by Avery Ford
“I’m fine.”
“Why am I not convinced?”
“Don’t you have crime to go fight somewhere?” Caleb demanded.
“Nope.” Kota’s lips twitched upward into a smile. “On lunch. So. Are you taking care of yourself?”
“As well as can be expected.” Caleb leaned against the counter and tried to pull his thoughts together. “I’ve been settling in, thinking things through, looking at finances…”
“Finances, ouch.”
“Yeah…with all the medical follow-ups, I’m not sure how I’m going to manage in the long run without work. Right now, my worker’s comp is covering most of the bills.”
Like life wasn’t already hard enough as it was. Unpacking the house and updating the fire prevention had been a temporary distraction, but Caleb couldn’t keep running from the truth. “I’m living at my parents’ place almost for free, but even the couple hundred I pay them a month will eventually start to run out from my savings. I’ve been thinking about taking on a roommate.”
Caleb didn’t want to do it, but there were few other options. Until he got back on his feet and figured out what he could do for future work, saving as much as he could was a smart idea.
“A roommate?” Kota arched an eyebrow. “Actually…” he turned and peered around him, “…I think I know the perfect candidate. C’mon, he’s actually here right now.”
A routine trip to the diner was turning into something far bigger. Caleb tried to dig in his heels, but Kota took hold of his wrist and tugged him along. In the back corner of the diner, seated in one of the old vinyl booths, were two individuals sharing earbuds plugged into a laptop open before them. A young woman with red hair and a tiny diamond nose stud sat beside a young man with light brown hair and incredible mahogany eyes. The young man looked up at Caleb and Kota as they approached, and Caleb felt an immediate draw.
His heart pounded, and he stopped short of the table as Kota closed the distance.
The young man looked at him curiously, his gentle brown eyes tracing up along Caleb’s chest to his face. These days, Caleb hated when people looked at him, but what he saw in the young man’s eyes wasn’t disgust. It was surprise.
“Henry,” Kota declared as he placed both palms on the table and leaned across it. “I’d like you to meet my best friend in the world, Caleb. Caleb, this is Henry.”
“Hi,” Henry said softly. He plucked the earbud from his ear, gaze never breaking from Caleb’s face. Caleb could tell he wasn’t staring at his scars, or at the eye patch covering his right eye. Instead, Henry was looking through him, like he could see something inside of Caleb that other people couldn’t. Then, visibly startled, Henry’s gaze flicked down.
Caleb’s cock started to stir, and he shifted his thighs and hoped his coat would hide any embarrassment on his behalf.
“Turns out that Henry is looking for a cheap place to stay while he gets back on his feet. We’ve been friends for a while, since uh, well, let’s just say we’ve been friends for a while.” Caleb had been friends with Kota too long, and he knew what the uneasy tone of his voice meant. Henry had either been in trouble with the law, or had been somehow involved with Kota professionally. Since they were friends, Caleb guessed he wasn’t the guilty party.
What had happened to Henry? Caleb’s gut instinct told him that whatever it was, it was bad.
“Caleb’s got a house in town, and he’s looking to rent out a room while he gets back on his feet. I think you two would get along well enough.”
With someone as gorgeous as Henry? Caleb didn’t think it would be hard to get along at all.
“Hey,” Caleb said at last, trying to keep things casual. “Uh, nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Henry said. A smile crept onto his face, shy, and Caleb’s heart leapt into his throat. The instinctive pull he felt toward Henry was insane, but he knew he couldn’t act on it. With a face like his, he wasn’t going to be dating any time soon. The men who’d fallen at his feet before weren’t going to be begging for his attention again. “So, you’re looking for a roommate?”
“I’ll let you two get to know each other.” Kota stepped back from the table. “Gotta get back to work. Let me know how it goes.”
After all that, Kota was leaving? Caleb tried to find something to say to get him to stay, but nothing came to mind. With a wave, Kota left.
“I uh, I am.” Caleb stumbled. After the accident, his voice had changed. It was grittier than it had been before, like the smoke had stuck to his vocal cords and never left. “The place is a few blocks from here, a house. You’d have your own room. The price is negotiable, but two hundred a month is what I’m thinking.”
Caleb knew he was getting hung up on his words, but he couldn’t get over the pull he felt toward Henry. It disarmed him. To think that Henry was looking beyond his injuries and treating him like a person instead of a freak? Caleb saw hope for the future, no matter how small that hope was.
“Is there any chance I can come see the place?” Henry asked. “I’m pretty sure that I’m interested, but I’d like to see it first before I confirm. Is that okay?”
“Of course.” Caleb fumbled as he took his phone from his pocket, still reeling from it all. If Kota and Henry were friends, Henry had to be a decent person. Kota wouldn’t have recommended him as a potential roommate if he wasn’t reputable. “What’s your number?”
They traded numbers and Caleb saved the contact, stuffing the phone back into his pocket. A few months ago, scoring a guy’s number wouldn’t have been anything special. Now it felt monumental.
“I’ll get in touch soon to set something up,” Henry said. He smiled at Caleb, and Caleb took a small step back, unprepared for how Henry’s smile had him feel. “Thanks for the opportunity.”
“Right,” Caleb muttered. He needed to leave before he lost it completely. “See you later.”
Henry didn’t say anything in return, or if he did, Caleb didn’t hear it. He was too busy heading for the door, grabbing his lunch off the counter along the way. His body felt like it was disconnected from his head. Pinpricks of heat danced along his skin and made him want to move.
The last time he’d felt like this was when he was a student, out late and bumming around town with the guy he had a crush on, but who’d never loved him back.
There was something special about Henry, and Caleb hoped he’d follow up on his promise and call to set up a viewing.
It wasn’t like anything could happen between them. It was foolish to think that someone could ever see past his injuries. But if it meant Caleb could feel what he felt in that moment again, it was worth the risk of a broken heart.
Henry
Henry watched Caleb leave the diner. With his hood up and his hands tucked into his pockets, it was impossible to tell that anything was wrong with him from behind. Henry wasn’t overly familiar with scars but he felt like with damage so extensive, Caleb’s injuries had to be from something widespread, like chemical burns or fire. Regret grew in Henry’s heart, and he folded his hands on his lap and watched the door long after it closed.
Beth elbowed him gently in the ribs. “Hey, Henry, you still there?”
“Mm, yeah, I am.” Henry blinked and shook his head to clear it of his thoughts. He hoped that he hadn’t come across as rude, looking into Caleb’s face and making eye contact like he had. It wasn’t like Henry to be so bold, but the icy color of Caleb’s eye reminded him exactly of the dream he’d had earlier that morning. In fact, now that he was thinking back on it, Caleb was shaping up more and more to be like the guy from his dream. Except, of course, for the blistering scars that consumed the right side of his face.
“I asked if you’re going to take him up on it,” Beth said. She tucked a lock of her fire-engine red hair behind her ear and looked at Henry quizzically. “He’s only asking for two hundred a month in rent. I mean, if you’re not going to take him up on it, I will. God. And for a whole house, too.”
“I mean, I have to
go see the place first,” Henry said. He rubbed at the back of his head, thinking back on the conversation they’d had. It had been short, but there was something about Caleb that sparked his interest. Henry couldn’t recall the last time a man had interested him so much. “But I probably will, unless the place is rundown or unsafe. I don’t think I can stay with my parents for much longer. They’re nice and all, but they can come across a little…”
“Yeah, I get it.” Beth nodded. She, too, was watching the door. “You think that guy’s going to be much better? I mean, after what happened with you and Pritchard, I’m just worried about what the people in town are going to think. Word spreads fast.”
“I know.” Henry rubbed his hands along his thighs, warming them, a little cold from the blast of cool air that entered the diner from when Caleb left a minute ago. “I’m not too worried, though. People are already talking about me as it is, right? How much worse can it get? It’s not like we’d be in a relationship. We’re only going to be roommates.”
In a small town like Blue Mountain, people found anything and everything to gossip about. Whether it was his failed relationship with Pritchard and the circumstances behind it, or what had happened to Caleb, word went around. Henry had no way to stop it.
“Well, I’d contact him to set up a viewing ASAP. If word gets around that he’s looking for someone to room with him for only two hundred bucks a month, there’s going to be an influx of interested candidates.” Beth closed the laptop. “Maybe you can stop by after your suit fitting, if he’s available. I wouldn’t want you to lose out on a chance like that.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” Henry felt like it was too soon to get in touch, but he knew that Beth was right. He needed to take his good luck seriously. After everything that had happened in the last few months, Henry took it as a sign that everything was going to work out fine.
He took his phone out and sent Caleb a quick text message asking if he was available later that afternoon. Almost right away, Caleb texted back that he was.
“We’re on,” Henry said, smiling.
“Then let’s get going.” Beth moved across the bench and stood, stretching. Henry followed her. “We’ll get you fitted and get you to that showing with plenty of time to spare before you work. Sound good?”
“Sounds great.” Henry nodded. He put on his coat and zipped it. “Let’s get going.”
Beth had been his best friend since high school. While Henry was quiet and subdued, Beth had a sharp tongue and a smart mouth. Bold and vivacious, she didn’t let anybody stand in her way. Henry admired her for her determination and courage.
It was only while leaning on her strength that he’d found his own resolve to leave Pritchard.
They walked down the street and further into town. The benefit of living in such a small place was that everything was close — the main strip was only a few blocks long, and it contained most of Blue Mountain’s shops. The men’s apparel shop wasn’t far from Crossroads. Beth led the way through the door, the bell above it jingling merrily as they entered. Henry followed her and pulled the zipper of his jacket down. The man who owned the shop, Mr. Besser, was expecting him that afternoon. Henry had bought a suit a few days prior in anticipation of attending interviews, and he wanted to make sure it fit him well.
As stuck-up as his parents could be, they’d taught him a thing or two about looking his best. Henry knew how important first impressions were and he wasn’t about to let a poorly fitted suit get in the way of his success.
Mr. Besser was busy with another client when Henry entered, so Henry and Beth walked around the shop, inspecting the clothes. There were fine suits and simple polos, ties and cuff links. Two women were huddled by the tie rack, and as Henry passed, he heard part of their conversation.
“… said that he was being abused.”
“Do you think it’s true?”
“No. I think it’s a sham. I mean, who would—” When the woman saw that Henry and Beth had wandered into earshot, she abruptly stopped speaking, a flush of pink spreading over her cheeks. She grabbed a tie and held it toward her friend. “What do you think of this for Gil? Do you think it would bring out his eyes?”
They’d been talking about him. Henry tucked his hands into his pockets and squeezed his arms tightly against his body. Did everyone in town really know about Pritchard? Back in the diner he’d been partially exaggerating, but now it seemed like it was true. Blue Mountain was alive with the news. His news.
Hearing them talk made him feel small, like he was being picked on in elementary school all over again. Henry hung his head and shrunk in on himself, the remainder of the time in Mr. Besser’s shop spent in relative silence. By the time Mr. Besser took him to be measured and fitted, the women were gone, but Henry’s uncertainties remained.
Measurements taken and a promise from Mr. Besser that it would only be a couple of days until he could pick his suit up, Henry and Beth left the store and parted ways as Beth had to get to work.
Alone, Henry checked the text message Caleb had sent to make sure he had the address right, then walked to the location. The house was comfortably close to the downtown strip, sizable and well maintained considering its surroundings. From the outside, it was cute. If the insides matched, Henry was sure he’d like it.
Henry headed up the driveway and rang the bell, suddenly feeling nervous.
The click of the lock drew Henry’s attention, and he watched as the doorknob turned and the door pulled open. Standing on the other side was Caleb, no longer wearing his coat. He wore a baggy maroon hoodie instead, the zipper drawn all the way up to his neck and the hood up. “Hey.”
“Hi.” Henry shuffled his feet, feeling self-conscious. There was a feeling in his chest that stuck in his ribs when he looked at Caleb. It wasn’t disgust. In fact, it wasn’t anything negative at all.
Whatever it was felt good.
“Is this an okay time? I know I didn’t really give you much warning.”
“Now’s fine.” Caleb stepped back from the threshold. “Come in.”
Hesitantly, Henry entered and knocked the bottom of his shoes on the doormat. The house was empty, like it hadn’t been lived in for a long time. Henry bit his lip and looked left and right, confused. Caleb was living here, wasn’t he?
“This is the house.” Caleb’s tone was frosty, but he wasn’t being rude. Henry looked him over curiously, never lingering on his injuries for long. “The downstairs would be shared space. There is a master bedroom upstairs that would be yours and yours alone. It’s the biggest one in the house.”
To the left of the front door was the staircase leading to the top floor. Henry chewed on his bottom lip and looked from it back to Caleb. “Can we go up there after we take a tour of the downstairs?”
“Sure.” Caleb shrugged one shoulder and gestured with his chin further into the house. “Let’s go.”
The downstairs was quaint. The furniture was lacking, and the few pieces there were looked mismatched to the house. In the corner of the living room was a stack of cut-down cardboard boxes. It looked like Caleb hadn’t been living there long.
“So how do you know Kota?” Henry asked to break the silence. They moved through the dining room and into a small porch out back. The house was silent, the sounds of their footsteps and the hum of the fridge the only ambient noise.
“We’ve been best friends since we were born,” Caleb replied. There was little emotion in his voice, and Henry could tell he was walled off on purpose. “The two of us have always been close. When he heard I was moving back to Blue Mountain, he volunteered to come down to where I was living in Texas and help me pack. We made the drive back together.”
“Oh.” That made sense. “Did you buy this place?”
Caleb gave the barest shake of his head. “It belonged to my parents. They moved to Florida a few years ago, but the mortgage on this house was paid off so they decided to keep it around just in case I wanted to come back. I never thought I would.” His voice traile
d off slightly before he snapped back to attention, brisk and business-like. “Guess I’m glad they kept it now. All they want is for me to pay utilities and send some money their way to cover taxes, but I feel bad not sending them anything more. What you’ll pay in rent will go toward thanking them for letting me stay here.”
As closed off and surly as Caleb was, there was a good guy inside of him. Henry smiled, feeling himself start to loosen up. Caleb seemed like the kind of guy who hid who he really was, opening up slowly to those around him. Henry had a feeling that he was worth getting to know.
“So it’d be just two hundred a month?” Henry asked, double-checking.
“Yep.” Caleb gestured toward the stairs. “Do you want to go check out the bedroom? It’s spacious. You could fit a king size in there without issue.”
“No, it’s fine.” Between the friendship he shared with Kota and the cheap rent for a good cause, Henry didn’t need to see the rest of the house. The interior was in respectable condition, Caleb seemed to be a good guy, and the location was perfect. Henry wouldn’t tempt fate any longer. “If you’re willing to have me, I’d be glad to move in.”
“You don’t want to talk about house expectations, or—”
“Nope.” Henry grinned. “I have a feeling we’re going to get along. If you’re willing to do this, so am I.”
Caleb gave him a long look, eyes narrowed slightly as though he was trying to figure out if he was serious. “Then I guess we have a deal.”
It was the start of something wonderful. Henry just knew it.
Henry
Henry scratched at his jaw as he looked at the duffle bag on his bed. To one side, rolled into tight balls of fabric, were his shirts. To the other, crammed in as tight as he could get, were his pants. Between laid socks and underwear, and somewhere deep beneath them was his second set of shoes. He’d done his best to fit everything he owned in one bag. Henry exhaled loudly - seeing his life packed into one meager bag hurt. Was this all he was?
