Beginning to Believe (2 page)

By the time Tyler walked over to him, Kit damned near had himself cackling, his tiredness fading with the laughter. Thank God for teaching him that on those long nights on the road. Laughing kept him awake.

Tyler had a warm smile for him, walking loose and easy. Now there was a man comfortable in his skin.

“You do all right for yourself,” Tyler said, nodding at his truck.

“She’s a solid little thing and my chair fits in the back, just in case.” He patted the hardtop. “Smells damned good.”

Tyler grinned. “Yep, there’s nothing like the smell of onions and heavy grease.”

Ty lifted his glasses up onto his head as they went in.

They were met by a large woman wielding a coffee pot, her hair about three feet high if it was an inch. “Ty, baby, how you doing?”

“Cool, V. You got room out on the sand for two?”

“For you? I sure do. Go on and find yourselves a spot. Your friend wanting a menu?”

“Yes, ma’am, I am.” He nodded politely, pulling off his sunglasses and popping them in his pocket. “Thank you.”

God, how many kick-ass places like this had he eaten in on the road?

“Oh, polite. I like this one, Ty-baby.”

Ty rolled his eyes and grabbed his arm, leading him out. There were about ten tables out the back with chairs, looking over the beach.

He managed the sand pretty well, settling into a chair with an audible sigh of relief. “It’s a mighty fine view.”

“Yeah. I grew up on this view.” Tyler looked out at the beach and then back at him with a grin.

Vera came out with a couple of glasses of water and a menu for him. “Now you want something you don’t see and I’ll have them make it for you,” she told him.

“Now wait a minute... You look very familiar.” Vera pulled out a chair and sat down. “Don’t tell me -- let me see if I can remember.”

Kit’s cheeks flared and he ducked his head. Didn’t happen very often anymore. Once every few months maybe, somebody would give him that ‘didn’t you used to be somebody’ look.

“V...”

“Now hush, Ty or I’ll threaten to take out your baby pictures.”

That made Kit chuckle, low laughter filling the air. “That’s quite a threat.”

“Works every time, too.” Vera gave him a wink.

Tyler sighed. “Kit, this is my Mom. Mom, this is Kit.”

“Oh! Kit Keyes! The country singer, right? I never forget a face!”

“Yes, ma’am.” He held out a hand and shook it. “Mighty nice to meet you.”

“You were a real up and comer when that accident wiped out most of your band, weren’t you?” Vera patted his hand. “The universe sure has a strange sense of humor, doesn’t she?”

“It does at that.” He offered her a smile, a nod. “So tell me, what’s the best thing to eat here?”

“Ty grew up on the burgers, so that might be a mark against them,” she told him with a wink.

“V...”

She chuckled and pet Tyler’s knee. “I’m going Ty-baby. I’ve got tables waiting on me. This one is real nice, you might want to hold onto him.” She turned back to Kit. “You try the chili and see if we don’t get it right. Cornbread’s an old secret recipe, too.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He nodded, cheeks burning to beat the band.

“Sorry ‘bout that,” Ty said after Vera’d gone. “She’s usually a little busier and not quite so... well -- you were polite to her, she likes that.”

“She seems like a sweet lady.” Kit chuckled, fingers fiddling with the silverware. “And very fond of her son.”

And wouldn’t he just give his eyeteeth to figure out that ‘hold onto him’ thing?

Ty grinned. “She’s a good lady -- always here when I need her.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He chuckled and relaxed back into the chair, opening the menu. “What tickles your fancy, this evening?”

“I’m going to have the meatloaf -- it rocks on Tuesdays.” Tyler gave him a warm smile. “And after that... we’ll have to see.”

“Meatloaf, eh?” Kit blinked and grinned back, just long enough to realize what he was doing and look back down at the menu. “I’m thinking I’ll go with the chili, myself.”

Surely the guy wasn’t flirting. One -- surfers didn’t flirt with cowboys. Two -- nobody flirted with a gimp. Christ, he was getting desperate in his old age.

Ty chuckled. “Like you’ve got a choice.”

Kit’s laugh rang right on out. “You might have a point there, Ty.”

“You’ve got a great smile and a good laugh,” Ty said. “Honest.”

“Thank you, Ty. That’s kind to say.” He nodded over, holding Ty’s look a little longer this time. “You grow up ‘round here?”

Ty nodded. “We had a little apartment a few blocks over. Mom’s worked here as long as I can remember. Dad used to be the line cook.”

“Used to?”

“Yeah, he passed away a few years ago. Cancer.”

“Oh, that sucks.” Kit shook his head. “That’s a damned shame. I’m sorry.”

Ty nodded. “It’s a hell of a way to die. We were all pretty happy when he finally went in the end.”

Vera came back out with a pair of beers. “Hey now, why the long faces -- Ty-baby, you aren’t telling him about your misspent youth are you?”

“No, V. We were just talking and Dad came up.”

“Bless his soul.” V crossed herself and gave Tyler a kiss on his forehead, earning her an eye roll.

Kit did like her, very much. “He was a lucky man to have y’all, if you don’t mind me saying, ma’am.”

“Why thank you, Kit. I don’t mind at all. Now have you two decided?”

“I’ll have the meatloaf, V.”

She nodded. “I knew you would -- Danny’s already got your plate half ready -- I wasn’t sure if you’d go with your usual fries or have the mashed and gravy today -- bettern’ usual batch done up today.”

“I’ll do the mashed.”

“Good boy. And you, Kit? You gonna give our famous chili a chance?”

“Yes, ma’am, I believe I will, and a dinner salad, if you don’t mind.” He offered her a grin. “Greens, you know.”

She chuckled. “I’ll bring one out for Ty, too, so you aren’t made to eat alone.”

When she gone, Ty took a drink of his beer. “So you used to be a country singer. Not one of those twangy ones, I hope.”

“I did and I suppose twangy would depend on your definition, but I wasn’t never accused of it, no.” He chuckled and took a swig.

“Maybe you’ll sing for me sometime and I can judge for myself.”

“Oh, I don’t sing anymore.” He fiddled with the silverware, seeing the eyes of family, of friends wanting to know why, of all those wonderful men, why he lived. “I bet I could rustle up a CD or two, though.”

“Oh, your pipes were hurt in the accident, too? I’m sorry, that’s a really rough break.” Ty looked out at the beach a moment. “I didn’t mean to bring up hard memories.”

“Oh, no. No. I... I can. Well, I figure I can. I just don’t.” He blushed dark, shook his head. “Not my line of work anymore.”

“You never sing? Ever? Not even in the shower?”

“Nope. Not ever.” It was the truth, too. Not once since the accident. He hadn’t. He couldn’t. “I play sometimes though, if a band needs me.”

Tyler shook his head. “I can’t imagine not singing along to the radio, or belting it out in the shower.” Tyler blushed suddenly. “Christ, I’m being unbelievably rude, I’m sorry. Again.”

“Oh, hey. Don’t.” Kit reached over instinctively before stopping himself. “I mean, no one ever asks about it. I mean... it’s been almost six years and no one talks about it. It’s okay.”

“Yeah? Cool.” Tyler gave him another one of those easy-going, lingering smiles. “I was kind of hoping I was leaving a good impression, not making you crazy.”

“No crazy-making. Honest.” He smiled at Vera when she brought the salads. “Thank you, ma’am.”

She beamed at him and patted his shoulder. “You’re very welcome, Kit.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” chimed in Tyler, wicked grin on his face.

Vera gave her son an arch look. “You could learn a thing or two from Kit about manners, young man and I know I taught you better than that.”

“I said thank you!”

“You sassed me, is what you did.” She bent and kissed his forehead again. “I go off-shift in five. Beti, that’s with one t and an i apparently, is going to bring out your food. She’s new so be nice, but make sure she serves you right. Will I see you for supper on Sunday night, Ty-baby?”

“I’ll pick you up at six.”

“Good boy.” Tyler got another kiss and then they were left alone again.

“I didn’t intend on getting your ass chewed, honest.” Kit was fighting his grin for all he was worth.

“Naw, she was right -- I was sassing her.” Tyler gave him a grin. “She’s a great lady, but to be honest I’m glad she’s off-shift now.”

“Yeah? Too much mothering for one night?” Kit dug into his salad, munching happily.

“Well when a guy’s out with another guy, he doesn’t necessarily want his mother around, you know?” The words were casually said, Tyler looking at his food and then glancing up at him.

Kit was never going to stop blushing. Never. “How did you know?”

Tyler gave him a sweet smile. “You flirted back.”

“Oh.” Nope, never going to stop blushing. “Did you mind?”

“Did I mind? That you flirted back? Why would I mind?”

“Well, I guess I usually wait to know someone better first.” Kit chuckled, grinned. “’Course, I’ve met your mom now.”

Tyler laughed. “You have! In some countries that makes us practically engaged.”

“Oh, they have a hell of a time pairing off us lame ponies, Ty. I’d make sure I had one hell of a dowry first.”

“I was with a chick in a wheelchair for a couple of months. Dead from the waist down, but what she could do with her mouth? Woo. And her mind was sharp. Too sharp. She finally dumped me for a physicist.”

“No shit?” Kit chuckled, shook his head. “I’m a musician. Not too terribly sharp.”

“Yeah? How are you with your mouth?”

He blinked, surprised and more than a little stunned, then managed a recovery. “Honestly, I do all right in that arena, but my claim to fame is my hands. Any man who can pick like I do? He can make your body sing.”

Oh, God. Had he just said that?

“Well there you go, Kit, sounds to me like you’ve got a hell of a lot to offer, lame pony or not.”

“Thanks, Ty. I’ll try to keep that in mind.” He gave himself a solid, strict thump as the food came. Ty was right. This self-pitying bullshit was frigging boring.

“So will I,” Ty told him with a wink and more than a little interest.

He couldn’t help but grin back. Ty was a fine-looking man, all sex and gold-skin and sensuality pouring from him. Damn.

They ate in relative silence, the food good, solid and real rather than some of those showy dishes that left you still hungry.

He ordered one more beer and nursed it. No way he was going to get home if he didn’t take it easy, but it felt good relaxing and just being with Ty.

Ty shared a story or two about some of his favorite bikes and a bit about growing up near the beach. “It gets into your soul, living out here.” Ty grinned. “I don’t sleep half as well if I can’t hear the waves at night.”

Kit nodded. “My house is about twenty miles from here, right near the water. I always wanted to live by the ocean. Got a ramp built where I can roll out, early in the morning.”

“Sounds really nice. How long have you been there?”

“About three years now. I was in the hospital for a good bit. Then rehab. I had the house and studio built so I could live there, be comfortable.” Kit nodded. “It was worth the wait.”

Ty nodded. “I’m surprised we’ve never run into each other before.”

“Well, I’m still getting used to the legs. In fact, today’s a record day for keeping them on.” Kit stretched, hands rubbing his knees. “When I’m in the chair, I tend to stay home. With these? I do some better about being social.”

“Does it hurt?” Ty asked. “I mean, if it bothers you to have me ask, just tell me to shut up and mind my manners.”

“No, it’s okay.” Kit frowned. “You ever worn a real tight pair of new shoes? This is kinda like that, except I’m resting my weight on a shit-load of scars hanging at my knee. It just gets to aching after a while.”

Tyler nodded. “I get it. Kind of sucks, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. Yeah, it does, but I’m alive and ten of us aren’t, so I can’t really bitch.”

“A smart man knows to count his blessings instead of focusing on the negative. The waves’ll still be hitting the beach tomorrow.”

“Yeah.” Kit stretched. “That they will. And, as much as I’m loving watching these waves, Ty, if I’m going to drive myself home, I’m going to have to head that way.” He surprised himself with the depth of his regret.

“Will you be all right?”

“Hmm?” Kit grinned, nodded. “I reckon. If I get too sore, I’ll find a resting place on the way.”

Ty took out his wallet and handed across his card. “Call if you run out of steam and I’ll rescue you.”