The Day I Found Him (Lost and Found #2)

Chapter 12

Nick

I t was late. I wasn’t really sure what time it was, but Gavin was drunk, I was drunk, and Jeff had told us we should just spend the night in the blue room. We were sitting on a couch in the living room watching a group of equally drunken people play the game where you try to pour wine in the glass of the person behind you by bending backwards and holding the base of the wine glass in your teeth. It was not going well for any of them, especially since literally everyone in the line was groping the person in front of them as they tried to pour the drink. Luckily they’d had the presence of mind to use the white wine, because all of them were covered in it.

Gavin was in my arms, his head on my chest, laughing occasionally. He had his arms around my torso and I was holding him close. He’d seemed a little nervous about how I would feel about it in front of Caden and my other friends, but I’d pulled him to me when he hesitated, and he’d relaxed into my arms immediately.

Caitlin and Nadia were making out on a different couch. Jesse and Luke had gone home in an Uber, stating that they’d never get any sleep if they stayed there. Caden and Jamie were playing the wine game, but Caden was feeling Jamie up more than they were actually accomplishing anything, and Jeff and Amber had snuck downstairs a while before.

I reached up and touched Gavin’s hair, brushing some stray strands out of his face. When he told me the reason he’d been smiling in his sleep had been me , my heart bloomed with emotion. It was the first time I’d seen him smile in his sleep since I met him. The night had been amazing for the most part, besides, of course, the asshole that harassed him, and then being slightly traumatized when he made me admit I came before I finished his blow job. It happening was bad enough. I was twenty-six years old and came in my pants like I was fourteen. It was him , though. He was just so damn beautiful and the way his back had arched when I found his sweet spot, and the way he gripped those sheets like they were the only thing keeping him on earth had done me in. I knew he’d never make fun of me for it, and I knew that he’d been somehow amazed that he could elicit an untouched orgasm from me, but I wasn’t going to live it down in my own head for a long time.

I looked down at him, and he looked up with a lazy grin. His smile, it was the most amazing smile I’d ever seen. Those dimples highlighted that sculpted-by-angels jawline he had going on. The man was one of the hottest people on the planet and I was pretty sure he had absolutely no clue. I wondered if he knew if he would still look at me. He seemed to like my body the way it was, and that I couldn’t get my hair to stay in place. He liked that I rode a motorcycle and wanted to ride with me. He didn’t mind when I got awkward. All of the things Gabriel had insisted were flaws seemed to draw Gavin to me. It was weird as hell to me, but in the moment, I couldn’t have been happier.

I looked back up to see that the game was over and Caden and Jamie were in a chair across from us in their own cuddle, Jamie on Caden’s lap. There was wine all over them, and they were grinning at us. “God,” Jamie said loudly enough for us to hear, “That couldn’t have gone better if we’d strategically planned it.”

Caden cracked up and started tickling Jamie, who laughed while telling him to knock it off. “You’re right,” Caden said, “And we almost did, but it would have taken a lot longer. Luckily Nick walked himself right into the love trap we hadn’t even finished setting up yet.”

He stopped tickling Jamie who, still laughing, said, “We would’ve done real good, though, if he’d given us a chance. They still would have made at least one of the bases tonight. Fate is fate.”

Caden gazed up at Jamie, stars in his eyes and appearing to momentarily forget they weren’t alone, “Yeah, we would’ve. Because we do real good at everything, baby.”

I wondered if it was awkward for Gavin, even though it had been eight years since he and Caden had been a couple, but then he spoke up from my chest. “Yeah, we can hear you, you know, and you guys aren’t taking credit for this. We worked for this. There was a whole lot of thinking the other person wasn’t interested and we had to get through that, and it was tough. Now go get a room before you start dry humping in your chair.” He cracked up and so did they. Then they headed to get a room.

On their way out, Jamie said, “Not the blue room, Caden. They’ve already tainted it.” He gave us a wink and another little laugh, and they were gone.

I reached down and lifted Gavin’s chin slightly. “Hey, it’s late, you want to go to bed? I have the key to the blue room, and I don’t think I should drive at this point.”

He smiled that drunken smile again. “Uh-huh. Ok.”

We headed down the stairs in a much better mood than when we’d gone down them the first time. We got back to our room and locked the door. I stripped down to my boxers to sleep. He hesitated for only a second, then clumsily pulled his clothes off. I wasn’t sure what that whole thing was about. He’d acted embarrassed earlier to dress in front of me when he hadn’t been concerned about cuddling naked with me or lying there completely bare below me while I got him off. He didn’t even seem to mind when I undressed him. I had a feeling it had something to do with his past, which was why I’d gone into the bathroom so he could dress. He seemed a little less embarrassed when we returned, though, and whether it was that I’d just stripped, he left his underwear on, the alcohol, or a combination of all of it, I couldn’t be sure.

He looked up at me and took in my body, the most of it he’d yet seen. I wanted to shrink into the wall, wishing I would have left my T-shirt on, but he walked over and hugged me. “You’re so fucking hot,” he slurred.

“And you’re just drunk,” I laughed.

“Drunk lips speak the truth,” he muttered and planted a sloppy kiss on my lips.

I laughed again and said, “Come on. We should get some rest.”

I knew I probably could have talked him into round two, but I was much closer to sober than he was, and I didn’t want to take advantage of the situation. I’d tried to contain myself earlier, since he’d been so upset when we left the deck, but then he’d begged me to touch him, and it had broken any resolve I had left. He needed it right then, and I would have done anything for him. I couldn’t believe that the thing he needed was something I’d been dying to do since I met him.

I made him drink some water with me, then steered him to the bed and we both climbed in. He cuddled up to me instantly, wrapping his arms around my waist and burying his head in my chest. His breathing evened out within seconds, and I sighed happily as I lay there with my chin resting on top of his head, listening to his almost-snore until I fell asleep myself.

◆◆◆

When I woke up, it was still early, but the sun was shining brightly through the open curtains, the reflections of water dancing along the walls. Gavin was still cuddled up to me, and he apparently hadn’t had a nightmare in the five or so hours we’d been asleep. He stirred a little bit. “Mmm, Nick.” Holy shit was he dreaming about me again?

He shifted and moaned, and I realized he was hard. I grinned. Was he having a sex dream about me? He made another soft sound, so I planted a kiss on his forehead. He stirred again and opened his eyes. “Nick?”

“You having a good dream?” I asked him, unable to stop my smile.

He blushed. It was the cutest thing I’d ever seen. “Was I talking in my sleep?” He seemed to suddenly become aware that he was hard and backed up a little bit.

“Mm. A little. You don’t have to be embarrassed. It went to my head a little bit when you said my name.” He gave a little laugh but then groaned and his hands went to his face. I laughed, too, but then said, “Seriously though, Gavin. I’m glad you didn’t have a bad dream this time. How are you feeling? Hungover?”

He finally moved his hands and looked at me, but his cheeks were still a little red. “Nah, not really. I can hold my liquor. Thanks for the water before bed, though, because that definitely helped.”

I scooted toward him since he’d scooted away. “Of course. I’m glad you feel ok.” I touched his hair. I never wanted to stop touching him. He gazed up at me and I leaned down to meet his lips. I really was just trying to give him a good morning kiss, but he moaned into it and reached up to grasp the back of my head, his tongue meeting mine as he scooted even closer, obviously no longer worried about his erection touching me. That was fine because I was getting one, too, and fast.

His hand slid down my body almost reverently, then reached into the waistband of my boxers. He moved slowly, giving me plenty of time to stop him, but that was the last thing in the world I wanted to do. When I didn’t, he reached in and gripped my shaft, stroking me slowly and getting me fully hard in a matter of seconds as he moaned into my mouth. My hands ran up and down his back as he continued to kiss and stroke me. His lips moved from my mouth to my jaw, then to my neck. “Nick,” he said, licking over my collarbone. He’d hooked his leg around mine and was grinding on my leg in time with his strokes on my dick. “Nick, please.”

I put a finger under his chin and lifted his head so that his eyes met mine. His hand paused its movements. “What are you asking me for, Gavin? I need you to say the words.” I didn’t want to hurt him, physically or emotionally. I didn’t want to throw him into a panic attack. I needed to know exactly what he wanted.

His cheeks brightened again, but he said, “Fuck me. Please.”

Any kind of control I believed I had on the situation up to that point flew right out the window. I knew we were prepared, thanks to Jeff, because it wasn’t as though I’d expected any of it. I hadn’t thought Gavin would ever look at me like that, let alone be insatiable once we finally got past our apparent insecurities. I had been so lost in the moment and making him feel good the previous night that I hadn’t been thinking, which was unusual for me. But the one hook-up I’d had after Gabriel and I had broken up had been on Jeff’s yacht, and though that had been more for a feeling of revenge than anything else, I knew what Jeff provided for his guests.

I sat up and opened the nightstand drawer. Inside were condoms- both regular and flavored, lube that also included some flavors, dental dams, an unopened vibrator, rubber gloves, and a pair of fucking handcuffs with a release button. It almost made me laugh every time, but I just grabbed a condom and packet of lube and closed the drawer.

Gavin had looked over. “Are you serious?” he said, amusement clear in his tone.

“Yeah,” I laughed, “Jeff likes people to be prepared. I kind of forgot in the heat of the moment last night, but um, yeah, pretty much anything you might need.”

He laughed, but then I kissed him again and it turned into a little moan as I moved forward, pressing him to his back with my body and the kiss. He spread his legs to accommodate me like he had the previous night. I sat up and he lifted his hips when I grabbed the waistband of his boxer briefs and let me pull them off. He pulled his feet up on the bed close to his body and looked at me in anticipation. I couldn’t help that my eyes stopped at that dick tattoo. I never thought something like that would do it for me, but it really did. I looked back up at his face and he had the tiniest smirk.

Before anything happened I needed to make sure he was doing it for the right reasons, even though he’d started it and he looked like he was ready to yank me toward him if I didn’t make a move. I knew it was in my own head, but I still had some of that doubt that he truly wanted it as badly as I did. “Gavin, are you sure? Because we don’t have to do this right now. I don’t expect anything for last n-”

He groaned. “Dammit, Nick, I want you so bad right now I can’t even think so stop talking and fuck me, please.” I shut my mouth knowing I hadn’t completely stopped the smile that wanted to come out and lubed a finger. I teased his hole for a moment, and he grew impatient, practically shoving his ass onto it. It slipped inside and I couldn’t stop a little chuckle. I splayed my other hand over his abs to hold him still and moved my finger in and out gently, quickly finding his sweet spot and rubbing over it repeatedly.

He was squirming. “More,” he ground out, “You don’t have to be gentle with me, Nick.”

Well, I knew he wasn’t innocent, but I did want to savor it, and I wanted him to, as well. I had a feeling from things he’d said that most of his encounters with guys had been quick and dirty. I wanted to be the exception. “Patience, Gavin.” I lubed another finger and slipped them in together, teasing his sweet spot as I scissored them.

He made a frustrated sound, trying to push back on them, so adding a third finger, I finally gave in and gave him what he wanted. I thrust them in and out together, hitting his prostate hard each time. The next sound he made was a strangled groan. I kept going until he started panting as he pushed back with each thrust and I was afraid he was going to come from it. I wasn’t ready for him to come, even if it was really hot watching him like that. I scissored my fingers a few more times and pulled them out. “You good?” I asked him, and when he answered in the affirmative, I pulled off my boxers, staying up on my knees to slide a condom on.

I took in the hungry look he was giving me, because it was the first time he’d seen me completely bare. I was thankful for the above average size of my dick right then. I didn’t feel like I had a lot to offer him in the whole body department, but at least I had that. His was still prettier, what with the tattoo and all, but mine was bigger. I lubed up the condom and positioned myself, lining up as I looked him in the eyes. “Tell me if you want me to stop or slow down, ok?” He just nodded enthusiastically as I hovered over him and pulled me down for a kiss. I pressed forward, breaching his rim and he continued to kiss me as I pushed slowly all the way in. I swallowed down the content little sounds he was making and didn’t stop until I was fully seated.

I pulled back from the kiss and looked at him to gauge how he was feeling. He was looking back at me with a look I didn’t completely understand. Lust was there, but there was more to it than that. “You ready?” I asked him, and he nodded eagerly. I smiled again and started thrusting slowly, wanting to make sure he was really ready. I shifted to hit his prostate, and he moaned the second I found the right angle, pressing back almost involuntarily.

I continued moving slowly, sliding my arm under his back to cradle him in my arms as I stared down into his eyes. He didn’t complain that time about speeding up or wanting it harder. He stared up at me like he wasn’t quite sure what to do. Like no one had ever made love to him, they’d all just fucked him. Sorry, Gavin. I’m the exception.

I made sure to hit his sweet spot with each thrust, even though they were slow enough I knew he wouldn’t get off from it, at least not for a while. I wanted to feel him, and I wanted him to feel me. I wanted him to understand how I felt. That it would crush me if he took off on me. I wanted him to know I wanted him .

The thrusts were still doing the job. A stream of precum leaked out over the upper part of his poison ivy tattoo. He gave a little moan and squirmed, obviously to the point that he wanted more. I picked up the pace slightly, making each thrust a little harder, and he whimpered, moving with me as he tried to get me to keep going faster, harder.

I kept the same pace despite him trying to speed me up, and put my free hand on his flushed, sweaty face. “So beautiful,” I whispered, moving my hand down his neck his pecs, and his abs. His cock twitched when I got close to it, but I moved around to his lower back, leaning on the elbow of the arm that cradled him, and pulled his hips up to get an even better angle. I finally sped up a little more.

He cried out that time, too loudly for the space we were confined in with so many people, but I cared very little about that. His hands clawed at my back as he tried to maintain eye contact with me. “N…Nick…”

I leaned down and gave him a dirty, sloppy kiss, then finally conceded. I was too far gone to fight it any longer. I released him from my arms and sat up on my knees, still fully seated inside of him. I grabbed his legs and pulled them up in the air, holding onto the back of his calves and pulling him up so that his lower back no longer touched the bed. I spread his legs apart a little more, making them a V. Holding him up, spread open like that caused the blush to creep back onto his cheeks. I only took a second to admire him in that position, then started slamming into him, harder each time, making sure I hit his prostate with every single thrust.

His hands gripped the sheets, pulling them almost off the bed. He let out a moan that gave me the confidence I was doing everything right, and probably let everyone around us know, as well, so I kept going. His dick was hard and angry, leaking all over his belly. I may have come in my pants the night before, but I was about to show him what I was really made of. I wasn’t going to come until he came from my dick alone.

I used his legs to pull him toward me with each thrust. His mouth was open, and he was panting between little sounds that let me know he was close. His hips were trying to move with me, but he couldn’t move much with me controlling his body like I was. His legs were shaking under my hands, and he was begging me, just mumbled little pleas that weren’t quite coherent.

“I’ve got you, Gavin. Just relax. Let it go.” He whimpered and I kept moving faster and harder until his legs stiffened under my grip and he cried out my name loudly enough that there was no doubt in my mind he’d woken at least a few people around us. Cum shot out onto his chest as his body shook and his hands still pulled at the sheets.

Fuck, that was hot . I dropped his legs to the bed and grabbed his hips instead, pulling him toward me as I thrust into him, chasing my own release as he came down from his orgasm. “Fuck, Gavin. Fuck. ” I was being too loud, too, but I didn’t care. I reached my peak and shoved him onto my dick one more time as my cock throbbed inside of him. He looked up at me, out of breath as his body relaxed into the bed.

I fell forward, my forehead resting on his as I tried to catch my breath. That was the best sex I’d ever had. Gavin smiled at me. Then he moved his face toward mine for a kiss I gladly returned.

I finally pulled out of him and discarded the condom, going to the bathroom to clean up and get a rag to clean him again. When we were cleaned off, I threw the rag to the side of the bed and lay back down, pulling the blankets back over us. “Even though we probably woke some people up, no one will really get up for a couple more hours, so we might as well get a little more sleep.”

The blush was back. “Do you really think we woke people up?”

I laughed. “Without a doubt. These walls are too thin. But it doesn’t really matter because everyone here is used to it. I mean, the drawers are stocked with condoms and sex toys. It’s kind of expected.” He groaned but scooted over and wrapped his arms around me again, and we fell into another peaceful sleep.

◆◆◆

We awoke a few hours later to the sounds of people moving around and the smell of coffee and food. Gavin looked at me as soon as his eyes opened. He smiled slowly, that smile I loved so much. “Morning,” he said softly.

There was something in his eyes. Concern, maybe? I wasn’t sure what it meant, but it went away when I smiled back and said, “Morning.” I leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his lips. “Did you sleep ok all night?”

“Mm-hm.”

My heart soared. He had no idea how much it meant to me when he’d replied to my, “I wish I could fix it,” with, “You do.” I bet he thought I didn’t even hear it, but I did. To say I’d taken it to heart would be a gross understatement.

“You hungry?” I asked him, “Because Jeff always has a full breakfast spread up there for everyone, too.” He nodded, and his stomach rumbled as if to punctuate it.

I gathered all of our clothes and handed him his. “I’m going to get dressed in the bathroom,” I said, getting up and heading in that direction.

“No!” he said suddenly, but then caught himself. “I mean, if you need the bathroom, that’s cool.” He looked a little sheepish but went on, “But don’t go in there just because of me. I need to…I want you to stay, ok?” He looked like he was struggling with himself.

My heart broke for him because of whatever he’d been through. “Ok,” I said softly, but I still turned away as I pulled my own clothes on and he got dressed behind me.

When we were dressed besides our shoes, he came around the bed and grabbed me in a hug that caught me a little off-guard. I hugged him back. He didn’t speak, but I could feel the thank you in it. A thank you for trying to understand. I rubbed his hair and gave him a kiss on the forehead, then we put our shoes on and headed upstairs.

Everyone who’d spent the night there was already up. “Fuck off, Caden,” Jamie was saying, “I’m not talking to you until I have some coffee. My ass hurts, you had me up until four a.m., then we all got woken up…” he paused as we entered the room and all eyes turned to us.

Caitlin laughed. “Speak of the devils,” she said. Ah, fuck.

Instead of balking when we walked in on the conversation, Jamie got even louder. “…at eight o’clock in the morning because some of us apparently couldn’t get it done while everyone else was and had to get busy at the crack of dawn instead.” He burst out laughing, though, and so did the others.

“I don’t think eight is the crack of dawn, Jamie,” Nadia put in.

“Well it sure feels like it is when someone is insatiable enough to keep you up for fucking hours .”

Caden shrugged. “Sorry, baby. You’re the one who started it early in the night with that lap dance and then made me wait for hours, though.”

I glanced at Gavin, who was blushing again and trying to avoid looking at them. I was probably blushing, too, if I was being honest, but I laughed it off. “Relax,” I whispered, “They don’t actually care.”

Jeff brushed by us on the way to the breakfast buffet that was set up. “Shut up, y’all. Stop harassing them. At least someone had a good morning. I still can’t get Amber up. She threw a damn shoe at me when I tried to get her to come eat.”

I felt Gavin relax a little and we followed Jeff to get some breakfast. With heaps of food and giant cups of coffee, we found seats outside on the deck. There were some people I didn’t really know in the living room and I didn’t want any awkward conversations even though most of them had probably slept upstairs and heard nothing.

My friends followed us to the deck and sat down with their own food. Caden and Jamie were amicable again, and Caden was feeding Jamie something he liked off his own plate as they talked and laughed quietly. I glanced at Gavin, who was watching them. I didn’t see any jealousy there, but I had to ask. “Is that weird for you?” I whispered.

He looked up at me and spoke softly. “What, Caden and Jamie? No. Not at all. I told you, I’m glad they found each other, even more so as I get to know Jamie. Caden and I, that was a long time ago, you know? We were still kids. I mean, he’ll always be special to me because he was my first love, but I don’t have feelings like that for him anymore. We were best friends for most of our lives before that, and losing the friendship is what hurt the most. It would be cool to get a little bit of that back, but I don’t know if he would want that. Him being so nice to me means a lot, though. And Jamie seems like a really cool guy.”

“He is,” I said quietly, “They both are. I’d be so alone right now if I hadn’t met them. And their care for other people is beyond measure.”

He looked me in the eye. “I think they’re in good company.”

I returned the smile he was giving me. Then I leaned forward and kissed him. I couldn’t stop myself. When I pulled back, I realized all my friends were watching us.

“I really can’t get over how cute you guys are together,” Caden said with a grin.

Jamie tried to take credit again. “I’m really glad that we had this idea that was starting to come together, and the universe just snatched it right up from us and made it happen.”

Gavin laughed, fully relaxed again. “Fine. You can take credit for almost having a plan.”

Jamie grinned and looked at Caden. “See? I told you we were cupid.”

◆◆◆

It was early afternoon and everyone besides our little group had left when a commotion started in the living room. Amber looked up from the corner she was huddled in with a coffee and a plate of food, where no one had dared try to speak to her yet. She was not a morning person.

“What is this?” screeched a female voice, “Is this bird shit? God knows what I’m going to find in the bedrooms this time. Do you know how long it took me to figure out the handcuffs last weekend? I can’t do it. This isn’t the job I wanted. I’m sorry, Jeff, you and Amber are great people, but I just can’t. I quit.”

We all watched a woman storm away from Jeff who just stood there with his mouth open to say something, but nothing came out. He dropped his hands and headed back out to the deck. “Uh, Amber? I think we’re cleaning the place ourselves today.”

She looked positively horrified. “It’s too early for this!” she cried, “Don’t tell me I have to clean up after that party. The living room reeks of wine, everything is sticky, I think someone had a food fight, and no one even cleaned up the monopoly board! I need more coffee.”

Jeff scrubbed his hands down his face. “Ok. This is fine. I mean, it’s fine. It’s not like I’m too good to clean. I just have to…find…the cleaning supplies. That are…I think on the boat.”

“You were the worst damn housekeeper in college, dude!” Caden cried, “Your room was so messy it was famous! Your roommates hated you. How are you going to clean this whole place?”

Jeff glanced at Caden and Jamie. “Don’t look at us!” Jamie said, “I mean we can help you pick up for a bit, but we have to be at the center in like an hour.”

Caitlin spoke up as Jeff swiveled his head toward her. “Ugh. I am not cleaning the bedrooms. Any of them. I’ll help you put the food away, though.” She shrugged.

Jeff sat down, defeated. “Do you guys know how long it took me to find someone I trusted who was willing to come here three times a week and clean up after our parties? She was so nice. I think the flamingos just pushed her over the edge. Where the fuck am I going to find someone trustworthy and dependable, who’s willing to clean up after parties like last night?”

Gavin slowly raised his hand. “Um. I…I know how to clean.” Every eye turned to him. He seemed to shrink under the interest, but went on, “I…I learned pretty young. My dad was really strict and wanted the house white-glove immaculate. I spent the last four years cleaning up at a gym. Bathrooms, locker rooms, sauna and showers, as well as the equipment. I’m not worried about some bird shit and bedsheets after that. Just give me some rubber gloves and I’ll be good to go. Plus I could really use a job.”

Caden straightened in his seat. “I’ll be his reference. You don’t even need to call the gym.” Everyone looked at him curiously, since they’d had no idea Caden and Gavin knew each other. “Look,” Caden said, “I know you guys don’t know how Gavin and Nick met, but Gavin was my childhood friend. I was in his house plenty growing up and it was immaculate. I know he’s a hard worker, too. And I can attest for him as a person if you need that. I’d trust him in my own home.”

Jeff was looking at Gavin. “I don’t really need more than that. I trust anyone who’s friends with you and Nick, Caden. But are you sure you’re willing to clean this place, man? I mean, it’s a full day’s work, three times a week. But I’ll pay you well. And…” he seemed to understand a little of the situation thanks to Caden, “I can pay you without any paperwork if that’s what you need.”

Gavin looked surprised that Jeff had taken him up on the offer. “Yeah!” he said, “I’m sure. I can start today if you want me to. Just let me…can I go get cleaned up and get some supplies and come back?”

He had a little bit of panic in his eyes when he mentioned getting the supplies, and I was about to whisper that he could use my cleaning supplies, but Jeff cut in, “No need for you to get supplies. I know there are some here. I always paid for her to get them, and she left them here, somewhere. You guys go home and get cleaned up, and I’ll find them by the time you get back.”

Gavin looked ecstatic that he’d found a job, with triple layer security on top of it. And I was glad it was with people I trusted to take care of him when I wasn’t there. He’d have to take a bus or Uber there on days I worked, but he’d be ok. Everything would be ok. And hopefully I’d talked him out of running off on me.

Gavin took the card on a lanyard that Jeff held out to him. “I made this for her to show security. I’ll tell them to let you in with it, but this way they have something to see until I can get one with your name on it. Just show it and your ID to the port and dock security. My guy will let you on the boat.”

Gavin smiled gratefully. “Thank you so much.” I’d never seen anyone so excited to clean a mess the size of the one surrounding us, but he just went on, “I won’t let you down.” He looked at me and I motioned him to come on so he could get a shower.

Jeff called out to me as we were leaving. “Hey, you’re welcome to come hang out with me and Amber today, Nick.”

I nodded and waved. “Cool,” I said, then looked at Gavin. “Gives me a reason to give you a ride on your first day, ok?” He nodded happily and followed me to the parking lot.

◆◆◆

I knew he was getting paid, but I really wanted to help him as I watched him clean that huge floating house by himself. He was working quickly and efficiently, though, and I could see why my apartment was currently cleaner than it ever had been. He refused any help from me, even holding open a trash bag for him. “I’m working , Nick, let me do my job.” He took it so seriously that I was pretty sure he was oblivious to Jeff, Amber, and myself talking in the background.

Jeff let him know the previous housekeeper’s schedule but let Gavin know they could tweak it if needed. He was obviously just grateful to have found someone so easily. Saturdays or Sundays had been for doing a full clean after parties, which happened one day of nearly every weekend in the off-season. Jeff couldn’t party much during hockey season, so he made up for it when he could.

Tuesdays were laundry days. There was a laundry room below deck, and everything got done that day. It was mostly just the laundry that day, but she’d tidy up a little while she was waiting. Thursdays were basic housekeeping, cleaning up for the party that was coming to utterly destroy all the hard work.

Gavin seemed happy to finally feel he had a purpose, and even happier to know he was going to help me with my bills. It was all he talked about before we headed back to Jeff’s. He told me he was still going to come to the youth center and volunteer on his days off when I was working. I told him he needed some time for himself, too, but he looked at me like he wouldn’t know what to do with an actual day off.

Because of the late start, it was late evening when we left the marina. Gavin seemed lighter than he had before. I had a feeling Jeff and Caden had talked a little after we left, because Jeff insisted on paying him that day. He said he normally paid on the weekends but refused to hold back until the next payday. He insisted on giving Gavin a hefty tip for cleaning up such a mess on such short notice and marveled at how good the living room smelled after so much wine had gone everywhere.

Gavin tried to give me all the money. I refused. I told him to use it for clothes and anything else he needed that he hadn’t brought, and that he could pay me at the end of the month when everything was coming due. He relented when I told him he could buy some groceries with his next pay.

We both slept in the guest room again that night. We were exhausted from the party and the long day and fell asleep almost right away. Gavin was snuggled in my arms, but that time it didn’t seem to be enough to keep the nightmares away.