Darrin drifted awake as the early morning light shifted through the uncovered window. He ran through the events of the previous evening, smiling as he felt the slight tug of the dried semen on his chest hair. Luxuriating in his memory, the realization came that he was alone in the bed. Cautiously walking from the bedroom, Darrin called out softly, "Mitch?" Padding quietly in his bare feet through the small house he discovered with certainty that Mitch was gone. Suddenly feeling very exposed, he darted back into the bedroom, showered and dressed. Emerging, he dropped his boots by the couch as he sat down. Darrin tried desperately not to think about the significance of Mitch's disappearance as he pulled on the boots. But his thoughts began to travel down the familiar path that ended up with him alone and hurt, with even more baggage. As the storm of defeat began to gather in his thoughts, he scooped up his paperwork and walked out the door to begin his first day of data collection.
The day didn't go well for Darrin. His mind wasn't on the work, or the results, and his mood was dark. The crew working with him cut glances at each other as they ran calves through for the third time because he hadn't filled out the datasheets right. Everyone hoped that the brief break for lunch would help Darrin get back to his usual efficient self, but the afternoon did not begin any better and as the mistakes piled up the foreman pulled him aside to talk.
"Hey Darrin, I think we need to stop for today. Things don't seem to be . . ." he paused to consider the wording, "Well they just ain't going like they normally do for you. So what'd you say you take the rest of the day off to chill out and the boys and I will clean up here."
Darrin looked at the ground and nodded, "Yeah, sorry. Tomorrow will be better. I just have stuff on my mind today."
The foreman nodded vigorously and then pushed back his hat, "Yup, I sure can see that, after that close call with the Brimmer. He sure scared the shit outta me!"
Darrin couldn't help but smile at the pronunciation of Brahman but again nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, that must be it. It'll be better tomorrow," said Darrin.
The hand slapped him on the back and walked away, already beginning to shout orders to the other people on the crew. Darrin gathered up his data sheets and climbed back into the pickup to begin the trip home. Once he arrived at the house, he was in a black mood, which worsened as the silence provided him with more time to brood over the situation. Tossing his materials to the table, he looked around and resigned himself to the fact that Mitch still wasn't there. Realizing that he hadn't had a decent meal since they arrived, he started to pull together supper. As he readied the ingredients for chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, the focus on cooking temporarily blocked out last night. That is until he heard the slam of a screen door followed by boots being kicked off in the utility room. He looked up in time to see Mitch walk through the door.
Mitch looked up and grinned at him. "Hey stud, how was your day?"
Darrin was floored at his cavalier attitude but decided that he wasn't going to be made a fool of this time. Nodding at Mitch he issued a non-committal grunt. Mitch looked up, frozen in the middle of arranging his notebooks. After a slight pause, Mitch laid down his materials and walked over, watching as Darrin fried the steak. Reaching up he rubbed between Darrin's shoulder blades.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Don't. Just don't touch me," said Darrin as he shrugged off the touch.
Mitch grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. His arms waving and their faces inches apart, he started to unload on Darrin.
"What's your fuckin' problem? You freaked because you enjoyed last night? Did you not expect to enjoy sex with a man? Are you afraid you're going to hell now? Is that it! You afraid my touch will somehow spoil you? Come on asshole! Tell me! Man up and just fuckin' say it!"
Darrin gaped in shock at the tirade; Stunned that Mitch was making the same accusations of him as he had been thinking about Mitch all day. Working his mouth and trying to think of something, Darrin spat out the only thing he could think of,
"You were gone!"
Now it was Mitch's turn to look shocked. "What?" he said.
"This morning, I woke up, and . . ." Darrin heaved an involuntary sob, "You were gone! And I thought . . . all that things you just said . . . I thought that too."
Mitch stared at Darrin for several long minutes. Then beginning to laugh he wrapped his arms around Darrin and hugged him tight. Looking into Darrin's eyes he smiled again.
"I had milk productions today, babe. They started at 5am and I wanted to let you sleep. That's all it was. That's why I wasn't here when you woke up. The crew picked me up at the butt crack of dawn and I'm been there all day."
"Oh . . ." said Darrin, feeling very foolish. "Then you . . . I mean you didn't . . . and last night was . . ."
Mitch took Darrin's chin in his hand and pulled the taller man to him and kissed him gently. Their eyes locking Mitch said "yes, no and last night was amazing. In that order."
Darrin sorted out the answer and then chuckled. Leaning down he kissed Mitch back and ran his hands over the cowboy standing in front of him.
"I was afraid you were going to be upset and say last night was a mistake and meant nothing."
"Darrin you are going to have to learn to trust me if this is going to work. God knows I waited long enough for you to make a move. You've had me hot under the collar since the first day we met"
"Me! You thought! Me!" said Darrin with a squeal.
"Yes, you. I think the nerdy professor types are hot. I thought maybe you'd make a move after I made you ride against my ass on Storm, but you ran off from the office instead."
"What? You mean that was all fake!"
"No," said Mitch, "Well, not the injury. But the part about no heels in Storm's flanks, that might've been me enjoying you hugged up against me." Mitch smiled at him again. "But right now I'm ripe and need a shower. I'll be back for that great dinner you are fixin'."
Darrin muttered something under his breath as he turned back to the food he was cooking.
"What?" said Mitch.
"Nothing . . ."
"Shit Darrin don't start this crap already. Just tell me what you fuckin' said!"
He turned to Mitch, a little pissed that he had been called on it. "I said I think you smell great how you are! There, are you happy, yes I'm a perv who likes your stink."