“Perhaps, but does it matter?”
“I suppose not,” Rob replied, deciding it honestly didn’t. “Age is just a number, as someone said.”
“Another quote to add to our…” Darren paused, grinning. “To our quote-a.”
Rob groaned. “That was bad.”
“Was, wasn’t it,” Darren replied. “Feel like watching some TV? It’s still early.”
“Sure. I’m still trying to catch up on everything I’ve missed over the last too many years.”
“Lots of luck,” Darren said, sitting at one end of the sofa. “Every time I find a program I like, it gets cancelled.” He picked up the remote and began surfing through the channels.
When he bypassed what looked like several cop shows, Rob asked, “Not into those?”
“I live it,” Darren said, rolling his eyes. “The only time I watch one is when I feel like a good laugh at how wrong they get things.”
He finally settled on one that looked, to Rob, as if it was based on a comic book he’d dug out of a trash bin and read some time ago. It turned out he was right. “Not quite how I pictured it,” he told Darren, “but not bad.”
“Yeah. I’ve sort of gotten hooked on it, when I’m in the mood.”
“I bet, if I wasn’t here, you’d be reading.” When Darren nodded, Rob said, “Then turn off the TV. I started a book from your collection. It’s pretty good. I wouldn’t mind finishing it, or at least getting closer to the end.”
“Sounds good to me, as soon as the show is over.”
Rob went to get the book from on top of his dresser when the show ended and the news came on. Coming back downstairs, he found Darren was already immersed in what he was reading. Rob retook his seat at the other end of the sofa, found the page he’d bookmarked and settled in, feeling very much at home.
An hour later, Darren looked over, saying, “We should probably consider going to bed. You do have to work tomorrow.”
“Yeah.” Rob knew Darren didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Not that I’d refuse, if he did. Okay, I would, because I’m not ready. Not until I know we’ve gotten to the point where it would be more than just needing to fuck. That, he decided, would take a while, mutual feelings to the contrary. Closing his book, he said, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Sleep well,” Darren replied.
“Planning on it.”
Chapter 9
For the next couple of weeks, Darren and Rob settled into a routine which worked for both of them. It was basically what it had been before, with the exception that Rob now had a job—something Darren told Jesse when he called to chat one evening.
If Darren were to guess from the tone of his son’s voice, he was happy to hear Rob was working, but uncertain what it meant for the two men’s future. Darren went on to point out that things still stood as they had been. That Rob would remain at the house until the punks who beat him up were caught. “And, maybe, afterward.”
“You’re sure you want him to?” Jesse asked.
“Yes, very sure. Are you all right with the idea?”
“It’s your life, Dad,” Jesse replied. “So, yeah, if it’s what you want, I’m fine with it.”
Darren wasn’t certain it was the truth, but he didn’t push it.
One evening, Rob came home toting a large plastic bag filled with canned cat food.
“You should have called. I’d have picked you up,” Darren said.
Rob shrugged. “Consider it my workout for the week.”
Two days later, he brought home two bags of dry cat food. When Darren asked, he said he was getting everything at cost. “Sarah takes it out of my paycheck, and I still have something left afterward. I even stopped at the bank to open a savings account.” He handed Darren some cash. “My share of the expenses. And yes, I did keep some for spending money.”
“What? Five dollars?” Darren asked.
Rob flipped him off. “Fifteen, which given my personal expenses is more than enough.”
Darren wasn’t certain he believed him about that, but he didn’t argue. He’s a grown man. If he’s frugal…hell, given how he was living, he probably figures that’s a fortune.
* * * *
It was late Saturday night, about an hour and a half before they would go off shift, when Zack quickly pulled the squad car into a parking place along a dark street and turned off the lights. They had just gotten a report that three men matching the descriptions of Rob’s attackers had been spotted in the area.
“According to the guy who called it in, they were seen heading into that alley—” Zack pointed, “—right after two of the guy’s friends, who planned on bedding down there, did.”
“Let’s hope we’re not too late,” Darren replied. They got out, silently moving to the alley. When they reached the entrance, they heard a shout, followed by a cry of pain and malicious laughter.
At Darren’s signal, they raced to a dumpster halfway down the alley. Two men stood there, holding baseball bats. A guy cowered at one man’s feet, while a second one was being held against the alley wall by the third punk.
“Having fun, boys?” Darren asked, drawing his gun.
“Fuck. I told you someone saw us, but would you listen? Fuck, no,” one of the attackers said to his companions. He took off, running toward the far end of the alley, with Darren hot on his heels.
“Stop where you are,” Darren called out, firing a warning shot. For a second, he thought the guy would ignore him. Then he dropped the bat and held his arms out from his sides. “Put your hands behind your back,” Darren ordered. The punk did, cursing a blue streak when Darren cuffed him then walked him back to the dumpster. By then, Zack had the other attackers cuffed and sitting on the ground. He was talking to the two homeless men, one of whom had obviously taken a hit to his side from the way he was curled up with his hands pressed to his ribs.
“I’ve already called an ambulance for him,” Zack told Darren. “His friend seems to be fine, although I want the EMTs to make certain.”
“As soon as they get here, we’ll take our prisoners in to be booked.”
“You’ve got nothing on us,” one of the punks said.
“Really? Let’s see, assault with intent to do grievous bodily damage on these guys. The same for a man who has already filed charges against you for an attack about a month ago,” Darren replied. “I think that will do for starters.”
The punk sneered. “My lawyer will have us out before you know it.”
“It’s Saturday night. You won’t be arraigned until Monday at the earliest,” Zack said. “Have fun in jail until then.”
An ambulance pulled into the alley seconds later. From there, things proceeded as they normally did. Darren got statements from both the victims before they were taken to the hospital where they’d be examined in the ER. Then, Darren and Zack drove their prisoners to the station house to book them in.
“A couple more SOBs off the streets,” Zack said when he and Darren returned to their squad car. “Now you can get your life back.”
“Huh?” Darren replied, although he was pretty certain he knew what Zack meant.
“Rob doesn’t have to worry about them coming after him now, so he can move out and move on.”
“He could,” Darren agreed with a bit of a smile. “I don’t think he wants to, however.”
Zack turned to look at him. “He’s going to be living with you for real, now?”
Darren nodded. “I think so. Of course he might change his mind, now that he knows we’ve arrested them, but I don’t think he will.” At least I hope the hell he won’t.
* * * *
Rob was coming down the stairs when Darren arrived home around four-thirty Sunday morning. He told Darren, “Go change and shower. I’ll have dinner at least started by the time you’ve finished.”
“I will. First, though, I’ve got some good news,” Darren replied, following him into the kitchen.
“They promoted you to detective?” Rob asked, smirking
.
Darren snorted. “First I’d have to put in an application.”
“You don’t want to?”
“Not really. I like what I do.” Darren leaned against the counter, watching as Rob took chicken from the fridge and began cutting it up.
“So, are you going to tell me?” Rob said.
“I might.” Darren grinned at the look of frustration on his housemate’s face. “We caught the punks who attacked you.”
“Yes!” Rob did a fist pump. Then he sobered. “Will they make bail?”
“We won’t know until they’re arraigned. Hopefully not. It depends on how good their lawyers are, I suspect.”
Rob went back to what he’d been doing, a frown on his face. When he began to gather the vegetables he needed, Darren put a hand on his arm to stop him. “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be happy.”
“I am. I just…” Rob looked at him. “Are you sure you don’t want me to move out, now that I don’t have to worry about them coming after me?”
“Of course I don’t. You even have to ask?”
“Yeah, I do. Despite everything we’ve said about how we might become more than friends in time, it hasn’t been put to the test until now. I’ve been living here to keep me safe. I know that. You know that. It’s not the only reason, but it plays into it. Now that it’s not a factor, are you going to start wondering if having me around is worth losing your privacy?”
“Not at all,” Darren replied decisively. “I want you here. I like your company. I like having someone to come home to.”
“There’s always Smokey,” Rob said with a small smile.
“Whose vocabulary consists of purrs and meows. Hardly the makings of a brilliant conversation.” Darren put his hands on Rob’s shoulders, looking directly into his eyes. “I like you. The man who had what it took to survive against very bad odds. The man I respect and, yes, I’ll say it, have come to care about as much more than a friend. I can only hope you feel the same.”
Rob let out a sigh of relief. “I do, but I had to be sure I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.” He stepped back, smiling. “Now that that’s settled, get out of my kitchen. I have dinner to make.”
“Your kitchen? I think it’s our kitchen.”
“Time will tell, but I think you’re right.” Rob pointed the knife at the doorway. “Go change, and shower. I’ll have dinner ready when you’re finished.”
Darren laughed. “You already said that.”
“This time, do it.”
“Going, going.”
* * * *
He’s serious. He wants me to stay. Rob couldn’t stop the wide smile that lit up his face. Now to see if everything we’ve said will lead to something more. Something that takes us from being friends to becoming lovers. Lovers in the real sense of the word, beyond sex because we’re horny. I think it will—in time.
* * * *
“You look happy,” Sarah said when Rob walked into the shop later that morning.
“I am.” Rob took a deep breath. “I have something to tell you. I hope you don’t take it amiss.”
“Amiss?” She seemed amused at the word.
“Okay, I agree, that was a bit pretentious. Anyway, you know the address I put down on my employment form? It wasn’t a lie. I do live there, but it wasn’t supposed to be permanent. I was going to find an apartment I could afford and move out. But that’s not what I’m trying to tell you. I’m going to keep living there and, well…” He realized he was rattling on, afraid of how she would react to the rest of what he wanted to tell her. “Anyway, I’m gay and so is he and we might be moving on from being friends to something more but that’s not certain but we might be. If that bothers you…”
“Good lord in heaven, why would it? I’m a firm believer in the phrase that seems to be popular at the moment. Love is love. I happen to be married to a wonderful man who puts up with my addiction to animals, among other things. It doesn’t mean I think everyone should be in a, damn, what’s the word? Oh, yes, a heteronormative relationship. No one can help who they fall in love with.”
“I’m not in love,” Rob protested.
She rolled her eyes. “Maybe not right this second, but it’ll come. So—” she pointed to the chair by the counter, “—sit and tell me all about him before we get bombarded with customers. We should be so lucky,” she added with a laugh.
“He’s a cop,” Rob replied, opting to stand instead. “A patrol officer. He’s a couple of years older than me. Divorced, with a son he raised on his own since Jesse was eleven. Jesse’s engaged now and works for his uncle’s architectural firm.”
“What’s his name?”
“Darren Cameron.”
“Is he cute?”
“Sarah, he’s a cop. Cops aren’t cute.”
She grinned. “I’ve seen a couple who could put some movie stars to shame.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that. He’s good looking, I guess. Well, I think he is. A lot better looking than me, that’s for sure.”
“Then he must be one handsome devil. You are, too. Or will be when you get a haircut.”
Rob brushed his hair off his forehead, only to have it fall back down again. “Yeah, I should. I’ll do it this afternoon.”
She nodded. “Now you can tell me this is none of my business, but, are you certain your feelings for him aren’t based on the fact he’s helped you get off the streets and given you a safe place to live?”
“Like hero worship or something? Not at all,” Rob replied emphatically.
“I’m glad. That is not the basis for a decent relationship.”
“So I should stop worshiping you because you gave me a job?” Rob winked at her.
“Nope. I expect you to kneel at my feet in adoration,” she teased, laughing when he went down on one knee. Of course someone came into to the shop at that moment. “It’s not what it looks like, Karen,” she said as Rob jumped to his feet.
The woman arched an eyebrow. “I would hope not. I think your husband would take issue with another man in your life.”
“No kidding. Rob, this is Karen. One of my best friends, as well as a customer. Rob works here, now, Karen.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Rob said, holding out his hand. She shook it, and then told him what she needed. As he went to get it, he repressed a laugh when he heard her say to Sarah, “He’s a looker. Or would be if he got a haircut.”
I guess that cements it. I’m visiting the barber on my way home.
* * * *
“Okay, who are you and what did you do with Rob?” Darren asked when he came downstairs early that evening.
Rob tried not to grin, replying “I buried him in the backyard.”
“Well, damn. And here I was just getting used to the idea he was going to be around for the long term.” Then he did something which startled both of them. He gave Rob a quick hug before stepping back. “You look great.”
“Thanks. A whole new me, I guess.”
“Short hair, well-trimmed beard, no mustache. I’d say so. Did it bother you?”
“The mustache?”
Darren shook his head. “No, the hug. It was impulsive.”
Rob smiled. “You should be impulsive more often.”
“I take it that means you were okay with it.”
“Definitely.”
“Whew. Okay, I should figure out what to fix for breakfast, I guess. Pancakes? An omelet?”
“Both? Or combine them. Put the omelet fillings in a pancake.”
“Yeah, right,” Darren replied, heading into the kitchen. “I think that’s called a breakfast burrito.”
“We have tortillas? Great.”
Darren turned to look at him. “Does getting a haircut always make you this silly?”
“No, but relief does.” When Darren asked, Rob told him about coming out so to speak to Sarah. “She doesn’t give a damn, thank God. And then—” he moved close, giving Darren a hug, “—there was your hug, which I’m giving back.”
“Now who’s being silly,” Rob said.
“Both of us?” Darren hugged him again before saying, “Banana pancakes. It splits the difference.”
“You’re on.”
A while later, as they ate breakfast, Darren said, “I was thinking. We should invite Jesse and Leah for dinner tomorrow night since I’m off, and—” He paused. “Maybe Malcom?”
Rob sucked in a breath. “Them, sure. My brother? What the hell. Why not, I guess.” He chuckled. “Family night at the old homestead.”
“Exactly, although I’m not sure the house counts as a homestead. It’s not a farm.”
“We’ll get a couple of chickens and a cow…”
“Not thanks. A cat is more than enough.” Darren looked down at Smokey, who was, as always, sitting by his leg, obviously hoping a bite of food would drop in front of him.
“Figured you’d say that. Okay, what do we want to feed them?”
They discussed various possibilities before Darren had to get ready for work. In the end, after going through a couple of Darren’s recipe books, they decided on something simple, a three-cheese lasagna with sausage, and a salad. It was that or pot roast, which Darren deemed, with a laugh, was too ‘homesteady’.
As he was leaving the house half an hour later, Darren made it a point to give Rob a hug, which Rob returned with his usual, “Stay safe.”
“Planning on it,” Darren replied. “Now, more than ever, because I’ve got a good reason to. You.”
“And Jesse and Leah.”
“True, but you’re the added impetus to be very safe.”
“I hope so,” Rob replied softly.
“I know so.” Darren gave him another swift hug then left. Before I get all mushy.
Chapter 10
When Darren arrived home at four-thirty Monday morning, Rob already had dinner on the table. He told Darren, “I figured since we’re entertaining tonight, you’d better get right to bed. You did call to invite them, I hope.”
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