Ryan and Andrew had worked together at the vineyard for several months. They often engaged in small talk during breaks, and they planned to hang out together and have a few beers at some point in the future, but they never seemed to get around to it. Ryan enjoyed Andrew’s company, and Andrew enjoyed Ryan’s, but both men were inextricably shy around each other. Conversations turned awkward at odd moments, and they often ended abruptly with both men smiling nervously.

Finally one October afternoon Andrew took the bull by the horns. He asked Ryan if he knew about the gazebo at the edge of the woods on the other side of the vineyard. Ryan looked at him questioningly but admitted he did.

“Go there with me…right now,” Andrew said.

Ryan hesitated for a seconds, but then said in a hushed, shaky voice, “Okay.”

They then went off together in silence toward their destination.

 

Photographer unknown

Subjects unknown

Little fictional story by Gary Cottle