#2
Yeah, okay. So he didn’t want to hear my complaints about paper straws. That was totally fair.
I sipped slowly as he devoured his food. In fact, he didn’t speak again until he sopped up the last of the gravy with his biscuit.
He caught my gaze and shrugged sheepishly. “I haven’t eaten all day.”
“No worries. I was pretty hungry when I was here earlier.” I’d eaten a chili dog and fries—just at a more sedate pace, trying to prolong the enjoyment and ambient company before I headed home to an empty house.
Andie was away at university, Korden had moved out two years ago, and Deanna was on a night flight to Singapore.
She was damn close to getting her commercial pilot’s license and was so freaking excited.
I’d also invested so much money in this venture.
I wondered if she might be too young, but her talent and enthusiasm had won over the small airline who’d arranged her training.
She was cutting her teeth on the 737, but her eventual hope was to work up to long-haul 767 flights.
I worried constantly, but I also understood she was safe in the air. Safer than on the highway…
“Hey, what’s going on?” Gawain again touched my chin. “You thinking about your parents?”
“Sort of.” I swallowed. “I was thinking about how I have the house to myself tonight. How my sister’s getting her commercial pilot’s license and how safe flying is compared to driving.”
“That’s the truth.” He grinned. “I love the little two-seater prop planes that can go places the big airliners can’t.”
“There are a lot of prop planes in Japan?” I winced inwardly at the dumb question.
Certainly, Japan had all kinds of planes.
Most countries did. “You visited the wilds of Japan, I mean?” Again, complete ignorance.
I had no idea of the Japanese landscape.
Just that they had earthquakes and tsunamis.
The ring of fire, which we also sat on. “Oh, they have volcanos, right?” We didn’t have those in Canada, really.
Well, we had them, but none had erupted for about two hundred and fifty years.
But we could see the dormant Mount Baker just across the border in Washington State.
“Uh, yeah, Japan has volcanos.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Do you still pay at the cash register?”
“They have a machine they can bring around, but I usually just go to the front.”
“Great.” He slid out of the booth. “And then…can I come home with you?”
My jaw dropped.
“Unless I read the situation wrong.” Gawain offered up another huge smile. Not leering…but not innocent either.
“I…” I swallowed. “I had a crush on you in high school. I didn’t think you noticed.”
He shrugged. “I noticed everything. I wasn’t out back then—but I am now. I mean, if you don’t want to, that’s cool. I can grab a room at the Grand Hotel. They’ve undergone some amazing renovations, right? I’d be interested to see what the rooms look like.”
“I’ve never seen the inside of the hotel.” They had a pub, but that wasn’t my style. They also had a liquor store attached, but I didn’t drink.
Gawain raised an eyebrow. “So are we…?”
“Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “Yes, we are.”
“Great.” He bounded off his seat and was at the front cash register before I managed to struggle back into my coat.
I discovered he’d paid when Sarabeth waved off my card.
She wished us a goodnight, and we headed out into the encroaching darkness.
Mid-February in British Columbia still meant early darkness and late light in the morning.
We were making our way toward the equinox and, more pleasantly, the warmer weather.
It was then I realized Gawain only wore a light coat. “You must be freezing. Where’s your car?”
“I, uh, don’t have one.”
Proverbially, I smacked my forehead. “Duh, of course, you don’t. Where’s your suitcase?”
“Don’t have one of those either. Look, can we get into your car? I’m not accustomed to these cold temperatures.”
I was downright confused. Japan had held the Olympic Winter Games in…1998…? Something like that. I wasn’t sure they were known for their abundance of cold and snow, but I also didn’t see them as being warm enough for a light jacket in the dead of winter. Still, what did I know?
“My SUV’s over here.” I pointed to the well-used and well-loved drive I’d had since my parents died.
Mom had been driving Dad in her car during the crash.
Maybe if they’d been in this— Not going there.
They never stood a chance. The drunk driver had been driving a massive pickup truck.
He, of course, had gotten away without a scratch.
“Nice ride.”
This was an older vehicle that still operated off a remote. I planned to replace her—either when she died or when all my siblings were independent. Given Andie had four years of veterinary school ahead of her, that felt more like a pipe dream.
A thought occurred. “Hey, where’s your bag?” I couldn’t think of any public lockers. Maybe the hotel was holding it for him?
“I’m, uh, traveling light.”
My mind struggled to process that information as we got into the SUV. I had it turned on, and the heater was on full in the blink of an eye since Gawain had started to shiver. “It’s not far to my house.”
“You still live at the top of the hill?”
“Uh, yeah. It’s a big house for what is essentially just one person. Well, Deanna still lives at home, but she’s talking about renting a condo with a friend over in Abbotsford. Closer to the airport.”
“Pilot, eh?” He blew into his hands.
“Hold them by the vent.” I pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the center of town.
From there, I’d take James Street up the first hill.
The land sort of flattened out a bit, and then there was another steep hill.
Our house sat on the top of that. It had a magnificent view and was above the pollution level most of the time.
We didn’t speak as I drove…past our high school…
past the street where Gawain and his family had lived.
I’d have offered to take him by to see the place, but I didn’t get that vibe from him.
In fact, I couldn’t get a read on why he was here at all.
If his parents were in Italy, why not go there?
If his brother… “Hey, where’s Gio these days? ”
His gaze snapped to mine just as I glanced over quickly at him.
“Uh, nowhere.”
I blinked as I focused on taking the next hill.
“Like…” I swallowed. “Did he die?” I hadn’t heard anything, but that wouldn't be surprising given they’d all left.
I hadn’t kept up with anyone from high school.
I hadn’t enjoyed myself there, and when I’d gone briefly to university, I’d believed myself beyond that world.
“Oh, no, not dead. Just…you know…”
I didn’t know. I had no idea what he was talking about. But obviously, this was a sticky topic. As I pulled into my driveway, the motion sensors triggered the lights to come on.
“I always loved your house.”
After parking the vehicle, I cut the engine and then gazed over at him. “Really? I mean, you were only here a couple of times. You always came over with Gio.” For a couple of birthday parties, I seemed to recall. In grade school.
“Yeah.” He motioned to exit the SUV, and I nodded.
Together, we headed toward my home. I’d always thought of the place as kind of crowded.
Kind of chaotic. The one time I’d been in Gawain’s house, the pristineness of the house had struck me.
The décor had been more like out of the design magazines my mom loved to read as opposed to our less-than-fabulous home.
We entered the downstairs. As soon as I shut the door, I shucked my boots and jacket.
Gawain did the same.
Under the fricking light jacket, he wore only a T-shirt.
“We’ve got to get you into warmer clothes.” In high school, the twins had been taller and broader than me. In my late teens, I’d had a nice growth spurt—both up and out. Now, we were about the same size.
“I’d prefer to get out of these clothes.” He sniffed, then winced.
“Right, you’ve been traveling for what…” I couldn’t do the math in my head.
“A very long time.” He met my gaze. “I need a shower.” Slowly, he raised his right hand and trailed his index finger along my cheek. “This is so not the time, but I need to tell you that I had a crush on you in high school. So bad. I…”
Seeing that as permission, I stepped into his space. I grasped the back of his neck and brought his mouth to mine.
The kiss was everything I’d hoped for and nothing like what I’d expected. I was inexperienced. For me to take the lead was almost ridiculous. Yet, as he opened his mouth to let my exploring tongue venture in, a feeling of powerfulness tore through me.
Gawain wanted me. He’d had a crush on me in high school.
As his arms snaked around my waist and grabbed my ass, I allowed myself to be pulled closer. Through my denim, my cock perked up, unhappy about the constriction.
He pulled back. “While I shower, I want you in bed, waiting for me.” He cocked his head. “You’re a bottom, right?”
I nodded vigorously. Not all bottoms were shy, but I was. And also inexperienced. By the time I’d found my courage to come out, I’d needed to come home.
“Do you have condoms and lube?”
My cheeks heated. “I, uh, gave some to all my siblings. I think Korden might’ve left his stash in his room when he moved out.” He’d been going steady with a woman for more than three years now. She was on birth control, so they’d ditched condoms.
Gawain clapped his hands. “Great, you prep, and I’ll shower.” He sprinted up the stairs and unerringly headed toward the guest bathroom.