Chapter Fourteen
Memphis
“Hi, sweet boy. What are you up to?” FaceTiming Ridge on a night we weren’t together had become our custom right before bedtime, and I looked forward to seeing his face before heading to dreamland.
“Just about to have dinner with my friend.” A hand came onto the screen, waving then disappeared. “Rowan says hi.”
“Hi, Rowan.” I didn’t know this friend, but my boy was very popular in the little room and even among the daddies due to his kindness and sweet nature. “Where are you, anyway?”
“Rowan’s house.”
“That’s nice. How are you going to get home?” Yes, I was aware that Ridge went all over town on public transportation or his bike, but it was pretty late—well past dinnertime in fact. “I can pick you up if you need a ride.”
“No, thank you. I’m not leaving tonight.”
“Oh good. It’s safer that way.” I was about to tell him good night and hang up when something seemed off. This was a friend I’d never heard of before, and he had never stayed at anyone’s house, to my knowledge, since I’d known him. Why now? “How come you’re having a slumber party tonight?”
“My building needed to be fumigated again. Some of the tenants are not the cleanest, so I’m out for a few days and Rowan invited me. He has a spare room and everything.”
Fumigated…again. I hadn’t seen any roaches or anything when I’d been at Ridge’s apartment, but he was the opposite of not the cleanest, and if he had them, they had just arrived. “I hope you didn’t get any bugs in your place because of the others’ habits.”
“No. Never even one, but I gather some of the other tenants were seriously overrun after 4A moved out and left a hoarding situation. They couldn’t even get in there to inspect it because the front hallway was piled so high.”
“I see.” Why didn’t he come to stay with me? I hated that he might not feel comfortable enough to do so. But this was not the time I could broach it. “How was your day?”
We chatted for a little while longer before I heard his friend saying dinner was ready. “I’d better let you go, Ridge. Do you have everything you need?”
“Yes, Daddy.” Rowan must be someone he felt comfortable with, another little. “Thank you. You sleep good.”
“You, too, my sweet boy. I’m here anytime you need me.”
“Night, Daddy.”
After he hung up, I stared at the phone for a while, mulling over the situation.
And what bothered me about it. Of course, I was glad he had friends he could rely on when a situation arose, but I couldn’t get past wondering why he’d chosen a friend over me?
He did stay at my place sometimes, but usually only one night at a time, now that I thought of it, and I thought our relationship was strong enough that he’d feel comfortable enough to know he’d be welcome anytime. For any length of time now.
And what about the building? Every time I picked him up at his apartment or we spent the night there, I was aware of more issues with his residence.
Now bugs? What next, rats? I wished with all my heart that I could protect him from the evils of the world, but until he was ready, I could not even suggest what I really wanted. To have him under my roof all the time.
Glancing at the clock, I saw it was just after ten, and our set generally were night owls. I needed to vent to someone or ask advice, so I called Jovan.
“Hello?”
“Jovan, it’s Memphis. Are you busy, or can I bend your ear for a few minutes?”
“Sure. Ernie is watching a movie, and he can do without me for a bit.”
“I don’t want to make you miss your movie.”
“It’s an animated feature we’ve watched three times already. I’m good. What’s up?”
“You’re going to think I’m silly, but I needed help to think this through. Ridge’s building is having some maintenance—no need to share details my boy not appreciate—and I just found out about it.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad.”
I sat down on the edge of the bed. “I’m just puzzled by the fact that he chose to stay with another friend, one I’ve never even heard him mention, when I am right here and ready to invite him anytime.”
“Does he know that?”
“What?”
“Have you ever out and out said to him, ‘You’re welcome to stay with me anytime you like’?”
“No, I thought it was understood. He’s probably here half the nights of the week anyway. Why would he need an invitation?”
“You know how the kinksters at the club are always talking about communication being important and how it can even save lives or keep harm from happening?”
“I do. And we believe in that too.” At least I thought we did.
“Sounds like you need a little more of that. And if he’s not ready, then you need a good dose of patience. Would you say your relationship overall is good? Are you happy together?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then, give your boy time. He has his demons as we all do, and as his daddy, you will most likely encourage him to bring them all forth. You’re dealing with a whole life that got him where he is, and it might take a little longer for him to break down the last of his walls.
We see you together, and I’ve never seen Ridge or you look so happy. ”
“So, patience and communication?”
“Right.
“This could have been an email.”
The healer’s laughter rolled out of the phone. He was just too smart.