Chapter 16
16
MATT
Sitting with Clarence at my little breakfast bar area feels strange without the other guys around, but we both sip our coffees for a few minutes before he takes a deep breath and takes my hand.
“How much do you know about the man you were with last night?”
Taking another sip, I run through everything I actually know for a fact and frown. It’s actually very little.
“He told me his name was King, but thinking back on it I’m pretty sure that was a lie,” I say as Clarence curses under his breath. “I know the hotel staff called him Mr. Pierce. I know he drives a Mini Cooper. I know he is a stickler for consent.”
“That’s an understatement,” Clarence mutters before he takes another swig of his coffee. “Anything else without getting into the sex stuff? I don’t need to know details. ”
Chuckling, I shake my head.
“And you think you’re soul mates or something based on a fake name and a car?”
“Something tells me you know what I’m talking about by the way you and Theo are around each other,” I give him a pointed look as I get up to pour a fresh cup from the pot of coffee I started when we came in. “My parents showed me what a true soul connection should be between lovers. I just thought it would never happen for me until last night.”
At his questioning look, I tell my friend the epic love story of Sara and Lewis Matthias Barnes, the First. By the time I finish, he’s holding his side from laughing and wiping the tears from his eyes.
“Oh, I can’t wait to meet them both,” he gasps out as he gets up to pour himself another cup.
“You’ll probably meet Mom later today when she comes over for lunch,” I tell him with a chuckle. “Dad’s got a lot farther to travel and I don’t think I know any necromancers that could help us out with that.”
Clarence pauses putting the carafe back onto the hot plate.
“I… I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
I wave his concern away with a smile. “It happened when I was a kid. Damned deer ran out in front of a car in another lane when he was on his way home from a work trip. Cops said the driver swerved to miss the deer but lost control and would’ve gone through the guardrail and over the cliff. Dad managed to get in the way enough to keep everyone on the road, but his car didn’t have side air bags. They just didn’t catch the brain bleed in time. I heard them talking about it while my mother was sleeping. The other driver was a young pregnant woman with a toddler in the car, so Dad made the EMTs take care of them first.”
Shrugging, I carry my coffee over to the futon and sit. “At the time, I was sad that my father was gone, but he saved that family. My mom knew it too. She would always tell me to hold my head high, that I’m the son of a hero. So don’t worry about bringing him up. I’m probably always going to miss him. But I’m proud to be his son and will never shy away from talking about my hero.”
Glancing toward the kitchen, I have very little warning before getting tackled in a bear hug.
“I really hope the brat can get over his shit enough to love you back,” Clarence whispers in my ear before pulling back. Sitting next to me on the futon, he grabs my hand in both of his and starts to explain what everybody’s problem is with me taking King back to the hotel.
“First of all, you’re right. He lied to you about his name. I’m honestly surprised that he gave you that name when you asked. He usually doesn’t respond positively to being called King. It’s got some very negative connections with his past, and those who used to call him that would never dream of it now. I would advise you not to use it with any of the other guys in reference to him.
“The Mr. Pierce thing is new, but I’m pretty sure that is his middle name. It makes sense for him to use a false name if he’s out and about. Five years ago, something happened that his father spent a shit ton of money to keep his name out of. The man wouldn’t take kindly to having it known that his son is taking hookups to a hotel,” he chuckles as he reaches for his coffee. “His sperm donor is a fucking asshole. I never got confirmation, but I’m pretty sure his father tried to kill him before he kicked him out.”
I’m surprised by the growl that somehow managed to come out in response to that statement. I’m reading too many of Mom’s werewolf romances…
“That’s when he came into my life, though. I found him collapsed on the loading dock of the Monarch Room about five years ago. He was barefoot with his feet torn to shreds and soaked to the bone.” Clarence’s voice went from teasing to ice cold. “He was ready to die, Matt. His eyes were already there. I’d seen it before in my…
“Let’s just say I’ve seen it before. It was too soon after… after losing someone very dear to me. I couldn’t let this beautiful boy leave the world, too.
“I didn’t know what I was doing. I brought him inside. I moved him onto my couch. I introduced him to drag in the hopes that it would give him something to live for. I tried to be there for him, but I couldn’t handle him. It wasn’t until after I convinced Eli to move him into the big house that any of us found out that he is bipolar.
“Scott recognized the name of one of the medications that he left in the bathroom. After we got him back on his meds, we all took turns watching over him. I guess we never got out of that habit. ”
Five years? They have been treating him like a ticking time bomb for five fucking years and yet they wonder why he acts out like this. The fucking audacity of them all.
“Have you ever considered your hovering might make things worse?”
I don’t even try to soften the question. After I was forced away from the Mendleton house, I did a lot of research into what is and isn’t helpful for someone who is bipolar. A lot of studies seem to be biased to sell a particular drug, but some of the blogs I read over the years from people dealing with the disorder have said that it’s important for the person to have a balance of independence and a support system. One without the other can result in more severe episodes of mania or can develop into an anxiety disorder.
I’m pretty sure what his friends did is smother him until the stress of putting on a show broke him, forcing manic episodes bordering on psychotic breaks. I watched it happen with Eric when he was a kid and no one knew what his condition was. I always knew it was more than merely acting out for attention.
“Stress triggers mania. Feeling like you’re under constant observation is a hell of a lot of stress, especially for five fucking years.”
Clarence looks at me with haunted eyes. “Better stressed and alive than the alternative,” he tells me as he heads to the door. “I’ll pick up the mug when I come over later if you still want me to come meet your mom.”
When the door closes behind him, I drop my head into my hands and weep for the young man who has been through hell because of his own brain chemistry and well meaning but misguided friends. Pulling the panties and note out of my pockets, I pray for the first time in years that someone will look over this precious young man and bring him some relief.