Chapter 9
“Itold you, Professor. It was my turn to buy.”
Roper had managed to get his credit card to the waiter on a trip to the bathroom.
It had been a bit of a surprise to the Professor when he’d gone to pay.
“It was not your turn, boy. It was mine.” Toby was relaxed and smiling, teasing. “That was sneaky, and you disobeyed, and you can add a smack to your count for the day.”
He was a little surprised that the Professor was still wanting to do that with him, given that the tension between them had eased, but he was willing to go along. “What is that, Professor? A hundred and eighty or so?”
“I was at something more like seven. Unless we’re too friendly for that sort of thing at this point, in which case we can call it a hundred and eighty and let it go.”
Roper cracked up. It was weird as fuck, but it wasn’t like he hadn’t hung out with men his whole damn life. He liked people, and since he wasn’t having to be…interesting…he could chill out and relax a second. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
They hadn’t walked far to get to the little Greek restaurant, and they were wandering back, taking it slow. He was loving all the different things to see.
“Are you doing okay? This seems like a lot of walking.” Toby had offered twice to call an Uber. He was worried. It was kind of cute.
“I’m good. I mean, I’m starting to feel it, but it feels good to move around, and God knows I got to work off those dolmas.”
Toby snorted. “Greek food always looks so healthy, right? So, what’s your plan now? Rest up a bit at my place and get on the road again?”
“I guess, yeah. I can just drive around from event to event and sign autographs and shit, hope someone lets me ride.” He shrugged.
Luckily, he had enough money to keep him going for a good while.
“If I have to, I’ll see if the boys don’t want to get an apartment somewhere and let me stay there for the deposit and first and last month’s rent. ”
“Hm. Okay.” Toby was just wandering beside him, hands in his pockets. “Well, you’re welcome back any time. I’m sure Whiskey will give me hell after you’re gone.”
“Thank you. I might take you up on it, if you’re serious. I can pay a little rent, even.” He didn’t know what to do. “This is new for me—being hurt without Ry. I’m figuring it out as I go.”
“No rent. You can buy pizza.” Toby winked at him. “I know you have a lot to figure out. I also think you and Ryder have to spend some time together eventually. When you’re ready to accept the man he is, instead of just missing the man he used to be.”
He shrugged and shook his head. “I know. I just… I hate it. Not him.” He met Toby’s eyes. “I will never hate him, but the head injury? I fucking hate it.”
“I know. And I understand. You just need to get to a place where you’re not taking it out on him. Bottom line, he’s happy. It’s just you who isn’t.”
“Yeah. I guess if one of us is fucked, it ought to be me. I’m stronger than him.” It sucked, but there it was. He was tough, and Ry needed…a gentle soul.
“I don’t think either of you deserves to be fucked, as you say. Why should it have to be you? It seems to me you each have your own path.”
“I just mean that I love him. If things have to be hard, let it be me.” That was how love worked, right?
“Ah.” Toby nodded. “Well, I’d like to see you healthy and whole sooner than not. You deserve that, too.”
“Believe it or not, Professor, I do too. I fucking hate being broken. I want to have fun, play.” It was fun to push when he was solid. He wanted to be dominated, but when he was standing tall.
Maybe he needed it when he was off balance, he didn’t know, but it turned him the fuck on when he was solid.
“Of course I believe you. I don’t know though, it seems like you don’t give yourself any time to heal. So are you ever healthy enough to play the way you want to?”
“Not in a long time,” he admitted. “Been a few years.”
He wasn’t getting younger, was he?
“Hm. I’m sorry.” Toby pointed across the street. “That place makes the most amazing butter pecan ice cream. Interested?”
“Oh…was that in my file? I never say no to ice cream.” It was the perfect treat.
Toby shook his head. “It wasn’t. I just felt like dessert.” Toby took his hand and led him across the street, jaywalking like it wasn’t dangerous. “Your file is misleading. I’ve learned my lesson about relying on those too heavily.”
“Yeah? Cool. Ice cream makes me happy. It’s my favorite food.” And this place smelled great. “You like butter pecan, huh?”
“It’s my favorite. On a sugar cone? Heaven.” They waited in line, alongside a case of so many different flavors. “What’s yours? I’m buying. Don’t argue, and don’t get sneaky.”
“My favorite? Cherry nut, or… I love chocolate chip. Mint chocolate chip or butter pecan. Coconut and dark chocolate. I had a great pecan and goat cheese in New Orleans once…”
Toby stared at him, barely hiding a smile. “So, your favorite of what is in this case then?”
“Oh, you said butter pecan. I’m totally getting that.” He had been told it was the most amazing; he needed to know what the Professor’s most amazing meant.
“You won’t regret it. I promise.”
“Hey, Toby. Butter pecan?”
“Two, please.”
The young man behind the counter glanced up. “Two scoops?”
“Two cones.”
“Oh! Oh, great. Two cones, coming right up.”
Roper thought maybe Toby blushed a little, but Toby turned away to pay at the register so quickly that he might have imagined it.
He checked out the kid behind the counter, trying to decide if this was the Professor’s type. He and this kid had nothing in common. If this was Toby’s type, then he was glad they’d decided to cool things off.
He shook his head and took his cone when the guy handed it over, watching how the Professor seemed with the new guy.
Toby paid and took his cone. “Thanks, Paul.”
“Sure thing. Enjoy your two ice creams!”
Toby rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Good lord. I’m apparently in here way too often.”
“He likes you, you know…” Roper winked over. “I bet you get the biggest cones.”
“He flirts I guess, it’s just fun. I have no interest whatsoever.” Toby snorted. “But he was clearly teasing me about you.”
“Oh, next time, I’ll rub and purr and be slinky.” He cracked himself up.
“Mhm. Just like the ill-behaved kitten you are.” Toby steered him back across the street, and they were back at the apartment building.
“Yep. That’s me. A big, rumbly tiger.” He started to say something else, but his tongue was incredibly busy licking ice cream.
Oh, damn. Nice.
“It’s the best, right?”
“Oh hello, sweetheart.” A tiny older woman with an equally tiny dog stopped them at the door. They were wearing matching yellow knitted sweaters.
“Hello, Mrs. Mars.”
“I’m glad I ran into you. I left a small container of scones for you by your door. Is this a new companion?”
“This is my friend Roper. Roper, this is my lovely neighbor, Mrs. Mars, and her dog Sparky.”
“Oh, I’m pleased to meet you both.” Roper put on his official smile, let the love he had for folks show. “I love the sweaters. Yellow is your color.”
“Oh, thank you.” Mrs. Mars looked pleased. “Roper is unusual. Is it a family name?”
“Yes, ma’am. We’re Latigo, Lasso, Ryder, and Roper.”
She frowned thoughtfully.
“They’re a rodeo family,” Professor added helpfully.
The fog lifted visibly. “Oh my goodness. How clever. And you are Mr. Taylor’s new beau, then? Thank goodness, it’s been ages since…oh, the dentist, what was his name?”
“Mark. But Roper—”
“Mark, of course. You’re much better looking than Mark, dear.”
Roper beamed at him. “Thank you, ma’am. That’s lovely to hear. The Professor is a good, decent man.”
“Oh, aren’t you polite. Such lovely manners. This one is a keeper, Toby.”
Sparky started tugging on her leash, and Mrs. Mars waved her hand. “Silly, impatient girl. Very nice to meet you, Roper. Enjoy the scones, boys!”
Mrs. Mars toddled off, letting Sparky lead the way.
Toby laughed. “She really is lovely, and she means well.”
“Of course she does.” Everyone needed to feel connected, important. “I wasn’t faking things. I just didn’t reckon you wanted to explain that I’m a pity sub.”
“What?” Toby stared at him. “You most certainly are not. Is that what you think? That I was sent to see if I could help out of pity? That I asked you for seventy-two hours of your time because I feel sorry for you?”
“Well, yes and no. I think it was pity for Ryder that had folks send you to me, but you asked for three days for another reason altogether.” He wasn’t sure he knew what it was exactly. He wasn’t sure if Toby knew either, but he didn’t think that was pity.
“Hm.” Toby went inside, holding the door for him. “I wouldn’t call it pity. I would call it genuine concern, but regardless, I did have my own reasons. They may have been a tad selfish as it turns out, but it wasn’t pity.”
“Fair enough. Regardless, you’ve been good to me, and I thank you.” He met Toby’s gaze and smiled.
He could have turned Toby inside out with trouble, if he’d been in a better spot.
Toby gave him a nod and called the elevator. “How is your ice cream?”
“Fucking amazing.” He caught a drip with his tongue.
“See? I will never steer you wrong.” Toby pulled out his phone and glanced at it. “I have class for a couple of hours tomorrow…”
“Yeah? I can take a walk, then. No problem.” He got it. No one wanted a stranger loose in their home.
“Oh, no. I just meant if you wake up, and I’m not here, that’s where I am. You can stay, relax, it’s fine. Whiskey will enjoy the company.”
“Yeah? You don’t mind? I swear, I’m a good houseguest.” He wasn’t a thief or a snoop.
“I trust you.” Toby shrugged. “No worries. I just—would rather you wait until I get back if you’re planning on leaving.”
“Professor, I promised you three days. I would rather cut off my tongue than be a liar.” And that was that.
Besides, he’d decided he liked Toby. The Professor was a good guy.
“You wouldn’t be. Tomorrow noon is three days.” Toby opened the door to the apartment. “Time flies.”
Whiskey greeted them at the door.