Copyright Neonurotic
The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
This is a work of fiction. The events described here are imaginary; the settings and characters are fictitious and are not intended to represent specific places or living persons.
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"Can you get me a latté?"
"Sure," he said, knowing they still had more of a wait before they boarded the Sunburst Express, the train that went from Tacoma Washington to Santa Cruz California. "Hazelnut?"
Crystal Riley nodded, sending a mass of her auburn curls bobbing back and forth while she continued to read her book. It was a novel she planted her nose into since they arrived at the station building.
"Oh, Jus?"
"Yes?"
"Also, chocolate biscotti if they have any."
"Okay, baby."
Once out the heavy doors of the station, Justin headed across the street towards Tully's coffee shop. It was cold outside. The wind whipped his black raincoat around his shins and an icy breeze swirled up his back. Shuddering against the sudden chill, he pulled his coat tighter around him as he entered the barista. A glass case held an assortment of sugar-laden muffins, cookies, and pastries. He looked at the display, but didn't see his wife's favorite sweet Italian treat.
A woman from behind the stand asked cheerfully, "Can I help you?"
"A double tall hazelnut latté," he glanced at his Citizen watch, a dive watch equipped with depth displays―his birthday gift from Crystal of a few days ago. He'd never use it as it was intended even though he'd love to do so. He never had time for himself anymore. "And a vanilla one too."
"Are you from the Amtrak station?"
"Yes," he said, glancing at his watch again. "The train is late."
"It's always late," she laughed, handing him a plastic tray that held his order. "An even seven, please."
"I figured that about the train." He noticed how good-looking she was as he pulled out a ten-dollar bill from his money clip and gave it to her. For a moment, he held onto it before he let her have it. His fingers inched towards hers. A spark instilled a buzzing tightness in his crotch. Goddamn, very sexy, he thought, his gaze lingering at the pull of thin material across her full round breasts. Catching her eye, he smiled lazily and gave her the money. "Keep the change."
A flush dotted her cheeks. "Thank you."
"Have a nice day."
"You too..." she spoke a little more brightly than she had before. "And have a good trip."
Justin locked eyes with her again as he sipped the vanilla flavored coffee. "Delish," he arched a suggestive brow, meaning her, not the latté. He turned; went out the door without another word.
Normally, he would have asked for her phone number to meet up with her later, but he remembered he promised his wife he wouldn't. Although Crystal and he had an open relationship, this particular weekend in Santa Cruz was just for the two of them, the honeymoon they never had. No girlfriends or boyfriends for either of them. Already, it was proving to be a difficult promise to keep because he'd already seen two people who interested him―the barista girl and the taxi driver. The good looks of the driver and brassy attitude was appealing, especially since he was just exploring his bisexuality in the last several months.
Returning to his wife, he sat down next to her and waved the coffee in front of her until he caught her attention. "Here you go."
"God, that smells so good." Crystal put her book aside, took the cup from him and sipped hastily, only to burn her tongue. "Ouch, very hot!"
"Duh, you big dork," he sniggered. "Coffee is supposed to be hot."
Over the intercom, a hearty male voice boomed and bounced off the train station walls: "Good morning folks. Looks like train number eleven the Sunburst Express is finally here. All passengers will board when they are ready. First Class passengers may find their sleeper cars on the left of the train and Coach passengers their seats on the right."
"That's us," he handed his coffee to her to hold while he gathered their luggage.
On the train and down the narrow passageway, they found their First Class seating. Two small carry-on sized bags and a backpack were all they had. It was also all that would fit in the small, three-foot by six-foot room. What Amtrak called a 'roomette'.
"Damn. This room is so small," he laughed as he tried to cram suitcases under the seats. "Oh, I wonder what the upgrades look like."
Although it was small, it was First Class all the way, decorated in royal blue. Reading material about the train and the various cities they were going to stop, were set on a small rack along with bottles of Evian water, Lancôme lotion and fine chocolates. The pillows were decent ones as well, full-sized; not sad little ones like on the airlines.
"I get the bottom." Crystal plopped onto one of the seats that was folded down to make up the bottom bunk. "I'm afraid of falling off the top one in the middle of the night."
"Okay sure." He noted there was more room on the bottom bed, enough where he could stretch out his full height as opposed to sleeping on top where he'd have to sleep bent-kneed. "You always get the bottom."
"It's where you like me, too."
"Sure, that's right, baby."
Sitting across from her, he smiled weakly, thinking that she never took the top or the initiative in anything for that matter, let alone sex. It was the same case with Geoff, his boyfriend. Not that he minded being the dominant one; he just liked to be the receiver instead of the giver every now then.
The train departed from the station, slowly at first then gained speed, and moved down the track with clickety-clack smoothness. Tall buildings, warehouses, and fences blurred by, making him feel somewhat queasy when trying to focus on one object. He realized he had nothing in his stomach since their breakfast early that morning. Toast and orange juice only went so far. He sat up, took her hand and pulled her up with him.
"Are you starved?" He kissed her, tasting the sweet nutty flavor of her latté.
"Yes," her eyes lit up. "Let's go to the dining car. I think eating and sleeping is the best part of being on a long train ride."
"Good then let's see if they are serving lunch before my belly bites my backbone."
