Page 15 of Keep You Close

“Cohabitate?” I asked.

“There are enough bedrooms. And you could make sure this moron doesn’t end up on the floor and unable to get back up,” he said, jerking his chin toward his brother.

Could I do that?

Live with a man?

A man I didn’t even know?

I mean, he was a wreck.

It wasn’t like he was a threat to me or anything. He looked like he was in pain just sitting still.

“Not gonna try anything, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Atlas said. “Pretty sure you could outrun me anyway,” he added, waving down at his leg.

“We’ll waive rent while he’s here, of course,” Kingston went on.

“That’s… that’s too much,” I said, even as I mentally wondered how far I could stretch that money. My car desperately needed to go into the shop. New tires. New brakes. I’d been putting it off because it was just so damn expensive.

“Or maybe we can work out an arrangement where you drive Atlas to the occasional doctor’s appointment in exchange for staying on while he’s here recuperating.”

“I… I could do that,” I said, nodding.

“No one is expecting you to take care of him,” Kingston went on. “If he needs help showering or anything like that, one of us will come.”

“I can shower myself,” Atlas insisted, unmistakably grumpy at being so down for the count.

“You can’t even sit up by yourself,” Kingston shot back, rolling his eyes.

“But if you could, you know, bring in the takeout he orders, maybe get him drinks now and again, that kind of shit,” Kingston said.

“I could do that,” I said, nodding.

“Maybe if he needs anything and you’re already heading to the store…”

“Sure,” I agreed, thinking that wouldn’t be too bad.

I wasn’t a complete stranger to caretaking. When I’d been a kid, my paternal grandparents, then maternal grandparents had moved in with us as they declined. Even as a little kid, I was helping feed them or bringing them their meds.

I’d never minded it, either.

I always liked feeling helpful.

“Keep track of your mileage,” Kingston suggested. “And Atlas will pay you back for it. And wear and tear on the car.”

“That’s really not—“ I started to object.

“AJ,” Kingston said, shaking his head. “I know you’re too nice to say it, but this is a major fuck-up on my part that has led to an inconvenience for you. Let us make it up to you.”

I mean, he was right.

This was his fault.

And I knew I was a little too apt to let people take advantage of me. I was working on it. This was an opportunity to do that, right?

“Okay,” I agreed, nodding.

Kingston owned his own thriving business. I’d gone to his offices to meet him about the house. He was clearly doing well for himself. I didn’t know anything about Atlas and his financials, but he was obviously doing alright if he owned a whole house to only spend a week or two in it a year, right?

---