Page 29 of Colin

“Hmm…” Andy leaned against the counter. “What’s almost?”

“He asked me. No, he told me to move in with him in the big house.”

“And? You did, right?”

“No. Duh…”

“Colin. What the fuck? You are crazy. If you play too hard to get, you’ll be back on my couch.”

“I’m fine where I am for now.” I was afraid Rourke would take over. Invade my entire life. Telling me what to do and how to do it. I couldn’t deal with that. No, I trusted my gut. We moved forward, which was great, but not too fast. It was almost Christmas, and I didn’t want to be back where I started. But I couldn’t live with myself if I made selfish decisions. And that was all on me, not Rourke, not Andy. Neither of them had to live my life.

On Christmas Eve, I headed over to my uncle’s house. He wanted to have a family night. It was probably Bobby’s last Christmas. I guess I hadn’t realized exactly what that meant until I saw him. Uncle Edgar had him propped up on the couch, and man, he looked like death warmed over. “Bobby, Merry Christmas.”

He coughed and coughed, and the cloth he had over his mouth had blood on it. “Cousin. It’s been a while, Merry Christmas,” he finally said.

I hugged his shoulders and sat beside him. Uncle Edgar and I sang a couple of carols for him—off-key. And we turned the Christmas lights on to open presents.

I opened a small package, which turned out to be a new wallet. They said it was from both of them, but I figured Bobby wasn’t in a position to buy gifts. I had gotten Uncle Edgar a gift card from Home Depot, knowing he was always doing some projects or other things around the house. And I got Bobby some warm pajamas.

Afterward, we drank hot cocoa and talked about old times. When my parents were still around. When Uncle Edgar and my dad were kids growing up. The Turtle Brother Terrors. He laughed. Bobby was older and remembered them more than I did. My mother died when I was young from breast cancer. Dad had a heart attack during my senior year of high school. And now Bobby. He had lung cancer. That left Edgar. And me.

In comparison with the fact that Bobby didn’t move in to get well, he went there to die, I felt like I had it better. That couldn’t be clearer than when I got home that night. The pool house was gorgeous. More than I could ever afford. And I had friends. Andy especially, but Phillip gave me his number in case I needed more help with my demanding daddy. And I had Rourke.

So why was I depressed and lonely. I sat out by the pool, feet in the water, and contemplated life. What should I do? I had plenty of time to make these life decisions, but I also couldn’t kid myself that this was anything but temporary. A guy like me was going to end up in a trailer park with a crappy job, maybe better than stocking at Koffee Kraze, but I didn’t know what that better could even be.

The lights came on in the big house. I didn’t know where Rourke had been. I didn’t actually know what he did for a living, anything about his family, or who his friends were—outside the people he knew at Afterglow. But what I did know was that he was sweet and had a big heart. Not to mention super sexy. I was attracted to him immediately, for sure, but I wanted to know more.

I was drawn to the back doors, so I walked over and knocked before opening it. “Rourke?”

“Hey, Colin. Please come in. Have you eaten?” There was that daddy in him. Making sure his boy had been fed.

“Not really. I was at my uncle’s and he had snacks.”

“Okay then. Come into the kitchen. I have Chinese we can share.”

I followed him into the big kitchen and jumped up on the bar stool at the island counter while Rourke dished out our plates. “I assume you like rice? How about General Tso chicken?”

“Yes, please. I’ll eat anything.”

He slid a plate in front of me and then sat beside me. “So, Colin, why are you so sad tonight? It’s Christmas Eve.”

“My cousin. The reason I had to move out of my uncle’s house. He’s sick, like going to die, sick, and it’s making me feel like I’m wasting my life. I’m not doing anything.” I threw my hands up, feeling useless and tired of feeling that way.

“Sweet boy.” He turned and kissed the side of my head. I loved how gentle he could be. “You know I will help any way I can.”

“Why? Why are you doing all of this?” He had no reason to. Hell, at this point, I would fuck him even if I had to move back in with Andy.

But Rourke simply shook his head. “Haven’t you figured that out? I like you. A lot.”

“Why, though? I’m like a waste of space. I have, like, the lowest paying job in the world and only part-time hours. Hell, it really looks like I’m mooching off you.”

He put his napkin on the table. “I don’t see that at all. I see a young man struggling to find his way in the world. Trying to figure out what his path is while being dealt some hard circumstances that he shouldn’t have to face. Like dealing with your cousin’s death. Finding a place to live when you can’t afford it. But your heart is golden. You’re adorable. ‘A guy that’ll really listen to you, listen and care about what you’re saying, is something rare.’”

“That sounds familiar. Did you make that up?”

“No. It’s a quote. From the Outsiders. Maybe you should expand your reading list.”

I blew a raspberry. “Way to ruin the moment, Daddy.”

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