13. Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Simeon
I ’d been working away at Maddox’s floor for nearly three hours when the bedroom door opened and white running shoes came into view. I barely had time to register them when the scent of fresh-brewed coffee reached my nose. Taking a leap this generous soul had brought me a cup, I eased back onto my heels and offered a smile. “Thank y-you.” The words sort of died in my throat as I swallowed.
Ryan stood there, with a sheepish grin on his face. He held up a steaming mug. “Maddox said you might be thirsty. He also said to let you know that lunch is in about an hour and he’s making roast beef.”
“For m-me?”
“Uh…he said something about sandwiches and leftovers for a week and since the toddlers are out with Ravi at a program called Toddlers and Books at the library that he was taking full advantage. The kitchen is a disaster area, and I think he’s running code on a laptop.”
“T-that’s Maddox. A m-multitasker.”
“Ah. Well I’m shit at cooking and code…” He broke off. “Computers just aren’t my thing anymore.”
Anymore. No missing the way his eyes clouded over.
“But I have coffee and am here to help. I swear it’s not because I want roast beef.” He offered a cheeky grin.
The shadows in his eyes, however, didn’t completely go away.
Instead of trying to rise, I organized myself so I was sitting on my butt. Gratefully, I accepted the coffee from Ryan. I cocked my head.
He waved me off as he sat. “I had a tea at the ranch.” He met my gaze. “I hope it’s okay I’m here. Justin…” He cleared his throat. “I admitted, in my session this morning, that I’d spent a lonely weekend alone.” He then managed a small smile. “I might’ve also asked if you were around. Not…” The wince was subtle—but clear. “Yeah.”
“T-that’s okay. I would have been at the r-ranch, but…”
“Justin said Maddox had mentioned the flooring was delivered this morning, and how he was so damn grateful the ranch could spare you.” Slowly, he sank to the chair by the desk, just a few inches away from me.
Heat flared to my cheeks. That seemed to happen a lot.
“Before I knew what was happening, Justin called Maddox to see if another pair of hands might help. That might’ve been—”
“O-overbearing…?”
Ryan laughed. “Or considerate. Could be seen either way. And yeah, Maddox invited me over. Even if not to help on the flooring, then just to supposedly keep him company.” He frowned. “That man didn’t look like he needed company.”
“He w-would have made it work.”
“You know, I believe you’re right. I offered to help, and he smacked his forehead and said how he’d planned to ask you if you needed a hand, and he’d forgotten, and could I run a cup of coffee up, and that if you didn’t need my help that he could definitely use some.” Ryan shivered—clearly all for show. “I think he was going to recruit me to do dishes.”
“That sounds…h-helpful.” I grinned.
“If you don’t need me, I’ll certainly head back down.”
Except he’d have to stand to wash dishes. Is he up for that? Helping me would be much simpler. I sipped the coffee then swallowed the black liquid gold. “S-stay. If you w-want.”
He blinked. “I want.”
“G-great.” I handed him the coffee mug, which he set on the desk. I was about to resume work when the sunlight suddenly poured into the room.
A shaft of light landed on Ryan, ever so slightly muted by the window panes of frozen glass behind him, with the frost still visible. In the light, he looked like an angel—with his stunning red-gold hair like a halo.
I smiled even as I blinked back tears. The sheer beauty of the man with the incredible depths of pain he endured. I wanted to take away that pain. But I didn’t know how. Wasn’t qualified.
“Are you okay?”
“Y-yes.” I pointed to the pile on the floor. “H-help me?”
“Happy to.” Slowly, and with great obvious care, he lowered himself to the ground. He pointed to the pile. “That’s vinyl?”
I nodded. “Waterproof vinyl p-plank flooring.” I picked up a piece. “L-looks like laminate, but is m-more durable and, as the name says, waterproof.”
“So the water…just pools? Goes elsewhere?”
I nodded.
Ryan grinned. “Let’s hope no more plushies are flushed.”
“The w-water didn’t get shut off f-fast enough.” I smiled back. “M-Maddox is…p-philosophical.” I nearly tripped a second time on that word. Damnit. I wanted to be able to use big words—to impress Ryan. The impact was lost if I couldn’t even say them properly.
“Let’s get to work.” He winked. “I want to earn my keep. Or, in this case, my roast beef.”
We worked in companionable silence for the next hour and a bit. Part of me was grateful he didn’t require much in the way of socializing from me. Another part of me longed to ask questions. Why had he been so lonely this weekend? No family or friends? I didn’t know everyone in Mission City, but I was damn sure I would’ve remembered him if I’d seen him around. So was he new in town?
“Hey, you two.” Maddox’s deep voice filled the space.
I’d heard him coming, but apparently Ryan hadn’t and he clearly startled, pressing his hand to his chest.
Maddox held up his hands. “Apologies. I thought I was clomping.”
“In s-sock feet?” I grinned, all the while watching Ryan.
He managed a strained smile. “My hearing isn’t always as good.”
I couldn’t remember him saying something before. Is he embarrassed about it? Assure him . “Y-you’re okay here.”
His eyes widened. And not, to my reading, as a good thing.
“Roast beef’s ready. If you can tolerate two excited toddlers, then you’re welcome to join us. If you want to keep your sanity, I’d advise to stay up here. I’ll happily bring you—”
“D-downstairs.” I gazed at Ryan, willing him to understand. That, for reasons I couldn’t explain, I needed him to get along with my friends. This made absolutely no logical sense—and yet its import couldn’t be understated.
He smiled. This time, the light reached his eyes. “Toddlers and roast beef sound great.”
Maddox shook his head—yet with a smile. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Fifteen minutes later, as Ryan pulled a piece of corn from his hair, I winced.
“Violet.” Ravi glared at his daughter. “We do not throw anything. Least of all food.”
The munchkin grinned. Clearly she didn’t take the admonishments seriously. And why would she? She was all of two years old.
I didn’t know much about child development. Does she understand consequences? She must be too young for a timeout.
Ryan, however, grinned back. “I have to say, she has remarkable distance and speed. I didn’t see that coming.”
“Why would you?” Maddox put another piece of meat on Victor’s tray and added the smallest amount of gravy.
As I expected, Victor grabbed it, smooshed the gravy so it went everywhere, then chomped on the meat.
I smiled.
Ravi rolled his eyes. “She’s our other Princess.”
All the adults glanced over at the pooch who sat, at the ready, willing the toddlers to drop food for her.
As if noticing all of us—and knowing what we were thinking—she lazily licked a paw.
I cleared my throat. “If y-you ever need someone to watch Princess Sofia, I’d be h-happy to.”
“That’s sweet of you to offer.” Ravi beamed.
“You have no idea what you’d be getting into.” Maddox cut his husband a look as if to say, knock it off.
Ravi’s grin grew wider. “In fact, we’re going to see my sister in Calgary with her wife. Sofia was going to stay with Justin and Stanley, but they’ve really got their hands full—”
“Uh…” Maddox cleared his throat. “I thought we talked about Sofia staying with Adam and Dean.” He scratched his beard. “We’re also worried about the house…”
“Well, they’re preparing for the wedding.” He tilted his head. “Had you heard? It only just—”
“D-Dean texted me after Adam called Rainbow.” I grinned. “He’s s-super excited.” I turned to Ryan. “Dean’s Australian. H-he works in forestry management. He’s got a p-permanent job offer which is good because he’s fallen in love with a C-Canadian. They’re g-getting married. I h-hope you can meet them. They’re great g-guys.”
Adam had burns on his face and arm from a car accident that killed his twin brother. I hadn’t even known him until this year because he was so reclusive. Maddox and Ravi had arranged for Dean to stay with Adam—something about an apartment falling through—and Dean had…coaxed Adam out of his self-imposed exile. I considered the men friends.
Should you warn Ryan about Adam’s scars? Nah. He seems like a pretty chill guy who would just roll with the punches.
Wait.
When would Ryan and Adam even meet?
That was a good question.
“Would Sofia stay at your place?” Ravi used his meat to push some corn onto his fork. “You live with your grandparents, right?”
Heat flared to my cheeks. That was happening a lot lately.
“Right.” I considered. “I w-would have to leave her alone while I work, and my hours are sometimes long. I don’t want Nanny and Bops to feel o-obligated.”
Ryan raised his hand. “I can take the dog. I mean, I don’t think she’s allowed in my studio apartment, but I could stay here. House-sit for you. Would that work?” He gave me a long look. “And Simeon can come over to check on us. Unless his grandparents need him?”
He understands.
“They’re g-good as long as I check in with them.”
Ravi dropped his fork and clapped his hands. “Perfect! We were worried about the house and were going to ask our neighbor Felix to check on the place. He’s a teacher in the school district and also newly married.” He rubbed his forehead. “We keep meaning to have him and his husband Jacob over for dinner.”
“We should have a Christmas party.” Maddox grinned. “For the neighborhood. It’ll mostly be gay partners.”
“And kids.” Ravi gazed at his two. “You know the others are going to boss ours around.”
“Might put them in their place.” Maddox murmured that.
“Opal is Justin and Stanley’s f-foster daughter. Along with their s-son, Angus.”
“Justin mentioned them.” Ryan smiled. “I think the rule is that therapists aren’t supposed to talk about their families. But when you’re eating lasagna, all bets are off.” He gave me a meaningful look.
Had we discussed personal stuff the day we ate at Rainbow’s kitchen table? I should be able to remember, but I can’t. The memory of him enjoying Nanny’s lasagna was my main memory of that day. “Oh, I can b-bring some lasagna when you’re staying here.”
“So it’s settled?” Maddox gazed at Ryan. “You really want to stay? Sofia’s fine to be left alone for several hours at a time, so you don’t need to watch her all the time. You can also take her with you to the ranch. She and Tiffany are best buddies. She came with me for all my appointments.”
Said so casually. As if going for therapy at the ranch was no big deal. I loved that about Maddox and Adam. They were open about needing help. Adam had once pointed out that if he shared his experience with successful counseling, perhaps someone might decide to go for themselves. That one never knew what trauma and pain lay just beneath the surface of another person.
Those words struck me as profound. Both he and Maddox had been recluses before meeting their future partners. Both had been coaxed out into the world and had, on their own, seen therapists at the ranch.
Is Justin helping Ryan? He’s here…so that’s something. He admitted he was lonely on the weekend…what did that admission cost him?
“Well, this is perfect.” Ravi grinned. “See, thanks to Violet’s escapades, we’ve gotten to spend more time with Simeon, and now Ryan’s going to house-sit and pet sit for us. Like I said—perfect.”
Maddox didn’t quite look convinced. “I feel like we’re shoving things at people.”
Ryan held up his hand. “I volunteered. I mean, how hard can one dog be?”
Ravi and Maddox gazed at each other. Ravi snickered, Maddox rolled his eyes, and then they both broke into gales of laughter.
Ryan cocked his head at me.
I shrugged.
After a moment, Ravi wiped his eyes. “My first day here, I let Sofia out for a pee. Little sh— Uh, twit, chased a squirrel into the backyard. The wooded backyard that abuts a municipal tree farm that goes for miles. I found her…” He winced. “But couldn’t get back.”
Maddox’s expression sobered for a moment. “And I’m former search and rescue. I was able to locate them.” He pointed his fork. “This twit took his jacket off to warm up the dog.”
“Hey.” Ravi shrugged. “You found a way to warm me up.”
“With a mylar blanket.”
“I meant later.”
Maddox chuckled. “Yeah, you would. One-track mind.”
“Hey.” Ravi attempted to grouse, but he utterly failed as he broke into a wide grin. “You like my one-track mind.”
“Yeah, I kind of do.”
Ryan giggled.
The sound warmed my heart.
“S-so she has to g-go out on a leash.”
Princess Sofia’s daddies smiled fondly.
“Fuck yes.” Maddox slapped his hand to his mouth.
“Fu-fu-fu-uck.” Victor grinned.
Ravi pointed a fork. “That’s on you.” He chuckled. “I still like the idea of a get-together before we leave. Are you two available Saturday night? We can have an impromptu celebration of our new bedroom floor.”
“You planning to entertain in the room?” Maddox grinned. “I don’t know if the other guys are up for that.”
“Well, possibly Dean.” Ravi winked. “Just kidding. But yeah, I’ll see who’s available.”
“I am.” Ryan cleared his throat. “We have the decorating party at the ranch on Friday, but I’m available.” He glanced my way. “I wouldn’t want to speak for anyone else.”
“Well, I h-happen to be available.” I beamed. “L-looking forward to it.”