Homecoming Hearts Series Collection

by HJ Welch

  Joey had texted not long after Gabe had set off to say he’d found an all-night diner near Grand Central Station. Gabe was content that he was warm and protected until he could arrive. But then Joey texted again saying a waitress had taken pity on him and given him a cup of coffee to nurse, which was even better.

  Being near the station meant there was actually some parking. So when he arrived, Gabe found a spot, then messaged Joey to let him know where he was and to come find him.

  He drummed his hands on the wheel and turned the music down. It was fair enough he was nervous. Joey was a legitimate celebrity, and Gabe was just some small-town hick. They didn’t really have anything in common.

  There were probably teenagers all over the globe that had fantasized about a situation just like this. Rescuing Joey Sullivan when he was in trouble. Being the one he called when he needed help most.

  Gabe felt honored and unworthy at the same time.

  He was also getting ahead of himself. It was just a ride; it wasn’t a date. And Joey had already admitted he’d only called because he didn’t have any other options. Still, that didn’t mean Gabe couldn’t try and make the most of it.

  Any chance to spend more time together was worth taking as far as he was concerned.

  11

  Gabe

  Within a couple of minutes, a familiar figure rounded the corner of the street. Gabe gave his lights a single flash so Joey could locate him quicker.

  Joey opened the door and hurriedly slipped into the passenger seat. His cheeks were rosy from the cold night air and Gabe felt a tug in his heart. Joey was every bit as gorgeous as he remembered. Now he was safe too.

  “Hey,” Joey said timidly. He ran his fingers through his curly blond hair. “Thank you so much, I owe you, big time.”

  Gabe shook his head and pulled the car back onto the road. They had a long drive ahead, and it was best to get moving. “I’m glad you called,” he said genuinely. He flicked his gaze towards Joey and smiled. “I’d hate to think of you stuck here. It’s my pleasure.”

  Joey bit his lip and managed a small smile. “Well, there’s not a lot of people who’d stick their neck out for me, so I appreciate it.”

  Gabe scoffed. He kept his eyes on the road, because it made it seem safer to talk like that. Also, the last thing they needed now was to crash. But really, all he wanted to do was drink Joey in. He could smell him in the warmth of the car’s interior. Just the natural musk after being out for a day, but it was uniquely Joey in a way that made Gabe want to bottle it up.

  He was being stupid. He was in Manhattan, for Christ’s sake. Lewis’s new apartment was probably within five blocks of them, and he was pining after this near stranger. But the way Joey hugged his backpack to him and stared out of the window with those big green eyes moved Gabe in a way he couldn’t deny.

  “I’m sure you have people all over the world who’d move heaven and earth for you,” Gabe said with a laugh. “Being a big popstar and all.”

  Joey didn’t say anything. He just continued to look out the window.

  “So,” Gabe continued, searching for something to say. “Were you here visiting friends?”

  Joey perked up at that and looked his way. “I had an audition, for a play,” he said, his eyes sparkling.

  “Really?” Gabe asked, genuinely interested. “That’s pretty cool. You get the part?”

  “Don’t know yet,” said Joey brightly. He allowed the bag to slip between his knees and rest on the floor. It felt like he was letting down his shield. “But I’ve got a great feeling. It’s only Off-Broadway, but it’s a two-week run with a great director.”

  “Is this Off-Broadway?” Gabe asked, indicating the neighborhood they were passing through.

  Joey laughed. It sent shivers down Gabe’s spine. Fuck, he needed to get a hold of himself.

  “That just means you can’t fit more than two hundred people in the theater,” Joey explained. There was a kindness to his voice though. He didn’t mind that Gabe was unaware. “But there is a location aspect to it I guess. Obviously bigger theaters take up more room. Smaller theaters are more tucked away.”

  “But still,” said Gabe. “Two hundred is quite a lot.”

  Joey nodded enthusiastically. “I’m hoping I’ll get the part. I want to move here as soon as possible.”

  Gabe frowned. “You’d want to live in New York?” he asked as he merged onto the interstate.

  Joey scoffed. “Hell yeah,” he muttered. “As soon as I’m getting steady enough work. I just need enough money to pay a deposit on an apartment, even just a room somewhere.” He smiled and looked over at Gabe. “Then I’ll be able to walk home when some asshole lifts my wallet.”

  It was ridiculous, but the idea of Joey up and moving to NYC made Gabe sad. “Wouldn’t you miss your family?” he asked. After all, Joey had only just come home after years away touring, or so Gabe had heard on the grapevine. Surely he wasn’t thinking of leaving them again when he could commute to the city and live rent free?

  Joey wrapped his arms around himself and looked out the window again. “They wouldn’t miss me,” he said simply.

  Gabe frowned. Joey’s posture was obviously defensive. “I’m sure they would,” said Gabe.

  Joey sighed, heavily. “No, believe me,” he bit out. There was acid to his words. “Most of them would be happy if I died in a ditch. Why do you think I had to resort to calling you?”

  Gabe blinked a few times. Ouch. That stung.

  From the corner of his eye, Joey unfurled his arms, relaxing his posture. “Sorry,” he said softly. “I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. Truth is,” he added, like he was debating if he wanted to continue talking. “Truth is this is one of the kindest things anyone’s ever done for me. A million times nicer than my family would be. That was my point.”

  There was a compliment buried in there. It was enough to make Gabe smile again. “No sweat,” he said, throwing Joey a smile.

  Driving was easy now they were out of the city and traffic was light. It meant he could risk looking over at Joey more. It was good to see him letting his guard down.

  “I have friends,” Joey said abruptly. “The guys from the band. Blake especially. And guys we toured with, like crew and backup dancers. It’s just…well none of them live around here.”

  “Joey,” said Gabe. “It’s fine, you don’t have to justify yourself. You got in a shitty situation, and I’m kind of flattered I could help.”

  Joey played with the zip on his jacket. “You like helping people,” he commented. “Don’t you?”

  Gabe shrugged. “Yeah. I feel like…you are what you put into the world. If that makes sense?”

  Joey nodded. “That’s how I feel about the arts,” he said. His energy picked up again. It was as if it filled the car, like the scent of aftershave. “I have to leave my mark, give something to the world that will stay after I’m gone. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

  That sounded like a more pessimistic version of his outlook on life, but Gabe was pleased Joey understood what he meant at least.

  “I like caring for people,” said Gabe. “I didn’t have the brains to go into medicine, so I do this and that instead.”

  Joey hummed. “I have a friend who’s a nurse,” he mused. There was a hint of pride there. “It is amazing, isn’t it?”

  Gabe nodded. “Firefighter is as close as I get.”

  “And librarian,” said Joey. He seemed pensive when Gabe glanced over. “Do you think people appreciate you for it?”

  That made Gabe frown. It sounded similar to what he’d said at the fair last weekend. “I don’t do it so that people will like me,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “I do it because seeing other people happy, makes me happy. Maybe it’s selfish, or narcissistic or whatever. But knowing I made someone else’s life that little bit better is more satisfying than, I don’t know, money or whatever.”

  There was a silence after he finished talking. He wondered if he’d upset his guest
, but when he was able to glance over at Joey, he saw he was looking at him strangely. Gabe wondered if he was seeing respect in his eyes.

  “Yeah,” said Joey. “That what my music does, or at least I hope so. It reaches out and leaves people with a tiny spec of joy they didn’t have before.”

  That made Gabe think of pixie dust. That Joey and his band had been sprinkling happiness wherever they went. It was charming.

  “The money must have been good too though, right?” he asked. Because he had to. On the drive down he’d questioned several times how a famous singer couldn’t have any funds in their bank account. He’d decided that Joey just mustn’t have had any cash in the specific account linked to his phone.

  But Joey’s expression told him he’d made a mistake. “Artists are the last to get paid,” he said with a hint of bitterness. “I’m broke. Otherwise, I would never have moved home.”

  Gabe didn’t say anything for a moment. For one thing, he was stunned that Joey could really be poor after all his success, after all that hard work. That was fucked up if that was really true.

  The way he spoke about his family was more disturbing though. “Do you really not get along with them?” Gabe asked, wondering how bad it could be.

  Joey fiddled with the air vent in front of him for a few moments rather than answer Gabe. But Gabe waited patiently.

  “My dad has very strong ideas about what a man should be,” Joey said eventually.

  “Let me guess,” Gabe said, immediately incensed. “Tough and drinking beer and marrying his high school prom queen sweetheart.”

  Joey’s hollow laugh said it all. “You’d think he’d be happy my older brother ticked all those boxes already. But it turns out, having a flaming queer with a career in the arts is apparently the worst sin out there.”

  Gabe gripped the steering wheel tightly. No wonder Joey didn’t like living at home. “So, all your family have a problem with you being gay?”

  Joey shrugged. “Not my mom. But she doesn’t get much of a say in things. She’s been sneaking me food when she can. That cash was from her.” Joey took in a shuddery breath of air. “Fuck, I really have nothing right now.”

  You have me, Gabe wanted to say. But that was ridiculous. He didn’t want to put any pressure on Joey by suggesting there was more between them than there was. But the truth was, Gabe wanted to get to know Joey better before this. Maybe even become friends. Now he was totally committed to showing Joey there was someone else who actually gave a damn about him.

  “Look,” he said. “It’s pretty late now. You wouldn’t want to disturb them by coming home after midnight anyway, right?” His throat was dry, but he did his best to swallow. “So why don’t you crash with me?”

  The offer hung between them for several tense moments.

  “I-I couldn’t,” Joey said eventually. “You’ve already been so kind. I couldn’t impose on you like that.”

  “It wouldn’t be an imposition at all,” Gabe insisted truthfully. “I’ve only got a couch to offer, and last I checked it had a pretty angry cat underneath, but I’ve got a ton of blankets. It’d be no trouble at all.”

  He told himself he was desperate for Joey to say yes purely so he could at least give him one night’s break from his awful family. Hell, part of him was tempted to suggest he move in with Gabe there and then. But he knew that was a kind of madness and kept his mouth shut. Joey was skittish. He didn’t need to be scared off by offering too much, too fast.

  “If it’s really no trouble,” said Joey slowly. “Then, um, that would be amazing.”

  The relief in his voice was all Gabe needed to know he’d done the right thing.

  12

  Joey

  Joey wasn’t sure if he was making a big mistake. But Gabe didn’t seem like a serial killer.

  His brain helpfully reminded him that most didn’t.

  His gut told him not to be so stupid though. That Gabe was someone he could trust. Besides, he’d made zero hints about wanting anything sordid in return for a place to sleep for the night. In fact, Joey was mildly disappointed as he watched Gabe rummaging through his cupboard for spare linen.

  Sharing a bed with such a gorgeous guy might not have been such a hardship.

  But Gabe fussed over sheets and blankets and squishy pillows as he made up the sofa in such a luxurious way it made Joey’s flimsy camp bed in the basement look like a dumpster. He sighed, trying not to let his giddy relief show too badly.

  “It’s going to be so nice just to sleep,” he said with a nervous laugh. “My nephew’s teething and he wakes up at five every morning, without fail, screaming his head off.”

  Gabe laughed. “Bless him. I hope he’s at least cute when he’s not crying?”

  Joey shrugged. Sure he was. But Joey wasn’t allowed anywhere near him. It was like they were scared the kid was going to catch fucking AIDS or something. It hurt, a lot, so he said nothing.

  Instead, he looked around at Gabe’s place. It was nice, grown up. Lots of personal knick-knacks around that made it look like it had been lived in for a long time. Photos and ornaments and furniture that match. Again, he wondered how old Gabe was to have been able to accumulate something like this.

  “Nice house,” he said. He was aware he was still clutching his backpack strap over his shoulder, like holding on to that might protect him. At least he’d kicked his shoes off by the door.

  “It’s my parents’ place,” Gabe said fondly. “I inherited it.”

  “Oh,” said Joey softly. “I’m sorry.” The way Gabe had spoken so passionately about family, Joey assumed he had been close with his folks.

  But Gabe’s eyebrows raised in alarm. “Oh no,” he spluttered with a laugh. “They’re not dead. They just retired to Florida.”

  Relief flooded Joey. He was doubly glad that Gabe’s parents were still with them, and also that he hadn’t put his foot in it. “That’s cool,” he said. Florida wasn’t his favorite place in the world, but he could understand the appeal of that much sunshine.

  “I was a surprise baby,” Gabe continued cheerfully as he put the finishing touches on Joey’s bed. “So they are kind of old. Although you wouldn’t really know it.” He rolled his eyes affectionately. “My mom’s obsessed with Disney. Florida was the ideal place for her to settle down, and my dad basically does anything to make her happy.”

  “They sound sweet,” Joey said. He managed to keep the tinge of jealousy out of his voice. If his dad found out his mom liked anything, he always mocked the shit out of it. His mom always laughed it off as a joke, but Joey could see how much it hurt her when his dad ridiculed her TV shows or attempts she made to draw.

  “They are,” said Gabe. He sounded wistful.

  “You miss them,” Joey observed.

  Gabe smiled. “Yeah, but we talk all the time on the phone. And I gave my new cat a Disney name that I knew Mom would approve of. It makes it feel like she’s around.” He shook his head. “It’s dumb, I know.”

  It wasn’t dumb, but Joey was too busy looking around to say so. “You have a cat?” he asked, incredulous.

  Gabe scoffed. “I know, right?” He surprised Joey by suddenly dropping to his belly. “Here, Duchess,” he cooed. “Come out and meet our guest!”

  When nothing happened, Joey tentatively let his bag rest on the carpet, then crouched beside Gabe. He still couldn’t see under the sofa where Gabe was looking, so he mimicked him and laid down.

  There, in the dark, cramped space, was indeed a cat. She looked at them with wide eyes, her pupils so large Joey couldn’t see the color of her irises. She had a couple of toes missing as well as a chunk from one of her ears, and her fur was all patchy. “That’s Duchess?” he said. That was adorable. He’d never seen a less regal-looking cat in his life.

  Gabe chuckled and sat back up again. Joey followed. “Well, I don’t think she’s coming out. She shouldn’t disturb you overnight though.”

  “I don’t mind,” Joey said. He really didn’t. He hadn’t felt t
his relaxed in a long, long time. He wasn’t worried sick about making rent or terrified his dad was going to come storming down in a filthy temper. He felt safe.

  Which was strange, considering how he didn’t know Gabe, and he didn’t have a cent to his name. But for now, he was all right. He could sleep.

  “Hey, are you hungry?” Gabe asked, already getting to his feet and heading towards the kitchen. “I have leftover lasagna and potato chips and carrot sticks and other stuff.”

  Wordlessly, Joey rose to his feet and followed. Gabe looked so happy as he rummaged through his refrigerator. “I’m okay,” he lied.

  “Are you sure?” asked Gabe. “I’m starving, think I’m gonna nuke some lasagna. I made too much, so you’d be helping me out.”

  Joey felt like maybe he was just saying that, but it was enough to give him an out. “Well, if it’d be doing you a favor?” He grinned, watching Gabe stick a couple of Tupperware bowls into his microwave and set the timer.

  “Beer?”

  Joey agreed with just a nod. There was a lump in his throat. All this kindness was overwhelming. Gabe must surely want something in return? But even as he thought it to himself, he discounted it. He knew enough by now to trust that Gabe was just a nice guy.

  Joey leaned back against the wood dining table and looked around the kitchen. It really was a nice place.

  “So how long have you lived here?”

  Gabe took a swig of his beer. “All my life,” he said. “I’m so lucky. My folks just let me rent it for just enough to cover their place in Florida.”

  “You like it here then?” Joey asked, sipping his own drink.

  He couldn’t imagine voluntarily staying in the same place for his whole life, let alone an area like this. Maybe it was Joey’s own, personal experience of Greenwich – it was a big town after all. But mostly his life had been confined to downtown, which felt too small to him. Claustrophobic.