by Skyler Snow
“I know where that is. You’re in for a treat, kid.”
Reece tried not to look excited, but I saw the smile on his face. There was more to his story, that much I was certain of, but there would be time to talk about it later. I wanted to get him somewhere safe and cool first.
4
Reece
“Oh my god,” I mumbled with my mouth full of cheeseburger.
“Right?” Lukas asked.
“Oh my godddddd.”
Carsen snorted. “Please stop making those noises. We’re out in public and people are starting to stare.”
My cheeks heated. “Sorry,” I covered my mouth with a napkin, finished chewing and swallowed. “Sorry,” I repeated, and waved a hand. “It’s just so good. I was starving.”
Lukas grinned at me. “I don’t even blame you.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Aylah should be getting out of class soon.” He looked over at Carsen. “Should we head back home?”
“Yeah. Let me clean this stuff up.”
I watched Carsen collect the trash and walk over to dispose of it. I hadn’t paid a lot of attention at first because I was too nervous, but it was clear they were a couple. Aylah had told me, of course, but it was one thing to hear it and another thing to see them so close to each other. I chewed my bottom lip until Lukas tapped on the table.
“Are you okay?” He tilted his head. “You look like something’s on your mind.”
A ton was on my mind. Too much. I fiddled with my napkin and stared down at the table. I still didn’t want to talk about anything. Especially not about leaving home.
“Can we not talk about it?” I tore the napkin up into tiny little pieces. “I’m sorry if that’s rude.”
Lukas touched my hand. “You don’t have to talk about it. I don’t know what’s going on, but if Aylah likes and trusts you, then I trust her judgement.” He smiled when I looked up. “How did you two meet?”
Now, that I could talk about. “We met in high school through this online video game I like to play. I happened to be in New York visiting friends when she came on a school trip and we met up.” I smiled at the fond memory. “She’s awesome. I’ve never met anyone I connected with so easily.”
Lukas raised a brow. “Are you dating my niece?”
I held up both hands and shook my head vigorously. “No, no, nothing like that! We’re just good friends, that’s all.”
He looked me up and down and then finally nodded. “What game did you guys meet on?”
“Just Final Fantasy Fourteen.” I laughed. “You probably don’t have any idea what I’m talking about…”
“Because I’m old?”
I smiled sheepishly and half shrugged. “Well…”
Lukas gasped. “Are you really calling me old? Just for that, I’m letting Carsen cook dinner.” He stood up from the table and sniffed. “He was serious about the kale and quinoa. It tastes like ass and he’ll make sure you eat all of it.”
I couldn’t stop the smirk that touched my lips. He definitely wasn’t serious, right? I picked up my napkin litter and tossed it in the bin. Carsen and Lukas were waiting for me. I slid in the back seat of the car and clutched my dead phone that I’d left on the back seat.
“Do one of you guys have a charger for this?” I held it up and Lukas looked at it.
“Sure, but not in the car. I always forget to leave one in here. You can charge it back at the house.”
I nodded. I was perfectly okay with that. Besides, it wasn’t as if anyone was actually looking for me. That thought tore me apart, and not for the first time, I wondered what was the point of me running away? The end result would be the same. I would be lonely, outcast, a pariah.
The drive back to the house was quiet. I knew I was the reason for that. It was like a dark cloud had settled over my head and I couldn’t find the urge to be cheery or upbeat. Carson stopped the car and I climbed out of it with my head and heart heavy.
“We have a spare room set up,” Carson said as he fiddled with his keys and pushed one into the lock. “You’re welcome to stay in there until we figure out what’s going on.”
Carson quickly entered the code for the alarm. I shuffled inside after them, then stopped in the entryway, and gasped. Their place was impressive.
My family never had anything. Our greatest claim to fame was the double-wide trailer, the rusty baby blue pickup truck, and a mountain of debt that was sure to follow me. The one good thing my mother had done was squirrel away my college fund. I didn’t realize that as I grew up, the reason we were so poor was because my mom wanted me to have a better future. I only wished that love had continued forever.
My eyes darted around their home. Lukas led me through halls down to a bedroom on the first floor. Of course, it was perfect. The bed held a blue duvet imprinted with yellow sunflowers. The carpet was lush and deep. There was even a TV, a dresser, and right across the hall a bathroom. If it was possible I would have wanted to stay there forever. I knew that couldn’t happen. I would have to move on, and soon.
Carson set my duffel bag down on the bed. He glanced around the room as if with new eyes before they settled on me. My entire body bristled underneath that his steely gaze.
“Is this okay for the time being?” The corner of Carson’s lips went up and he caught me off guard.
“O-of course.” I muttered the words as if I no longer knew how to speak. “Thank you.”
“We’ll leave you to it,” Lukas smiled at me warmly. “You should probably rest before Aylah gets out of school.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” I smiled at the two of them. “Thanks again.” I ran my hand over the comforter and sat down.
“It’s not a problem at all. if you need anything we’ll both be here.” Carsen smiled and let Lukas walk past before he shut the door after himself.
I glanced around the room. It kind of sucked that I wouldn’t get to stay here. Dread settled into my stomach. What the hell was I going to do?
5
Carsen
"What do you think happened?" I asked as we stood in Lukas' office.
"I have no idea, but something heavy is on his mind." Lukas logged onto his computer and pulled up his document. "I just hope it's nothing too serious."
I frowned. Maybe it was the police officer in me, but I didn't trust one-sided stories. There had to be a reason he suddenly appeared in Phoenix with no money, no home. So, what was it? I dragged over a chair and sat beside Lukas as he started to type.
"You're not worried about letting a strange person into our home?"
Lukas glanced over at me. "Should I be?" He shrugged. "He needs a place to stay and we can give him that." He bit his lip. "We could really give him that."
For a moment I was confused until what Lukas was trying to say hit me. I groaned. I knew he had a big heart, but I didn't want to let some random kid in the house forever. It was one thing for a night or two, but anything longer was worrying. I'd been burned before. Yes, I cared, and I wanted to make sure he found a good place to be where he could be safe, but I was really leery.
"You know how I feel about having people in the house." I leaned back in the chair and stared up at the ceiling. "One minute everything's fine and the next you wake up with all of your stuff stolen."
Lukas’ fingers paused on the keys. "You can't lump everyone into the same category."
"I'm not."
"You are." Lukas turned his chair toward me and I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. "We don't even know Reece. I say we at least get to know him, and then make a decision."
I reached out and caressed Lukas' cheek. "That's what I love about you." I smiled. "You're such a giving person and I appreciate that."
Lukas tilted his head. "But?"
"But I don't want to do it." I shook my head and sat up. "He seems like a perfectly nice kid, but do we really want to invite whatever drama into our life that he's running from? I don't think so."
Lukas pressed his lips together. He ga
ve me a small nod and turned back to his computer. I watched him as he started to type his story again. His lips stayed in a straight line and he didn't look at me again. Shit, I was in trouble.
"Don't get mad at me."
"I'm not mad," Lukas shrugged. "We both live here and I can't make decisions by myself."
"Hey,” I sat up straight in the chair. “Neither can I.”
Lukas glanced at me briefly and spoke from between pressed lips. "You would think so, and yet..."
My mouth fell open. "How is that fair?"
"Sorry." He turned to me and patted my thigh. "I just don't like the idea of anyone being on their own. No home, no family. It doesn’t sit right with me.”
"We don't even know what Aylah has planned for him," I pointed out, and drummed my fingers against the desk. "Can we just wait until we know what's going on? You have a tendency to jump the gun with this stuff."
Lukas nodded. "Sure, we can wait." He went back to typing and I knew I'd lost him until he came up for air again after work.
I sighed and pushed myself up from the chair to let him work in peace. I had chores to do around the house anyway and I wouldn't get another day off in who knew how long. Sometimes I had several days off, sometimes I worked for a month straight. I grabbed a cold bottle of water from the fridge and walked out into the backyard.
Phoenix wasn't known for having a ton of grass so I'd foregone that. Even if I did have grass it would take up too much water and time to maintain it. Instead, I'd had a landscaper come in and put in some flowers among all the rocks. All I had to do was keep them watered and weeded every once in a while. That was easy enough.
I pulled the weeds from the ground first, and then watered the flowers. The biggest job wasn't the plants, but the pool. I had to skim it first and then do the sides, vacuum, then make sure the chemical levels were right. It was a hell of a job. The sun beat down on me hard and I wiped the sweat from my forehead. I chugged down some water, and sighed as I glanced at the pool.
"Alright you asshole," I muttered. "Your turn."
I loved swimming, but I didn't love cleaning the pool. We really needed to hire someone to do the job, but I hadn't gotten around to it. If I asked Lukas to do it, he would forget. That was generally what happened when I gave him a household thing that needed taking care of. He couldn't help it. When he was in the throes of writing a book, that's what his brain focused on entirely.
I tugged off my t-shirt and tossed it to the side. At least doing manual work took my mind off of everything and allowed me to just focus on something else for a while. I was so focused on my work I had no idea how much time had gone by.
"Do you need any help?"
I glanced up and looked at Reece. His hair was wet so I assumed he'd taken a shower. He'd put on a pair of blue shorts and a light-blue tank top. He pushed his fingers through his hair and padded over to me.
"I should be alright," I said as I glanced down at the pool. “I’m actually just about done.” I nodded toward it. "Do you swim?"
"Whenever I get the chance. We didn't have a pool back home so unless I went to the public one or to the water park, or the occasional hotel, I didn't get a lot of swimming time in."
I thought it over. "I assume you don't have trunks."
"Nope," he laughed. "I do have boxers though."
"That works for me. Let me put this stuff away and you can swim to your heart's content." I picked up my phone. "Aylah should be on her way soon."
Reece nodded. "She is. I texted her as soon as I woke up. I don't want to be any more of a burden than I already am."
"You're not a burden." I nodded to the pool. "Go ahead."
I carried the supplies back to the shed and stored them. When I turned around, Reece stood on the edge of the pool. He'd already taken off his tank top and was in the process of shimmying out of his shorts. He was a slender thing, that was for sure. Reece smiled as he gazed at the pool before he backed up and then dove into the water.
He looked happy. I left him to it because I wanted to stop and stare, but I decided that was my ridiculous dick and its need to get me in trouble. I quickly walked back into the house and to the kitchen, then took a deep breath. I didn't need to be lusting over some boy that was not only way too young for me, but was in trouble. That was a creep move and I wasn't a creep.
"What are you doing?"
I jumped and blew out a breath. Lukas raised a brow at me. I couldn't say I was kind of ogling the kid. Instead, I jerked my thumb over my shoulder.
"I was taking care of the chores. Plants and pool are perfect again." I walked over to the sink and washed my hands. "Reece wanted to go swimming so I let him."
Lukas peeked out of the window. "At least he seems happy now." He watched him for a minute longer before he walked over with his arms folded over his chest.
I looked over at him. "Are you taking a break from writing?"
Lukas nodded. "Yeah, I wanted to spend some time with you before I went back to it." He leaned on the kitchen counter. "And Aylah should be here soon. I don't want to get too engrossed just to have to get up and interrupt myself again."
Once I dried my hands I ran one over his hair. "That sounds like a good idea." My lips brushed against his forehead. The doorbell rang and I straightened up. "I'll get it."
I left Lukas in the kitchen and made my way to the front door. Aylah barreled through. She made a beeline for the kitchen, snatched out a bottle of water and chugged it before she panted and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"I have been running like a crazy bitch all day." She sighed and then smiled at both of us. "Hey, Uncle Carsen!" She gave me and Lukas hugs before she looked around. "Where's Reece?"
Lukas nodded to the back door. "He's swimming right now." He rested his chin in his palm. "What's exactly going on, Aylah?"
"He didn't tell you?" she asked as she fidgeted with her water bottle. We both shook our heads. "If he didn't say anything, I don't really know if I should..."
"Well, do you at least know what's going on next?" I asked. "Does he have a place to go after this?"
Aylah shook her head. "I'm still at the dorms so he can't stay with me. Mom and Ron have a full house, and everyone else that I know either can't or won't do it." She looked up at us with doe eyes. "I was going to give him a loan today until he can get a job so he can support himself, but he needs more than that."
Oh no. I felt it coming. Aylah turned those huge, blue eyes on me and I groaned. She smiled softly. I tried to tell myself that Lukas was the sucker between us when it came to the girl, but that was a lie. I was just as bad as he was.
"Can he stay here with you guys?" she rushed out. "Please!" She clenched her hands together and shook them at me. "Please, please, please!"
"I already tried and he doesn't want to do it," Lukas frowned.
"Uncle Carsen, you have to. If you don't he'll have nowhere to go." She jutted out her bottom lip. "The little bit of money I have won't cover a hotel for long. Not even a shitty motel. And he can't go to a homeless shelter. He would get eaten alive. You've seen how sweet he is."
"So, was that the plan?" I raised a brow. "You wanted us to pick him up and bring him here so we would go 'oh he's such a sweet kid' and let him stay?"
Aylah shrugged. "It wasn't the whole plan, but the thought did cross my mind." She stepped over to me and glanced up. "I will never ask you for another favor again. Okay?"
"That's a lie," Lukas laughed.
"Whose side are you on?" she hissed.
Lukas laughed. "Right, I mean she did say she wouldn't ask for another favor. It seems like a pretty good deal."
I rubbed a hand down my face. "This is two against one. You're both ganging up on me. Now I’m going to feel like an asshole if I say no."
"Your words," Lukas tilted his head and he bit his lip when I glared. "I say we just give it a trial run. If he screws up, then he'll have to make other arrangements." He walked over and took my hand. "You can't blame him for someone
else's mistakes, Carsen. At least give him a chance. I can't stand the thought of him being out in this heat or in some shelter because we were too coldhearted to say he could stay.”
They really weren't going to let it go. I shifted uncomfortably. I had trust issues, I was aware of that, but anyone would if they had to deal with the things that I had in life. Every time I trusted something it blew up in my face. I didn't need that. At the same time, Lukas was right. I always judged everyone based on the experiences I'd had in the past, and while I still didn't know Reece, he didn’t seem like a bad guy—a little sad and lost, but not bad.
My shoulders slumped. I knew when I was defeated. "Fine."
"Yes!" Aylah wrapped her arms around me. "Thank you!"
"This is just a trial, do you hear me?" I patted her back and Lukas grinned at me. "And the minute it all goes to shit, I get to say, 'I told you so,' as many times as I want."
Lukas raised a brow. "I feel like that was only directed toward me."
I narrowed my eyes. "It was."
He walked over and cuddled up under my arm. Lukas hugged Aylah and I sighed. When I had the two of them around I felt loved. I didn't have any family outside of them. The back door opened and we all glanced at it.
"Um, am I interrupting something?" Reece asked, dripping water onto the tiled floor.
Aylah laughed. "Not at all! Let's get you a towel," she pointed at his body. "And some clothes. I want to talk to you."
Reece chuckled and his smile was just dazzling. "I'll follow you."
They both walked out of the kitchen leaving Lukas and I alone. My boyfriend turned to me and leaned in. I kissed him gently, then sighed. "I really hope this works out. I'm still worried."
"Let me ease your worries..." Lukas unbuttoned my pants and slipped his hand inside. His fingers curled around my cock. "…and reward you for taking a chance."
"This is blackmail." I groaned. "I could technically arrest you."
