Page 21 of Jack of All Trades

“I should go home.”

“No,” Maltin said. “Stay here. I don’t want you to be alone.”

Jack chuckled dryly as he turned from Maltin. “I live with other people. I’m practically never alone when I’m home.”

“You have roommates, I see. Well, even in your room, you’d be alone.”

“I don’t have my own room, and before you feel sorry for me, I make enough to live on my own, but then I’d have no money left to save for a car.”

“I noticed you never drive here. Still, Jack, please stay. Maybe I don’t want to be alone.”

Jack chuckled again, but then he turned and he wasn’t smiling. “You like being alone I thought. I’m kind of trampling all over that.”

“I liked being alone because so many had…let’s just say disappointed me.”

“Oh. Heartbroken, I take it.”

“Several times over, yes. One hurt the most, and he wasn’t my lover. He was a dear friend, and, well, he stole from me.”

“I see. That’s why you’re so possessive of your cars.”

“I suppose so. They’ve never hurt me, let me down, or broke my heart.”

Jack rubbed his hands over his jeans, staring off before him. “They’re inanimate objects. Of course, they can’t hurt you. I get it, Maltin. I’m not judging. I understand a little too well.”

Maltin guessed he did understand. After hearing a small bit about his family, Maltin was surprised that Jack wanted to be around anyone at all. “It’s jading, being around people.”

“It is. My family was so ashamed of me. I was their dirty secret. It hurt a lot, and I don’t know if I can ever get over it.”

That was his in. If he were ever to tell Jack the truth, Jack had himself laid the perfect opening. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He was hurt enough by the family that raised him. What if his real family was worse?

No. As much as it may cost Jack's trust, he couldn’t say a thing until they were absolutely certain.

“I think I’m…going to go home. Being close to you, I want to, you know.”

Maltin knew. Ever since they’d first touched, if not before that, he wanted inside of Jack more than he wanted air. He was electric, and the room heated when they were together. “I’ll drive you. You don’t need to take the bus.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Then Maltin thought about it and how he had to try to trust at least once more, especially if he was meant to be with Jack. “Okay, then how about this? Take the truck.”

“Not the Thunderbird?” He teased.

“I have definite feelings for you, dearest Jack, but even those aren’t strong enough to give you one of my cars. Take the fucking truck.”

“Sure,” he said, then he surprised Maltin by leaning over and giving him a peck on the lips.

Even that small kiss almost drowned him in arousal, and Jack pulled away slowly, his eyes glowing almost white; they were so gray. “Damn.”

“Get out before we both go further than we’re ready.”

He laughed as he got to his feet and winked at him. “Just wait until we do. You’ll enjoy it.”

“I know that. That’s the one thing I’m very sure of.”

Finally, he felt like he could breathe once Jack left the loft. He fell over on the couch, laughing to himself. “What the hell am I doing?”

The next day, Jack was there bright and early, but he barely told Maltin hello before he went out to work. Every noise from the roof and Maltin felt his flesh warming, sensations rushing through him until he couldn’t concentrate on the script he was writing.

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