by Tinnean
He scrambled into his clothes, then folded the scrubs and exited the bathroom. “Where should I—oh.” The nurse was gone, but Mr. Cooper was still there.
He held up Mopp’s half boots, and Mopp smiled at him.
“Yeah, that’s all that survived the ER. But…” He turned the plastic bag inside out. “No socks.”
“Oh, ye of little faith.” Mr. Cooper grinned at him and pulled a pair of rolled-up socks from his pants pocket.
“I thought you were just happy to see me.” Oh, hell, that had just come out of his mouth? “I’m sorry.”
Mr. Cooper looked startled for a minute, but then he started to laugh. “You’re a scamp, Mopp. Put on your socks and boots and then let’s get you out of here.”
“Are we gonna ride your Harley?”
“Not today. I borrowed Tom’s car.”
“Well, shoot.”
Mr. Cooper ruffled his hair. “Maybe another time.”
“Really?”
“Sure.”
“Cool.”
“Have you ever ridden one?”
“No. My balance can be off at times, and I could never keep one upright.”
“We’ll just have to start you on something smaller.”
“You… you’d be willing to teach me?”
“Sure I would.” Mr. Cooper grinned at him, and he was surprised to feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
“It’s going to take me a while to save up for one, even one as small as a putt putt.”
Mr. Cooper ruffled his hair. “Why don’t we see whether you enjoy it or not before we worry about that?”
“Okay.”
“Okay. I’ve got something else for you.” Mr. Cooper reached into the breast pocket of his shirt and held out his palm.
“Oh!” Lying on it was the river rock Mopp’s sister Jennie had given him. “Thank you.” He took the rock, eased the braided chain over his head, and slipped it into his shirt. It was cool against his chest, but he knew it would warm up soon. “Thank you more than I can say!”
Without giving it any thought at all, he wrapped his arms around Mr. Cooper’s waist and rested his head against his chest. Mr. Cooper’s heart beat strong and steady under his cheek.
Mr. Cooper stroked his back, and to Mopp’s surprise, he felt his dick start to harden. He didn’t want to leave the warm haven of Mr. Cooper’s embrace, but he remembered Rush’s words. He didn’t want to be thought of as a cock tease.
He tightened his hug for a last minute, then patted Mr. Cooper’s back and stepped back. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, before I get you home, we need to stop at the pharmacy to have your prescription filled.”
They left the hospital room and walked down the corridor toward the bank of elevators. And Mopp had the almost overpowering urge to reach out and take Mr. Cooper’s hand in his.
What would he think if Mopp did that?
Mopp gripped the river rock beneath his shirt with one hand, then released it, moistened his lips, and tucked his hands in his pockets instead.
***
MR. COOPER PULLED into the long driveway of the ranch. His Harley was parked to the side, and Mopp eyed it with subdued excitement. He was actually going to ride on it.
Okay, not just now, but soon. And he’d get to hold on to Mr. Cooper. His fingertips tingled.
“I really appreciate you driving me home,” he said as he opened the car door, gripping the bag that held the medication Dr. Monroe had prescribed for him and hoping that would distract him.
“Hold still.”
“Huh?”
“I’m coming around to get you.” And Mr. Cooper was out of the car before Mopp could insist he was all right. “Okay, now let me get an arm around you.”
Mr. Cooper slid his arm around Mopp’s torso and helped him out. And that was… nice.
“How’s your head?”
“It’s still there.”
“Ha ha. That wasn’t amusing.”
“I’m really okay.”
“Right. I’m gonna get you settled. Later I’ll take you to Jackson’s wake.”
“I… I was afraid to ask. I thought I might have missed it.”
“No, the funeral is on Tuesday, and the visitation is today and tomorrow. Tad and Miss Becca wanted to make sure there would be enough time for all their daddy’s friends and colleagues to have the opportunity to pay their respects.”
“How’s JT doing?”
Mr. Cooper sighed. “He says he’s fine, but his eyes are red. This is tough for him. He loved Jackson for a long time.”
Mopp sighed, a little surprised to find Mr. Cooper sighing again, but this time in sync with him. “Will any of Mr. Jackson’s family come to the viewing?”
“His brother Andy drove down from Charlotte with his wife and their family. They’re staying in the big house. There’s plenty of room, with Rush in Tad’s room and Miss Jan moved out—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought her up.”
“No, it’s okay. We haven’t been boyfriend/girlfriend since New Year’s Eve…” Although she’d kept him at a distance since Christmas. “… and I have to get used to that fact.”
“Still, I’m sorry.”
Mopp decided changing the subject was the best bet. “What about the rest of Mr. Jackson’s family?” He remembered they had refused to come to Tad and Rush’s wedding.
“No. And I doubt they’ll come to the funeral. Even if Tad and Miss Becca hadn’t chosen a Unitarian church for the service, the rest of Jackson’s family wouldn’t show up, simply because of Tom.”
“Families can suck.”
“That they can.” And Mr. Cooper gave Mopp’s shoulders a slight squeeze as he urged him toward the bunkhouse.
***
IT HAD BEEN a long time since anyone had hovered over him—by the time he had turned seven, Momma had said he was too big a boy for that nonsense. As for Jan… she never seemed to think he could use a little coddling now and then, although she insisted on it for herself.
Mopp had to admit it was an amazing experience. Mr. Cooper nuked a frozen dinner for him so he’d have something in his stomach before he took the pills the doctor had prescribed for the nagging headache. He plumped pillows on the narrow bed and made sure Mopp was comfortable, with a glass of lemonade on the bedside table.
“Try and get some rest. We have to be at the funeral home at two, so I’ll be here to see you’re awake and ready to go about half an hour earlier.”
“Thank you. Um… Mr. Cooper?” He drew in a breath. “Do you have to leave just now? I mean, could you stay for a little while? I know it’s an imposition…”
“Is something wrong?”
“It’s just… Every time I close my eyes, I see Mr. Jackson with all that blood pouring out of him, and I…” He shook his head helplessly. “I can’t do anything to stop it.”
“Sure, Mopp. I’ll stay with you. Want me to put on the television? There should be a game on. Or something.”
“Thanks. I’d like that.” Mopp watched as the big man went to the dresser where the small TV sat, picked up the remote, and pressed the button that turned it on.
Then he brought the lone chair close to the bed and handed Mopp the remote. “Why don’t you see what you feel like watching? I’ll go nuke us some popcorn.”
“Okay. Wait, how do you know I have popcorn?”
“When I came to get your clothes, I checked to see if you needed anything. I have to say I was surprised by the selection of popcorn in your pantry. Or did you have them for Miss Jan?”
“No, Jan didn’t like spending time in the bunkhouse.” She thought it had no class. “I like the different flavors.” He had white cheddar, kettle corn, caramel, buttered, really buttered... Jan, on the other hand… “Jan isn’t a big fan of popcorn.”
“Hmm. Well, how does the caramel sound?”
“Good.” His fingers would get covered with the sticky coating, but that was okay. He’d just lick them clean.
“Okay, then.”
Mopp pressed the channel selector on the remote and surfed the various stations. Meet the Press was on, but he really wasn’t a big fan of politics. Football wouldn’t be aired until this afternoon, and he didn’t feel like watching golf or soccer.
“Hey, The Maltese Falcon is on. Can we watch it?”
“Mopp, this is your place. You can watch whatever you want. You don’t have to ask me.”
“It’s only polite.” Mopp grinned, pleased he wouldn’t have to be alone, even if it was only for a little while.
“Well, The Maltese Falcon is fine with me.”
“Cool! Hurry up with that popcorn. The movie’s already started, and it looks like Sam Spade is going to meet Wilmer the gunsel in the hotel lobby. Did you know Wilmer was supposed to be gay?”
“Yeah.” Josh brought in the bowl of popcorn, smiling. “They slipped it in the movie by using gunsel, which meant a young homosexual.” He sat down and held out the bowl of popcorn.
Mopp grinned at him and took a handful of popcorn. He wished his bed was big enough so Josh could sit on it with him. It would make sharing the popcorn much easier.
And it would be… companionable... as well.
Chapter 14
WELL, YOU ARE a dope, Joshua Cooper. He gazed down at Mopp, who was curled up on his side, having fallen asleep even before Sam Spade went to Brigid O’Shaughnessy’s hotel room.
Josh had watched the rest of the movie and finished the caramel popcorn. He’d never had it before, but he liked it. Or maybe he’d just liked sharing it with Mopp, liked when their fingers collided in the search for more popcorn.
He thought for a minute of Mopp’s teasing words when he’d pulled the rolled-up socks from his pocket. If only he’d meant them.
But of course he hadn’t. Mopp was straight.
And after he’d given Mopp his river rock back, he’d thought Mopp was going to cry. Instead, he’d hugged Josh. And what had Josh done? Sprung wood. Of course Mopp hadn’t known what was going on.
He was straight.
A glance at the clock on the wall told him he’d better wake Mopp up soon if they wanted to get to the funeral home on time.
Josh shook his shoulder. “Mopp? Come on, sweet boy.” Shit. That had slipped out again. He had to watch his mouth. He cleared his throat. “It’s time to wake up.”
“Mmm?” Mopp rolled onto his back, opened his astonishingly blue eyes, and smiled up sleepily at him. “Hi, Josh.”
Hearing his name on those lush lips made him regret more than ever that Mopp wasn’t gay.
“Hello.” He touched Mopp’s forehead gently. “We’ve got to get ourselves together, okay?”
“Where are we go—Oh. Yes, Mr. Jackson’s wake.” The happiness in his eyes dimmed, and he rolled over and sat up, flinching when the movement must have made his head start aching again.
Josh rubbed Mopp’s shoulder. Usually he avoided touching him, but under the circumstances, Mopp could use a human touch. “Do you need to take a shower?”
Mopp sniffed his armpits.
Josh chuckled. “No, I wasn’t insinuating you smelled.”
Mopp blushed. “I think I’d better, if only to wash away the feel of the hospital.”
“You weren’t there all that long. Thank God.”
“I know, but as small as this shower is, it’s better than the one at St. Mark’s.”
“Go get started. I’ll pick out some clothes for you.”
“Thanks.” Mopp got to his feet cautiously, and once he seemed certain he wouldn’t topple over, he walked into the bathroom.
Josh allowed himself one appreciative look, then went to the closet, opened the pocket door—Jackson had had a thing for pocket doors and put them wherever he could—and smiled as he checked out the contents.
Mopp didn’t seem to have any dress clothes beyond the tuxedo he’d worn to the wedding not quite two weeks before… Oh God, so much had happened in such a short period of time.
Josh found another pair of black jeans but only T-shirts with band logos, snarky phrases, or Jackson Construction across the front. He chewed on his lower lip, then went to the dresser and took out clean underwear.
Mopp’s room was so tiny it only took three steps for him to reach the bathroom. Josh tapped on the door.
There was no answer, but he could hear the shower running, so he tapped harder. “Mopp, is it okay if I leave your underwear in the bathroom.”
“Huh? Oh, sure.”
Josh opened the door and was hit in the face with a wall of steam. Mopp must like his showers hot. On the sink was the river rock, the braided chain wound neatly around it.
“I can’t find a shirt for you, so I’m going to the house to see if Rush has one that might fit.”
“Oh, check the closet in Jan’s room.” Mopp held aside the shower curtain enough so he could poke his head around it. And Josh nearly swallowed his tongue, knowing Mopp was naked behind the curtain. “I don’t think she’d want to take any of my clothes with her.”
“You slept in Miss January’s room?” He groaned. Of course Mopp and his girlfriend would share a room. What was he thinking?
“Actually, she insisted I keep my dress clothes in her closet. She thought mine was too small and would wrinkle them.”
“So you do have dress clothes.”
“Yeah. JT helped me shop for them. I… I wanted Jan to be proud of me. Get… get whatever you think is appropriate for a wake.” He drew his head back in and pulled the shower curtain closed.
Josh could see Mopp’s silhouette through the curtain, and while he knew it was pervy, he couldn’t resist admiring the high, tight butt that was just visible.
Okay, Cooper. Out. He lowered the toilet lid and placed the underwear on it. “I’ll… go.”
And he got himself out of there.
***
JOSH LET HIMSELF into the kitchen and came to an abrupt halt. Tom was sitting at the table, rolling a coffee mug between his palms. Across from him was Miz Babe.
“Hey, Tom. How are you doing?”
“Hey, buddy. I’m hanging in there.”
“Miz Babe.”
“Hi, Mr. Cooper.” She was pale. “I’ll go back to our room, Mr. Weber.”
“You won’t do anything just yet?”
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I won’t.” And she left the room.
“Tommy?”
“She blames herself for this.” He continued fiddling with the mug.
“Why?”
“Apparently this wasn’t simply a drive-by shooting with Jack in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was an attempted kidnapping.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Her little boy was the target. And she feels guilty about Jack.” He met Josh’s gaze. “I think I’ve talked her into staying put at least until after the funeral. I hope I have. I called Tim and Cris and asked them to meet us at the funeral home.”
Josh felt cold. Tim and Cris, who owned and ran the Always Reddy Pub, had been the ones to ask Tom for a favor: take in the young woman and her son.
“Are Miz Babe and Denny going to be there too?”
“Yeah.”
Josh stared into Tom’s blue eyes. Funny how looking into them no longer made his knees go weak and his heart turn over. “Am I gonna need my gun?”
“I don’t know, but we’re all going to be carrying.”
“Okay.” Josh knew Tom and Jackson had seen all the kids, even Miss Becca, knew about gun safety and how to fire a gun. “I just need to get some clothes for Mopp and then I’ll head home.”
“That’s right, that closet in the bunkho
use isn’t big enough to hold all the clothes January insisted he needed. Come on, I’ll take you to her room.” He set down the cup and rose, and Josh followed him down the long hallway to the section of the house where the bedrooms were.
***
JOSH RETURNED TO the bunkhouse about ten minutes later. Tom had loaded him down, and he carried a black suit and a white shirt, both on hangers, and a bag holding a pair of black loafers.
Mopp was sitting on the bed, a fresh bandage on his forehead and dressed in black boxer briefs, undershirt, and socks, holding on to the river rock which was once again around his neck. He seemed relieved when Josh entered the room. “I was starting to think you’d taken one look at Jan’s room and had run screaming back to your house. Those lamps beside her bed—”
“With all that gold fringe? I don’t like to cast aspersions on a lady’s taste, but frankly, those lamps are pretty heinous.” Josh laid the clothes on the bed. “Mopp… I have to go home.”
“For your own clothes?” Mopp looked dismayed. “Darn, I’m sorry—making you get my stuff held you up.”
“No. I mean, I do have to change, but…”
“Josh, what’s wrong?”
“You can tell something is bothering me?”
“Well, yeah. You’re my friend.”
“I am, aren’t I?” Josh especially liked that Mopp was calling him by his first name. He handed Mopp his shirt. “Something’s come up, and I have to get my gun.”
Mopp paused in sliding his arms into his sleeves. “Why do you need to be armed?”
For a second, Josh considered keeping the truth from Mopp. After all, he’d been shot and had a concussion. But then he gazed into Mopp’s blue eyes, and he sighed. “Tom just told me what happened Friday evening wasn’t random.”
“No.”
“It—what do you mean no?”
“Those men wanted Miz Babe’s little boy.”
“You remember?”
Mopp gazed up at him. “I never didn’t remember.”
“But the doctor said you might have blank spaces in your memory due to the concussion.”
Mopp worried his lower lip and finished buttoning up his shirt. “I guess the concussion wasn’t as bad as he thought. Do you have a spare rifle?”
