Groceries with Gene- part one (Short Story)

!warning!
Brief mentions of sex, blunt use of F slur

    Gene was perched forward with his elbows propped on the handle of his shopping cart while he walked. The front right wheel squealed with each roll, and the kart had a tendency to lean to the right which needed constant correction. Swirling smoke from Gene’s cigarette trailed behind him as he walked. “Honeymoon Swoon” lazily drifted from the store speakers above, a pleasant instrumental that Gene was now hearing for the second time since arriving. As of now, he and Jobie strolled down the empty snack aisle together while Gene glazed over his grocery list. He adjusted his wrist to straighten the paper.

     “I should have something now.” Jobie said, side eyeing Gene.

     “Get what you want, kid.” Gene replied.

     Jobie left Gene’s side while he slowed the kart to a stop, glancing up to look for Rory’s request. Pretzels. He sighed through his nose as his tired eyes studied the shelves of chips and crackers, glazing over each bag.

     His lower back ached today, and a headache was pricking behind his eyes. He reached back and pressed a knuckle into the tender muscle next to his spine. He swirled his knuckle, feeling the knotted tissue shift back and forth. Jobie returned with three bags, tossing them into the cart before turning to get more.

     “Aye, two.”

     “What.”
     Gene gestured to the kart.

     “I get what I want. You said.” Jobie replied.
     “Mm, you get two. Two bags.”

     “You’re a liar.”

     “Mhm.”
     Jobie gave Gene a cold glare, then reached in to take out a bag.

     After the snack aisle came the baking aisle. Then meats, cheeses, breads, eggs, and dairy. While Jobie would wander or sneak something into the kart, Gene was checking the egg cartons and getting heavy cream for Ace’s coffee. When another late night shopper would saunter by, Jobie would stand by the kart and send a cold look their way.

     “What?” He asked an older woman at one point after she walked passed. She had said nothing to him, and continued walking. Jobie looked at Gene as though expecting him to also confront her. He did not. Gene flicked him in the back of the head as Jobie glared at a man and his kid in the ice cream aisle.
     “Ow!” He said loudly. “What!”
     “Giving everyone crusties.”
     “No.”
     At the checkout, Gene stood at the register with his wallet open, slipping out a few bills of cash to hand them over. The woman eyed his six fingered hand as he exchanged the paper. He sighed through his nose as he patiently waited for cash back, glancing to his side where Jobie stood and waited. Jobie was staring at the groceries that were now forming a pile next to the plastic bags they were meant to be packed into. Jobie had his arms crossed as he watched the groceries begin to pile. No one was assisting to bag them tonight, they were short staffed.

     Gene’s headache pressed behind his eyes.

     Casually, he gave Jobie a gentle nudge, then gestured to the grocery bags.

     “That is not my job.” Jobie said.

     “Today it is.” He replied.

     “No, I don't do that.”

     “Mm.”

     Gene slipped his wallet back into his jeans and stepped around Jobie, opening one of the bags to start filing the produce into them. He then handed the bag off to Jobie, who took the bag with a loud sigh.

     On the way out to the car, Gene gave a short whistle to Jobie. His keys jingled as he tossed them over for Jobie to catch. He then crossed around the car to the passenger's seat. Once both Gene and Jobie were situated on the leather seats, Gene slid his buckle past his chest and grunted as he leaned over to review with Jobie.

     “Alright uh,... Aye, get your belt on,” Gene said. “You remember?” He asked, motioning to the pedals below.

     “Yes.” Jobie replied, placing both feet on either pedal.

     “Quit that.”

     “This is right, I’m right.”

     Gene said nothing.

     Jobie placed one foot on the floorboard of the car, then muttered to himself.

     “Alright, uh.. Get it going, kid.” Gene said, sitting back in his seat and crossing his arms comfortably.

     Jobie reached up to tuck a piece of hair behind his ear before turning the key, making the engine sputter briefly before the car came to life.

     “Look behind ya,” Gene said as Jobie began to back up the car.

     The two men drove out from the parking lot and into the main roads where the traffic was low and the lights were lazy. Jobie pulled the car too far forward while stopping at a red light, the front of the car peeking out from the boundary lines. Gene opened his mouth.

     “I KNOW,” Jobie said.

     Jobie side-eyed Gene. When Gene looked at him, he looked forward again.

     Neither man said anything for a long while as they waited for the light. The engine whirred softly, Gene breathed deep and slow, and a single car drove by. Gene began to light up a cigarette.

     “You and Ace have sex,” Jobie said.

     Gene’s hand froze just as he was about to strike the match. His brows were raised slightly as he turned his head to look at Jobie. He stared.

     “Yea?” Gene replied, watching Jobie’s face.

     Jobie nodded to himself. Neither said anything until Jobie glanced to see Gene still looking at him.

     “WHAT.”

     Gene looked forward and struck his match, holding the warm flame to the end of his cigarette. He sighed a swirl of smoke through his nose, then flicked his wrist to put out the match.

     “What of it?” He asked.

     “You’re a fag.” Jobie replied, accusatory.

    Gene smiled, letting out an amused chuckle from his chest.

     “Oh yea?”

     “Yes.”

     “You uh,... You got a problem with fags?” He asked.

     Jobie said nothing.

     Gene said nothing.

     “No.” Jobie replied, giving Gene a small glare.

     The light turned green, and the car began to move forward again.

     “Alright,” Gene said, raising his shoulders. “Aye, watch the line.”
    Gene reached out, gently guiding the wheel away from the white line to the middle of the road. Jobie over-corrected the wheel, and for a small moment the car swayed as he steadied it again.

     “Ace hates me.”

     “Mm..” Gene hummed. “Yea?”

     “I think I would know that.”

      “Mm..”

     “He thinks I’m gonna hurt someone. Don’t lie.”

     Gene said nothing, but reached over to gently correct the wheel again.

     “Mm.”

     “... You don't disagree.” Jobie muttered.

     “M’ not gonna tell you what to think.” Gene replied.

     “Whatever,” Jobie smacked Gene’s hand off the wheel. “You love him. If he wants to send me back you’ll let him.”

     “Aye, you’re not going back kid.” 

     Jobie said nothing.

     “You’ll uh,... Both come around.”

     “Both…”

     “Gotta meet him at his level.”

     Jobie pulled into the driveway without slowing the car which made both him and Gene lift from their seats.

     “Aye, woah-”

     “Whatever!”

     After placing the car into park and cranking the emergency brake, both men slipped out of the car to get the groceries from the trunk. Jobie gave Gene a shove, Gene nudged back.

     As they approached the porch, the front door came open to reveal a warmly lit  and affront room thin man. Ace had his arms crossed and tucked, covering his ribs. He glanced at Jobie as he jogged past him with the groceries, then to Gene as he came closer.

     “Aye,” Gene greeted. He leaned in for a kiss, but Ace looked away.

     “Hey, you guys were gone for a while.” He replied. “Was everything okay?”

     “Mhm.”

     “Okay…” Ace muttered.

     “You got a kink in your think?” Gene asked, shifting to hold the thin plastic bag handles more comfortably.

     “No.”

     Gene nodded once, watching Ace’s face with soft eyes. Ace had a stern expression, and he did not look at Gene. Gene stepped closer to kiss his cheek, then handed off one of the bags before both men headed inside.