Chapter Nine
Remi
Remi had been making his Monday morning runs for so long that it was expected of him. For the first time, Remi had wanted to put off his responsibilities and stay in bed. He couldn’t though. There were too many people that depended on him.
With Dom and Ezra headed into work for the early morning shift, Remi had left with a few kisses and a promise that they would talk about the previous weekend over dinner. That would have to get Remi through the day.
Pulling into the alley of a local diner, Remi beeped the horn two times.
The back door opened and the older man who owned the diner stuck his head out.
Remi waved to Chandler Croom before stepping out of his truck.
“Got your order for you,” Croom called.
“Thanks, man.” Remi opened the back door so Croom could put the cardboard boxes that would hold the Styrofoam containers of food in the back.
“Here you go!” Croom exited the back entrance with two of his employees behind him.
Remi waited until his backseat was loaded up before he pushed some cash into Croom’s old weathered hand.
Croom made a sound in the back of his throat. “That’s too much, son.”
The same argument every week. “I know you give me a huge discount. Take it.”
“Alright, if you insist.”
“I do,” Remi replied. “I appreciate your people coming in every week early to get these orders ready.”
“You’re doing a good thing for our community.”
Remi wasn’t the only one that helped. With the diner being family owned and open for more than sixty years, the people in their city knew they could come for help. Croom kept a board of receipts on the wall. If someone was in need, they could grab a receipt and take it up to the counter to get a good meal free of charge.
Many of the local patrons added receipts to the wall but Remi had seen Croom add his own when the board was low.
Working together with members of the community to help those in need gave Remi purpose. He could still remember nights being frozen from the cold, starving but still deciding to spend his money on drugs and not food.
There hadn’t been many programs in his area to help.
Or if there had been, then Remi hadn’t known about them.
Now that he was on the other side, Remi made sure that when he spoke to the community, they were aware of the numerous charities and organizations that were available. The ones that he was seeing this morning knew him. Remi hoped that one day they’d be ready to reach out and take the helping hand that Remi extended every time.
Remi waited until Croom and his employees were safely back inside with the door closed before climbing back behind the wheel.
The south side of the Strip wasn’t the best neighborhood and even those who were just trying to help could fall victim to others.
Not everyone that was on the streets were involved with drugs or alcohol.
There were many reasons that someone could find themselves homeless. Remi had met people who had full-time jobs but still couldn’t afford rent and bills. He’d known friends that slept in cars or under bridges because they were running from abusive home lives.
Yes, the streets were dangerous but sometimes a warm meal could change someone’s entire week.
Putting his truck in gear, Remi backed out of the alley.
He turned onto the main street that would lead down to the tent city the homeless had set up on abandoned land that was also close to the tunnels.
The tunnels that ran under the city had been one of the spots that Remi had spent a lot of his time in when he still worked the streets as a uniformed officer. It was meeting the tunnel people as they called themselves that Remi realized he could do more.
Respect went a long way on the streets.
Remi had learned that early in his career when he hadn’t minded being out on community calls. Not every officer felt that way, but Remi had become someone that the street people could look for.
Little things went a long way out here.
Remi made sure that he always carried cases of water. He bought thick socks in bulk from the big box stores. Picked up small personal hygiene products every time that he stopped at the store. Anything that he would have loved when he’d been on his own, sleeping in abandoned buildings and out in the open if it was warm enough.
It was just barely turning light outside but Remi made sure that he was also in the same spot every Monday for those who wanted to come out and find him.
He could also ask his people if they’d seen any new dealers and hopefully get a lead on the case that they’d been working on.
The new drug that was traveling around the party scene of Vegas wasn’t something that most of the people who he helped would have the money to find. It was tourists and the richer neighborhoods that seemed to be targeted by whoever was supplying this drug. That didn’t mean that word hadn’t gotten out around town.
Remi pulled into the parking lot that once belonged to a chain pharmacy store but had been empty for more than a decade. He backed his truck up to the edge of the parking lot before turning off the engine.
He grabbed his cell before noticing that he had received a message.
At work. Have a good day. See you after dialysis.
Remi grinned. He hated that Dom had both a shift at the coffee shop and a dialysis treatment onthe same day, but Dom was the one that made the schedule. Remi had to trust that the boy knew his limits.
I’ll pick you up after. Be good.
I’m always good. Remember you said so cuz how I woke you?
Remi chuckled. He might get spoiled if his boy decided that every morning needed to start with Dom sucking Remi off. At least Remi had stopped Dom from coming and had gotten to pay back the favor.
Good boys aren’t sassy.
You love my sass. Got to go. Talk soon.
Remi shoved the phone in his pocket before climbing from his truck. He went around and opened the tailgate to move the boxes from the backseat to the back of the truck. He also had bags with socks, water, toiletries, and his card to pass out.
An SUV turned into the parking lot and flashed the lights before backing up beside him.
He lifted his hand in greeting. Remi wasn’t surprised by his visitor. Talking and caring for the community could take a toll if someone wasn’t used to it but Jesse had been amazing.
The driver door opened before Jesse Lambert stepped out. “Hey, man.”
Remi nodded. “Came to help again?” Jesse had been at the house for Christmas dinner when Remi had to leave to make a special delivery for his people. Croom had made full Christmas meals that Remi had promised to pass out. Jesse had jumped in with him, spending the entire evening handing out food to the homeless. This was different than doing so in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Remi hadn’t expected Jesse to be so kind and caring. He’d expected Jesse to freak out.
Jesse had shocked him. He’d had no issue when someone would hug him. Jesse shook dirty hands. He joked and laughed with Remi’s people.
They’d bonded that night.
After they’d finished, Remi had taken Jesse out for an early-morning breakfast and they’d talked. Remi had shared the story about his past. Jesse had surprised him with a story of his own. Not living on the streets or addicted to drugs but the man who seemed to have it all now had once lived a very different life.
Remi, Dane, and Eric had already liked Jesse. Remi hadn't shared Jesse’s story with the others, but he and Jesse had been keeping in touch more often than before.
“I thought you might like the company.” Jesse hit the key fob to the SUV and the back began to rise. “I also picked up some more water and sleeping bags. Just in case anyone needs them.”
“That’s great, man.” Remi slapped Jesse’s shoulder. “How was your trip? How’s Jacob?”
“Good.” Jesse stuck his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “But, man, I miss Vegas when I’m away.”
Leaning on the tailgate, Remi smirked. “Missed home or a certain boy?”
There was no secret between the Daddies that Jesse was interested in Lake. Remi was pretty sure that the boys knew as well but no one really discussed it out loud. What Lake knew, Remi had no idea, but it wasn’t his place to ask. At least until one of them made it Remi’s business. Truthfully, he was dying to know the details.
Jesse glanced away before sighing. “Have you seen him?”
“Who?” Remi asked innocently. Damn, maybe his sassy boy was rubbing off on him in more than one way.
Jesse barked out a laugh. “Have you seen Lake?”
“I have,” Remi told him with a smirk. “He came over for a play date on Saturday.”
“And he was okay?”
Remi thought about how to answer the question. Lake had been Lake. “He was quiet, but he always is. There might be something going on with him, Dom seemed worries, but I don’t know the details.”
“His family,” Jesse said softly.
“His family,” Remi demanded. “Are they a problem?”
Jesse nodded. “He doesn’t talk about it. I noticed that anytime he spends time with him, he comes back looking almost sick. Friday night once a month he has dinner with them.”
“And that was last weekend?” Remi guessed.
“I texted him over the weekend but his responses were short. Didn’t really get much from him.”
“He seemed much better when he went home on Sunday,” Remi offered.
Jesse nodded. “Good. That probably helped.”
“Eric is working overnight so I put Lake and Ezra to bed together. I made them breakfast Sunday morning before Lake left. He really did seem better than when he’d arrived.”
“Thanks, man.” Jesse shook his head. “I just wish he’d talk to me about it.”
“I could ask Dom?” Remi offered. He also wanted to make sure that Lake was safe and happy.
“I’m not sure how much Dom will tell you. I’ve asked him in the past, but he’s always said that he’d made promises to Lake.”
That sounded just like his boy. Always looking out for everyone else but himself. “I’ll work on him.”
Jesse lifted a brow. “Is it like that now?”
Remi found himself wanting to blush. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest and smirked.
“No way! You finally made a move,” Jesse hooted at him.
“Actually, Dom approached me. He wanted a little weekend and for me to be his Daddy.”
“Just for the weekend?” Jesse asked.
Remi shook his head. “He’s mine now. I told him that I’d give him the weekend and we’d talk tonight.”
Jesse grabbed his arm before pulling him into a hard hug. “Good for you, man. Dom really needs you.”
“Thanks.” Remi grinned at his friend. “Now there’s just one more boy that hasn’t found his Daddy.”
Jesse pushed him away. “I’m working on it.”
“Not sure what you’re waiting for,” Remi said sincerely.
“I needed to make sure that I could give Lake everything he deserves.”
“That sounds like an excuse.” Remi wasn’t being mean. He knew it was difficult. He’d been in Jesse’s shoes just the week before. “And that comes from someone who’s been making excuses from months.”
Jesse’s lip twitched. “I really have been making plans. That was one reason that I went to see Jacob. I need to be able to give more time to Lake than my schedule allowed.”
“You get it figured out?”
“I think so.”
Remi grinned. “Glad to hear it.”
There was a whistle and Remi looked up. One of his favorite street people, a young man in his early twenties, waved when Remi looked over. “Time to get to work. We'll talk more about this.”
“I’ll buy breakfast,” Jesse said. “Can’t wait to hear more about you and Dom.”
* * * * *
Dom
From the hours of six in the morning until checkout at eleven, the coffee shop was always busy. Especially on a Monday. Between eleven and twelve, which was the late checkout time for the hotel, they could usually catch up after a busy morning. After twelve it pretty much died down completely.
“Damn, I’m tired.” Ezra leaned against the counter. “That was a crazy rush.”
Dom finished returning Lake’s text message. He looked up to see that Ezra really did look tired. The dark circles under his eyes evident. “You look beat, man. Do you need to head home?”
“I’m fine.” Ezra waved off his concern. “I just don’t sleep well when Eric isn’t home.”
“Shit, man,” Dom grasped Ezra’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I was so wrapped up in myself—”
“Don’t!” Ezra smacked his arm. “You finally got one weekend, one freaking weekend, to be the little that you need. I’m a grown man. Eric and I discussed his schedule. You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
“No, I know. I still should have—”
“Dom,” Ezra growled. “Stop.”
Dom frowned at his friend.
Ezra sighed. “You are the best friend that any of us could ever ask for.”
“I—”
“You are amazing,” Ezra said. “But we can take care of our own issues too. And I have a partner that helps me. It’s Eric’s job to fix things for me.”
Dom knew that. He did. It was just hard when he was used to helping his friends.
“It’s your job to play with me and make sure I get my little time.” Ezra smirked at him.
“We had a really good weekend though, right? Other than Eric working?”
“I would have gone crazy worrying about Eric if you hadn’t been there. And can I just say how happy I am that you and Remi finally got together?”
Dom smiled.
“Was it everything you were hoping for?” Ezra questioned.
“More than,” Dom admitted. “He’s perfect.”
“I told you so,” Ezra sing-songed.
Dom snorted.
“I did! So did Brandon. It was so obvious that all Remi wants is to take care of you.”
“I know.” That wasn’t what Dom’s concern had been. Not totally anyway. “I just—”
“Didn’t want him to get attached. The same thing you tried with all of us.”
Had Dom really been that obvious?
“But it’s too late now, because you have a Daddy.”
“A very attractive Daddy,” Lake said, strolling up. He held up a bag of food. “Who will be very happy that I brought you a healthy lunch.”
“I said no vegetables!” Dom told his friend. Why had Lake asked what he wanted if he hadn’t gotten the junk that Dom asked for?
“Did you?” Lake beamed at him. “I must not have gotten that message.”
Ezra giggled beside him.
Dom turned on Ezra. “Traitor.”
With a hip bump to Dom, Ezra waved Lake forward. “Come back.”
“Are you sure it’s okay? I don’t want you to get in trouble. We can sit at one of the tables. I got some dips for us to share.”
“It is always okay for you to visit. And come back here if you want. But a table probably makes more sense,” Dom said.
“Do you want a chocolate milk, Lake?” Ezra asked.
“Yes, please. If you don’t mind making me one.”
“Of course I don’t mind!” Ezra said.
Dom pulled his apron over his head before going around the counter. He grabbed the bags from Lake and set them on the closest table before pulling his friends in for a hug.
“How are you doing, bud?” Dom asked quietly.
Lake clung to him for a minute. “Thanks. I needed a hug.”
“What happened at family dinner?” Dom demanded. He was so tired of Lake’s family treating the kind-hearted man like crap.
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Lake said. “It’s just hard when they won’t listen to me.”
Drawing back, Dom made sure that Lake was meeting his eyes. “We love you. You have family with us. You can’t keep letting them do this.”
Dropping his chin didn’t hide when Lake’s lower lip started to tremble.
“Oh, honey! It’s going to be okay.”
“Why can’t they just accept me?” Lake asked quietly.
“I don’t know.” Fuck! Why did people have kids if they weren’t going to love and protect them. At least Dom’s parents had cut off all ties instead of extending the horrible treatment of him. Lake’s family insisted that he attend family dinners where they refused to abide by his dietary requests. They picked on everything about Lake from his job to not being a big bad brawler like the rest of them.
Lake was such a sweet person and Dom hated his family. Hated them.
“One chocolate milk with extra whipped cream!” Ezra announced, joining them. “And chocolate shavings on top.”
“Really?” Lake wiped his eyes with his sleeve before he hugged Ezra too. “Thanks!”
“Anything for you,” Ezra said, patting his back.
“Food,” Dom grunted at them. There were a ton of dips to go with the sandwiches. Lake didn’t eat meat so Dom knew which sub was for him. Both he and Ezra’s were piled high with ham, turkey, cheese, and yes also loaded with vegetables. “Before we get busy again.”
“Shh,” Ezra hissed at him. “No jinxing us.”
Dom really should know better. He pulled out a chair and sat before he started going through the bags.
Lake sat beside him, sucking down on the monster chocolate milk piled high with whip cream and chocolate. There were times when Dom really wished he could be as carefree with his diet but seeing that drink made his teeth ache. He wouldn’t want that even if he could drink it.
They were halfway through their meal before anyone entered the coffee shop. Dom nudged Ezra’s foot as Jesse paused in the entrance. He looked ready to back away until Lake’s head came up.
Lake blushed and looked away but quickly back toward the entrance.
Jesse rolled his shoulders back before he sauntered forward. “Hello, boys,” he greeted.
“Mr. Lambert,” Dom replied, just to be a brat. Jesse hated when they were formal with him.
Instead of his usual frown, Jesse grinned at him. “I had breakfast with your Daddy earlier. Do I need to give him a call?” He wiggled his phone in Dom’s direction.
Dom slumped in his chair. This was the problem with their tight circle of friends. He wasn’t going to be able to get away with anything any longer. “No.”
“I didn’t think so.” Jesse stopped by their table. “How is everyone doing?”
“We’re fine,” Dom answered for them. Even as Jesse’s eyes were glued to Lake.
The two of them really needed to get it together. He was going to pull Lake to the side and have a serious conversation with his friend. Dom had gotten his perfect weekend and maybe more because he’d been brave enough to take a chance.
He had dinner planned with Remi later so that they could talk.
Dom wasn’t worried about how the talk would go. Remi had made sure that Dom knew that he wanted more than just the weekend. There was no doubt in Dom’s mind. His attempt at an arrangement had been ridiculous. He’d wanted Remi for too long and apparently the feeling was quite mutual.
As Jesse joined them at their little table, Lake blushed harder, and Dom was going to dig his heels in. It was time for Lake to be happy as well.