Page 13 of Kneeling for Them
My phone chimes just as Kingston enters the room wearing only a pair of sweatpants and carrying a plate of pancakes.I smile up at him and then glance at my phone.
You can stay with me for a couple of nights.My roommate’s out of town.When she’s back, though, you’ll be on your own.
I text back a quick thank-you and tell her I’ll see her at work later.
“What’s going on?”Kingston asks, sitting down next to me on the bed.
“Just lining up a place to stay,” I say.
He frowns and hands me the plate.There are a few slices of bacon next to the pancakes.“You can stay here.”
“Arrangements are already made,” I say, picking up a piece of crispy bacon, “but I appreciate your offer just the same.”
“Are those arrangements permanent?”Sebastian asks, coming into the room bearing a mug of coffee.He sets it on the nightstand next to me.
“Yes,” I say.“I’ll go to my friend Natasha’s place.It’s all settled.”
It’s a bit of a fib, because there’s nothing permanent about staying with Natasha, but as soon as my door’s fixed, I’ll be back into my old place, and everything will be back to normal…or as normal as it can get.
Sebastian
The streets of San Esteban are filled with cars, particularly Caro Boulevard, which connects the Bellefleur District to Dorado Heights.Kellan drives me along, stopping and starting every few yards.Nighttime road construction clogs the boulevard further.The idea was probably to keep construction from interfering with everyone’s work day, but it’s still a pain in the ass.
Three days have gone by since Kingston and I had Ella in our arms.It was a glimpse of heaven, and then she figured out a new living situation, and she’s been busy with her jobs ever since.
I offered to help her move her things, but she just gave me a funny look and said she didn’t have enough possessions to even require help.
I want to give this girl the world.King and I both do.But will she let us?
Tonight, she’s working a late shift for Maids in Heaven.I’m growing antsy, wanting to see her again.
Traffic halts our progress once more, so I tell Kellan I’ll just get out and walk the rest of the way.It feels like ages since I visited Kitty Cat Karaoke.But after days of trying unsuccessfully to write a song for Trina, I need to visit this old haunt and blend into the background, brood for a bit, sip an iced tea and listen to people try to sing.
Rick spots me before I reach the door, and he opens it wide for me, grinning.“Hey, stranger.”
“Hey,” I say, handing him a twenty for the cover.
He frowns at it.“You’re not singing tonight?”
“Nope.”
“Good,” he says with a laugh.“We were slammed for the rest of that weekend.I missed the quiet.”
“I’ve missed it, too.”I walk into the lounge and a chorus of cheers rises up.
So much for quiet.
“Bastian!”someone shouts.“Bastian, what are you going to sing tonight?”
“Will you sing a duet with me?”a brown-haired woman yells, waving her hands at me.
I turn right around and go back to the door.
Rick gives me a sad smile.“Leaving already, huh?”
“I liked it better when I was anonymous.”
He laughs at that.“You were never anonymous.The regulars all knew you wanted to be left alone.But you just had to go viral and now…well…you saw it.There’s a new clientele.”
