I was broke. I had lost my job and I decided to make some changes, some big changes. I was heading home to work in my brother's restaurant in Spokane, WA. That's where I was born and raised. I left ten years ago after my father has disowned me for coming out of the closet. "No son of mine will be a faggot". Those words were still painful a decade later.
My brother and I were both classically trained chefs. I had a restaurant here in Sarasota, but the recession proved too much and I was never able to recover. So I sold all of my possessions and after paying off all my debt I was left with a measly $4,400. So on a Thursday morning in April, I loaded a Greyhound bus to Spokane.
I had contemplated flying home or renting a car. But ultimately decided on a Greyhound. I was actually looking forward to the trip. Give me a few days to clear my head. Also, because times had been so tough, I hadn't done any traveling lately which was something I enjoyed thoroughly.
I picked a seat with a power outlet and settled in. I boarded at 6:10am and would be on this bus until 11:45am when we transferred in Tallahassee. The bus was about half full so the seat next to me remained open the entire trip.
We made several stops as we headed North. Spring Hill, Crystal River and a couple others. But it was in Perry, FL when my "gaydar" went off. I knew the second I saw the young slender stylish blonde get on the bus that he too was gay. As he passed me, he smiled and I was overtaken by the aroma of Polo Blue Cologne. I smiled to myself as the bus continued Tallahassee bound.
While we waited for our next bus to leave for St. Louis, we both enjoyed a cigarette along with a dozen others at the bus terminal. But three times I caught him looking at me and I suppose he caught me looking at him three times as well. He looked so clean and crisp with his beautiful blonde hair, Hollister polo, and khaki cargo shorts. Surely, this model like man couldn't be interested in me. I was forty six, 5'8" 200 lbs. black hair and brown eyes. No way that a twenty something, 185lbs, 6ft 1in would even pay me any attention.
As we finished our cigarettes, his phone rang. While he talked, I over heard him telling say that he was "officially Missoula bound" and how excited he was to be heading home. I quickly checked my itinerary and smiled as I realized I'd spend the next 68 hours in the company of this fine young man.
We boarded our new bus and headed for the Alabama border.
"I couldn't help but overhear you're heading for Montana. I'm heading for Spokane"
"Oh okay! Wow, we have a lot of miles ahead of us together" he said with a giggle.
I introduced myself. "I'm Bruce"
"Kyle." We shook hands.
Kyle was my kind of guy. While I was stocky and short, he was slender and tall. I maintained masculinity while he presented himself with femininity. I was infatuated.
"So Bruce" he hissed. "Why does a guy decide to bus it to Washington and not fly?"
"Good question" I responded. "I'm starting life over after a failed business and thought a three day trip home would help me clear my head." He seemed satisfied with my answer. "What about you?"
"My boyfriend and I just finished two years on a cruise ship. I was a sous chef". My boyfriend and I rented a car to head home but he decided to tell me that he was breaking up with me last night when we stopped in Tallahassee. So I decided to take a bus home instead." Made sense to me.
"Oh! You were a chef? Me too! Sixteen years. Well, longer actually. I grew up in the kitchen. My father owned a restaurant."
"Really?" He seemed excited. "Oh my God! Cooking is my passion. What type of cuisine?"
"Italian, mostly. But I like to throw in a little Mediterannien, too."
"Oh, great! I was trained in Japenese cuisine, but I'd technically consider my style Asian Fusion".
The miles flew by and in no time, we were in Nashville. We both exited the bus for a cigarette and the conversation continued. We discussed everything cooking related as well as traveling adventures and past relationships. I was thrilled to have a couple more days with him as my interest in this guy was growing by the minute.
As we were getting back on board, the driver informed us that the bus would be full to St. Louis. Obviously, Kyle took the seat next to me and as we began the next six hour leg of our trip, we both drifted off to sleep. I was awaken by a bump in the road and immediately notice that Kyle was awake.