Guarded Heart

Chapter 8

Jacob^^

Ethan sits on the stool completely stunned and breathless. He smiles and shakes his head. The sound of someone clearing their throat brings him back to reality.

He looks up and sees Jacob standing there, pissed.

"Yes?"

"I'd like to pay the tab." He said coldly toward Ethan.

"What's with the tone?"

"What's with the tone, are you kidding me? Did you not see what the hell happened earlier?!" He raised his voice.

"You might want to watch how you talk to me in my bar Jacob."

"Just tell me my total already!" He yelled. Everyone in the bar looked to see what was going on.

A guy sitting in the corner came walking up. "Got a problem here son?" He asked Jacob.

"None of your damn business son!" He yelled at the guy.

"Jacob, that is enough!" Ethan said in a firm voice.

"Oh is it though? What he did was fucking wrong and you know it! How could you let him speak to me that way?!"

"Excuse me? I have no control over what anyone says and I sure as hell wasn't going to tell him to stop when he was right about it all. You did just use me to get a fucking feel of the gay life, you got what you wanted and when I told you some personal shit about my past you fucking left like I didn't matter to you! You made me feel for the first time in my life ashamed and dirty for being who I am! In one swift movement from you, I felt like the dirt on the bottom of your fucking shoe and that hurt Jacob! I haven't opened up to someone in a very very long time and when I told you those things and you leaving like you did, it felt like you just ripped my heart out and made me want to just say fuck it I'm done with people, no one in my whole life has ever made me feel that way, no one!

I never want to see you again, after tonight you are not welcome in my bar ever again! Now your total is 55.00 even. Cash or credit?"

Jacob gets his wallet and hands him 60 bucks and Ethan gives him five back.

Jacob is still standing there,shocked and ashamed of himself.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to make you feel that way, I'm sorry I won't bother you ever again." Jacob hung his head and walked out of the bar. His friends followed him out.

The guy that was standing there turned toward Ethan.

"You ok boss?" The guy asked as he sat down.

"Yea, thanks for that. Who are you?"

"Just someone looking out for you, that's all." He winked and got up and left.

Ethan cleaned up the bar and looked at the time. One thirty.

"I'm just gonna close and go home take a shower and go to bed. Get this day over with." He said to himself as he finished up and was about to turn the lights off when someone came walking out of the bathroom.

"Oh, shit I wasjust about to lock up." He said to the guy looking at him as he walked to the door.

"Sorry had to use the bathroom. Closing early?"

"Yea, long night I just want to go home. You need me to call someone to pick you up or a cab?"

"Nah I'm not drunk, didn't even drink. Couldn't really drink after that shit went down with Jacob and the 2nd LT."

"Ah you were with Jacob's group of friends huh?" Ethan opened the door and they walked out.

Ethan took a smoke out and lit it. "Yea, it's a shock at what happened. None us had any idea about Jacob being gay."

"Is that a problem?"

"What? God no, it's just the way he would talk about gay people, calling them names and putting them down and to find out that he is, it was a total shock to us all."

Ethan just stands there and kicks the dirt.

"Yea well no wonder he didn't want to come out, putting gay people down like they are nothing makes him out to be a dick and not even worth anyone's time, I despise people like that. He got what he deserved tonight and if Ryan did see him out I'm sure it would have been a lot worse for Jacob."

"I saw red in the LT's eyes, I never seen anyone that mad before."

"I gotta admit it was pretty hot, I never had anyone do that for me before. He's a good guy that Ryan fella." Ethan smiled thinking about their time together tonight.

"He's a good Marine. I have been deployed with him a few times and he puts his all into it, nothing seemed to bother him except when we found that captured Marine, that got to him badly. He hasn't been the same since."

"I can imagine, that Marine was the love of my life and for years I was lost, didn't know who I was didn't care if I lived or died because I had lost him. I had hope that he will be back that he was ok but over time that hope slowly faded until a few days ago when I found out he's back and he's ok."

"He's ok?!" The guy asked shocked.

"Yea I saw him myself. He was here earlier talking to Ryan at the bar."

"Oh wow yea I seen someone but I had no idea it was him. I'm happy to know he's ok."

"Yea same here, I hate to cut this short but I'm gonna head home. I'm tired and just want to go to bed. Come back anytime..."

"Oh, Steve. Thanks, I will."

"Alright Steve I'm Ethan. Have a good night."

Ethan went to his truck and went home. When he got home he went to the kitchen and heated upsome food that was in the fridge, he took his phone out of his pocket and saw a text from Ryan.

"Hey sexy man, I'm home and going to be getting in the hot wet shower, wish you were here with me 😉 I had a good time with you talking and getting to know you better. Can't wait to see you again."

Ethan smiled. "Ah a shower with you? How could I pass an offer like that up but as you see it's a little after two and I'm sure you are sleeping by now but I just got home. I also had a nice time talking and getting to know you more as well. Can't wait to see you again. Have a wonderful day putting Jacob through hell 😊" He sent the text and got the food out of the microwave and grabbed a glass of sweet tea and went to his bedroom. He turnedthe TV on and watched it while he ate.