Chapter 68
68
DONNIE
That might not have been the most awkward Thanksgiving dinner I’ve ever been at, but it certainly was uncomfortable. To say it was an unwelcome surprise for everyone to see Toby that subdued would be a massive understatement.
The food that he and Scott prepared was undoubtedly phenomenal Toby smiled when he was complimented, but it’s glaringly obvious that his light is still dim after that bullshit his womb rental pulled a couple weeks ago.
“Why don’t you guys head to bed?” Eli suggests when I bring our plates upstairs to the kitchen. The basement is the only place in the house with enough space to fit everyone other than outside, so that is where the actual meal was held. The theater room was converted into a melgamesh of hodge podge furniture and table settings. After the meal, I left my pets downstairs to relax while I came up to fret .
“He needs someone to pull him out of this, whatever it is.” My frustration is palpable as I look to Eli for an answer. But the damn sadist just shrugs in response.
“This is probably the first time Toby has ever let any of us see him as anything other than the happy go lucky energetic pup — at least for longer than the length of a movie. I think it’s a good thing he’s showing us this side of him,” he explains as he starts to fill the sink with hot soapy water. “You gave him a safety net. You gave him a home where he doesn’t have to fear how he is perceived. You gave him a safe haven to let go and actually feel the bad stuff, to stop hiding it away from everyone who loves him. You’re good for him, Don. You’re good for both of them.”
Eli leaves the hot water in the sink and heads for the stairs to the upper floors. I don’t really understand why he wasted the water without putting any dishes in, but I was specifically instructed by no less than five people to not attempt to clean anything in the kitchen here on pain of death.
“Owner?”
I turn toward the basement stairs to see my boys standing in the doorway. It hurts to hear Toby so uncertain, but I hold my arms open for him. I’ll always be open to him, to them both. He rushes into my arms reminding me of the excitement he used to always show for my hugs, before that woman showed up in our lives.
“Can we go home tonight?” he asks softly. My heart does a little happy jump at his calling my apartment his home .
“I did enough people-ing today. I don’t think I have two more days of playing nice in me.”
Shiloh gives me a small nod from across the room before he heads upstairs to pack our things. I lean down to kiss the top of my pup’s head before I answer.
“Of course we can go home. Did you want to say goodnight to anyone before we leave?”
He shakes his head, so I keep hold of him as we head to the foyer to get our shoes on. Shiloh meets us there and tells me that he explained everything to Eli so we shouldn’t have to worry about any freak outs in the group chat from the rest of our friends.
The drive home is eerily silent, enough to set my teeth on edge by the time I park in my spot behind the shop. When we enter the apartment, Toby heads straight for the bathroom. I worry that the big gathering might have been too much for him, too soon. The sound of the shower reassures me that he won’t hear how pathetic I’m about to be as I turn to our other love in desperation.
“I need some fucking assistance here, Kitten. What the fuck do we do to help him?”
Shiloh joins me on the sofa, mirroring my own helplessness in his suddenly glassy eyes. “I have no idea, Donnie. I have no fucking clue and it’s breaking my heart seeing him like this.”
Neither of us notice the shower cutting off, but we hear the creak of the bathroom door. When the sound of his shuffled steps lead into the bedroom, I stand up and help Shiloh back to his feet as well. We need to go hold our pup. As long as it takes, I won’t give up on him and I know Shiloh feels the same way.