Chapter Six
“I’m running out of places to look,” Jason murmured as they entered Prospect Park.
David could hear the fatigue in his voice.
They’d started with the shelters within several blocks of the coffee shop, before visiting the subway stations, checking the benches that were already filling up.
Then they’d gone on to the train stations, and every street they walked down, they checked the doorways and alleys.
Under the Brooklyn Bridge had been a fruitless search too.
Not only could they not spot him, but everyone they asked had no knowledge of Mike.
“I can’t believe how many people live on the streets,” David said quietly. “And such diverse people too.” He and Jason had talked as they’d walked. Drug addicts, domestic abuse victims, veterans, people with mental health problems, runaways—unfortunately they were just the tip of the iceberg.
“Don’t give up hope,” David said in a tired voice, but he knew he felt the same. It was getting on for midnight, and his feet were dragging.
Jason stopped and stared. David followed his gaze to where a man sat on a bench, a tattered sleeping bag wrapped around him. Jason approached him slowly. “Hey. It’s Connor, right?”
Connor jerked his head up, tensing, but when he saw Jason, he relaxed. “What are you doing here? Isn’t it a little late to be walking in the park?” His gaze flickered toward David, but he said nothing.
“We’re looking for a guy who comes to the coffee shop every morning, like you do, only I haven’t seen him for three days.” Jason described Mike, and to David’s relief, Connor nodded.
“Yeah, I know him, but I haven’t seen him in a while. Where have you looked?”
Jason rattled off all the places they’d visited.
The man shook his head. “If you haven’t found him yet, then I don’t think you will.
Put it this way, I don’t tend to stray far from one particular area, unless I get moved on.
Could be that the cops have moved him on.
Maybe he’s found a shelter? Or it could be that he’s not in Brooklyn anymore.
After three days, Christ, he could be anywhere. ”
“Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of,” Jason said in a dejected voice. “Thanks anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”
“You bet.” Connor smiled. “Your coffee is the best start to my day. And if I hear anything about Mike, I’ll let you know, all right?”
“Yeah, thanks.” They left him on his bench and walked toward the exit. Jason turned to David. “Look, it’s getting quite late. Why don’t we call it a night?”
David nodded. “Sounds good. We’ve both got to work tomorrow after all.” Thankfully Bergen Street was only five stops away.
In silence they walked toward the subway and waited for the red line train. Jason seemed to have retreated into himself, and David didn’t have a clue how to help him. All he could do was be there for him.
When they got off at Bergen Street, Jason paused. “I know it’s late, but… do you want to come up for a coffee, or maybe something stronger?”
David couldn’t help smiling. “A small whiskey wouldn’t go amiss, but only if I do the pouring.” He felt lighter when Jason laughed. That’s better. That’s just what I wanted to hear.
“Done. And… thank you. I don’t want to be alone right now.”
Once inside his apartment, Jason sighed. “One of these days I really must get around to finding myself a cat. That would be so nice, you know, to come home and have my cat sitting by the front door, waiting to be petted and fed. Sitting on my couch, watching TV with a warm cat in my lap.”
David paused midway through taking off his jacket. “Then why haven’t you got one yet?”
Jason smiled and gestured to his living room.
“David, I haven’t even gotten off my ass to decorate my apartment, and I’ve been here more than six years.
When do you think I’m going to be sufficiently motivated to go get a cat?
Besides, I’m not going to buy one. I’d rather go to one of those rescue places and choose a cat that someone else has abandoned.
I’ve got more than enough love for a cat.
” He went over to the shelf where his bottle of whiskey stood, less than half full.
David spied the squat glasses they’d used at Thanksgiving and grabbed two of them.
Jason handed him the bottle. “Okay, you pour.” He smirked.
David poured about an inch of whiskey into each glass, and they sat on the couch.
Jason leaned back and closed his eyes, the glass held in both hands on his lap.
“Well, that was a waste of time.” He appeared exhausted.
David guessed the worry and the effort of looking had really taken it out of him.
“Drink your whiskey,” David instructed him. “With any luck it might send you off to sleep.”
Jason opened one eye and peered at him. “Thank you for helping me search. You didn’t have to do that, and it was sweet of you.” He sipped his whiskey slowly.
David turned to face him on the couch. “Listen, any time you need me? You have my number, and you know where I live. Second floor, front apartment.” He smiled. “I’ll put something in the window so you can tell it’s mine.”
Jason grinned. “Like a rainbow sticker? That would be so cute.” He took another sip, his eyes closed again. “Never mind about sending me to sleep. I am so tired, I think I could crash right here.”
David gazed at him, taking in the silvery gray hair swept back from his forehead and short at the sides, the silver and dark gray beard, and the hollows beneath his cheekbones. His heart pounding, David leaned forward to put his glass on the coffee table. “Jason?” he said softly.
“Mmm?” Jason opened his eyes.
David carefully shifted closer, not breaking eye contact.
“I mean it. If you ever need me, I’ll be here for you.
” Closer, closer, until he could feel Jason’s breath on his lips.
David reached out to curve his palm around Jason’s cheek, noting how his eyes widened and his breathing quickened.
With his other hand David stroked his fingers down Jason’s neck, before changing direction to run them across his scalp, feeling the shiver that trembled through him.
He pressed his lips to Jason’s, applying only the slightest pressure, before pulling away.
“Oh.” The whisper carried so much for one syllable.
There was surprise, a touch of awe, and a hint of disappointment.
Jason stared into his eyes and this time it was he who moved, he who took David’s lips in a kiss, his hand on the back of David’s head.
When David licked across the seam of his lips, Jason let out a soft moan and opened for him, allowing him entrance.
Their tongues connected for the briefest of moments before Jason pulled back.
“If I’d still had doubts about my sexuality, that would have sent them all packing.”
David chuckled, his pulse easing a little. “You liked it?”
Jason’s face lit up. “Liked it? My God, I feel like Oliver Twist.” When David gazed at him, his eyebrows lifted quizzically, Jason stared at him, his eyes so dark. “Please, sir, I… I want some more.”
David laughed and went right back to kissing him, his hands once more caressing Jason’s cheek and neck. Jason fed a quiet sigh of satisfaction between his lips, his hands moving to David’s back, stroking him languidly, like they had all the time in the world.
Shit. Time.
Reluctantly, David broke the kiss. “Much as I am loving every second of this, I am aware of the time. Especially as I’ve just remembered that I have a mid-morning meeting with the senior partners tomorrow.” He didn’t remove his hands, however.
“That sounds heavy,” Jason commented, still stroking his back.
I don’t want to stop touching him. And as far as he could tell, Jason was in no hurry either.
David shook his head. “They want to see what I’ve come up with so far for the campaign. I should have gotten my act together this evening before I left work to make sure I was ready but… ”
But I didn’t, because I was in too much of a hurry, thinking about seeing you.
“Then I guess you do have to go.” Jason sat up, removing his hands from David’s body. “I’d better see you out.” He rose and picked up David’s jacket from the armchair where David had placed it over the arm. “Here. It’s freezing out there.”
David pulled it on and stood before him. “Thanks.” Before he could move toward the door, Jason caught him by his arms.
“Do I get a kiss goodnight?” The hope in Jason’s voice made David’s belly quiver.
David grinned. “Now you’re just being greedy.” Before Jason could react, he leaned in and kissed him one last time, no tongues but a brushing of lips, soft as silk. When he’d finished, he smiled. “And now I’ll leave.”
Jason followed him out of the apartment and down the narrow flight of stairs that led to the street. Once there, he opened the door for David and stood aside to let him through. “Goodnight,” he said quietly.
David reached out and stroked his cheek.
“Goodnight. I’ll see you in the morning.
” And with that he walked away, pausing once when he crossed the street.
Jason was still standing at the door, the light behind him.
David nodded and then hurried along the street to his apartment, not minding the cold in the slightest.
Inside he was warm, his head full of the memory of kissing Jason for the first time.
* * * * * *
Jason pulled back the sheets and comforter, and climbed into bed, grateful for his electric blanket.
The space heater in his bedroom had died a couple of days ago, and he hadn’t had time to buy another.
Of course, he could have done that instead of wasting hours looking for Mike.
Except Jason knew if he’d found out Mike had been hurt or worse, and he hadn’t bothered to look for him…
Yeah, given the same circumstances, he’d do exactly the same thing again.