubes my way. I grabbed the nearest two, and he took back the rest. I reached down and placed my bet. I took the two dice and held them against my flat palm, which was raised in front of Connor’s face. “Blow,” I said and gave him a wink. His face took on a faint shade of red. This was going to be fun.

He blew on the dice, and I tossed them across the table. Once the dice landed, they came up as eight, with a five and a three. The other players placed their wagers as we watched.

I took the dice again, then stopped. I studied the table and decided to throw caution to the wind. I picked up four twenty-five-dollar chips and tossed them to the dealer. “One hundred on hard eight!” I knew the guys had no idea what that meant, but Spencer giggled. A couple of other players felt my luck and added their own chips next to mine.

Spencer leaned over and smirked. “He said, hard eight. Kinda like the title of my sex tape.” He seemed proud of himself at his remark. Leave it to our golden retriever to pick up on the sexual innuendos of bet calling. I rolled my eyes.

I picked the dice back up and held them for Connor to blow on again. The table went silent, and everyone’s eyes were on me. I took a deep breath and blew it out as I tossed them to the felt wall at the other end of the table. It was as if everything was in slow motion.

The dice settled and showed double fours. The table erupted in cheers. Both Connor and Spencer pounded on my arm and jumped up and down, with Connor yelling, “Oh my god!” The commotion caught the onlookers’ attention. My heart pounded. Holy shit!

Once the bets were paid and I’d received high fives all around, it finally dawned on me how much I’d won. With the hundred dollars on the hard eight bet, which paid a true bet of ten to one, and with my other bets on the table, I’d cleared over twelve hundred dollars with one throw.

I was passed the dice again and when I threw it, a three and a two showed on the red cubes. I immediately crapped out with a seven on my next toss, which ended my streak. Even with that, the table applauded my efforts. There were a lot of chips paid out with my luck. At that point, I said, “Color in,” and pushed all my chips to the head dealer. I knew my gambling limits and had learned that you walk away with the casino’s money when ahead.

The guys were still in disbelief as they hung on to me. I tossed the dealers two twenty-five-dollar chips as a tip, and we walked away from the table to the cashier’s cage.

Connor and Spencer wanted to try a blackjack table but couldn’t find one with a low minimum bet. Most were set at fifty dollars, and that was too steep for their budgets. Instead, they settled on playing some slots as I watched. My betting was done for the day, and I basked in my victory.

Today felt right with Connor by my side. He was my lucky charm.