Read Cleats in Clay for Free Online Page A

Nathan’s death, Bobby certainly hadn’t planned on flying to Texas and making out with some guy, but he had. Getting that postcard and those peculiar instructions had set off this strange chain of events, a chain to the receipt in Nate’s desk that pointed him here. In some improbable way, it was almost as though Nate had planned for his little tryst with Odis to happen.
Bobby flipped through more channels. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around that exploratory session he had shared with Odis. In the moment, that sharing had felt so natural, so desirous, but now he questioned why he’d allowed it to happen. Was it just the weed and the loneliness spurring him forward?
No, it was Odis. Like some leprechaun, Odis enthralled him with a hidden power to have his way.
Bobby had to chuckle at his own thought. No, from what Gertie and John described at dinner, he knew Odis wasn’t some kind of player. Those explorative urges must have been just as unexpected for him as well, especially considering he was exploring the uncharted territories of another man.
Now that Odis was inspired—which had seemed like such a surprise to Gertie—did that mean Odis was done with him? Bobby hoped not. Those explorations had such an unusual mix of tenderness and heat, they left Bobby hungry to explore more of Odis’s attention. Odis had also said he wanted more, but would he still feel that way in the sober light of a new day?
Allowing a noisy yawn, Bobby turned off the TV and settled under the covers. Hopefully, Odis wouldn’t keep him waiting here long. Though he’d seen the work of the struggling and hurting horse, he was curious about what kind of sculpture the man would come up with. But maybe Bobby should be concerned. What if this new sculpted work also came from such a dark place?
Bobby pushed that thought aside as he fell into sleep.
    T
HE next morning, Bobby awoke with the dawn. He had planned to just sleep in, but his body clicked into the old habit of rising early for game days.
    He rolled over. The scent of coffee teased at his nostrils. The thought of it roused Bobby from the bed.
After getting dressed into a new shirt and his old jeans, which still looked acceptably clean after only one day’s use, Bobby wandered downstairs. He found Gertie in the dining room.
“Mornin’,” she said with a curt nod.
“Morning, Gertie.”
“Up kinda early….”
    “Old habit.” Bobby smiled at her, thinking she didn’t seem like a morning person.
“Have a seat, just fixin’ to scramble some eggs. I’ll bring ya some in a minute,” she said, handing him a mug of coffee. “Sugar, cream, whatnot’s on the table.”
“Thanks.”
Bobby sat at the table and grabbed a sugar packet as she went into the kitchen.
    Gertie returned a few minutes later with two large serving platters covered in scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and a few muffins. She disappeared again and returned with plates and silverware, and she handed a set to Bobby before sitting down. “Dig in.”
    “Thank you.” Bobby loaded up a plate as John stumbled in and muttered something on his way to the kitchen.
John returned with a mug of coffee and sat down, still looking bleary-eyed.
“Good morning to ya,” Bobby said.
“Yeah,” John replied, nursing his coffee.
Gertie just took a piece of toast. “Sleep well?”
“Yes, you have very nice rooms here.”
Gertie nodded. “Even bein’ right on Main Street, everybody says it’s always quiet.”
“It is,” Bobby agreed. “Is there a gym nearby where I could squeeze in a workout this morning?”
“No. Town doesn’t really have one. Different people talked about startin’ some kind of health club from time to time, but it hasn’t ever happened.”
“Oh well, just a thought.”
“Your best bet might be Odis. He has a whole setup over at his place. Hot tub and all,” she said with a wink.
John just grunted and shook his head. “Still too early in the mornin’ to wrap my head around that one.”
“Around