by Tara Lain
Tom snuggled his head into the crook of Merle’s neck. “You sure smell good. I guess I should go to sleep now so I can be sharp tomorrow like Billy wants me to be.”
Just when Merle took a breath and accepted the warm weight on his shoulder, Tom got out of bed, left the room, and closed the door behind him.
Merle wiped his damp cheeks and stared at the ceiling.
Chapter Fifteen
OH SHIT, it’s morning.
The creak of a floorboard and the sound of the bathroom door meant Tom was moving around. Merle took a deep breath. Get up, asshole. Get up and face the music.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed. Up was just a position. Sleep didn’t really define what he’d done most of the night. Obsess. Recriminate. Label himself a nitwit fool. Yes to all that. Sleep—not so much.
Fortunately, his small apartment did have a master bath, so he dragged himself to his feet and used it. He stepped under the hot water and took the world’s fastest shower and tried hard not to picture Tom standing under the water on the other side of the wall. Seeing Tom naked had surpassed all his prurient dreams by a lot. Would he ever get to see that again?
Yes, Tom said he’d like to have sex again, but for Merle to take advantage of that would label him a full-on asshole. If he really worked at it, he could justify the previous night by kind of blaming it on Tom. Merle was vulnerable, Tom attacked his cock, sex ensued. Yes, a really responsible adult would have stopped before that last step. Well, maybe not if they hadn’t had good sex in—forever. That was once, but as his witty friend in London said about the second Bush presidency, once could be a mistake. Twice was a trend.
He pulled on some jeans he took from his dresser drawer and glanced out the bedroom window. Bright sun reflected off the wall of the neighboring apartment house, so he added a short-sleeved T-shirt and then layered a long-sleeved shirt over it. Later, when the heat of the day arrived, he’d take off the shirt. Flip-flops completed the super casual ensemble. Okay, quit stalling. What would he find on the other side of the door?
Nothing. He peered down the short hall, but no Tom. He glanced in the guestroom. All the sheets had been removed from the bed and were folded at the foot of it. So very Tom to be neat and thoughtful. A few steps later, Tom’s gorgeous ass in tight black denim greeted him as Tom leaned over the open refrigerator door.
Merle said, “I should have warned you. It’s empty.”
Tom stood upright and gave Merle a grin. “You’re not kidding. I was going to make breakfast, but I don’t know how to make something from wine, peanut butter, and mustard.”
Merle laughed. That unexpected humor again. “How about I stop at Starbucks and get us some breakfast sandwiches and whatever you like to drink.”
“That would be great.”
“Are you all ready to go?”
Tom nodded, and if a tiny flicker of sadness showed in his eyes, the next instant they crinkled in sunny smiles.
Merle walked to the door. “Okay. Let’s go free the boys.”
The trip down the freeway consisted mostly of Alicia singing and them chewing as Tom consumed two turkey bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches while Merle ate one. Somehow Tom managed to make the atmosphere friendly and almost relaxed. Miracle, considering.
They turned off the freeway on the Laguna Canyon Road and wound through the open hills and heavy vegetation that separated the village of Laguna Beach from the outside world. Halfway down the road toward town, small businesses started showing up on either side—auto towing, art galleries, a seasonal nursery, and a koi fish seller. As they got nearer, Tom said, “Would you mind stopping at the shelter? It’s right up here. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Oh, okay.” Surprising, but hell, he’d do most anything Tom asked since he felt so grateful he didn’t have to live through an emotional scene.
He followed Tom’s directions and made the mad dash between the flow of Saturday cars going to and from the beach to enter the parking lot behind the animal shelter.
Tom bounded out of the car, and when Merle joined him, he took Merle’s arm and pulled him along. “I’m so excited.”
Inside they were greeted by a chorus of muffled barks and whines. Tom waggled his finger and led him toward the door in the back wall. A side door that seemed to lead out into a yard opened and a short black-haired woman walked in. “Hello, Tom. I didn’t know you were coming today.”
“I’m not. I have to work. But I want my friend to meet Mist.”
The woman gave Merle a thorough once-over. “Do I get to meet your friend, Tom?”
He pressed a hand to his chest. Practically the first gesture Tom had ever made that looked gay. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Hernandez. This is my good friend Merle Justice.”
“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”
“Aren’t you a television actor?”
“Yes.”
She fanned herself with her hand. “I do love that show. It’s hot.”
“Boy, you’re right about that, Mrs. H. I got to see it, and I was really embarrassing.” Tom chuckled and started fanning too.
“You mean you were embarrassed?” She smiled.
“No. Embarrassing the way I acted. I got all red and stuff.”
She chuckled. “Well, get on back there. Mist misses you, Tom.”
“I know.” He frowned. “I wish—” He shrugged.
“I hate to tell you this, but that woman was back.”
“Mrs. Rancuso?”
“Yes. She comes in and looks around but never chooses a dog.”
“She gives me the creeps.”
Mrs. Hernandez shook her head. “Maybe she really likes dogs and we’re not giving her credit?”
“Maybe.” He seemed to force a half smile. “Come on, Merle.”
Merle followed Tom through that door in the wall, and the barks and yips got louder. Good-sized cages lined the walls, and each one had at least a single occupant and often more than one. Tom opened a cabinet and took out a half-empty bag of dry dog food.
“What’s the thing about the woman?”
“This lady, Mrs. Rancuso, comes in and looks at dogs, but she doesn’t seem—” He shrugged. “—nice. I don’t want to think about her.” He waved at the dogs as he strode past. “Sorry, boys and girls, I don’t have time to stop today. I love you, though, and I’ll be back soon.”
At the end of the row, they came to a big cage with four dogs in it. Merle didn’t know much about dogs. His folks hadn’t ever let him have one since they traveled so much and didn’t want to have to find a dog sitter all the time. The four furries pressed near the door to the cage, giving excited yips at seeing Tom. One was a German shepherd, Merle was pretty sure. The big golden one looked like a dog he’d seen a lot, but the other two, the silvery ones, were beautiful and exotic and kind of spooky with their light gray eyes that stared without blinking.
“Hi, boys and girls. This is my friend Merle. I want you to meet him.” He pushed the door open, and the dogs backed up to let him in. Three of them crowded in for petting, but the silver one kind of backed up and watched. It would check out Merle and then watch Tom intently. Tom walked over to their dishes and poured a little food into each one. The three dogs rushed over and started eating. The one that had held back sidled to Tom and leaned against him.
“There’s my girl. Merle, this is Mist, and she’s a very special girl. Aren’t you?” He ran his hands over her sleek coat and nuzzled her pretty head. “Mist, this is Merle. I knew you two had to meet because you’re both strong and beautiful.”
Merle caught his breath. How could Tom say things that ripped his heart out? He cleared his throat. “What kind of dog is she?”
“She’s a Weimaraner. Sometimes they call them the gray ghosts. You can pet her. She’s shy but friendly.”
Merle ran a hand over her short, sleek fur. Amazing. So silky. “You sure are pretty, Mist.”
“I hope someone wants her soon. Mrs. H. is running out of space for the big
dogs, and people don’t take them as much since they’re harder to keep and people want puppies. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to Mist.” He wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged. “Actually, the whole shelter is in bad trouble.”
“Why?”
“Money. She needs to have a fundraiser, but she says even fundraisers cost money.”
“A fundraiser’s usually an event where you invite people to a party and then ask them for money.”
“Oh yeah, parties are expensive, aren’t they?”
“That kind of party is.” He stroked Mist’s back, and she shivered and gave him a sweet look. “You have to send out invitations and have drinks and food. It can be really costly. Plus, you have to know the right people to invite.”
“The right people like the ones with money?”
“Yep.”
“Wow.” Tom frowned and shook his head, then took a breath, looked up, and smiled. “Okay, let’s go rescue the boys and go to work.”
“Deal.”
Tom hugged Mist once more before the other big dogs rushed over for their petting; then he and Tom managed to back out of the cage. As they walked away, Merle looked back at Mist, who stood near the edge of the cage watching them go like she’d lost her best friend. I guess she kind of did.
Back in the small reception area, Mrs. Hernandez waved to them as she talked on the phone. “Yes, I’ll try to get you the rest of the payment by the end of the month.” She covered the mouthpiece. “See you soon, Tom.” She went back to her conversation, and they walked out into the sunshine.
Driving down the Canyon Road, Tom picked an up-tempo song on the radio and bobbed along in his seat. Merle smiled but kept thinking about the wide eyes of the beautiful dog.
Tom’s phone rang, and he looked so surprised Merle actually laughed.
“I forgot I had it.” He looked at the screen and smiled, then clicked. “Hi, Lily.”
The sister who always asked for money.
“How was your dance? Did you have a good time?” He listened. “Oh, I’m sorry. You shouldn’t go out with boys who you don’t really like, Lily. But I know how that is. I’ll bet you looked pretty in your new dress and shoes, though. Did you take a picture?” More listening. “I went dancing too, like I told you.” He chuckled. “I’m not shitting, Lily. I went dancing with Merle Justice.” He frowned a little. “I didn’t make it up. I know I said I’d take a picture, but they don’t want pictures from the movie studio because it’s really hush-hush.” He made a huffing sound. “Hang on.” He looked over at Merle. “Will you talk to my sister and tell her I’m not lying? I did go to the movie studio and I did go dancing.”
He clicked the phone, and Merle heard a girl’s voice.
“Hi, Lily, this is Merle Justice. Tom isn’t lying. He never lies, you know that. He came to the movie studio a few days ago, and last night he went dancing with me and some friends.” Might as well spare the details.
“Oh, come on. You could be anybody. Where would my brother meet Merle Justice?” The cool, snarky voice sounded too old and jaded for sixteen.
Merle heard his voice cool a little too. “He’s working on my house. Your brother’s an accomplished electrician and carpenter.”
“Right.”
What a little snit. “How else would he be able to afford your dresses?”
Slight pause. “He told you about that, did he?”
“Yes.”
They pulled up at the light where Laguna Canyon turned into Broadway. Tom said, “Hold on, Lily!” He leaned over toward Merle and snapped a selfie of the two of them. “I’m sending you a picture right now.” He clicked a few keys and then grinned. “You’re going to be so surprised.”
Quiet.
“Did you get it, Lily?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“See. I told you.”
“So are you really Merle Justice, or do you just look like him?”
That voice said she was used to hearing lies. “I’m really Merle Justice. I play Luca on Blood on the Boyfriend Jeans. I’m twenty-five, I stand six feet tall, have blond hair and blue eyes. I was raised in New York and studied acting at Juilliard.”
“Why are you telling me all that?”
Merle sighed. “Because you’re being a shit to your brother, and I am who I say I am.”
Silence. Then she burst out laughing. “I actually believe you.”
“About time.” But he smiled when he said it.
“So what are you doing hanging out with Tom? You don’t have other friends?”
Enough of this shit. “Listen, Lily, your brother has lots of friends. I happen to be one of them. But since he goes to a lot of trouble to help take care of you, I suggest you be one of them too.”
Tom glanced at him with wide eyes.
Lily said, “Okay. I was just joking.”
“Good.” He pulled up in front of Mrs. Allison’s house where Tom rented a small room because he sent all his money to his unappreciative sister, and he wanted to tell her so—but he didn’t.
Tom picked up the phone again. “So that was Merle.” He glanced over. “Yeah, he is. So why did you call me?” He nodded. “Oh, okay, good. I love you, Lily. Bye.” He looked at Merle. “That was Lily. She said you’re pretty intense.” He chuckled.
“Sorry. She just pissed me off.”
“Thank you for caring, Merle. You want to come see the boys?” He got out of the car and started up the walk to the house.
Merle hopped out and followed, the words “Thank you for caring” ringing in his ears.
Inside, he followed Tom up the stairs. When Tom opened the door, Fluffy and Tigger went nuts, but he told them to sit and they did, their rear ends wiggling but otherwise obedient. Beyond was a small room kept so neat and clean it shone, despite the two fuzzy occupants. Most of the décor was neutral, like it might belong to the landlady rather than Tom, with the notable exception of an X-Men bedspread.
Tom hooked the two dogs on leashes, and they practically pulled him out the door, they wanted to go so badly. Merle tagged along as they walked down the sidewalk toward a small park, where Tom unhooked the dogs and they ran around like crazy fiends until they both finally pooped and peed.
Tom walked over with his pooper bags and collected the mess. “Mrs. A. doesn’t trust them to come back to her, so she never takes them far or lets them off the leash. She’s scared of the coyotes too. The boys go kind of crazy when I’m not here.”
“Did you get them at the shelter?”
“Yes. I’d like to have more. I wish I could have Mist, but she’s too big for my room.” He smiled softly.
As they walked back to the house, Tom said, “I sure did like last night, Merle. Thank you.”
Holy shit, what do I say? I guess the truth. “I liked it too, Tom.”
Chapter Sixteen
MERLE WALKED with Tom to take the boys back to their little room. Man, I wish they had someplace bigger to play. What? You’ve suddenly become Mr. Dog Person?
After a short drive, they pulled up in front of Merle’s new house. Merle said, “I’m going to go leave my stuff at Ru and Gray’s. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay. See you.” Tom stepped out of the car, and Merle couldn’t peel his eyes from that big figure walking stalwartly toward his house carrying tools. Did he look lonely? No, that’s probably just me.
A few minutes of nonthinking later, he pulled into the driveway at Ru and Gray’s. He’d be glad when he could stay at his own house. Ru and Gray always insisted they wanted him around, but it was tough to believe he wasn’t in their way at least sometimes. Still, the lure of being with friends beat hanging out in his little LA apartment all to hell—unless Tom happened to be there.
He stared at the steering wheel. Tom. I barely knew what to do with the guy when he was just my friend. Now he’s my lover. Jesus, no, it was a one-time thing. Great for both of us. Nobody got hurt. Get over it.
He piled out of the car before he could call himself a fool an
d knocked at the door of the house. Yes, he had a key, but it was Saturday. No barging in.
The door opened, and Ru stood there yawning in his jammie bottoms and a T-shirt, hair doing bed-head things. “Hey. Did you forget your key?”
“No. I just didn’t want to walk in on you fucking on the dining room table.”
He waved a hand. “Nah. You missed that by hours. Come in and feed me coffee. Gray’s doing inhumanly ridiculous alpha-male activities in the gym. Save me.”
God, he loved Ru. He walked straight to his guest room and left the few clothes he’d brought. He had a pretty healthy percentage of his wardrobe already here, to say nothing of a whole store of toiletries. Then he headed for the kitchen, where Ru fumbled with the coffeemaker. “Let me do that. I need to earn my keep.” He measured out the ground coffee into the maker. “Late night?”
“Yeah. We had dinner with Artie and his wife.”
“I miss Artie. How’s he doing?”
“He hasn’t given up on the plan to do Hamlet as a film with Gray and you in it. He was excited to hear you’re doing a movie for Montrose.”
“Is he any closer to getting the funds he needs?”
“Yes, actually. And if you become a big movie star, he’ll have two giant names he can take to the bank.”
“Let’s not count our bridges before they’re hatched.”
Ru snorted. He pulled the glass carafe out from under the flow of coffee emerging from the maker and caught the fragrant liquid in his cup, then shoved the carafe back when the cup was full. He inhaled deeply from the cup, poured in a little cream, then sipped with his eyes closed. “Um. The day has sunshine.”
Merle poured himself a cup and added cream as well.
“Wasn’t last night your dancing night?”
“Uh, yes.”
“With Tom, right? So how’d it go?”
“Okay. Well, kind of. Tom ended up sorry he’d agreed to go out with Aaron, and I had to come to the rescue.”
“What? What happened?”
“You know Tom rode up there with me. Aaron invited him back to his apartment and Tom, for some reason, said yes. Later he told me he thought everyone wanted him to. Anyway, he got there and, of course, Aaron expected to have sex with him. Tom didn’t want to, and he called and asked me to pick him up.”
