Promises Part 3 (Bounty Hunters 3)

“That sure is a big smile you have on today. What a surprise. You wear happiness well. What can I get you?” she asked, her hands moving dramatically over the large display of fresh goodies. “You’re in such a good mood this morning I almost wanna recommend my special. Pumpkin scones?”

Ford wasn’t sure if his smile dimmed. It didn’t feel like it. After all that running, he’d still only had one word to indicate what he was feeling and his neighborhood baker had nailed it at first sight. Happy. Everything was so new and provocative. He was picking up breakfast for him and his overnight guest, his partner, his beau… his something. Dana was more than all those things, but Ford didn’t have a name yet. Boyfriend seemed too juvenile.

“Pumpkin sounds good.” Ford grinned. He just realized that he didn’t know what Dana liked. He knew he liked sweets but he didn’t know what his choice of breakfast was. He smiled again. He had so much he was looking forward to learning. “And give me a dozen assorted breakfast pastries.”

Ford hurried back to his truck, taking the back streets in his hurry to get home. His heart was hammering in his chest, but not from his exercise. He couldn’t wait to eat breakfast with Dana. With the window slightly cracked, Ford enjoyed the cool air on his damp skin. But when he turned the corner onto his street, his temperature spiked and his skin heated all over despite the chill in the air. Ford’s mouth dropped open and his head ached with disappointment.

Dana was gone.

Dana

Dana paced back and forth, wearing a hole into the small space between Ford’s bathroom door and the one window in his bedroom. He wouldn’t just leave. No way. Dana dug his hands in his hair and walked back to the other side, keeping up the long, discouraging conversation with himself.

He didn’t change his mind.

Not after last night.

Not after this morning.

Ford was happy. He wanted me… he’d wanted everything… didn’t he?

“Ughh. Damnit.” Dana couldn’t believe he’d woken up alone. Had Ford changed his mind? He’d laid in bed as long as he could, but he didn’t particularly like the idea of lying in Ford’s bed without Ford. He got up and took his time getting dressed, checking his watch every ten minutes. It’d been an hour already and Dana was slowly, depressingly coming to the conclusion that Ford wasn’t coming back, at least not until Dana was gone. He guessed that was the shitty thing about inviting someone over to your place, you had to run and hide until they left. Well Ford didn’t have to stay away from his home any longer. He was leaving.

Dana aggressively threw his belongings into his duffle bag. His mind was doing a real number on him, constantly replaying everything they’d said and done last night. Sure, it’d started off a little rough, but he felt they’d come to an understanding. They were going to give this thing a try. Ford had let him touch him, caress him… kiss him. Then he… fuck. Dana had blown him. His first guy in ten years. Only for Ford to get up before the sun and weasel out of bed and out the door. Son of a- Dana felt so stupid. There was no way he could go into the office and work beside Ford like nothing had ever happened.

So he didn’t.

“We’re a real couple of idiots, huh?” Dana grumbled, wishing he had some vodka or gin to add to his orange juice, but unfortunately, it was too early for that.

“I sure as hell am. I don’t think you are, though.” Sway shrugged. “You ran before you got any information, D. What if he had an emergency?”

“Then we all would’ve been notified, Sway. We all have on the same watches. We all get the same alerts.”

“It could’ve been a personal emergency. You said you don’t know him as well as you want to. Maybe he has some early morning ritual.”

“Yeah. Making me feel like a tramp.”

Sway laughed. “Come on, D. I think you’re overreacting. You woke up expecting to find him... what if he came back home expecting to find you. From what you described – what happened last night – I don’t think he left you like you think. Even after meeting him one time, he doesn’t seem like a coward. A tad rough around the edges, but not a punk, man. He doesn’t seem like a runner.”

Dana opened his mouth to argue, then thought twice. “Why didn’t he leave a note, then?”

Sway choked on his juice then looked at Dana like he’d lost his mind. “Because he’s a man! What the hell you mean ‘leave a note’? Should he have written it on the bathroom mirror in lipstick? Dude, you’ve been on the other side of the fence too long. You might wanna make sure all your gay licenses and registrations are still valid.”