Chapter Five
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THOMAS FELT LIKE HE was about to throw up. He really didn’t want to because he was at work and he didn’t want to have to deal with that, but it was a good thing that he’d skipped breakfast this morning.
He stared at his phone. He’d done it. He’d really done it.
“You look a little green,” Rowan said as he walked in, carrying a bunch of things he threw in the closest trash can. He turned to Thomas, frowning, and Thomas knew he had to say something before Rowan got too worried.
“I signed up for my GED.”
Rowan’s frown instantly turned into a wide smile. “That’s great. When is it?”
“Too soon.” Thomas shook his head. “This is going to be a disaster. I can tell.”
Rowan stepped closer to Thomas to squeeze his shoulder.
“It’s not. You’re catastrophizing, and while I understand why you’re doing it, you need to stop.
You’ve studied. You know what you’re doing, and it’s not like you have to get a perfect score to pass.
You’re ready, Thomas. No matter how many times you tell yourself that you’re not, that’s a lie.
You know what you’re doing, and you’re going to pass. ”
Thomas knew that Rowan was right. He’d been studying his ass off, and he’d been getting better, even at math. Rowan had made sure to quiz him often, so Thomas was pretty sure he could do it.
It was still terrifying.
“I’m proud of you,” Rowan added. “You’re doing something that a lot of people don’t do. You’re doing it even though you’re scared. You’re going to be fantastic.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I don’t think that anything I can say will help you feel less nervous, but tell me what will happen if you don’t pass.”
Thomas didn’t want to think about that possibility, but maybe he should. “I’ll have to try again.”
“That’s it? Nothing else? The pack isn’t going to kick you out, and you’re not going to lose your job?”
“You’re not funny, but no. None of that’s going to happen if I fail.”
“So everything will be all right even if you fail.”
“That’s what I just said.”
“Then maybe you should focus on that. Sure, passing your GED is important, but what’s more important is that you have a family who loves you, a job you enjoy, and a home. You’re not going to lose any of that even if you fail. It’s not going anywhere, no matter what happens.”
Thomas knew all of that, but hearing it coming from Rowan helped.
Still, he had to consciously relax his body because he was so tense.
He had a few weeks before he had to take the exam, and he’d continue studying as much as he could, but it didn’t feel like enough.
Thomas suspected that even having another few months wouldn’t.
“Hello?” someone called out.
Thomas thought he recognized the voice. He frowned, telling himself that surely it couldn’t be Jimmy, but it sure sounded like it was. “That’s the weird pigeon guy,” he told Rowan as he got to his feet.
Rowan’s smile disappeared. “Do you want me to go out there and talk to him? You don’t have to if you don’t feel comfortable.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m just curious because I have no idea why he’s here again.”
“Probably to check in on the pigeon.”
“I’m sure that’s what he’s going to say, but doesn’t that strike you as odd? I mean, I love animals, and if I was in the guy’s place, I’d want to know what happened to the pigeon, too, but he doesn’t need to come over every time to ask. He could call.”
“It sounds like maybe there’s something here he wants.”
“Stay here. I’ll go see what it is.”
Thomas wasn’t surprised when Rowan came with him instead of staying in the break room, but thankfully, he stopped just outside the front room. He didn’t follow Thomas in, but he was close enough that if Thomas needed him, he’d be able to intervene quickly.
Thomas plastered a smile on his face as he welcomed Jimmy. “I’m surprised to see you back so soon,” he said.
Jimmy leaned over the counter. “Yeah, well, I was worried about my little friend, the pigeon. How’s he doing?”
“Perfectly fine. His wing is almost fully healed, so it won’t be long before he’s back out there flying.”
Jimmy nodded. “That’s good. Hey, I didn’t get your name last time I was here.”
“Thomas. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Well, maybe you could answer a few questions. See, I’m looking to get a house in the area. I want to build it, but to do that, I have to buy land. Do you happen to know of any place I could find that? Or where would you like to live if you could choose?”
“I already have a home.”
“Well, of course you do. I just meant, if you could live anywhere in town, where would you choose to live? What would be your favorite spot?”
Thomas was even more confused than he’d been initially. None of those questions made sense. “Well, wouldn’t it be better for you to consider the needs of your family to decide where you want to live? Like where schools are and things like that?”
Jimmy shook his head. “Oh, I don’t have a family, and I definitely don’t have kids.”
That sounded like a house might be too big for Jimmy, but who was Thomas to point that out? “Still, it’s a personal choice, isn’t it?”
“I guess it is. I thought that maybe you’d know where I can find nice land.”
“I’m sorry, but I really don’t. You should contact a few realtors in town. They’ll be able to help you more than I can.”
“That’s a little disappointing, but yeah, of course. Thanks for your help, Thomas.” He winked.
Thomas was relieved when Jimmy turned around to leave. He didn’t wait to watch him through the window this time. He turned, already seeking Rowan. “That was weird, right?” he asked when Rowan stepped into the room.
“A little bit. It felt like he was maybe flirting with you.”
Thomas blinked. “Flirting?” That wasn’t what that had felt like, but maybe he just wasn’t used enough to flirting to know when it happened.
“I won’t claim I’m an expert, but maybe? He asked you where you’d like to live if you could. He wanted to know your name.”
“I thought that maybe he wanted to know that because we talked about the pigeon a few times.”
“Or maybe he was trying to show you that he has enough money to buy land and build a house, maybe even your dream house.”
Thomas laughed. “That’s ridiculous. If he was flirting, I don’t see why he should hint at buying a house. Who does that?”
“Possibly someone who’s bad at flirting. If he was trying to show you that he has a lot of money, there are worse ways to do that than to hint at building a house.”
Thomas thought it was ridiculous, but maybe Rowan wasn’t wrong.
Just like Thomas wasn’t good at flirting, other people weren’t.
Maybe Jimmy hadn’t known what he was doing.
It would be easier for him to ask for Thomas’s phone number, but instead, he’d asked a bunch of questions that didn’t make it sound like he was interested in Thomas.
Thomas shook his head. “Well, whatever he wants, I can’t give it to him, so there’s that.”
“What, you wouldn’t want him to build you a house?” Rowan teased.
“I already have a home. I don’t need that guy or anyone else to build anything for me.”
Rowan’s smile was sweet. “I know. You’re strong and independent, and that’s one of the reasons I like you.”
“Now you’re flirting,” Thomas accused.
“Maybe a little bit. Is that a problem?”
Thomas desperately wanted to kiss Rowan, but he couldn’t, not at work. Instead, he briefly leaned closer to him, pressing their shoulders together and quickly reaching out to squeeze Rowan’s wrist. “You can flirt all you want,” he murmured.
Rowan’s smile was wide and a little bit dirty. “Oh, maybe you shouldn’t have said that.”
* * * *
ROWAN WAS GLAD HE’D been able to distract Thomas from thinking about Jimmy. He couldn’t deny that Jimmy’s behavior was odd, especially since the man had come to the sanctuary a few times already. There was nothing to stop him from coming again, and maybe next time, Thomas would be alone.
Of course, Jimmy hadn’t known that Thomas wasn’t this time around.
He hadn’t seen Rowan, who’d stayed in the back in case Thomas needed him.
He hadn’t, but whatever Jimmy was up to, it was weird.
Rowan wasn’t sure he believed that Jimmy was just flirting with Thomas.
Maybe he was, but coming to the sanctuary every time felt a bit much.
He could be wrong, though. People had done weirder things to get someone’s attention.
Hell, he’d briefly thought about adopting Finley to get Thomas’s attention.
Unfortunately, the dog wouldn’t have fit in his apartment, no matter how much Rowan loved him.
“So, what’s going on with Finley?” he asked to be sure that Jimmy was far away from Thomas’s mind.
Thomas smiled widely. “I talked to Shane. He said it was a good idea for me to adopt Finley.”
“I agree. When are you taking him home, then?”
“Seth and I want to go to the pet store and buy a few things, and Shane wants the vet to see Finley one last time before he leaves the sanctuary, even though I can bring him back anytime he needs, but things are moving in the right direction.”
“That’s great. When do you think it’s going to be?”
“As long as the vet gives him a clean bill of health, not long at all. I can’t wait.”
“I’m sure Finley feels the same.”
Thomas shrugged. “Well, I hope so. I want to give him a good home. He deserves it.”
“And you deserve to have him. You’re going to make him very happy.
” The poor dog had spent the past few weeks in a kennel.
He loved Thomas, and Rowan almost wished he could be there when Thomas brought him home.
He wanted to see Finley’s reaction, but most of all, he wanted to see Thomas’s.
He’d been worrying about the dog, but he didn’t have to anymore.
Finley had found the best family he possibly could.
“Honestly, I’m surprised that my brother agreed to this so easily,” Thomas added.
“Didn’t you tell me that he was the one who suggested it?”