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The automatic door to Loki's Convenience store slid open and Gabriel twirled his arms in a circle as he hopped inside. He was on his way to his summer cabin at Big Bear Lake for a couple weeks, he always stopped at Loki's though to grab snacks that was just a couple of miles away.
“Hey Gabe, how's it hanging?” Ash, the mullet wearing cashier said, an easy going grin on his face.
One thing he loved about the store, besides that it was close to the lake, was that it had so many different and tasty items to offer.
“Low and to the left.” Gabe quipped and both men shared a laugh as Gabriel grabbed a basket and perused the aisles.
First up was snacks. If he was to work at his lake house on his newest graphic novel, he was going to need sustenance. Beef jerky, twizzlers, Gummi bears, jolly ranchers and peanut m&ms made their way into his basket.
He'd already had ‘normal’ groceries delivered the day before but normal food also got boring. Gabriel craved sugar. Cas, his annoying but loveable baby brother would harangue Gabriel that he would lose all of his teeth by the time he was forty thanks to his candy loving habit.
Joke was on him though. He made it to thirty-two without a single cavity, thank you very much.
Gabriel quickly finished his shopping and with a wave to Ash, he stepped back out into the dry air. Humming softly under his breath, he stowed the bags in the trunk of his neon green Camaro. Sweat was already gathering on his skin, his light grey tank top and red shorts doing nothing to help with the stagnant July air.
From there, it was a short drive to his little slice of Big Bear Lake, just under two miles and he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and sang as The Fox played on the radio. Ordinarily, Gabriel wouldn't admit to liking or even listening to the song but there something fun about a silly song like that.
What does the fox say?
"Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!
Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!
Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!"
Gabriel leaned his head out of the window, enjoying the wind and heat of the sun as he crowed to the song.
What the fox say?
"Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!
Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!
Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!”
Jamming out to the radio, he was soon pulling onto the dirt road that snaked along the lake. There were four little cottages that dotted the lake, cute craftsman style complete with a small dock.
Each house was spread out pretty evenly around the lake, providing privacy. More than once, Gabriel had sunbathed completely in the buff on his dock.
“Whose car is that?” He murmured to himself as he drove past the cabin that his closest neighbor, Bobby owned. He didn't see the old coot much but the shiny dark blue Charger that sat in the driveway was not Bobby's.
A few hours later, he pushed himself away from his board with a groan. He had made some progress, Crowley would be happy with that but Gabriel needed a break. Scratching at his belly that was currently rumbling, he padded out of his office and toward the kitchen to raid the cupboards.
Gabriel poked around a bit but wasn't much in the mood for cooking. He finally settled on some chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk and with his snacks in hand, Gabriel headed out back. The back of the house featured a deck large enough to hold a grill, three Adirondack chairs and a small table.
The deck also faced the lake and was the selling point on Gabriel buying the house. Sunsets out here were absolutely beautiful. He took in the scenery as he opened the cookies, listening to the call of birds and inhaling fresh pine.
A splash to the left drew his attention, cookies forgotten as a dark head of hair appeared from the water.
“Who is that?” Gabriel murmured, his honey whiskey eyes squinting as he looked through the binoculars that he always kept by his chair. He kept them near, bird watching a guilty pleasure that he’d had indulged in for several years. There was just something about birds that fascinated Gabriel, he loved to watch them in flight, their wings effortlessly carrying them around.
Sometimes he wondered what it’d be like to fly. When he did, he imagined a pair of golden wings sprouting from his back, great appendages that would easily carry him off wherever he wanted to go. Wings that he could spend hours wrapped around someone he cared about. Someone he loved.
Fuck he was lonely.
He thought he had found his forever in an exotic beauty named Kali but it turned out that she loved spending his money that he earned from his graphic novels, not him. That was pretty evident when he caught her fucking some random guy in their bed. Two years later and that nerve still felt pretty raw.
He pushed that thought away. The nerve might still be raw but he wanted, no… needed to move on.
He watched the Adonis for a few minutes, his mouth growing dry as a giant of a man hauled himself onto the dock. Gabriel figured him to be about six foot three at least with muscles for days. He felt like a peeping tom but absolutely couldn’t look away as the man ran his hands through his hair and then flopped onto a chair on the dock.
He felt a pull toward the man, one he couldn't really explain.
Gabriel watched for a few more minutes as the giant of a man grabbed a book from a bag next to the chair and he grinned as he discovered a way in to talk to the man. In his hands, hands that looked like they were sculpted out of marble, was the newest issue of Gabriel’s graphic novel.
Gabriel practically skipped into the house, an idea forming. He hadn't felt this way in a long time and it was honestly refreshing.
A few hours later, his heart hammering in his chest, Gabriel trekked over to the neighboring cabin. In his hands, he held an apple pie, one that he had made himself that afternoon instead of working. One of his favorite past times growing up was time spent in the kitchen, flour coating his hands.
He always thought that if he hadn't gotten into art, that he'd have opened a bakery. Although, Gabriel would also be three hundred pounds if he took the bakery ownership route because he had no willpower and would eat the product.
Coming up to the driveway, he took a moment to appreciate the Charger. She was a beauty, the paint gleaming in the sunlight. Gabriel was tempted to run his fingers over the smooth finish but didn't want to mar the gorgeous surface.
He was curious to see if this handsome stranger would give him a ride in it.
Heart hammering faster, he quickly rapped on the wooden door before he lost his nerve. Gabriel realized just before the door opened that this could all be in vain. The guy could not like pie. Or Gabriel could be seriously barking up the wrong tree and the guy is straight. Or he was already taken, his heart lunching painfully at the thought. It wouldn't be the first time that he's eaten a pie alone after rejection, it seems his gaydar needed some fine tuning.
But he could be on the right track with this guy.
He had a great opening line ready to spill from his lips but all he managed was a splutter as the door opened and the most gorgeous man he had ever seen stood in the doorway. He was an absolute giant, a few inches over six foot tall and Gabriel felt a shiver run through him. He had a thing for men taller than him. Gigantor had stunning hazel eyes, dark hair that brushed his shoulders and ridiculously broad shoulders. Temptation swept through him at the thought of licking at the little freckle under his eye, he bet it tasted sweet like a little chocolate chip.
“Uh..hi. Can I help you?” The man said, his voice deep and rough, just like how Gabriel likes his sex.
Don't think that! Inappropriate! The last thing he needed was to pop a boner in front of this guy.
His mind went blank. What did he come over here for? He fidgeted for a second, looking down at the pie in his hands and felt a blush heat his cheeks. His tongue felt like it was stuck to the roof of his mouth and the silence between them grew.
“Is that pie?” He asked, a dimple forming in his cheek as he grinned down at Gabriel.
Come on, Gabe, get it together!
“Err…yeah. A little welcome present. Everybody likes pie, right?”
He held out the pie, and as the tall stranger took it, their fingers brushed. Gabriel let out a tiny gasp as the slight contact sent lightning through his body. He had never felt like this with someone before and that thought made him giddy and lightheaded.
“I’ve never met anyone who likes pie as much as my brother Dean but I’ve never said no to it. Especially one that looks as great as this.”
Gabriel beamed with pride. He usually kept pies simple when he made them for himself or family but this one he had went all out. Cherry with delicate and fancy lattice baked to a beautiful golden brown.
“I’m Sam by the way.” The sexy giant that filled the doorway said and a grin lit Gabriel's face.
“Hiya Sam-a-lam, I'm Gabriel.” They shook briefly, Gabriel noting with interest at how big Sam's hands were, hands that were even more gorgeous up close.
“Nice to meet you.” They both said at the same time, sharing a laugh.
“Would you like to come in?” Sam asked, gesturing to the cabin space behind him and Gabriel nodded. An opportunity to spend time with Sam? Where does he sign up!?
“I’d love to Sammykins.” Gabriel said, stepping behind Sam and into the cabin. “So, what brings you to Big Bear Lake?”
It had been a couple of years since Gabriel had been inside of Bobby’s cabin, the man liked privacy and they would often meet out on the docks of either place. Gabriel secretly wondered if Bobby was embarrassed by the state of the place but too set in his ways to do anything about it.
Books used to cover every available space, stacked high and on every subject imaginable. Gabriel even used his help a few times for his graphic novels, researching vampires and the like.
“So…did Bobby sell this place?” Gabriel asked, genuinely curious. Sometimes they were here at the same time but he had never seen anyone here with or without Bobby.
“I'm renting it from him, actually. It was getting too hard for him to come out here and he didn't want to sell it.” Sam admitted and Gabriel nodded. He'd miss seeing Bobby around here, he was great to bounce ideas off of.
Speaking of….he looked around the neatened living room and spied his latest graphic novel on the coffee table.
He jerked a thumb at it. “You like reading those too?”
Sam grinned wide, dimples popping out on his cheeks. “Oh yeah! I have them all, collective editions that I keep on my shelves plus paperbacks that I read every chance I get. They're great; the art, the dialogue, the books are a masterpiece.”
Gabriel blushed as Sam rambled. His books did well but he still loved to hear that they were well appreciated. “Which is your favorite?”
Sam pursed his utterly kissable lips for a moment in thought before he sprinted to the coffee table. “This one, Dead Moon Rising. I've lost count of how many times I've read it.”
Gabriel nodded. It was one of his favorites too. “Want me to autograph it for you?”
“Why would you…holy shit.” Gabriel smiled with amusement as Sam's eyes comically popped open. “Are you really Gabriel fucking Novak?!” He squeaked out.
Gabriel barked out a laugh. “I don't actually have a middle name but yes I am.”
One thing Gabriel didn't do in his graphic novels that most authors did was have a picture of himself. He liked the element of anonymity. Plus it allowed for moments like this.
“Uh, then yes. I’d love an autograph. This is amazing.” Sam spluttered as he handed the novel and a pen over.
Gabriel grinned as he signed the graphic novel and handed it back to Sam.
To Sam, my biggest fan. Best wishes, Gabriel Novak.
“So, Sammykins, what would you say to a tour of my little studio and perhaps dinner?” He hoped he wasn’t barking up the wrong tree with that one but there was something about Sam that was so refreshing.
“Are you serious? I’d love to.” Sam cried, beaming happily at Gabriel.
“Super dupes.” Gabriel said with a grin of his own. “I’ll see you at seven o’clock, does that sound good?”
“Sounds perfect.”
They said their goodbye’s, Sam seeing him to the door. Gabriel made his way back to his cabin, a silly grin on his face. He liked his new neighbor.