Chapter Text
Autumn was truly Eddie's favorite season. The stretch of road he lived on was littered with more trees than houses, and Autumn was when they would start to turn into gorgeous shades of reds, yellows, and oranges-with purples mingled in the mix. The ride to and from work were his favorite moments of the day anyway, those fifteen minutes-most of them on that long street-were quiet and peaceful, and the two years he had lived on his own, he watched those trees in all times of year. Blooming in Spring, flush and full in Summer, incredible hues in Autumn , and snow covered and sometimes icy in the Winter. This particular early October morning was an incredible one, with just a slight nip in the air to need a sweatshirt, the leaves still clinging on their branches, and the last couple of weeks is when he began to spot them changing. The greens were slowing fading away, and a couple trees here and there were already a full-blown orange. He rolled down the window just a little, breathing in the crisp air. Once they began to fall, he'd scoop a few leaves up and tuck them away in a book with them pressed in wax paper. He was a sucker for Autumn leaves.
He reached the end of the road, the highway that took him to work to his left. He liked living where he did-ever since moving to Vermont eight years ago, he liked that many highways or main roads had tiny, tucked away ones right off of them. A few he had been down weren't even paved or pebbled, they were just dirt. Living where he did was like almost two separate worlds just inches apart. A bustling city on one side, a small country-like life on the other. He clicked his blinker to the left and smoothed his way onto the highway, his business only now five minutes away.
At twenty-five years old, Eddie knew he was incredibly fortunate to be where he was. He owned his own car service, and had been voted 'Friendliest Business' in the local papers for the last three years. It had started off as just an idea between him and his college roommate, Dan-what if we did an Uber type thing, but with classic cars? Eddie and Dan came up with the idea while sophomores, and with Eddie's ability to repair any type of vehicle within a day, it was easy finding older cars within a budget after they got approved for a loan. They had started off with a limousine first, what Eddie considered his baby. A Nineteen Fifty-Seven Cadillac limo, a seventy-five series. It took a little more body work, which Dan was more familiar with doing, and within a week, they had her up and running. Paired with a sixty-six Ford Ranchero, they began the work themselves right before their senior year, and heads began to turn, mouths began to talk. Eddie and Dan had worked everything out to a T. Eddie had never really been one for social media, but he dived headfirst into trends and what was popular, what people of all ages would like. They had theme days ('Weed Wednesday' seemed to be the most popular), discounts, promotional nights, and even held 'retro' parties to spread the word. They developed an app from scratch for people to be able to book a ride, asked opinions about what cars people wanted, where people would like to go the most, and so on. When they graduated, they had made enough money that year to pay back the loan. That had been four years ago, and now, 'Kaspbrak's Classy Chasis' had took off, with a total of forty different cars of all years and models on the lot (his baby was still there), and a flurry of drivers, both full and part time. Even though Eddie was the boss and owner-Dan was co-owner and in charge of the social media part of the business more than anything-Eddie wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. He still fixed them up when they broke down, still fixed up new ones when they acquired them, helped alongside the employees to clean them up, and when needed, happily drove clients to their destinations. He kept a suit in his office closet for just such an occasion. It was that attitude that had caught the eye of other businesses. Eddie was so polite and down to earth, his workers paid nicely and with benefits even if they were just part time, and donated time, money, and rides to children and families that struggled with cancer, that he drew attention to how he handled things. All his drivers were incredible, each ride almost eerily tailored to someone's taste, that the online reviews were phenomenal. He was mostly embarrassed people were praising him for just being a decent human being, but now, that attitude may have secured him other locations of his business. If things went the way they were, he may be getting two more in Vermont, and one across the border into Eastern New York state. He smiled. He definitely knew he was lucky.
Pulling into the business employee lot, he noticed a flurry of activity that morning. Every employee seemed to be outside, cleaning up the cars. He parked his car-his own little turquoise Fifty-three Kaiser Dragon, which was his second baby-next to Dan's car, and hopped out, locking the door behind him. He made his way over the business cars, and flagged down an employee, Erin, busily working on waxing hers.
"What's all this? Shit. What's today?" Eddie grabbed his phone out of his pocket to open his calendar, but Erin beat him to it.
"That convention is in town, boss-guy, remember?" She gave a grin as she said it, earning a smile back from Eddie. "The National Radio Dee-Jay thing? You mentioned it last week."
Eddie sucked in a breath. "Oh, God. I totally spaced out about it. We have enough cars?"
"Totally, Mr. Ed," she smiled. "A lot of the people who booked are sharing rides. You might have to don the ol' suit, though. Take a break from the desk."
Eddie laughed. "Yeah, yeah. Sarah will let me know if I'm needed. I'll pull myself away from counting all those gold bricks you think I'm hiding from the rest of you."
"I know it's actually diamonds," she yelled out as Eddie walked away. He bark laughed at her, shaking his head as he entered inside. Sarah, his receptionist, smiled warmly from her desk.
"Morning, boss-guy! Today's a doozy already!"
"So I noticed. I can't believe I forgot about the convention."
"What'd you do? Have one hell of a Sunday? What were you drinking Saturday night when we all went bowling?"
Eddie shrugged. "Hey, yesterday was cleaning day. You know I get into my own little world while cleaning."
Sarah nodded in confirmation, then looked at Eddie a bit grimly. "You, uh. You have a call waiting for you, by the way. Line two. They just rang as you pulled into the lot."
"Oh?"
"...It's Myra."
"...Oh." Eddie swallowed, hoping his face didn't look as disappointed as he felt. "Thanks. I'll...pick it up in my office." He walked the few feet to the room, passing Dan on the way with a wave, then clicked the door closed behind him when he entered. Today had been such a beautiful morning, so it figures Myra had to call to ruin it. She rarely ever called him, either at work or on his cell, or texted, and when she did, it seemed to be for no other reason than to suck whatever joy he was feeling that day right out of him. He brushed his hands over his face, slapped his cheeks a little, then made his way to his phone. He grabbed it and pressed the blinking 'call waiting' button. "Eddie Kaspbrak her-"
"Eddie, hey. Change of plans. Blue. You need a blue tie."
Eddie internally groaned. He hated blue on him. It didn't fit his skin tone at all, and last she decided, the color was to be gold. "Ohhhhkay. What else is bl-"
"Bridesmaids are wearing blue. Flowers are blue. I'm wearing blue flowers in my hair. Makes my eyes pop. Gold is last year, Eddie-Bear. Blue's in, so make sure you get a blue tie. And a new blue tie. No old ones you might have. Okay?"
Eddie gritted his teeth. "Yes, got it. Okay." It really wasn't, seeing as the wedding wasn't even for another year, and he was sure she'd change her mind about six more times this month alone. ""What shade of blue?"
"I'll email you the color. It's on the bridal website. It's pretty. Looks like my personal trainer's eyes," she said smugly. He rolled his eyes. He already knew she was screwing him, and he didn't care, but she liked to play this game with him.
"Now, My-My," he began with a saccharin sweet voice. "You're not thinking of running off with some other man, are you?" God, he hated that nickname she insisted people call her.
A shrewish giggle came over the line. "Little old me? Of course not, Eddie! Anyway, I'll send it when I'm done tanning today. Oh, and something came up, so I can't visit next week. Probably can't make it until around Christmas, actually. Sorry."
Eddie silently fist pumped. "Aww, gosh. That's horrible! I miss you. Absence does make the heart grow fonder, however. We'll just have to-"
"Yep, so gotta go, Ed. See ya. Get that tie." Click.
He slammed down the phone and plunked down quietly in his chair, sliding off his sweatshirt and tossing it to the corner of the room. He hated this part of his life. It was the only part he had no control over, or so he felt-being engaged to a woman he didn't love just so her father could expand his businesses. He hated this side of him. He never thought in a million years he'd stoop as low to pretend to want to marry someone just for profit. Myra's dad had took a shining to him when she introduced them-Myra had lived briefly in the area two years ago and been one of the home hospice care nurses that helped take care of Eddie's mom in her last few months of cancer, and she had paid no attention to Eddie until his mother mentioned he owned a business. Myra's dad, Arthur, happened to be the guy you talk to when expanding a business, having helped and co-own dozens of them in the last thirty years, and Arthur had been genuinely amused and impressed that Eddie had no idea who he was. Somehow that rolled into Arthur asking if Eddie would take Myra out for a couple dates, which, Eddie obliged out of niceness, then that somehow had turned a horrific sharp curve into Myra insisting to her father Eddie was the 'one,' and they should marry, even though he had only taken her out for five dates in nine months when she declared that. But her father had been tickled pink, and that's when the talks started about the growing the business, and Eddie had let the fantasy of being successful overtake him, and before he knew it, he was to be married to a creature who acted as if his mother's soul inhabited hers.
And he was pretty sure she knew he was gay.
But he also quickly learned Myra was in things for gain-she would simply have another man in her life to pay for all her things besides her father, and Eddie had it figured out in his head-if he could hold out through the wedding and stay married for at least two years, he wouldn't lose control of any of the potential businesses could be coming his way if Arthur could make the deals go right. And Arthur loved him, a lot-he thought it was charming that Myra was living in New York State and Eddie wasn't pressuring her to come move in with him, because Arthur was one of those types who felt certain things should be left for marriage. Of course, Myra would still visit, and stay in Eddie's spare bedroom everytime, and lie to her daddy and say she was at a hotel -not that daddy had anything to worry about, because he and Myra had had sex a whopping three times their whole courtship, and she hadn't bothered pressing him the last couple times, so he came to the realization she figured out he didn't like girls. But she was too invested in the money, and Eddie was too invested in the potential business growth, and so he lived on with this miserable secret hanging over his head while she spent daddy's money. And now she would soon spend his.
He ughed out loud, opening the door to go grab some coffee. It wasn't as if his office was in the dark about him, either-he had an ex-boyfriend he was still friends with on Facebook, and Dan knew him from college-Eddie just shrugged when the Myra thing came up and said he was into both men and women. But it was a lie, and he felt everyone knew it. He loathed himself for letting his dream get attainable in this way.
"Everything alright?" Eddie snapped his head around at Sarah, who was frowning.
"Yep. Just change of plans, is all. Everything's good." He rifled through the different flavored K-Cups and picked a hazelnut one, sticking it in the machine and holding a mug under the brew.
"You know," Sarah said, "there's a guy I met last week at my kid's parent teacher night. Name's Jordan Mack? He's great at spreading businesses. Rich like a motherfucker. Maybe-maybe you could ask him for help?"
Eddie pulled the cup away from the coffee machine, adding cream and sugar."Yeah. Maybe I should look into more help." He knew he probably wouldn't. He felt way too deep into this thing to break it off now. Arthur was a big name, and he really didn't want him to trash his business for breaking things off with his daughter. He wasn't sure if Arthur would do such a thing, but he didn't want to risk it. He took a sip of his coffee and smiled wearily at Sarah. "Okay. Time to get to work. When does that convention start?"
"Eleven, so a lot of them out there will be rolling out at ten to get to the hotels. You okay to work today if needed?"
"Absolutely. Always am. Have my best suit in the office and everything."
*****************
"Edward?"
Eddie was quietly working online, negotiating to try and secure two more cars. Gorgeous old Corvettes. "Uh-oh. Must be serious if you're using the Edward." I swear to God if it's Myra again, I'll strangle her with every gold tie I can find.
"We need a driver."
"Oh? It's-wow, it's almost ten-thirty. Doesn't that thing start soon?"
"Yeah, well, this guy overslept and saw our logos on the windows of the cars as they peeled out. His hotel is pretty close to the convention center, anyway. You down to take your baby out for a spin?"
Eddie visibly relaxed. "Sarah, I'm always ready to take her out for a spin. What's his name?"
"The Mouth."
"I'm sor-the what?"
"The Mouth," she repeated. "Sirius XM guy out of California. All he gave me. Sorry."
"Great. Sounds like a blast," he sighed, standing up. "Let me change into my suit. Which hotel?"
"The Stafford."
"Seriously? That's barely ten minutes from where they're holding this thing. He could just take the bus."
Sarah just shrugged. "We aim to please, Eddie. He paid for it. I'll let the drivers know you're on it."
Eddie walked to the closet where he kept his suit-it was a simple lightweight gray one, with a black tie that had a clip shaped like an old car he got from Dan years ago. He slid into the suit quickly, grabbing the shoes from the floor that went with it perfectly. He smoothed his hair in the little mirror he had hung up inside the door, and glanced at the bottles he kept on the top shelf.
He muttered to himself. "Let's see, radio guy. Radio guy. What scent would a radio guy like?" One of the big draws of Kaspbrak's Classy Chasis was that they had partnered with a company that made made-to-order air fresheners that they would spray in the cars. Teenagers seemed to like weed and chocolate, dates liked roses and vanilla, elderly people liked fresh linens and grass. He scanned his eyes over them until he fell on one that would probably work perfectly-it was made for bands that came to town. "Rock N' Shock.' Scented like Vinyl, leather, tobacco and whiskey. "Sounds good to me." He closed the closet and grabbed the keys to his classic limo off of the key hook hanging on the wall. "I'm off, Sarah. Let me know if there's any other last minutes in need."
***************
Eddie sped a little faster than he really liked to, but the hotel and convention center were farther out than he liked. Only a few cars had been assigned to that particular hotel for this shindig, and he still couldn't fathom why this guy had decided to contact him for a ride. Still, a client was a client-he just wanted to make sure he got himself there in one piece.
He reached the parking lot of the hotel, and idled quietly out of the way of patrons while he rolled the window down. He opened the app and clicked the auto-reply button that he was there. He frowned. He had no idea what this guy looked like, which in a normal ride, wasn't that big of a deal-but with a convention, he wanted to make sure all the clients got recognized and addressed by name. He dialed the office.
"Kaspb-"
"Hey, Sarah. What does this, uh...Mouth look like? Did he say anything about what he'd be wearing? Or if he'd be waiting for me in the parking lot?"
"Oh. Uh. Hmm. I'm not sure if he gave any-"
Eddie looked out the window and suddenly saw a man hurrying over to his open car window. He was adorned with black and white checkered board shorts, a neon pink shirt with a name that Eddie was guessing was a band, a black short sleeved button up over that, and though he only caught a quick glimpse of his feet, he was positive his socks weren't matching in slip-on shoes that nearly matched his shorts, except they had yellow squares where the white would be. The man poked his head into the window, his face just inches from Eddie's.
"Please tell me you're my ride, cutie. It's so cold out here, I think a testicle retreated all the way into my throat. If you're not, I'll make it worth your while to get me there." He gave a sparkling white, large toothed grin.
"...Never mind, Sarah. I got him." Eddie turned off his phone and set it back on the seat next to him. "Uh, yes. Hello, Mr. Uh. Mouth, is it?"
"Oh, Jesus, fuck me, did I not give you my name? Fuckin' figures. Sorry about that. Richie. You?"
Eddie blinked. He could see why this guy had the nickname he did. "Eddie. I'll be your driver today."
"You're a sight for sore eyes, Eds. You got heat in there? My dumb ass never even thought about the temperature here."
Eddie clicked the heat dial over to full blast. "Sure do, sir. Let me get out, and I'll help you-" Before he could even unclick his seatbelt, Richie had rounded his way around the car to the passenger side, and thrown himself inside the car. He fiddled with the heater vent to make it blow directly on him.
"Oh. My God. So much better." He rubbed his arms, littered with goose bumps. "Man, this is a cute car! Cute boys driving cute cars? I can get behind a business like this one."
Eddie hoped his slight blush wasn't that noticeable. "Uh, sir? This is a-"
"Oh, hell no. Richie. Please. None of this sir shit. That's like... an old guy thing. Only Girl Scouts shilling their wares are allowed to call me that to guilt me into grabbing sixteen boxes of Thin Mints. Or my kinkier dates." Richie gave him a wink.
Eddie took a breath and cleared his throat. "Alright. Richie. This is a limo. Don't you...want to sit in the back?"
"Nah," Richie replied, sitting back a little in the seat. "I admittedly don't really like limos. Can't get to know the driver sitting all the way back there." Eddie raised an eyebrow and looked behind him. The older car had a backseat that wasn't set as far back as newer models. "Besides," Richie continued, "I get carsick. Easier for me to ride up front. Unless you feel like scrubbing out this morning's hotel omelet bar from your upholstery." Richie shifted a little closer to Eddie. "Is that okay? You won't get in trouble or anything with your boss, will you?"
Eddie smiled. "It's perfectly fine, si-Richie. Just making sure, is all." He started his way out of the lot. Richie hummed to himself, running his hands over the interior of the car.
"This really is nice, Eds. Sweet ride. Gorgeous, even." His hand stopped on the dash, and his nostrils flared a bit. "What is-what am I smelling? Is that...are you wearing something?" He leaned in incredibly close to Eddie, sniffing his neck. Eddie shuddered, the feeling tickling him.
"No, not me," he said, trying to keep his eyes on the road. What the fuck is with this guy? Does he have no concept of personal space?
Richie sniffed again. "It's like...it smells like...my favorite music shop. Do you have records in here? You have some weird DJ type turntables hidden away?"
"Open the glove box," Eddie replied, nodding towards it. Richie complied, and grabbed the air freshener bottle when he spotted it.
"Huh. 'Rock N' Shock.' Well, I'll be. " He dug his phone out of his pocket and snapped a picture of the bottle. "Can anybody buy these? Or just businesses?"
"Anyone. Website offers a discount for businesses, though. I have a coupon code I use, too. I'll make sure it gets passed your way before you leave town."
"Well, damn! You guys really do have stellar service. What's the boss like? Is he everything they say he is online? A friendly, giving God among us mere mortals?"
Eddie chuckled. "I just try to be polite, is all."
Richie's mouth snapped shut and he blinked a few times. "Wait. You-you're the boss?"
"Yep. Eddie Kaspbrak, at your service."
"Hell, if I had known, I would have let you take me in the back."
"Uh. Put you in the back, you mean."
"Sure, cutie. Whichever."
Eddie internally screamed. Is this guy hitting on me? Or is just being his radio persona? What the hell is his persona? Eddie made a mental note to try and search for his show online once he got back to the office.
"So, where you from, Eddie," Richie asked. "'Cause I can tell you're not a native Vermonter. Vermontee. Vermontana?"
"Really? How can you be so sure?"
Eddie caught a glance of Richie's quiet smile. "All the hotel staff has an accent. An accent I'm assuming is Vermont...tee? And you definitely do not have it."
Eddie laughed. "Yeah, you're right. I moved here when I was seventeen-"
"So last week, huh?"
"Har-har. I'm twenty-five, thank you."
"Wow. Really? Me too. You have such young-looking skin, though!" Richie lightly pinched one of Eddie's cheeks. "Send me whatever moisturizer you use along with that coupon code, would ya?"
Okay. Maybe a guy complementing you this much wasn't that bad. "I'm originally from Maine. I should have some sort of New England accent, but I really don't."
"Are you kidding me? I'm from Maine! Where abouts did you grow up?"
Eddie tightened his fingers on the steering wheel. He hated this question. "Oh, uh. Just a small town. Near Bangor. About an hour north of it or so."
Oh, please don't ask the town name. Please don't. pleasepleaseplease
Richie drummed his fingers on his knees. "Shit, we must have been neighbors! I grew up just north of Bangor, too! I honestly can't remember if it was an hour away, though. May have been closer. It's like..." Richie trailed off, quiet for a moment until he snapped back. "Sorry. I had something on the tip of my tongue, but I lost it. It's weird, I can't really remember much of my childhood. Like...I remember small things. Like riding my bike and swimming, but I can not tell you anyone I was friends with, or who my teachers were. Shit like that. You get me?"
Eddie breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "Yeah, same here. I remember some bits of it. I definitely know I walloped a guy with a rock at some point in my life. Couldn't tell you what the hell my house color was, though. Shit, I don't remember my school...'s mascot" It's not a lie. Not a lie.
Richie laughed loudly. "Fuck, I think I hit a guy with a rock, too. Must be a Maine thing. Weird, though. I thought I was the only one."
"The only one what?"
"Who couldn't remember much from when they were younger. My co-workers and friends-they'll tell me shit they vividly remember when they were ten, and shit if I can remember anything until I got out to California for college. I just figured I've been smoking too much pot."
They both smiled. "Well, I'm just a casual smoker, so it can't be that," Eddie offered.
Richie stared at Eddie with surprise. "You? Really? No offense, but you look like a two-beer steer."
"...I don't think that's how that saying goes, Richie."
"Yeah, but that sentence is way more polite."
Eddie nodded a little. He couldn't disagree with that. "Okay, so...the convention center is right up here. There's a Target right next to it. Literally right next to it, so if you want to grab a hoodie or something."
"Noted. Thanks." They pulled into the large parking center for the convention. "So...are you my ride back?"
"Oh. Uh, I don't think so? It's usually whoever is on rotation and takes the request." Richie fell quiet. "I mean...you can ask for a certain driver, though."
Richie perked up. "That so? I might just do that, then. Bye, cutie." He gave Eddie another wink as he unfastened his seatbelt. He opened the door and paused for a second. "You know, this thing goes until Thursday. Hope to see you around." He then got out and left, giving Eddie a wave, Eddie finding himself giving one back. He watched to make sure Richie got inside safely, then left.
Well, that was odd. What a weird guy.
So why did he feel so...comfortable?
********************************************
"What the hell happened on the way over there," Sarah howled when Eddie walked back in.
"What? Nothing! Why?"
Sarah was laughing. "Did you not listen to the local radio station on the way back? They're there at the convention, and hoo boy, did you get a good review from that Mouth guy! Said to ask for Eddie from Kaspbrak's if you want the cutest driver in the world!"
Eddie groaned. "Oh, God. He's so...weird. I have no other words to describe him, Sarah."
"Well, whatever you did, we have three requests for you in the next couple weeks. Better keep that suit clean!"
Eddie mumbled to himself. He didn't mind driving when needed, but leave it to this guy to run his Mouth. Fitting name, he thought again. "I'm going to try to finish getting those cars, okay? Just...stop laughing, Sarah!"
Sarah hid her face behind a piece of paper. "I'm not! I swear!"
"Uggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Just! I need like half an hour, okay?" Eddie wandered into his office, closing the door behind him so he could shed his suit off and slip back into his regular clothes. He sat and busied himself, booting up his laptop, hoping the guy still wanted to do business.
************************************************
Forty minutes later, he had secured the cars, mentally doing a happy dance. Two beautiful old red Corvettes was just what they needed. He ran down the body work needed with Dan, and they mapped out a plan on how long it would take them to repair and have the cars out. He had just finished up the planning and was wiring the money through to the dealer when his cell phone rang.
"Eddie Kaspbrak here!"
"Ooh, this your 'business' voice? I like it, cutie."
Eddie frowned. "Richie? How did you get my cell?"
"I have my ways. But maybe you should have a talk with Sarah, whoever she is. Just a heads up."
Eddie swore under his breath. "What can I do for you, Rich? Did you forget something in the limo? I can get it back to you-"
"You said you couldn't remember your school mascot. Which got me thinking about what mine was, and wouldn't you know it? I can't remember mine, either."
"O-Okay?" Eddie wasn't sure where Richie was going with this.
Richie took a shaky sounding breath in. "Eddie, what school did you go to?"
Eddie sat in his chair in silence, mouth suddenly going dry. "Excuse me? I didn't hear you, can you-"
"It's okay," Richie answered. "I know you don't know. And I don't know where I went, either. I sat here, struggling to think of the school after you had said that, and damned if I can remember it. How about the town name? What was it? Don't bother, Eds. I already know I'm going to get nothing on that, too. And you probably know my answer on it"
Eddie noticed his hand was slightly trembling. "Yeah," he finally managed to whisper out. "You don't remember it, either."
"And you don't think that's completely fucked ? Two guys who only vaguely remember the area where they grew up, but nothing else? Not the name of the town? Their school? Their friends?"
"I don't like talking about it," Eddie admitted. "It's...a long story."
"So tell it. Tonight. If you-if you want to, that is." Eddie could hear Richie breathing heavy in anticipation.
"Yeah. Yes. I'll-what time is that thing over today? I'll have the driver drop you here. I-I have something to look for at my house. You can come with me."
A quiet laugh came from the line. "Already inviting me over, eh? I know I'm charming, Eds, but I don't put out until a boy treats me to dinner first."
A small smile spread on Eddie's face. "I don't believe that at all," he said, getting back a choked cackle. "But-it'll just be easier to tell you at my house. Is-is that okay?"
"Absolutely," Richie answered. "This hooplah ends at four."
"I have a couple drivers picking up your comrades. I'll squeeze you in with someone."
"Sounds good. And, um. Eds?"
"Hmm?"
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to spring this on you."
"It's fine," Eddie said, clutching his phone so tight his knuckles were white. "Maybe it's time I figure this out."