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While Eaton dumps the pot of jizz, I sterilize my custom pink bottles shaped like the shaft of a cock and the metal lids that I’ll eventually cover with a plastic cap that looks like the coordinating fat mushroom head. Once that’s done, he helps me whip up a new batch of lube.
“Where did you grow up?” Eaton asks as we funnel the viscous liquid into the bottles.
“Salem. Born and raised. You?”
“Oakland. My parents actually still live in the house I grew up in.”
“That’s amazing.”
“It is, though after me and one of my brothers moved out, my mom renovated a good portion of it. Now the common areas and the primary bedroom look nothing like they did when I lived there.”
“You have siblings?” I ask.
“Yeah, two brothers. Sam is thirty-six and works in insurance. He’s married to Bryan, who works at a record store. They’re complete opposites. Sam’s idea of weekend wear is chinos and a tucked-in polo, whereas Bryan is more of a jeans and band tee kind of guy.”
“Wow. Record stores still exist?” I move the funnel to the next jar and Eaton pours.
“I guess so.”
“What about your other brother?”
“Casey is twenty-four?—”
“Wow, that’s a big age gap between him and Sam.”
“Yeah, he was definitely unplanned. My mom was forty-one at the time, which already made it a high-risk pregnancy, but then she developed some other complications. Casey had a fifteen percent chance of surviving, but he beat the odds.”
The smile on Eaton’s face as he talks about his brother is contagious, and I hope I get to meet him someday.“That’s amazing.”
“He’s amazing.” He amends. “Anyway, he has Down syndrome and lives at home with my parents. It’s more for their sake than his because he’s extremely responsible and independent, but our folks are getting older, and we all feel better that Casey is there to keep an eye on them.”
“I love that you have such a great family.” I place my hands on my hips. “Not to change the subject, but now that the bottles are filled, we need to put the lids on and place them in the pressure canner. It’ll make sure no microorganisms are growing anywhere and seal the caps on.”
“Cool.”
Eaton helps me get the first round of bottles in the professional canner. “I chose this kitchen specifically for this piece of equipment. The goal is to someday have my own space, but this canner alone is a thousand dollars, and that’s not in my budget.”
“Have you ever thought about getting a loan? Sometimes you have to spend money to make money, especially when you’re just getting off the ground.”
“I have an investor, and that money bought this first round of bottles. Of course, I had to buy in bulk to get the best price, so now my entire living room in my apartment is full of dicks.” I seal the canner and turn on the gas stove. “Okay, this will do its thing so we can start the next round.”
Even though there are rolling stools we could sit on, we opt to sit on the ground near the stove so I can keep an eye on the temperature. It’s quiet, except for the hissing of the canner that’s more white noise than anything. And after only a few minutes of us being still, the overhead motion lights shut off. If it weren’t for the light over the stove, it’d be pitch black in here.
“What about your family?” Eaton asks.
I blow out a breath. This isn’t my favorite topic, but I guess since he told me about his, it’s only fair I reciprocate. “My parents died when I was thirteen. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time and were killed by a drunk clown.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Apparently, Stuffy the Clown liked to take shots in between blowing up balloons at the street fair my parents were at. I didn’t go because I was a moody teenager. Anyway, Stuffy hit them as they were walking across the street. They died instantly.”
“Wow. I’m so sorry.” He takes my hand and rests it on his thigh.
“Thanks. Anyway, my grandpa was my only living relative and took me in. I was angry about my parents, going through teenage hormonal changes, and just generally a little shithead, but he didn’t even consider putting me in foster care.”
“That’s why you two are so close,” he muses.
“Yep. He’s my biggest fan and number one supporter.”
