“So funny,” Jessica giggled, leaning back in her chair as she patted her tummy. “Shew gosh, I think I’m full. That was really wonderful, Kasey. And it was weird not having to cook for a change.”
“No problemo,” He finished off his drink before standing from the table, collecting their plates and taking them to the sink. “I know it’s not my place to really ask, but is Toby the type that likes four course meals every time he comes home?”
“Something like that,” Jessica shrugged. “I didn’t mind so much at first….but lately it’s been real hard to do everything a loving wife is supposed to do for her husband.”
Kasen was back after a few minutes, settling in his chair once again as he picked up his pack of cigarettes. He eyed her curiously as he lit one up.
“He’s been um,” She cleared her throat. “Having an affair with the widow down the road,” She said meekly.
“No shit,” Kasen’s jaw almost hit the floor. “Mrs. Carmichael? She’s like, fifty!”
“I know!” Jessica groaned, rubbing at her temples. “I couldn’t figure it out for the longest time. I mean, she’s old, Kasey, and I’m…” She glanced down at herself. “..not. But then it finally started making sense. She’s loaded and she basically buys him for…that,” She wrinkled her nose. “But I didn’t know what to do about it.”
“Uh, you leave his ass,” Kasen moved his fingers through his hair, staring at her with a look that said ‘DUH’. “You deserve better than that, Jess.”
“I know, I know,” She wrinkled her nose, reaching across the table to grab for his cigarettes. “Do you mind?” She asked, taking one out and waiting for his nod. Once she received it, she lit the tip and inhaled deeply, only to cough a few seconds later. “It’s hard to leave somebody when everything’s in their name. He would take everything, Kase. I wouldn’t have anything.”
“But you’re really smart, Jess. You could practically have any job you wanted. You don’t have to depend on him. I could help you get a job and you could start saving up. Crash here for a while until things get better financially. You need to get some divorce papers filed.”
“Yeah,” She sighed, resting her cheek against her knuckles as she gazed at him from across the table. “I know what you’re saying is the right thing, Kasen…it’s just hard to work up the courage to do it.”
“I’ll make a deal with you,” Kasen said softly as he reached his hand out to rest against her elbow. “You file for divorce from that peckerneck and I’ll ask Rowan to be my boyfriend. Officially.”
---------------------
When the clock finally struck five, Rowan was out the door without another thought. Napoleon waited impatiently beside the car while Rowan locked up, and then they were getting inside with the heat on full blast.
“Just sit tight, Buddy,” Rowan said as he pulled out his cellphone and dialed Kasen’s number. He honestly couldn’t wait to see him again. He needed to see him. The eagerness growing within was almost too much, and he felt like he’d die if he didn’t have the boy in his arms within the next half hour.
A sudden knock against his window made him jump, and Rowan’s head whipped in the direction of the noise as he gripped his cellphone tightly. He hadn’t even thought to look around before getting into his car. He had to be more careful.
An older male was standing just outside his car, staring down at him with a stern gaze. Shit.
Rowan carefully rolled down his window, only a crack, and cleared his throat, “Can I help you?”
“You the vet?” The man asked.
“Yes,” Rowan replied hesitantly. What if this was another attack? What if he’d just unknowingly made himself vulnerable to the men who had tormented Kasen over the weekend? What if this was the guy who vandalized the clinic?
“I got something for ya,” The man continued, and Rowan’s entire body tensed up as he watched him bend down. Shit, shit, shit!
It wasn’t what Rowan was thinking at all. There in his arms was a wiggling, hyperactive Weimeraner.
“Houston!” Rowan nearly shouted as he pushed open the car door and got out. “You’re okay!” He reached out to scratch between the dogs’ ears, listening to Houston’s excited bark as the old man stared at him.
“I found this one going through my garbage about an hour ago. I remembered seeing one of those missing posters up at the post office and since I couldn’t remember the phone number, I thought the next best thing to do was bring him to you. You know this noisy fella?”
“Yeah, I know him,” Rowan grinned, taking Houston into his arms and holding him tightly. “He gave his owner a bad scare.”
“Well, he gave me a bad scare, too,” The old man huffed. “I thought there were some damn ‘coons getting into my garbage and I almost shot ‘im. He’s lucky my aim ain’t as good as it used to be.”
“Yeah…he’s lucky,” Rowan wanted to glare at him, but he couldn’t. He was grateful the old man had brought him to the clinic instead of letting him roam off again. “Thank you so much for bringing him in, Mister…”
“Mister Perkins,” The old man replied as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his oversized coat. “I just live off DeLaney Avenue. I ain’t looking for no reward or anything.”
“I understand,” Rowan was smiling from ear to ear as Houston licked his cheek. He seemed healthy. A little dirty, but he was all right. “I appreciate your help, Mister Perkins. Thank you for bringing him here. I can assure you his owner is going to be grateful.”
“Well, good,” The man nodded. “You have a good night now.”
And then he was gone.
With two hyper dogs excitedly bounding back and forth in the backseat, Rowan put the car into reverse and backed out onto the road. As he started forward, he couldn’t help but to believe things really were going to get better. It was only a matter of time.
-----------------------
“This is the best part of the movie,” Kasen said softly as he leaned forward on the couch. His eyes were glued to the screen as he watched one of his favorite heroes brave through sweltering heat to do what had to be done in order to save the world. His eyes widened, as they always did during this particular scene, and he nearly fell off the couch as he became lost in the moment.
“I don’t get it,” Jessica commented as she stretched her arms over her head and yawned. “How is he the hero of this story when Sam clearly did all the dirty work?”
Kasen whipped his head in her direction, staring at her as if she’d just said the worst thing in the world, “Frodo is always the hero!” He replied. “Don’t diss the Baggins.”
“I’m not dissing anyone!” She laughed, turning her head to focus on Kasen as she rubbed at her eyes. “I’m just saying, he wouldn’t even be there had it not been for Sam.”
Kasen scowled as he got up from the couch, moving into the kitchen to retrieve two more beers. He only had them because Rowan had bought them; otherwise, he would still be drinking root beer and orange soda during his movie sessions.
“I have to educate you,” He declared as he return with two chilled bottles in hand. “We can’t be friends if you’re going to be acting this way, Jess,” He teased.
“Ah, thanks,” She accepted the beer from him, unscrewing the lid and tossing it onto the coffee table before taking a swig. “My god, I forgot how awesome single life was. You’ve got it made.”
“You would think so,” Kasen shrugged, getting comfortable on the couch once again as he rested his feet atop the coffee table. “But I mean….I’ll be giving up the single life soon, you know. It’s part of the deal, remember?”
“How could I forget? I promise that I’ll go first thing in the morning to have the divorce papers drawn up.”
“And you’re going to file charges against him for that, too, aren’t you?” He asked, eyeing the bruise on her face.
“Mm, I am,” She said in a quieter voice. “He’s going to be really angry.”
“Sucks for him,” Kasen snickered. “Th
e prick has it coming, Jess. He’s got to learn that it’s not nice to hit ladies and besides…” He took a drink of his beer and sighed. “If he was involved with what happened last weekend, maybe he’ll squeal on his friends.”
“The bastards have to pay,” Jessica agreed as she leaned forward and lifted her beer bottle into the air, “To justice.”
Kasen grinned, allowing his bottle to hit against hers, “To freedom.”
“We sound like superheroes,” She laughed, taking a swig from her bottle when a knock sounded on the door. Her smile immediately fell, fear flashing in her eyes as she looked to Kasen.
He knew exactly what she was thinking as he eased his bottle onto the table and stood. Could it be that Toby had discovered her hideout already?
“Stay here,” He said softly, moving towards the closet near the front door. He eased it open, reaching inside to grab the aluminum baseball bat he’d stashed in there forever ago. He gripped it firmly as Diana barked from the hallway.
Another bark sounded from outside and Kasen felt his stomach twist into anxious knots.
“Houston?” He whispered, quickly forgetting the possible danger of whoever was on the other side. He unlocked the door and jerked it open hastily.
Chapter Twenty Three
He was trying not to smile too much as he watched Kasen open the door. The look of surprise on his face was priceless, and Rowan felt good about being able to reunite a human with his best friend. And it wasn’t just any human, but the one he cared about above all others. The one he wanted to be with.
He crossed his arms over his chest, watching as Napoleon entered the apartment without hesitation. Houston was too busy jumping at Kasen, yelping excitedly. Kasen was too busy repeating his name over and over again, petting his head and back. It was definitely one of the happier moments he’d witnessed in the past week.
“Oh my god, you’re okay,” Kasen whispered, hugging his arms around his dog as he crouched to be at Houston’s level. He lifted his eyes to meet Rowan’s gaze, smiling from ear to ear. “Where did you find him?”
“I didn’t,” Rowan replied, scratching at the scruff on his jaw. He really needed to shave. “Mister Perkins found him rummaging through his garbage and brought him to the clinic. I guess whoever broke in that night really spooked Houston and he fled at the first opportunity. He just needs a bath.”
Kasen sniffed for a second before wrinkling his nose, “Oh yeah. You definitely need a bath,” He chuckled, allowing Houston to lick his cheek. “I’m so glad you’re home, Boy,” He hugged him tightly before standing back up. “I don’t know how to thank you for this, Ro.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” Rowan shrugged. “It’s sort of my job.”
“No,” Kasen insisted as he stepped out of the apartment and stood toe to toe with him. “I really want to thank you,” He said in a lower voice.
Rowan wasn’t sure what to say to that. The look in Kasen’s eyes, and the way he said that last sentence….they both implied something that caused all the blood in his body to head south. He licked his lips quickly, swallowing the lump in his throat before giving a sad smile.
“Are you sure about that?” He asked, glancing over Kasen’s head to see the young woman sitting on the couch, watching them curiously. “It looks like you’ve got company. I wouldn’t want to intrude,” God, Kasen wasn’t trying to bat for the other team, was he?
He’s not like Elliott. He is NOTHING like Elliott.
“Oh, don’t give me that bullshit,” Kasen whispered as he slid his arms around Rowan’s waist and hugged him. “You can come inside, you know. Jess and I were just watching a movie. Would you believe she’s never seen Lord of the Rings before? Anyway, we need to discuss some things.”
“What kind of things?” Rowan asked, though he really didn’t care. Clearly, Jessica was not a threat, and Kasen wanted him to come inside; Kasen wanted to spend time with him; Kasen wanted to thank him. He’d have to be out of his mind to say no.
He soon learned that Kasen intended for Jessica to be his new roommate, and after discovering the reasoning behind it, Rowan had no qualms with the idea. No woman deserved to be hit, and despite that gnawing fear in the back of his head of history repeating itself, Rowan trusted Kasen.
As it turned out, Mister Perkins was Jessica’s father, and Rowan had it in good mind to call the old fellow up and tell him what his lovely son-in-law had been doing to his daughter. It wasn’t his place –far from it- but he would take some joy in knowing the little asshole was in hot water with the in-laws.
“Houston!” Kasen shouted from the hallway. Rowan glanced up from his place on the couch, watching as a drenched and soaped up Houston came bounding into the living room, shaking his body from side to side in an attempt to rid himself of the cleanliness.
“Bad boy!” Kasen appeared in the hallway, his t-shirt soaked and his denim jeans dark with saturation. Rowan tried to bite back his laughter, but when Jessica burst out, he did as well. “Oh, har har,” Kasen scowled. “Laugh about it now, you jerks.”
“I’m so sorry,” Jessica slurred. She was clearly three sheets to the wind, and Rowan made a mental note never to leave a six pack at Kasen’s, ever again. He was providing alcohol to people who were still underage.
My god, I’m a cradle robber, He thought as his eyes met Kasen’s. But if that was the case, he would stand guilty. Kasen was almost twenty, so it wasn’t that –big- of an age difference, was it? And age was just a number anyways. It didn’t matter.
As nighttime fell across Chartreuse, Jessica settled on the couch for the night with Diana curled up at her feet. Napoleon and Houston opted to cuddle together in the corner of Kasen’s room while Kasen dressed down for bed.
Rowan sat on the corner of his bed quietly, watching Kasen remove his shirt and jeans. He couldn’t help that his gaze lingered on the muscles dancing beneath Kasen’s pale skin. Something felt different about tonight. Every time Kasen looked at him, it was almost as if the kid was trying to see straight into his soul. It stirred something in his chest, and Rowan quite liked the sensation.
“Do you need some pajama pants?” Kasen asked as he moved back to the bed in his briefs.
“No, thanks,” Rowan shook his head, lifting his eyes to stare at Kasen as he stood before him. The fire in Kasen’s blue hues caused tingles to race down Rowan’s spine and he swallowed hard. God, what was that look for?
“All righty,” Kasen gave him a small smirk, reaching out to touch his scruffy jaw briefly. “Get in bed then.”
“I wasn’t aware I was spending the night,” Rowan replied softly as he turned his head, watching Kasen get beneath the covers.
“Well here’s your official invitation if you want it,” Kasen replied with a small grin. He patted the spot beside him, lifting a brow.
Oh hell. Rowan really didn’t have to be told twice. He immediately tugged his shirt over his head, tossing it to the floor. It was soon joined by his shoes and pants before he crawled into the bed and pulled the covers up. Kasen’s arm slid around his torso and they moved closer together.
“Better,” Kasen whispered, nuzzling his nose against the side of Rowan’s neck. “Hi.”
--------------------
“Hi,” Rowan replied in that deep, smooth voice. Kasen fought off the urge to tremble as he traced his fingertips over the older male’s side, tilting his head slightly to press a kiss against the 5 o’clock shadow Rowan was sporting. Kasen actually liked when his facial hair had a chance to grow out. It was unbelievably sexy.
“So, what did you want to talk about?” Rowan asked in a soft whisper, his warm palm pressing against the small of Kasen’s back. Kasen arched his back, wrapping a leg around Rowan’s waist comfortably as he pulled him closer.
“Things,” Kasen laughed quietly. “About us.”
“Yeah?” Rowan’s fingers danced up and down his spine as Kasen bit at his lower lip. God, that felt nice. He liked when Rowan touched him; he liked touching Rowan. Being apart
from the other male just didn’t work out in his favor.
“Yeah, “Kasen echoed as he suddenly rolled over, straddling Rowan’s hips as he gazed down at him. Heat flooded his veins as their bodies touched and he curled his fingers around the sheets beneath them. “I kinda have this idea that we shouldn’t really ever take breaks like that anymore,” He murmured.
Rowan stared up at him with those beautiful caramel eyes, and Kasen nearly forgot what he’d been intending to say. He’d worked on the speech in his mind all night long. Sure, he’d promised Jessica he’d gather the courage to ask Rowan to be his boyfriend, but he hadn’t done it entirely to make sure she filed for a divorce. He really had wanted more with Rowan for some time now. No matter what anyone else thought or did, Kasen knew that he deserved happiness, and he also knew that Rowan could give him just that.
“To be honest, breaks suck,” Rowan replied as his hands slid up his sides and arms, cupping his face gently. “I don’t think we should do that anymore either.”
“Good,” Kasen licked his lips, wetting them as he leaned down and bumped the tip of his nose against Rowan’s. “I kinda also think maybe…we should try something else out.”
“Oh yeah? And what is that?” Rowan smiled and his eyes sparkled as he traced his thumb over Kasen’s lower lip.
Kasen pressed a kiss against the pad of his thumb, holding his gaze as he carefully pressed his hips downwards. He heard the soft groan sounding from Rowan and it caused his heart to lurch in the most delicious way. He inched down a bit more, kissing his thumb again before catching his upper lip with a light peck.
“I think you should be mine,” Kasen admitted, feeling his heart swell. There was a good possibility it would burst before the conversation even had a chance to happen, but at least he would die of happiness. “And I want to be yours,” He added after a few beats of silence. “I know it’s not really been that long and all…and I know that you’re afraid of being in a relationship because of what that peckerneck did to you.”
Chartreuse Page 17