Straight Up by K. Evan Coles

Author:K. Evan Coles [Vaughn, K. Evan Coles and Brigham]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQI Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group
Published: 2020-04-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“Man, I really worked up an appetite hiking in the Ramble today,” Stuart said as he filled a water glass from the tap. He guzzled it down, then refilled it to sip more slowly.

“Me, too,” Malcolm called out from the other room. “I’ll get a change of clothes and throw together an overnight bag so we can head to your place and eat there. I promise I’ll make it quick.”

“Do you want to stop somewhere and pick up takeout on the way?” Stuart offered, hoping they wouldn’t have to wait quite that long. After the hike, they’d eaten a small picnic Stuart had packed, then given bouldering a try on a nearby rock. Apparently, lunch hadn’t been quite hearty enough to tide him over. His stomach was rumbling already.

“I’m watching my budget, remember?” Malcolm said.

“My treat. Nothing fancy. I was thinking of this place around the corner from me. Amazing Northern Italian stuff.”

“I’d rather not, if that’s okay.” Malcolm’s voice sounded strained even from two rooms away.

“No problem.” Stuart knew Malcolm didn’t like feeling indebted to him, although he’d hoped he’d relax about it now that they were dating rather than just hanging out as friends. Oh well. Stuart pulled open the refrigerator door and called over his shoulder. “Hey, how about I cook here? I’m seriously famished and I’m not sure I can wait another hour or so to”—Stuart furrowed his brow as his gaze landed on the puzzling sight in front of him—“eat.”

Malcolm’s fridge was empty. Like a box of baking soda and some condiments kind of empty. Not even a small block of cheese or eggs. The only time Stuart had ever seen a refrigerator with so little food in it was when someone didn’t cook. At all. And Stuart damn well knew Malcolm could cook. They’d talked about it plenty of times and he’d eaten the delicious taco salad Malcolm had made at his mom’s place. Something was off here. Very, very off.

“Sorry, that won’t work. I haven’t been to the store,” Malcolm called back.

Various scenarios popped into Stuart’s head as he closed the refrigerator. He opened a couple of cabinets, finding plates and glasses before finally spotting the food storage. Except there was almost nothing in it, either. He picked up a jar of peanut butter that was scraped so clean there was barely a teaspoon left. One can of beans on the shelf. Maybe a quarter cup of rice in a container. Stuart pulled open a few more cabinets, but no, there was no food in them outside of spices and condiments like soy sauce. Almost nothing that an actual meal could be made from. Stuart was still staring at a set of empty shelves in confusion and dawning worry as Malcolm walked up behind him.

“Are you moving?” Stuart asked as he closed the cabinet door. He’d let his food stores run low before moving to make life easier. This felt like more than that. Malcolm certainly hadn’t mentioned he was leaving this place.

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