An Unlocked Mind

by K. C. Wells

  He glanced at his phone and saw a message from his mother, reminding him that she was making his birthday dinner next week. He groaned. Things between them were awkward at the best of times, but he really didn’t want her trotting out some friend’s daughter in an effort to find him a decent girlfriend, as she put it. Rob had no interest in a relationship. He never saw the point. When he had an itch, he got it scratched. Why bring cuddles and talking into it?

  He snuck another peek at his phone. It was only a few minutes after one. He’d started work at 4:00 a.m. and now had almost three full days of freedom to enjoy. Not that he had the money to do anything. One look at his food cupboards had forced him to go shopping, and with that necessity taken care of, his nest egg had dwindled down to just over three hundred pounds. He’d been able to scrounge together enough money to pay the rent and most of the bills, but with his landlord raising the rates, Rob doubted he’d be able to afford to live in his flat much longer.

  He picked up the envelope containing the remainder of his computer cash. This was it. Once this money was gone, he was officially broke. The job he’d interviewed for at Sainsbury’s had come to naught. They were polite in their letter, but the results were still the same. No job. The walls were closing in on Rob, and he needed to seriously consider tucking his tail between his legs and going back to live with his parents.

  His chest tightened at the thought. While it was a better option than living on the street, Rob did not want to move back in with them. The more he pondered his future, the deeper he sank into an emotional morass. I can’t do this. I can’t keep coming home and thinking about nothing but the mess I’m making of all this. He needed a weekend off where he didn’t have to think about work, bills, his parents, his future…. Where he could just relax and sit down to talk with—

  The image struck him like a bolt from the blue. He wanted—no, needed—to talk to Vic. Every time they’d spoken to each other, Rob had walked away feeling better about himself. Yeah, it sucked that he was probably using Vic for his own selfish means, but Rob didn’t think he was asking for too much. Still, he wouldn’t go there empty-handed. He went into the box where he stored the DVDs he’d collected over the years and pushed through them until he found the one he wanted. Then he grabbed his backpack and shoved the DVD into it, along with a book for the train. His heartbeat raced as he slipped his remaining cash into his wallet. Tonight I’m going to have fun, no matter what.

  As he dashed along the street to catch the bus to Piccadilly train station, he tried not to think about the empty envelope lying on his table.

  Something will turn up.

  Something had to.

  VIC GLANCED at the clock. He’d spoken on the phone with Ken, one of the bartenders who still worked at the club, who’d said he would pick Vic up on his way. Once he got there, the first order of business would be to get his rocks off. Vic was pretty sure he would have no problem finding a willing sub. When he’d gotten that out of the way, he’d take a good look around the club and see what—or who—was new.

  His dick thickened at the thought. It had been way too long.

  A knock sounded, and Vic figured Ken was early, but that was fine. Vic had nearly run out of lube from all the masturbation he’d had to do during the project, which was now—finally—done. He pushed himself off the sofa and rushed to the door, eager to get to the club. When he pulled the door open, his jaw dropped.

  It wasn’t Ken.

  “Can I help you?” Vic asked, doing his best not to scowl. Again? What is it with this kid?

  The not-quite-a-smile dimmed. “I would have called, but I didn’t have your number.”

  “That might be because I never gave it to you,” Vic reminded Rob. He folded his arms across his chest. “Why are you here?”

  Rob swallowed, lowered his gaze, and muttered, “Sorry.”

  Vic’s initial annoyance melted, leaving him feeling crappy for snapping at Rob. He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me. Is there something I can help you with, Rob?” Part of him wanted to know what it was that kept drawing Rob here.

  When Rob looked up, Vic saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

  “I thought we could, you know, spend some time together. Maybe watch a film or something?”

  It should have sounded ludicrous, but Vic realized quickly that Rob was being earnest. “Why would you come all the way from Manchester to watch a film?” He studied Rob intently. This wasn’t the same person who’d been at his place a few weeks ago. That Rob had possessed an attitude that was clearly missing. Though he’d had his hair cut, now it looked much less harsh than the last time Vic had seen him. This Rob seemed… softer, more touchable. And he was biting his lip, a sure indicator of nerves.

  Vic groaned inwardly. He had a feeling his night was about to take an unexpected turn.

  Rob swallowed again. “I just thought….” His gaze dropped. “You’re right. This wasn’t a bright idea. I don’t know what I was thinking. You probably have plans for tonight, so I should let you get to them.”

  Oh, Vic had plans all right, plans that involved being balls-deep in someone. But….

  “Hold on a minute. When did I even say this wasn’t a bright idea?” Vic couldn’t get over how different Rob appeared when his guard was down. He’s lost the attitude, he’s being polite…. Whereas Vic was being bloody rude. And he realized he didn’t want Rob to go. “Stay right here for a minute, okay?” he instructed. “I’ll be right back.”

  Rob nodded.

  Vic closed the door, pulled out his phone, and dialed.

  “I’m almost there,” Ken said. In the background was the hum of traffic. “Christ, are you trying to get me arrested for being on my phone while driving?” He chuckled. “You must be eager.”

  Vic took a deep breath. “I’m afraid something has come up and I won’t be able to go with you tonight.” He couldn’t believe he was doing this.

  “What? I thought you were looking forward to this.”

  “Believe me, no one is more surprised than me. But I’ve got an unexpected visitor who’s arrived from Manchester, and I can’t very well turn him away.”

  “No problem. Bring him along. Or does he not go for the club scene?”

  Vic recalled the last time he’d seen Rob at the club. Right then he didn’t think it was a good idea to bring him back there. “No, he’s not really into it. Listen, let’s reschedule, yeah? Maybe next week?”

  “Sure, no problem. I’ll talk to you later.” Ken disconnected the call.

  Vic pocketed his phone and then opened the door. Rob stood there in exactly the same position. One look at the hope in those blue eyes, and Vic’s heart stuttered. “Well, come in.”

  A bright smile bloomed on Rob’s face. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

  Vic groaned to himself. This fucking film had better be worth blue balls.

  SHAUN OF the Dead was hilarious, Vic had to admit. They’d ordered a pizza and sat on the couch, Rob’s feet tucked under him, while the DVD played. Several times Vic burst out laughing, only to give Rob a sheepish glance. The annoyance Vic had felt about his unexpected arrival had dissipated and now he was enjoying the company. True, it wasn’t quite the hot, sweaty evening Vic had anticipated, but it was nice having Rob there.

  “Did you like it?” Rob asked as the credits rolled.

  “I did. It’s been a long time since I’ve watched a DVD. Thank you for bringing it.” That thought made him stop. When was the last time I did this?

  Rob preened, and Vic wondered again why such a simple thing as praise gave Rob joy.

  “How was the pizza?”

  “Oh, damn. I think it’s probably the best thing I’ve ever eaten. How do they do that thing with the crust?”

  “I don’t know, and the owner won’t tell anyone. He said he’s taking the secret to his grave.”

  “That’s too bad. Must be nice to have a job like that. Something fulfilling, where you make people happy.”

  Vic
could hear the desire in Rob’s voice. He got up, removed the DVD from the player, slipped it back into its case, and handed it to Rob. “Thank you again for bringing it. I really enjoyed it.”

  Rob smiled at him. “Do you want to keep it?”

  The offer was so genuine, it shocked Vic. “What?”

  “If you like it, you can keep it.”

  “Well… thank you.”

  Rob stood and stretched, the movement revealing a sliver of skin from beneath his shirt. Vic wanted to reach out and touch it. He held himself in check, though. Rob still hadn’t made it clear he wanted something more, and Vic wouldn’t be the one to initiate an encounter.

  “This will probably be the last time I’m able to make it out here,” Rob said, a note of real regret in his voice.

  “Oh?”

  “I spent most of the money I’d been saving up so I could make the trip.” When Vic was about to say something, Rob hurried to get the words out. “It’s okay, though. The times I’ve been here have helped me. I mean, they’ve meant a lot. So thank you.”

  Vic might not have expected Rob’s visit, but it saddened him to think it wouldn’t happen again. He enjoyed the company. Contrary to Vic’s first impressions, there was substance to Rob. He was a literate young man, obviously intelligent, and more than once Vic had wondered what had brought him to the club.

  Rob rose slowly to his feet. “Okay, I need to get going. The last train will be leaving soon.”

  Vic got up and followed Rob into the hallway, where he opened the cupboard and removed his jacket.

  “Actually, there is something you could do for me.”

  “What’s that?” Vic wondered what was coming.

  “I left my coat at Secrets. The next time you’re there, would you ask them to send it to me? That’s if it’s still there. I’d appreciate it. I’ll give you the address.”

  Vic remembered Rob hadn’t been wearing a coat when they met. He ran out, probably chased by whatever inner demons hounded him.

  Vic had a feeling those demons hadn’t finished with Rob.

  “Where are you going?” he asked. “Back to Manchester?”

  Rob nodded, slipping his arms into the sleeves of his jacket.

  Maybe it was the thought of those demons that accounted for Vic’s impulse. Don’t let him go. “You know, you could stay the night. I did the laundry, so the sheets on your… on the bed are fresh and clean.”

  “Oh.” Rob blinked. “Yeah, I could stay if it’s not a problem.”

  Vic had to hold back from rushing toward Rob and snatching him up in his arms. Every gesture, every glance, every movement screamed please help me.

  He couldn’t ignore the silent pleas any longer.

  “About tomorrow. After we get up, what do you think about going to lunch?”

  Rob beamed. “Sure, that would be nice.”

  His genuine pleasure sent warmth spreading through Vic, and he was suddenly very glad he’d made the suggestion. “How about you take off that jacket, I make us a drink, and we see if I can find a DVD that we both like? It’s still early.”

  A long breath shuddered out of Rob, and Vic knew he’d said the right thing.

  “I’d really like that.”

  It took Vic a second or two to realize that he really liked the idea too.

  ROB SIGHED. It wasn’t fair to wake up feeling just as tired as he had when he’d climbed into bed. He reasoned that maybe a shower would help invigorate him, so he pushed back the duvet and walked into the bathroom, still in his boxers. Vic had laid out a towel for him, and it wasn’t long before he was turning his face toward the jets of water, letting the spray hit him. The powerful stream of water did help a little, however, and he toweled himself dry quickly. He drew the line at wearing his boxers for another day, so he went commando.

  When he exited the room, the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted up the stairs. Oh, nice. Stepping into the kitchen, he found Vic at the table, tapping away on his tablet while sipping from a mug. He smiled when he glanced up.

  “Good morning,” Rob said.

  “Sleep well?”

  He didn’t want to admit he hadn’t. The thought of not seeing Vic again bothered Rob more than he’d thought it would. He’d begun to get used to being treated like he was… normal.

  “I slept okay,” he lied. “You’re up early.”

  Vic arched his eyebrows. “I wouldn’t call this early, but then again, I’m up at six most mornings. I had a few things I needed to get done.” He nodded toward the pot. “Help yourself if you want some coffee. Mugs are in the cupboard above it.”

  Maybe coffee would help to shake off the unease Rob felt coursing through him. He pulled out a mug, poured himself some hot, black coffee, then joined Vic at the table. He sat in silence as Vic continued working on his tablet. Rob took advantage of the opportunity to let his gaze wander over the kitchen, which definitely reflected its owner. The colors were bold contrasts. Vic had stainless-steel appliances, which stood out starkly against deep sapphire-blue walls and red trim. They shouldn’t work together, but somehow they did.

  “There, done,” Vic said, sliding his tablet to the center of the table. He turned his attention to Rob. “It’s almost ten, so do you want to head out for an early lunch, or would you prefer a snack first and then we can eat later?”

  Rob wanted to extend the day as much as possible. He knew that once they’d eaten, Vic would take him to the train station, where Rob would be saying his final goodbye. The thought made his heart feel heavy, but there was no way around it. He couldn’t afford to do this again, not unless his situation changed drastically and he suddenly found a marvelous job that paid well.

  The way things were going, that was about as likely as the next Pope being called Isaac.

  “Whatever you want is fine,” he murmured. Right then he’d take what he could get. At least, if nothing else, Vic would remember him when he watched the DVD. His reactions the previous night were like nothing Rob had come to expect from Vic. It was good, seeing him chill like that.

  Vic observed him in silence for a moment. “What I want? Okay, then how does this sound? We finish our coffee, then go have some lunch. After, we’ll take a trip around London and I’ll show you a few of the projects I worked on.” He grinned. “Sounds riveting, doesn’t it? Then tonight we can have dinner out before coming back here and watching another DVD. And on Sunday after breakfast, I’ll take you to Euston.”

  Rob resisted the urge to shake his head to clear the blockage that had apparently manifested in his ears. He had to have misunderstood.

  “Unless, of course,” Vic continued, “you have other things you need to do back in Manchester. In which case, I’ll take you to the train station after lunch.”

  Vic was asking him if he wanted to stay another night. To spend a day together. Rob didn’t get it. Why would he want to do that? The question forced its way to his lips before he could stop it. “Why would you want to do all that with me?”

  Vic’s smile melted him. It was warm and genuine enough to make Rob’s chest flutter a little.

  “Well, it doesn’t make much sense to come to London just to stay overnight. You never get to see the good stuff. And, truth be told, I’ve enjoyed your visits. You’re not a bad sort when you lose the attitude.” Vic’s wink softened the sting of his words.

  Rob’s heartbeat quickened. Is that the truth, or are you just teasing me back for what happened when we first met?

  He found his voice. “You’re not kidding, right?”

  Vic’s expression slipped and was replaced by a much sterner one. “In business, a man’s word is something you can trust. Once it’s given, a true gentleman never breaks a promise he’s made. If I give you my word or make you a promise, you will know it’s something I will move heaven and earth to keep. I’m not one to say something to spare your feelings. I know we haven’t known each other long, and yes, we got off to a rocky start, but I promise you here and now, I won’t ever lie to you. I don�
�t expect you to believe me, and I’m sure I’ll have to earn your trust, but if you continue your visits, you’ll learn.”

  The words were like cold water. Rob had no idea he could be so desperate to hold on to something, but…. “I’m not going to be able to come back again,” he reminded Vic.

  Vic touched his tablet and brought the screen to life. He slid it across the table toward Rob.

  Utterly confused, Rob scanned the document on the screen. “What’s this?”

  “It’s an e-voucher for travel on Virgin Trains. You can use it to pay for more trips.”

  Rob blinked. Blinked again.

  Vic took a deep breath. “I know how much it costs to travel by train. I’ve done it plenty of times myself, but then, my company picks up the tab. You work for a supermarket, so I’m assuming they don’t pay you what you’re worth. Once you factor in bills and the like, you’ve probably strained your finances to the absolute limit. Or am I mistaken on that subject?”

  Rob’s temper flared briefly at the thought Vic was saying he couldn’t handle his own finances, but he tamped it down. “No, you’re not wrong.”

  “Good. Thank you for being honest. Now, you said you spent most of the money you were saving up, so I thought maybe if I gave you this, it would help ease your burdens and still allow you to make the trips. Even if you don’t come to see me, you’ve still got a way to get here.”

  In the entirety of his almost twenty-four years, no one had ever given Rob something so exorbitant or generous. And he honestly believed Vic was giving him this with no strings attached, which made the gift all the more precious to him.

  Rob’s cheeks grew warm, and he scrubbed a hand over his face. He knew he wasn’t crying, because men didn’t cry. When Vic reached out and put his hand over Rob’s, he had the brightest smile Rob had ever seen.