Decan
Damn , he thought to himself, watching Hope’s car disappear from view. That woman would be his death and he would do anything to keep her.
With his heart still pounding a steady staccato against his ribs, he tried to focus on getting at least a single chapter done before his gym time. Just as he was getting into his car, Marco texted to confirm that they were still meeting up. responded, saying that Hope would be joining them, and his phone immediately began to ring.
Marco immediately launched into an interrogation. “I need to hear every detail about last night before we meet up.”
“Only if you don’t pester her for more information.”
“I can’t make any promises.”
sighed, knowing that was as good as it was going to get when it came to Marco. “She actually stayed over.”
“Shut the fuck up and stop messing with me!”
laughed and started his car. “I’m not messing with you.”
“Did you get frisky?”
“Yes…”
“Like just a little or all the way in? ”
“Was that pun intended?”
“Who cares? Just tell me!”
“We did… everything.”
“Yes! Finally!”
“We only met last week!” defended.
“You haven’t been with anyone for years , so my reaction is justified.”
shook his head. “ Please don’t bother her about it. I shouldn’t be saying anything without asking her first.”
“Fine. I’ll tease her first and see how she reacts.”
“You can’t just let it be, can you?”
“Hell no! My best friend is finally getting laid. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I passed this up.”
“If you’re the reason why I don’t get laid ever again, I’ll key your fucking car.”
Marco gasped, and smiled. Marco loved that car… possibly more than he loved most people. “You wouldn’t.”
“Want to find out?”
“Fine.” And with that, Marco hung up.
When pulled up next to Marco, his best friend leaned against the car while grabbed his wheelchair.
“There’s your pretty lady,” Marco commented.
He followed Marco’s gaze over his shoulder and couldn’t help but smile. Hope wore the same leggings and loose shirt, her water bottle and phone pressed to her chest—and she still looked every bit as breathtaking. He was still standing when she reached him, so she stretched onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
“Very cute you two,” Marco teased.
“Mind your own business. ”
Hope giggled and took a step back so could sit down. “He’s just jealous because you’re prettier.”
Marco made a choking sound. “Did you two get any sleep last night?”
“A little,” she teased with a wink.
“I shouldn’t have told you shit,” grumbled, tying a knot in Hope’s shirt to expose those luscious hips.
Marco only rolled his eyes and followed them inside. made sure Hope was checked in and the whole time, her fingers wound into his curls. She gave him a kiss and he watched as she climbed the stairs to the second floor, only looking away once she vanished over the landing.
“Need a towel to dry the drool off your face?” Marco laughed, smacking him in the stomach with said towel.
didn’t give him the satisfaction of a response.
The workout was a bitch. Especially because Marco was determined to make him look bad in front of Hope. She stayed longer this time, and every time he glanced up at the second floor, their eyes met. There were only a few glances, Marco making him pay for each one. When she finally came down, sweat beaded down her face and her cheeks were a bright cherry red.
“Leaving?” he asked, taking her hand in his.
“Yeah. I have a book that’s calling my name and a cliffhanger that wants to kill me. Text me when you’re back home?”
“I will.”
“So will you two love birds come to Post next Saturday?”
“Drop it before I follow through on my promise,” growled. Why did Marco have to bring this shit up now ?
“It’s just a question, man,” Marco raised his hands in defence.
“One I’m sick and tired of having to answer.”
“I thought you two—”
“Stop thinking for me!”
Hope’s eyes flickered between the two of them but seemed to decide against chiming in. Instead, she leaned down, her free hand on his neck guiding him to look at her. “Don’t rip each other apart, okay?” She captured his mouth, leaving with a passionate kiss that had him breathless.
waited and watched Hope leave before he exploded. “What the fuck was that? I told you don’t bring that shit up again!”
Marco dropped his head and sat on a bench. “Sorry.”
“You’re such an asshole.”
Marco’s playful demeanour vanished. He broke his gaze away from ’s and hid it in his lap. “I thought you might feel comfortable going with her.”
wanted to punch him. His day had started out so well but now? Anger, guilt, and shame burned through his veins. He wasn’t proud of it, but he turned and left without looking back.
He was still fuming when he got home, ignoring his phone as it buzzed in his pocket. He slammed his car door every chance he got, and then the front door once he wheeled himself inside.
When he finally looked at his phone thirty minutes later, it was Hope’s name that finally brought his heart rate down. She’d made it home. His first instinct was to call her and use the sw eet melody of her voice to soothe him further, but then he would have to explain why he’d lost his temper. And he wasn’t ready for that.
Meeting up every first Saturday at Post had been a monthly routine for years. Showing off his own tuned car in front of other competitors had been his drug of choice. Once he’d managed to nearly kill himself, he hadn’t been back. Marco had stopped inviting him after a thrown mug had nearly cracked that pretty face of his.
Post had been his home for years, and he hadn’t been able to bring himself to go back there. Why Marco decided to bring it up now, he had no fucking clue, but it bothered him for the rest of the day. He could barely put on a smile for his client meeting let alone put on a front to even text Hope. Not that it was her fault, but he didn’t want her exposed to his rotten mood.
After his meeting, he was trying to figure out what to eat for dinner when someone knocked at the door. “C’mon, man!” Marco called from the outside. “You haven’t answered your phone all day. Let me in.”
He groaned, frustrated, but opened the door only to be met by Marco and tacos from his favourite spot. “Asshole.”
“I thought we were past that.”
“With you? Never.”
Marco stepped in, making himself right at home by kicking his shoes off and plonking himself on the couch. Far too hungry to resist, joined him and stuffed his mouth. After the tacos were devoured and their hunger sated, Marco was the first to break the silence.
“Does she know what happened? ”
nodded. “Told her last night.”
“I thought maybe that’s why you were mad at me—because she didn’t know.”
“I’m mad at you because you keep bringing up my past. I don’t appreciate it slapping me in the face all the time.”
Marco’s tone turned sincere. “Fine, I was in the wrong. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.” The conversation lulled while Marco stood and cleaned up the evidence from the diabolical taco murders. When he returned to his seat, he had a smarmy grin plastered on his face that knew far too well. This conversation would be embarrassing. “So, what was it like last night? What did you guys do?”
“You really want to talk about how my crippled ass got laid?”
Marco ignored the question. “How did she react?”
crooked his brow at his best friend. Was that… concern in his voice? “She was better about it than I was.”
“So, she didn’t make a big fuss?”
Slowly, it dawned on . “Shit, you’re actually really worried.” It was a statement. Not a question.
“I just don’t want her to make you feel bad because things might be a little different between you two. You shouldn’t look past the red flags just to get your dick wet.”
“She was amazing. She didn’t make it awkward or anything—never has. She’s been very accepting from day one and doesn’t make me feel… Well, like I’m lacking.”
“Good.”
continued rambling. “It’s like she doesn’t even see me as disabled. I mean she understands my limitations, but it’s not like she sees them as defining who I am. ”
“Good.”
“Is that all you can say? ‘Good?’”
“I guess I just haven’t seen her around you enough to completely agree with you.”
And just like that, the conversation was over. They put on a movie in the background, continuing as if they’d never fought at all.
The next morning, texted Hope and asked her to call him whenever she was free. After hours of agonised waiting, his phone finally rang near lunchtime.
“Hi,” he greeted.
“Hi there. Feeling better?”
“Yeah,” sighed.
“Did you two talk it out or are you still fighting?”
“He brought tacos last night and we talked it out.”
She laughed, light and gorgeous and soothing to his soul. “So when we fight, all I need is to bring tacos? Is there a place you prefer?”
smiled. “The place of Westheimer and Winrock.”
“Adding that to my notes, thanks.”
“You have notes on me?” he chuckled.
“Of course, I can be awfully forgetful when mad, so I’m preparing beforehand.”
“Clever.” He scrubbed his hand over his face.
“If you want to talk about it, I’m going to listen, but I won’t press you. ”
“That’s actually super sweet of you.”
“And here I thought you wanted to be my sugar.”
He laughed, remembering their convo in the shower. “I did say that.” Since she’d been so accepting, decided he had nothing to lose by being honest with her. “Since I’ve left rehab and started feeling better, Marco wants me to get back to our old scene. I’ve been avoiding everyone but him. I mean, they heard about the accident and reached out, but the bad days were too much for most of them.”
“So, you got triggered by the invitation to a car meet-up?”
“How did you know it was a car meet-up?”
“The internet is my best friend.”
“Oh…”
“Too nosy?”
“No, it’s not.” He let his head drop back and looked up at the ceiling. “He thought it would be nice if I took you.”
“Ah, I see why that would be nice. You two could ask me about blinker fluid and laugh at my reaction.”
“Damn, you already know about the blinker fluid?”
Hope laughed, and the sound made ’s stomach flutter. “Sorry to disappoint.”
“Are you volunteering again today?” he asked, steering the conversation in a different direction.
“Yeah, I’m just leaving now.”
“Will you message me when you’re back home?”
“Of course.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me too.”
He tried to focus on the manuscript again, but it led to a lot of breaks as his attention started to wander. When a photo of Hope’s bright grin and a grey grumpy-looking cat lit up on his screen, he couldn’t help but laugh.
Looks like you have a new friend.
Oh, we’re well acquainted. He’s just having a hard time being adopted so I’m giving him our weekly cuddle session.
Why does no one want him?
He’s old and grumpy and only has three legs. Most want cute little kittens.
What would one need to do to adopt an old grumpy fellow like him?
Just come by, see if they get along and then if all goes well fill out some paperwork.
Your shift ends soon, doesn’t it?
Yes, 30 more min.
I’ll meet you there.
Forty minutes later, he parked in front of the shelter. He hadn’t started his day with the desire to adopt an old, grumpy cat, but he remembered that shelters tended to euthanize animals when they got too full. Hope grinned as she met him halfway in the parking lot.
“So, you want to meet Mr. Grumps? ”
“If that’s his name.”
“I didn’t know you were in the market for a pet.”
“Me either,” he chuckled, pulling her down for a kiss.
“He does have a cute little face, doesn’t he?” She laughed and her hand found its spot on his neck. “Have you ever owned an animal?”
“My parents used to have a dog. So if Mr. Grumps and I click, I might need your help.”
“Cats are easy. They want food, a sunny spot to sleep, and attention only when they demand it.”
“Sounds like something I can handle.”
Hope laughed, greeting a few employees as she showed him the way. While thought Mr. Grumps wasn’t much impressed with him, Hope insisted that he seemed happy to be on ’s lap. She made sure to tell him everything they knew about his history. He’d been rescued after being attacked and they hadn’t been able to save his leg. He’d been at the shelter ever since. They did assume that he’d been a stray, but he’d adjusted rather well to being with them. He’d been chipped, neutered, and all his vaccines were up to date.
“I don’t have anything for him,” he said looking down at the cat in his lap. Mr. Grumps still looked rather displeased, but maybe that was just his face. At least he allowed to pet him. “Not even food.”
“But would you like to take him home?”
“He does have a certain charm.”
Hope laughed, scratching Mr. Grumps behind the ear. “He does. We can fill out his paperwork, and we have some supplies you can take. But know that you don’t have to do anythi ng. I wasn’t sending you the picture to convince you.”
“I know. But he seems rather relaxed and if he doesn’t mind not being able to go outside, I could use the company. I’m home most days anyway.”
Hope helped him fill out the paperwork before offering to go with him to the nearest pet store for more appropriate supplies than what the shelter could offer. She rode with him and then guided him to the cat section, pointing out the litter boxes she thought were less messy than others, before grabbing some treats and the food Mr. Grumps was accustomed to.
“What about toys?” he asked, feeling rather lost.
“You can always try these treat puzzles. He’s super smart and might like them.”
nodded, choosing one that seemed easy enough. “Well, I can always come back.”
“You have a good starter pack.”
“Let’s just hope he and I get along. He didn’t seem impressed with me.”
“He was all over you.”
“ After you forced him to sit on my lap and endure my rather unprofessional petting.”
God, he loved hearing that intoxicating laugh. “I thought you two were rather cute. A real bromance in the making.”
“Don’t tell Marco.”
“Maybe you should warn him that he has competition. Let me send you the photo I took of you earlier.”
He forwarded the picture to Marco, and almost instantly his phone rang. “So you’re a cat guy now?”
“Hope thought you might like to know you have compet ition.”
“I better come around and check this new guy out.”
“I’m stocking up on supplies now.”
“Let me know when you’re home. I’ll come by for dinner. Will Hope be there too?”
pulled the phone away from his mouth. “Marco would like to know if you’re up for dinner with us.”
“Always.”
After choosing a carrier, they returned to the shelter where Hope helped him get his new friend into the car. She followed him to his place and went off to find parking while situated himself. Mr. Grumps had actually taken the car ride well. He’d barely even seemed fazed as checked him over. He reached into the bag and grabbed a few treats, feeding them into the carrier. He was glad to see that Mr. Grumps took them without hesitation, maybe after living on the street and losing his leg he was just happy to be taken care of.
Hope appeared, opening the passenger door with a smile. “I see you two are bonding. How was the ride?”
“He didn’t complain at all. Didn’t even seem uncomfortable.”
“Such a good boy.”
While held Mr. Grumps on his lap, Hope insisted on carrying everything else. The only thing left behind was a bag of cat litter they would return for. Inside, Hope told him it was best to just find a spot to set the carrier down and leave the door open for Mr. Grumps. She also explained it was best to keep the box there for the first week or so to keep the cat’s safe space nearby. anxiously watched the box out of the corner of his eye as they unpacked everything else. Mr. Grumps didn’t appear until he heard the sound of a can of food opening. He trotted over to see what all the noise was about and sniffed the food, deciding it was worth his attention. Hope offered to get the litter bag herself but insisted, leaving Mr. Grumps to his dinner and returning to the parking deck.