Chapter 38
“If you’ve stepped away from the family, wouldn’t it be easier to get a different phone number?
Or block theirs?” James wonders from his place on the bed.
Gabriel’s ringing phone is distracting them both from their activities.
James’ e-reader hangs limply from his hand while Gabriel’s pencil hovers midair where he’s sitting at the table.
Eventually the phone stops ringing and Gabriel diverts his gaze to James. “Could be. But they’re still my parents, despite it all. And if something were to happen, I would want to know.” He shrugs.
James hums, but stays silent otherwise. Gabriel turns back to his sketches, hoping to finish a few for the frame. “You’ve got no brothers or sisters then? Who could contact you in an emergency?”
“An older brother, Trevor.” He puts the pencil down this time, placing it in the dip where the papers meet so it won’t roll away. He turns sideways, facing James, and wonders, “What’s this about?”
James shrugs, glancing sideways at the - once again - ringing phone. “You tense up every time it rings, especially when it’s that ringtone.”
Gabriel softens, the tension that’s indeed crept into his shoulders dropping away. He gets to his feet and takes a couple of steps to the bed. James is already scooting sideways a little before he’s sat down.
Gabriel’s smiling as he says, “You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Yes, I do. We take care of each other.” The soft admission is paired with a shy look and a tentative smile. Gabriel finds himself reaching out to swipe the top of his fingers across James’ cheek. “Not about this. Never worry about them.”
“But, if they hurt you-”
“They can’t touch me anymore. And I’ll be damned if they touch you.” He presses a soft kiss to James’ forehead.
“I just know that my father already contacted your parents.” James rolls his eyes. “Probably boasted about the power the two families could have together.”
Gabriel snorts. “Let him. My dad will tell him that he’s only got one heir, and he’s already taken and married.”
James hesitates and tries to move away from the gentle touch. Gabriel’s quick to grab hold of his chin. James pouts when he realizes he can’t look away. “Just don’t want it to cause any more trouble.”
Gabriel shrugs, looking at the man sitting in front of him with open wonder. “What my family does, doesn’t concern me anymore. Please don’t let it bother you.”
“But-”
“I chose to live my own life. I chose myself.” Gabriel leans into James, pressing another soft, lingering kiss against his forehead. With his lips just inches from James’ skin he whispers, “And now I’m choosing you.”
James’ eyes water; he sniffles a little at the onslaught of emotions.
As a way to ease James’ worry, Gabriel aims for a joke, “Besides, I feel like your mother can handle your father just fine. So I’m not too worried.
” It makes James laugh, sending him into a fit of giggles.
He pulls the other closer, circling his arms around him.
“Like we said before, parents are pieces of work. I don’t need them to live my own life. ”
They settle onto the bed. James disregards his e-reader and curls into Gabriel. The mellow jazz music that’s playing overhead provides a gentle soundtrack while they sink into their own thoughts.
All of a sudden, James snorts in laughter, hiding his face in Gabriel’s chest. At Gabriel’s questioning noise, he answers, “I’m pretty sure my mom’s going to adopt you anyway.
She was content with Paul, as long as I was happy.
But she was awfully quick to turn against him at the first whiff of things taking a turn.
” Gabriel smiles at the thought, happy that at least one of their parents was somewhat of a decent person.
If that indeed was true, he’d just have to find out at some point.
For now he joins in with the laughter and tightens his hold on the man.
Gabriel reaches for his tablet, intending to put on a movie but James stops him, a twinkle in his eyes. Gabriel’s eyes widen at the first sniff of mischief but can’t help but be endeared by the way James is getting more open and carefree around him.
“Maybe we could give Monopoly another shot?”
Gabriel winces, still sore about his loss the other day. It’s only because of the soft look and the warm press of James’ body against his that he’s persuaded in the end and he finds himself sitting at the end of the bed, the Monopoly board balancing on the duvet between them.
He groans, already seeing the catastrophe that is him trying to play this game. “There’s absolutely no way that you’re so good at this. You have to be cheating somehow.”
“You saying I don’t play fair?” quips James, joy dancing in his eyes. “Pay up, I’ve got the full street and mortgages to pay.”
Gabriel’s pawn is indeed standing on one of James’ streets. Which isn’t unique in its right, since he seems to be owner of at least three full streets on the board. But several stints in jail and county tax cards have left Gabriel rather short on cash.
He leans forward slightly, putting on a soft smirk and drawls, “How about I pay off my debt in kisses?”
James squeaks, turning red almost instantly. He drops the dice onto the duvet, losing them in the loose bundle of fabric and stutters, “I-I-”
In the end, it’s all for naught. As Gabriel moves to sit on his knees to make it easier to lean across the board, the train starts moving for the night.
The forward motion sends him off balance, his hands gliding over the board in an effort to catch himself.
The pieces go flying and he lands with his head on James’ shoulder, James’ hands reach out to catch him.
They fall against each other, in the middle of the mess of board game pieces and empty snack wrappers, and descend into a happy pile of laughter and kisses.