Shake Me Up

Chapter 8

C hapter E ight

It had been one hell of a week, and Ronny was exhausted by the time they finally ushered the last person out of the bar in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Everyone had been working insanely hard to keep up with a packed house, with a bachelor party as well as a bachelorette party all on the same night. Bachelor parties he could take, but it was the ladies who really knew how to raise some hell, especially once the two groups found each other. Good God.

Thankfully, the kitchen had closed at midnight, and the staff had already cleaned up and gone home. Ronny stocked the front bar while Arden helped. They’d closed the back bar at the same time as the kitchen, so they were just about done.

“I got this,” Arden told him with a mustered smile. “Go finish the office work so we can get out of here.” He yawned and was clearly as low on energy as Ronny. The change to closing on Mondays was all set to start this week, with the staff rescheduled and the website updated, along with the signs on the bar doors. And he was looking forward to it.

He had just sat at his desk when Arden barreled in. “Check the cameras. Something is going on outside in the back.”

Ronny pulled up his phone. “It looks like a fight of some kind.” He showed Arden.

“Jesus, they’re fighting over access to the dumpster.” Arden groaned and sighed. “That’s one of the best places for food if you really need it.”

Ronny wondered for a second how Arden knew that and then it clicked. Holy crap… the thought of him dumpster diving to eat just made Ronny angry.

“Call the police. These may be the folks who set the fire, trying to keep the other from getting access.” He left the office as Ronny made a call.

Once he finished, Ronny jumped up and followed Arden to the back door. The scuffle outside grew louder as Arden opened it. “Arden…,” Ronny cautioned.

“The police have been called and are on their way.” Arden closed and locked the door quickly as Ronny checked the cameras again. The men seemed to stop fighting, and after a few seconds, took off down the alley. Well, that worked.

“I better let the police in,” Ronny said, heading to the main entrance to let the officers inside when they arrived. He explained what he saw and the actions they took. Ronny also showed them the camera footage.

“We know these people. They are getting more aggressive lately. The food banks and shelters have cut back, so it’s getting harder for them to find food in the more conventional ways.”

“What do I do?” Ronny asked. “I don’t want them setting more fires or fighting over food scraps behind the bar. Someone might get hurt, and I don’t want more damage to the building. There’s plenty of light back there. I don’t want to add more because it will affect my tenant living on the second floor.” He hoped Yeardley hadn’t been disturbed too much by all of this. She had worked until after midnight.

“We’ll see if we can locate these two and see what they have to say. But them knowing that you’re watching is a good step forward. Another thing you can do is make sure that all your trash is as compacted if possible. It makes for less food that’s desirable.”

Ronny nodded and thanked the officers before letting them out. “I hate being this way.”

“I know. But you need to ensure that everyone is safe and that the building isn’t in danger. At least they know that someone is watching, and they’ll be more careful. As for the food and compacting the trash….”

“Yeah, well… I can look into it. These people are hungry. That’s the root of the problem. With food getting more expensive, I know these people are suffering, and I wish there was something I could do. But I can’t afford to feed them.”

Arden went right into his arms. “You don’t have to. But maybe we can do a benefit night or something for one of the food banks or shelters. At least then we’d be working toward a solution of some sort. There are groups of folks who take clothing and food out to where the homeless are staying. Maybe we can help them. I don’t know. But it’s something to think about.” Arden yawned. “Right now, I just want to finish up here, lock up, and go to bed. Those ladies wore me out.”

Ronny smiled. “I know. They had you shaking your little backside every five minutes for a while.” They kept ordering Arden’s drink of the day so he would put on his show while making it.

“You watched me?” Arden asked.

Ronny drew him closer. “Of course I saw you. How could I not? Everyone was hooting and hollering back here, so I had to see what was going on.” He leaned down. “It was really sexy.” He was about to kiss him when Arden yawned.

“Oh, God, sorry.”

Ronny chuckled and released him. “Let’s finish up so we can get out of here.” He returned to his office to secure the cash and the receipts before locking up the safe. Arden had finished and sat slumped in one of the chairs, already half asleep. “Let’s go. Have you talked with your aunt?”

“Yeah. She said everything was quiet and promised to call if there were any issues. I don’t think Uncle Charlie is going to break his bail directly, but I’m sure he’s got something planned to try to get back at Aunt Louise. I just don’t know what it is yet.”

Ronny got them outside and locked the doors before guiding Arden to his car and driving to the house, where they went inside. “Go on up if you want. I’ll be right there.” He went out to the back deck, the stillness of the night surrounding him. He needed this. The quiet and the sound of the water. After hours of overlapping sound, demanding patrons, and problem solving, he just needed a few minutes of nothing.

Arden’s arms slipped around his waist. “I knew I’d find you out here.” The two of them had been coming back here a few days a week, since there was more room here. But they also spent time at Arden’s. He leaned against Ronny’s back. “It’s always so peaceful out here. Everyone else is asleep.”

“Yes, and we should be too.” Still, he couldn’t help inhaling deeply, the scent of the water on the air. “Come on.” He turned and kissed Arden, the heat building quickly. Then he guided Arden inside and closed the door. Taking his hand, he led him upstairs, where they got undressed and fell into bed. As much as he would have adored making love to Arden, they both fell asleep almost immediately.

Ronny cracked his eyes open, wondering what the hell that noise was. He thought it was his phone, and he grabbed for it, but it was dark. “Arden,” he said gently.

“Huh?”

“Your phone,” Ronny told him.

Arden rolled over, and the noise stopped. “Hello…,” he said groggily. “Wait….” He sat up. “What?” Suddenly, he was much more awake. “You need to get to Aunt Louise’s right now. Can you?” More quiet followed. “Okay. You get there. Of course, she’ll welcome you. God, just stop and get there.” He ended the call.

“Who was that?” Ronny asked, rubbing his eyes.

“Mom.”

“Is she all right? Is she hurt?” His mind jumped to the discussion they’d had a few days earlier.

“She’s fine that way. Dad has been going out on Saturdays. Mom thought he was with friends. But last night she followed him… to the Super 8. It seems he’s been….” Arden’s voice broke, and he buried his face against Ronny. “The old bastard has been visiting prostitutes and taking them back to the hotel. Mom apparently saw it and confronted him with it when he got home. She is really angry, hurt, and doesn’t know what to do.”

“It was a good idea to have her see your aunt. At least she can help her.”

Arden shrugged. The reaction seemed strange because he would have expected more intensity and even anger at the situation. “Mom doesn’t know what to do, but I know she’s trying to figure out how she can work things out. At least that’s what she said she needed to talk to Aunt Louise about. Mom was going to call her.”

“Do you want to go over?” Ronny asked.

“No. I think I’ve spent enough of my time and effort on the two of them. Aunt Louise will know how to handle Mom, and she doesn’t need any of my help. Also, Mom is more likely to open up if I’m not there.”

“True. This sort of thing is not something you want to talk about with your son.”

“Yeah, I get that. But at least she’s going to Aunt Louise’s. That will make all the difference in the world for her.”

Ronny was pretty sure Arden wanted to be there and was holding himself back. But it was the right decision. “You want to protect her even after what she did?” Ronny asked.

Arden shrugged and settled back under the covers. “I think she’ll be different once she’s out of my father’s influence. I could be wrong. But in some ways, it doesn’t matter. She’s still my mom, and no matter what, I still love her. She looked after me all those years, so….” He sighed, and Ronny tugged him to him, gently running his hands over his belly.

“Do you think you can let it go for a little while?” He drew closer, nipping lightly at the back of Arden’s neck. “Because I have something that could take your mind off just about everything.”

Arden snorted.

“What?”

“The penis is not a memory wiper.”

Ronny groaned. “No. But it has the power to make things seem less urgent, and it certainly has the power to make guys stupid.”

Arden rolled over. “Okay. Maybe I could use a little stupid right now. I certainly could use a little less immediacy around all this family stuff.”

Ronny tugged him closer. “Then I’ll see what I can do.” He kissed Arden hard, pushing him back on the mattress, and damn, he loved the way Arden gave himself over to him. The trust in his eyes and the urgency in his breath was enough to nearly send Ronny over the edge right then. So very few people had ever treated him that way without expecting something in return. That was love as far as Ronny was concerned: giving without expectations. What more could he ever want?

The words were on the tip of his tongue to tell Arden how he felt, but he held back, not quite ready to go there. It wasn’t Arden, but him. That sort of thing had the power to make things wonderful, but those same three words also had the ability to blow things all to hell, and Ronny wasn’t sure at the moment which of those would happen. Though with each breath and the passion filling Arden’s eyes, the picture of what he wanted was becoming clearer by the second. The way Arden watched him, the way his eyes darkened and his breath hitched, but mostly, it was the way Arden’s body just seemed made for him. They moved together, building the heat between them until Ronny wasn’t sure he could take it any longer. And yet he did… again and again. The closer he got to the edge, the more Arden seemed to anticipate it and help him back so that their love making lasted until the sun lit the room brightly, and Arden practically glistened in the light, like he shone. Then and only then did they both soar together in a release that left Ronny breathless.

“I need to go see my aunt and my mom,” Arden said on Monday morning. It seemed so strange not to have to open The Gingerbread.

“Cool. I want to stop by the bar just to make sure everything is okay.” He thought of doing a project or two on the inside to continue his efforts to freshen up the place, but he decided that could wait until next week. One complete day off wasn’t going to hurt.

“All right.” Arden got out of bed, traipsing around the bed, his little bubble butt bouncing. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” He dressed and hurried out.

Ronny wondered where he got all that energy. He closed his eyes, stretching out until the scent of breakfast drew him out of bed. He pulled on some light clothes and went downstairs. Arden was frying bacon and making some eggs while he had bread in the toaster. Once everything was done, he put together breakfast sandwiches and brought them to the table. “These look really good.”

“I’m glad. I love these things. Mom used to make then for me. We never went to McDonalds when I was a kid, so this was as close to an egg McMuffin as I got until I was a teenager.” He poured juice and then sat down next to Ronny. “Eat before it gets cold.”

“You cooked for me,” Ronny said.

“Yeah, but don’t expect it every week. I’m passable in the kitchen and can make basic things, but that’s about all. I can bake a cake using a mix, and I can bake cookies. But if it’s complicated, it’s best to keep me away.”

Ronny shrugged. “I don’t like complicated food anyway. If it’s simple and good, that’s all I need. Like this.” He ate all of his, happily. He didn’t have to cook it, and Arden had done a really good job.

“Do you eat a lot at work?”

Ronny nodded. “There are a few things on the menu because they’re my favorites. They don’t sell a great deal, but I really like them, so I keep them on. They’re not complicated and don’t require extra ingredients, so it’s fine.”

“Like what?”

“Sometimes I just want a salad with a bunch of meat on it. We don’t make them often, but we have all the stuff for other things, so the chef salad stays on. I also love a good BLT. So I train the chefs to grill the bread instead of toasting it, because I love it that way.”

“Me too. They’re the best.” Arden grinned. “I really like chili. What Mom made is really good. So maybe I’ll try to get her recipe and give it a whirl. The worst thing, we end up having BLTs.”

“I like mine meaty.”

Arden snickered. “You like everything meaty.” That laugh and the smile were amazing. Ronny loved that he could make Arden look that happy.

Once they were ready to go, Ronny drove to The Gingerbread. It was locked up tight and quiet, which he was grateful for. Ronny did a quick walk-through, turning off a few of the ceiling fans that they had forgotten about last night. He locked up again and joined Arden in the car, then headed out to his place.

“That’s Mom’s car,” Arden said, sitting straighter and becoming more agitated by the second. Ronny stopped, and Arden got out, watching the front of the house. Then together they went to the front door, which Adelle opened. She looked tired and more than a little harried. Arden didn’t say anything but just hugged her tightly.

Ronny was becoming more than a little worried about Arden. All this upheaval in his life had to be taking more of a toll on him than he was letting on. Louise greeted them as they moved inside.

“I suppose you want to talk about all this,” Adelle said as they sat down, and Arden bit his lower lip and shrugged. “I don’t know what that means.”

Ronny smiled. “It means that Arden isn’t sure what he wants to talk about or how much he wants to know.” He took Arden’s hand.

“Yeah, what he said.”

“Okay.” Adelle told him. She looked about as pulled-thin as Arden seemed to be.

Louise cleared her throat. “Let’s put all the heartrending and grand confessions on hold for all of us.” She sat down across from Arden. “I know it seems like the family is falling apart… and maybe it is in a way. But your mom, me, and you have to figure out a way forward, and this isn’t a group thing. Each of us has to chart our own path, and that includes you. Your father… well, regardless of the state of the relationship between you, he’s still your father, and nothing is going to change that. We all know what he did to you… and now how he treated Adelle.”

Arden cleared his throat. “But I hate him,” he finally said.

“Don’t…,” his mother told him softly. “It takes too much energy for that.”

Arden’s head snapped around to her. “Huh? After all he did to both of us?”

She nodded. “We need to figure out a way forward. I’m going to take some time to decide what it is that I really want. But you… you’re independent now and building your own life. So keep doing that. Don’t let the mess that I’m in or Louise is in stop you from moving forward. We’ll figure it out one way or another. You figure out your way.”

Arden looked at each of them. “So you’re okay?”

Adelle nodded. “I don’t know what I’m going to do, but that’s my path to blaze. And I’m glad to know I have your support. Up until now, I relied on others to lead the way, and now it’s something I have to do for myself.” She took Arden’s hand. “But don’t worry about me.”

“But….”

“It’s going to take some time, but I’ll figure it out.”

Arden swallowed. “You don’t need my help.” He sounded kind of disappointed.

“No. And you don’t need mine. You are perfectly capable of going your own way. You made that clear when you told us you were gay and then you stood up to your father. I’m sorry I let him throw you out, I really am, and I see things more clearly than I have in a long time. But you went ahead and made a life of your own here. And you need to keep doing that and not let the problems between your father and I weigh you down.”

Arden nodded slowly. “Have you talked to him?”

“He’s up in Sunbury looking after the bar, and I’m going to stay here, for a while at least. I don’t know what’s going to happen between us. I have a lot of forgiving to work my way through before I’d even consider taking him back, and he has a hell of a lot of groveling ahead of him before that could happen.”

“And the rest?” Arden asked.

“I’m working my way through all of it.” She stood, and when Arden did the same, she hugged him. “Go on and leave me here. Louise and I have each other, and we’ll help figure our ways forward.”

Arden stepped back. “Okay. I guess I wasn’t quite expecting this…. But I’m happy for both of you, and I’m here if you need me.” He hugged his aunt as well, and then they left, stepping out in the early-summer sunshine. “That was not what I was expecting.”

“I don’t see why not. You got your strength from somewhere, and I doubt it was from your father. He seems more the bullying type.”

“I guess.” Arden looked both ways before crossing the street. “So what do we do?”

“How about something fun?” Ronny asked, and Arden pulled open the cart door as Ronny approached.

“Definitely.” He licked his lips and waited for exactly what Ronny had in mind.