Trouble and the Wallflower

by Kade Boehme

  Today, though, Davy was exhausted. He’d been with Oliver late into the night while Gavin sat at the hospital after being called in by the doctors who thought it may be Ray’s last. Ray had pulled through, and Davy had made it home in time to get a few hours of sleep before another ten-hour day.

  Davy was like a zombie as he dropped a scoop of birthday-cake ice cream into a tin for a shake. He was just thinking it’d be a damn hard thing to make it another three hours when the owner wandered behind the counter from the back. That told Davy how tired he was; he’d missed his boss even entering the shop.

  “Hey, Davy.”

  “Oh, hey, Henry.” Davy started at the appearance of the man. Henry had been coming in more frequently since business had picked up. Henry had several businesses around town, so he spread his time evenly among them, but Bart’s was his highest grossing at the moment, so he came by to help Davy when he could, and Davy was always happy to see him. They’d become decent friends since they’d had to spend more time around each other lately.

  “You look tired. Another late night with the kid?” Henry had gotten about as bad at mothering as Drew. Davy thought they’d be perfect for each other.

  “Yeah. A false alarm at the hospital had Gavin out late.” Davy had grown accustomed to the sympathetic looks people gave him lately. He suppose he looked like someone who had an impending death in the family. It was hard to shake that kind of sadness. He’d not worn it like a cloak around his mother’s death, though. He’d been so angry with her for leaving him to cope with a world he knew nothing about that the mourning fell by the wayside, though he figured that may have been his way of mourning, anger rather than sadness.

  “Why don’t you cut out early? It’s not too crazy in here. I can take it from here.”

  Gavin was too grateful for the offer to argue for propriety’s sake. “Are you sure?”

  “Definitely. In fact, I’ll open up in the morning. You come in at noon instead of nine.”

  Gavin almost collapsed from relief. “Really?”

  “Yes. Now go. Off with you.” Henry dismissed him, turning to a customer. Davy didn’t have to be told twice. He pulled off his apron. He started to clean up from his shift but Henry insisted one of the night-shift workers could handle it.

  Gavin stopped by a gyro restaurant on his way home. No way he was cooking. He ordered some carryout that he could scarf down right before passing out. The woman behind the counter told him it’d be twenty minutes before his food was ready, so he collapsed in a sloppy heap on the booth against the wall that was for people waiting for carryout orders. He pulled out his phone to make sure there were no messages that needed his immediate attention.

  Nope. No messages was okay with him. That meant no one was dead, no mothers had swooped into town to reclaim their children, and no one needed Davy to come back in to work a few more hours.

  Davy looked up on the counter to see if his food had magically finished eighteen minutes faster than he’d been quoted. He caught a familiar form in his peripheral. He turned his head to see who it was and found himself meeting Nate’s gaze. Davy withdrew, looking away quickly and twisting his hands in his lap.

  “Hey, Davy.” Why, God? Davy looked up at Nate who had his hands in the pockets of his chinos. His face wasn’t as bitchy as the last time Davy had seen him. In fact, he was looking quite contrite.

  “Nate.”

  “Can I sit?”

  “Uh, sure.” Davy moved his messenger bag that was taking up the booth seat next to him.

  “I love their lamb gyros,” Nate said lamely.

  Davy had no patience today. “Nate, you don’t have to make small talk. You can just sit there. My food won’t be much longer.”

  Nate laughed. “Well, you sure aren’t quite so timid these days, huh?”

  “What?” Davy’s voice was thin from exasperation.

  “Okay, so I didn’t order anything. I saw you coming in and I decided it was high time you and I had a talk.”

  Great. “Now’s not a good time, Nate. I’m tired.”

  “Please,” Nate pleaded. “I want to apologize.”

  Well that was…. Davy would not look surprised. No way. “Okay.”

  “I’m sure you figured out by now why I was such an asshole.”

  Davy frowned and shook his head. No, he actually still just assumed Nate didn’t like him or was just a bitchy guy.

  Nate sighed. “I was jealous.”

  Davy snorted. Rich boy jealous of Davy?

  “I’ve had a crush on Gavin forever.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah.” Nate looked thoroughly embarrassed. “He wouldn’t give me—or anyone—the time of day. He was such a cold motherfucker. Of course that was the appeal. The guy’s a badass, or was. The guy everyone wants to tame. Then in waltzes you and you’re all shy and I couldn’t understand it. I mean, you’re cute, but—”

  “What’s your point?” Davy felt a bit insulted and he didn’t like thinking about all the guys chasing Gavin. Everything was still so raw.

  “That’s why I was rude to you. You’re nice. If anyone deserves a chance to be happy with Gavin, it’s you.”

  Color me surprised. “Thanks?”

  “I mean it. I’m really sorry. I saw you didn’t do well in crowds and I took advantage of it. We don’t have to be friends, just know that’s not me. I’m not always that person. I’m really sorry.”

  Davy studied Nate’s profile for a second. He looked as though he was awaiting a firing range. “It’s okay, Nate. I mean, he is hot.”

  Nate let out a surprised laugh.

  “And I’m not the kind of guy who holds a grudge, so consider it done, okay?”

  Nate nodded, looking at Davy with such relief that Davy couldn’t see that mean-spirited Nate he’d known thus far in the man before him.

  “Gavin must have really given you hell for you to hunt me down to apologize.”

  Nate grimaced. “No. I mean, yeah he jumped my ass, but the apology is all me.”

  “Well, thanks.” They fell silent for a moment, and Davy began to wonder where in the hell his food was.

  “He misses you, you know,” Nate whispered. It sounded like it pained him to say it.

  Davy sighed. “I miss him too.”

  “You’re a better man than me. I never would have given him space like you did. I know you well enough to know it’s not because you actually had to consider staying there for him and the kid. You’re doing it for him.”

  Davy laughed at how transparent he was. “Yeah. I am.”

  “Well, you’re smart. It’s done him good. I’ve never seen Gavin try so hard to get his shit together. And he’s not just doing it for his brother, Davy.”

  Davy smiled at Nate. “Thanks for saying that. He kept telling me I was the one who needed to think about whether I wanted him and a kid, when really it’s him who had to figure out if he was going to keep his brother and if he’d have time for me too.”

  Nate put his hand on Davy’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. He’ll call you soon. I know it. You and Oliver are all he talks about. You’ve been there in a way he never let any of us be, no matter how hard we tried.”

  “Order number forty-nine!” the woman at the counter bellowed. Davy looked at his receipt.

  “Um, that’s me,” Davy said, showing Nate the ticket. Nate nodded. “Thanks, for saying… all of that.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll see you around.” Nate stood at the same time as Davy. Davy grabbed his food from the cashier with a smile and a thanks. When he turned, Nate was already gone. He hoped Nate knew he really did appreciate the words. After nearly a month apart it was nice to hear that Gavin still thought of Davy as much as Davy thought of him.

  Thanks, Nate.

  Gavin hadn’t realized he’d passed out before finishing his food until he woke up wearing his side of rice that he’d started picking at what he thought was only a moment earlier. He groaned miserably because now he’d have to drag his tired ass out of
bed and change his shirt.

  He looked at his sheets and saw he’d rolled onto the container of hummus he’d had sitting beside him, so now he’d need to change the sheets as well. He stood, ignoring the way his feet complained at holding his weight. He was beginning to wonder when working in a soda shop had become a contact sport, because if he judged by the aches in his body, he was getting tackled at least four times a day.

  He wasn’t sure what woke him up, but he figured it could be the cold hummus sinking in through his shirt. He almost wished he’d just slept through it, blissfully unaware of how gross it was until he woke, rested enough to take care of the new linens.

  He trudged to the kitchen, dumped what was left of his dinner in the trash, and threw his fork into the sink. He pulled off his shirt and tossed it in the open washing machine before going to strip his bed. He just hoped his spare set of sheets was clean. He couldn’t remember if they’d made it into the wash on his last laundry day.

  When he opened the linen closet he sent up a prayer of thanks, not even caring that it was silly to be thankful for clean sheets. As he stretched the fitted sheet over his futon mattress, he heard his phone vibrating. He realized it must be in his bag and the steady vibrations meant someone was calling. He had a moment of panic as he dug through the messenger bag. He pulled it out just in time for the caller to have given up. He saw it was only seven thirty and he’d received four missed calls, all from the same number.

  Janie? He hadn’t seen her since he’d last taken her to see Ray a week ago. He couldn’t imagine why she was calling. That thought froze him. Well, there was a reason. He hit the Redial button and waited through the ringing until Janie answered with a feeble, sniffling “Hello.”

  No. His words died in his throat.

  “Davy?”

  “Uh, yes. Yes, ma’am. What’s wrong?”

  “Honey, it’s Ray.”

  “No.”

  He listened as she rustled around, sounding as though she was going into another room. “Sweetheart, I’m at the house with Oliver. Gavin is by himself at the hospital and he wouldn’t let me call anyone for him. But I know he needs someone. He needs you.”

  “But—”

  “No more of his stubbornness. He’s been silly for long enough. Please, Davy. Go to him.”

  Davy nodded, then realized she couldn’t see him through the phone. “Okay. I’m leaving now.”

  “Good,” she said quietly. “Good. You bring him home, you hear? His brother needs him.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Gavin hung up after a quick good-bye.

  He didn’t trust himself for a moment, freaking out briefly. He grieved, hating that he hadn’t seen Ray once more before he’d passed, but he figured that was normal. He’d seen the man just two days ago and he’d seemed so lively. You would have guess he was going to recover any day now. But didn’t they always say you had one last uptick before you went?

  Davy took a shuddering breath, then dialed a taxi. He gathered his wallet and keys and was surprised when he got downstairs that the taxi driver was already calling to say he’d arrived. He dove in the car and rattled off where he needed to go. He debated calling the guys but he’d wait until he knew what Gavin wanted to do before he made that decision. He didn’t feel it was his to make. He was making a big enough decision rushing to Gavin’s side without being summoned. He figured he should only take a little control from Gavin at a time.

  When they arrived at the hospital, Davy threw some cash at the driver and didn’t even stop himself from running inside. He could feel the tether between him and Gavin pulling him, reeling him in, guiding him home. When the elevator doors opened on the floor Ray’s room was on, Davy darted out. When he passed the nurse’s station he nodded to them, receiving waves and sympathetic smiles.

  He stopped at the door to Ray’s room. He couldn’t imagine Ray was still there, but since the nurses hadn’t stopped him, he figured that’s where he’d find Gavin. He place his hand on the closed door, looking at the name plate that no longer said Raymond Walker. He closed his eyes, holding off the tears. It wasn’t his time to grieve. He had to get Gavin. He had to hold Gavin.

  He straightened up, sucked in a breath, and opened the door, then stepped into the room. Gavin sat in the chair, looking at the bed as though he couldn’t believe it was empty. Davy didn’t know what to say, so he stood silently watching Gavin. Gavin wasn’t crying, wasn’t showing any emotion at all.

  Until he turned his head and saw Davy. It was slow. First his eyes softened, the furrow in his brow smoothing out. Then his lips curled up into a gentle smile, one that broke Davy’s fucking heart. Davy took a step forward, holding out his hand. Gavin looked at it for a moment, his smile beginning to quiver. When he flicked his eyes back up to Davy’s they were still soft but brimming with unshed tears.

  “Let’s go home, Gavin,” Davy said quietly.

  “Home?” Gavin’s voiced rasped.

  “Home.” Davy smiled.

  “Thank God.” Gavin literally deflated before Davy’s eyes as he stood and moved into Davy’s embrace. “Thank God,” Gavin said brokenly.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Gavin couldn’t remember any days of his life ever going by in such a blur. He remembered mourning faces and loss so deep that it cut. But he also remembered Davy’s calming presence and his friends’ love. He’d nearly lost it when he’d said good-bye to Ray and afterward, when Oliver leaned over and kissed Gavin on the cheek before saying so sweetly, “I sorry you sad, Gavvy.”

  Davy had stayed with Gavin and Oliver the night Ray had died and the night of the funeral, but he’d continued to respect Gavin’s request for space in the following days. He’d taken time off work and helped Janie occupy Oliver and make sure Gavin ate one of the dozens of casseroles people had left.

  Gavin barely remembered the reading of the will, other than remembering Ray had left his daughter another trust, but everything else to Gavin. His attorney said the permanent residence and substantial money he’d inherited would go a long way with the judge in proving he could provide for Oliver. No one figured it’d be much of a problem, though, since they’d contacted Carmen and she’d agreed she was going to sever her rights to Oliver in favor of Gavin being his brother’s guardian. Now he had months of social services visits and a pile of attorney fees to look forward to. Not that it wasn’t all worth it. His brother and Davy were the best things he had going for him.

  Davy. Davy stood by him, loved him, and had proven he was the stronger of the two of them over and over since Gavin had met him. He didn’t feel worthy at all as he looked in while Davy tucked Oliver in for bed. “Davy, you staying tonight?”

  “No, little man, I have to go home. But I’ll be back in the morning.” Davy was so good with the kid. It warmed Gavin from the inside out watching the care Davy took as he tucked Oliver in just the way the kid liked (“snug as a bug in a rug”) and kissed him on his forehead.

  “Night, Davy.”

  “Night, Ollie,” Davy said as he clicked off the lamp, only the nightlight illuminating a corner of the room. Davy smiled when he saw Gavin in the doorway and held his finger up to his lips as he crept over and closed the door behind him.

  Gavin followed Davy into the kitchen where Davy made sure everything was put away before he picked up his messenger bag. “Okay. Everything is cleaned up. I’ll see you tomorrow. Do you need anything before I go? Or when I come back tomorrow?”

  Oh, Davy.

  “I love you, Davy.”

  “I love you too, Gavin.” Davy put his hand to Gavin’s face and Gavin leaned into the touch and kissed Davy’s palm.

  “Can I survive this?”

  Davy shook his head as though Gavin was being silly. “Of course you can. And you will. For Ollie’s sake, if nothing else.” Gavin was overwhelmed by Davy’s faith. What had he done to earn or deserve that?

  “Why did she do this, Davy? I’m afraid I’m gonna screw up everything. She just keeps fucking around with my life.”
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  “Hey, hey.” Davy wrapped Gavin up in a hug. When everyone else saw the two of them, they saw Gavin who was nothing but trouble and Davy who was a wallflower, but in Gavin’s estimation, if you looked inside you’d see that Gavin was just a scared little boy and Davy was his hero.

  “That’s the grief talking, Gav. The way I see it, in reality your mom did us all a favor showing up like she did.”

  Gavin leaned back and looked at Davy as though he was insane. “How do you figure?”

  “Well, for me, I see that my mom made mistakes but she still loved me. I’ve gotten over all my bitterness because she never abandoned me. If anything she cared too much, but that instilled in me the knowledge, the ability to care for you and for Ollie. Then there’s you. She came in and gave you someone who would love you unconditionally and give you a chance to prove to yourself that you were good enough, that you’re nothing like her.” Davy looked at Gavin, who was mesmerized by Davy’s poetic way of viewing the clusterfuck that was the Walker family.

  “Davy, I don’t know if you’re crazy or just—”

  “Naïve? So I’ve been told.” Davy laughed, but it was warm and his eyes were full of love. “Gavin, can we be done with this space business?”

  Gavin wanted that so much. “I want it to be, but is it that easy?”

  Davy chuckled. “Of course it is. I love you, you love me. The kid loves both of us and we both love him. We take care of him with the help of all those crazy friends of yours.”

  “Hey, they’re your friends too,” Gavin pointed out.

  “I refuse to claim them.” Davy turned his nose up.

  “Davy, are you sure you want this for the long haul?”

  Davy sobered. “Look, I can’t promise forever. Neither of us can. I’d love if it could be. But I can promise I’ll love you and that brother of yours until you don’t want me to anymore, then I’ll probably keep loving you after that because I find I’m kinda stubborn. But I can sure say I hope it’s forever. I’m definitely okay with it being a forever kinda thing.”

  Gavin’s heart fluttered. “God, where’d you come from?” He captured Davy’s mouth with his and sank into the comfort of coming home there in Davy’s arms, Davy’s heart, Davy’s mouth. They kissed for a long while, holding each other until Gavin could feel Davy’s hardness against his own. He pulled his lips from Davy’s. “Stay with me, with us. Here.”