EPISODE # 414

    It was a hot June morning as the two men stood in the driveway outside the bed & breakfast. The older man, Jake... 50ish, heavy, a light brown goatee & mustache, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, with a Chicago Cubs baseball cap covering his bald head... was working intently with his tools on the door of the younger man's car. The younger man, Eduardo... early 20s, lean, spiky short black hair, wearing purple gym shorts and a tight black t-shirt... stood watching Jake pensively.
    "There you go. Unlocked," Jake announced, as the car door clicked open.
    "Wow. Awesome," Eduardo offered. "Sure is cool having a locksmith living at the B&B." He paused for a moment. "How much do I owe you?"
    "Don't worry about it, " Jake said, dismissively.
    "Are you sure?" Eduardo asked.
    "Positive," Jake replied, again with an air of dismissiveness.
    "Jake, um..." Eduardo began, not sure how to break through the wall of ice Jake seemed to be erecting between them, "...I'm really sorry I wasn't able to go to that Sam Sparro concert with you."
    "Not a problem, " Jake said, casually. "I gave the tickets to Richard and Delia. They had a good time."
    "If it's not a problem, then how come you're giving me the stone cold treatment?" Eduardo asked, his frustration growing.
    "I just unlocked your car for you, didn't I?" Jake shot back, angrily. "What more do you want?"
    "Just tell me what you're really feeling," Eduardo said, almost pleadingly.
    Jake paused for a moment. Looking away from the younger man, he finally spoke. "I'm feeling like a fool, Eduardo. I completely misread what happened between us that night we... you know..." he hesitated, "...kissed, " he continued. "And now you obviously want nothing to do with me, so....yeah. I'm feeling like a fool."
    Eduardo frowned. "If I wanted nothing to do with you, then why the hell would I purposely lock my goddamn keys in the car?!"
    Jake stared at him blankly, taking a moment to register what he had just heard. "Wait. What? You did that?"
    Eduardo smiled. "It was the only way to get you to talk to me."
    "Oh, " Jake responded, a smile beginning to form on his face.
    Now Eduardo stared him squarely in the eyes. "So, do you wanna' go out to dinner at IHOP with me?"
    "Um...yeah, OK," Jake said, still a bit incredulous.
    "Good," Eduardo said, firmly.
    Jake chuckled. "IHOP? Really?" 
    Eduardo shrugged. "I have a coupon..."