Page 15 of Joey

The day went quickly because Joey kept himself busy. This time, though, when Ethan finished his shift, Joey opted to stay longer. He wasn’t sure he could keep everything pushed down if he had some downtime. Too many thoughts crowding in his head, and he needed them to stay away, which would only happen if he kept himself busy.

“Are you sure?”

Joey nodded, fighting with the lightbulb that didn’t want to come out. “Yeah, I’m good. I can get a taxi or something.”

“Just call me when you’re done, and I’ll fetch you.”

“You don’t—”

“I know. But call me anyway.”

Ethan’s expression told him he needed to listen, and for once, it didn’t pull Joey’s dominant side to the front. Instead, all he wanted to do was go home with Ethan and relax in his arms for several hours. Which was exactly why he didn’t do it.

Joey stayed for another three hours, and as he put away the tools in the closet, someone cornered him.

“Hello, Joey,” David said.

Joey had experienced a few brief conversations with the assistant manager, but he couldn’t get a read on him. As always, he tried to keep his interactions with anyone as quick as possible.

“Hey. Anything wrong?”

David smiled. “Not at all. I just wanted to check in. How are you doing with the list?”

Joey pulled it from the shelf he’d left it on and handed it over. “Not bad. There are several things I can’t do, but I’m making progress on the little things.”

David glanced over it and handed it back. “Good, good. I’m glad to have something nice to look at for a change.”

David murmured the words as he walked away, but not quiet enough for Joey not to hear them. He narrowed his gaze at David’s back. There was something about him that screamed smarmy and oily, but Joey couldn’t figure it out. He’d try to stay clear as much as possible.

“Ethan, what are you doing back?” he heard David say.

“Just picking up Joey.”

Joey closed his eyes as his body ached to get closer to the voice he wanted to hear every minute of the day. He resisted for as long as possible—which was barely a few seconds—then headed their way, frowning more as the conversation continued between Ethan and David.

“—didn’t know you were friends.”

“Yes, David. We are friends. I’m the one who brought him to Meredith.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know that.” Joey rounded the corner in time to see David lay a hand on Ethan’s arm and lean closer. “He’s nice to look at, isn’t he?”

Joey’s eyes narrowed on the contact between the two men, and his heart raced. His nostrils flared as he tried to regulate his breathing, but he calmed when Ethan met his gaze.

“Ah, there you are,” Ethan said, moving closer, causing David to drop his hand. “I thought you were going to start living here.”

Joey couldn’t stop himself, even though he knew it was wrong. He grabbed Ethan’s arm and dragged him closer, sealing his lips over Ethan’s and holding his head in place while he ravaged his mouth. He wasn’t a caveman. He wasn’t. But he couldn’t help himself. Ethan didn’t fight him, just slid his arms around Joey’s waist and kissed him back. That, more than anything, helped settle Joey, and he pulled back, resting their foreheads together.

“Sorry,” he whispered.

Ethan smiled. “It’s okay. David’s an asshole.”

“Regardless, sorry.”

Ethan kissed him chastely and pulled away, threading their fingers together. Louder, he said, “Are you all finished?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go home, then.”

---