Rory's Rock

Chapter 2-2

“The radio said the temperatures were in single digits overnight. Hope no one felt the cold. Did everyone sleep okay?” Barry asked, laying a huge platter of fried eggs on the table.

They were eating breakfast in the kitchen, the dining room being too cold due to the lack of power. Rory liked the ranch kitchen; it felt cozy and domestic.

Liam and Wayne had their mouths full so just nodded their heads in answer to Barry’s questions.

Jimmy smirked. “I was plenty warm enough and slept just fine.”

Barry rolled his eyes. “I know that, I could hear you snoring.”

“I don’t snore!”

“You so do,” Jake put in.

As ever, Barry was on top of the situation and raised his spatula. “Boys!” He didn’t even look in Jimmy’s and Jake’s directions. Instead his gaze was trained on Rory. “Sleep okay?”

Rory nodded and blushed. He was saved from giving a verbal answer because he was still chewing. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he was wide awake and ready to face the day. Yes, he could attribute that to having to wash in cold water, but the true cause was the full and uninterrupted night’s sleep he’d just enjoyed.

“And you?” Barry turned his attention to Zane.

“Me ’n’ my little buddy slept real good.” Zane slung an arm around Rory’s shoulders and pulled him closer to Zane’s side.

Barry raised a questioning eyebrow but thankfully was distracted from making a comment by Zane belching loudly and the others teasing him about it.

Due to the weekend and the continuing storm, there were few chores assigned to the men.

“Well, like I said yesterday, I need to go into town to do some shopping,” Barry said, wiping his mouth and rising to his feet.

“I’ll drive,” Jake said.

“Me, too,” Jimmy added.

“You can’t both do it.” Barry shook his head and began to gather up the empty plates and platters. “I’m more than capable of going into town on my own. I expect the CDOT trucks treated the roads last night.”

Rory was pretty sure the city was responsible for the local roads, but didn’t voice his opinion. And given how far out of the way they were, if the trucks had reached them at all, it would have been well after the ice storm had started.

“But the driveway hasn’t been salted,” Jimmy said.

“First on my list,” Liam said.

Barry returned to the table. “So you see, I’ll be fine.” He touched first Jimmy’s cheek then Jake’s.

“You still might get into a wreck.” Clearly Jimmy wasn’t giving up.

“Exactly,” Jake added.

Barry huffed. “Gee, thanks.”

Yet again, Rory wished he had someone who cared about him like that.

Barry reached over for the coffeepot, gave it a quick shake, then cradled it to his chest. Looking first at Jake then Jimmy, he said, “I’m sure the two of you could find something more useful to do on the ranch than go into town with me. You’ll just get bored. I’m only going to a couple places, including the grocery store.”

“No we won’t,” Jake insisted.

Barry looked at him sceptically.

“Besides.” Jimmy smiled triumphantly, “We need to get your Valentine’s gift.”

“And that takes both of you?”

“Not letting him pick,” Jimmy protested, pointing at Jake. “He’ll just buy something in red.”

Wayne groaned. “That’s the color of Valentine’s, dumbass.”

“Jimmy!” Barry picked up a large serving spoon and pointed it at Jimmy in warning. He acted so quickly Rory didn’t even have time to tense up.

“We’re both going into town,” Jake said, folding his arms over his chest. “And I’m driving.”

Jimmy opened his mouth but another waggle of Barry’s spoon had him closing it again.

Rory probably should go into town himself as he needed to buy and mail off a gift for his friend Debbie. They shared the same birthday and Rory had literally and metaphorically hidden behind Debbie when their birthdays had been “celebrated” in the home. Not that the staff did a whole lot to mark the occasion. Debbie was loud, large, and didn’t take any s**t from anyone. Much to Rory’s embarrassment, she would often fight his battles for him, although he always tried never to get in any battles in the first place. Debbie was the closest thing Rory ever had to a big sister and she was the first person Rory had come out to. Although, when he did, she gave him a hug and told him she’d already figured that out.

Rory’s announcement that he’d follow Barry, Jimmy, and Jake on his motorcycle was met by a chorus of disagreement from everyone at the table.

“The roads won’t be safe enough for that,” Liam said.

“No, they won’t,” Barry added.

“I need a couple of things, so I’ll take you,” Zane said, slapping Rory on the back.

Not expecting the blow, Rory pitched forward, narrowly avoiding faceplanting into his placemat. “Thanks, but you don’t need to.” Rory had hoped to use the time off the ranch to regroup after being in such close proximity to Zane overnight.

Zane shook his head. “Guys are right, roads aren’t safe, not for a motorcycle.”