Page 27 of Just for Me
“He can wait a few minutes,” Luke said.
“He’s—” Hayden said.
“Where’s the bedroom?” Luke asked.
“Flattering,” Hayden said, “but possibly overly optimistic.”
Luke said, “Never mind. Got to be over there,” and walked that way, hoping that Hayden would follow him. Fortunately, he did.
“The view reminds me a bit of Newcastle,” he told Hayden, once Hayden was finally sitting on the neatly made bed in the minuscule bedroom, which had no view at all, or even any windows, but did have an enormous framed poster ofRenthanging over the bed like a defiant two fingers up the bum of New Zealand masculinity.
“You’re meant to think it’s flash,” Hayden said, not lying back in the way Luke could tell he wanted to, the way Luke wished he would. “I’m thinking that comparison may be insulting. It has a sea view and a lovely deck.” The marmalade cat jumped into his lap, and Hayden’s hands closed on it. The cat butted his head up under Hayden’s chin, and Hayden took a deep breath and may have blinked back a few tears.
“I noticed,” Luke said, wishing Hayden would start getting undressed. “Nice kitchen as well. And excellent lobby.”
Hayden sighed. “I know. Not much character, possibly. I’ve got pictures hung and all, though, d’you notice? I’ve decorated in stylish black and white and all that. Also, it has a pool and a little gym. And a carpark. And I can walk to work. I’ve kept thinking I should try to buy a place, but—” He trailed off, and Luke thought he knew why.Because I thought I’d be with somebody, and we’d choose it together.Hayden was hopeful, apparently. Luke had always assumed he was on his own.
“Speaking of that,” Luke decided to say, “I’m going to get you settled here and feed the cat, and then I’ll go back for your car. No need to pay that overnight bill.”
Hayden closed his eyes and swore. “I have a monthly parking pass, but … what time is it?”
Luke looked at his watch. “Eleven-fifteen.”
“Oh, bloody hell.” Hayden looked exhausted at the thought. “Ihada monthly pass. Runs out at midnight. I thought—good, because I wouldn’t be tempted to spend the night.”
“Ah. The pass was because of the wanker.” Luke didn’t touch the other part, but he filed it away.Vulnerable, like you thought. Possibly like you.
“Yeh,” Hayden said. “That’s his garage. OK, that’d be good, if you’re sure you don’t mind. Otherwise, who knows, Trevor may decide to key my car. Or burn it. It would be beneath Julian’s dignity, but Trevor? He could very well set it on fire and do a dance around it. Have you noticed that this is all my fault? Odd, but there you are. You go on, if you don’t mind, and I’ll feed George, then take a shower and climb into bed. I have a couch, if you like, but really—you don’t need to stay,orto get the car. I’m fine. Just tired, and my head hurts. You got me home, so—thanks.”
That was heaps of talking for somebody in Hayden’s shape. Luke considered. “On second thought, we could just leave it there for now, and I’ll get it in the morning.”
“And pay the bill,” Hayden said. “I told you—I’m not a toy. I pay my own way.”
“You’re bloody stubborn,” Luke said.
“Don’t sound so surprised.” Hayden was still sitting up. “I need to brush my teeth. Take a shower. Burn these clothes. Get over my humiliation. We could have breakfast, if you like.”
Luke smiled. “I’ve definitely changed my mind. Car can wait. He won’t key it. He knows that if he does, I’ll find him and do him over, and I won’t care. I live in France, and they’re not going to extradite me over a spot of easily healed revenge. Let’s get you out of these clothes and into the shower.”
“I can—” Hayden began.
“Nah, mate,” Luke said. “You can’t. I’m going to unbutton your shirt now. Don’t get excited, because I’m not.”
“Geez, thanks,” Hayden muttered, but he let Luke do it. When Luke started on the trousers, though, Hayden put his hand over Luke’s. “I’ll do it. And I’ll get into the shower, too. By myself. If you’ll feed George—” He blinked. “Well … I’ll be grateful.”
Luke wanted to say,Who made you think that nobody would want to help you?He didn’t say it, because he was pretty sure he knew the answer. His parents. Men. Life. Hayden was nothing like him, and he was everything like him.
He went back to the kitchen and found the cans of cat food in a cupboard. The shower began to run, but the cat must have heard the can opener anyway, because he came running in so fast, he practically skidded to a stop in front of his dish, where he sat like a dog ready for his dinner and let out a few impatient meows as if to say, “I’m waiting here, mate.” Luke put the dish down, and the cat put his paw on its edge and looked up at him.
“You can eat it,” Luke told him. “I don’t want it.” The cat eyed him suspiciously, then bent his head and took a nibble before jerking bolt upright again and checking for an attack from the rear.
“Seriously,” Luke said, “your horrible food is safe from me.” Upon which the cat meowed and resumed his dinner, and Luke looked out a carton of eggs, finally ran a loaf of bread to earth in the freezer, made two cups of tea, and fixed a plate. The shower had stopped. Good. He took the plate and one of the mugs of tea into the bedroom with the cat padding behind, still talking up a storm as if he had Things To Say.
Hayden looked up, startled. He was standing in the middle of the room, hair wet, in a pair of sleep pants, holding a T-shirt. Luke was being nurturing—he hoped—but still … Hayden lookedgood.Slim and strong. He may have made Luke’s mouth water a bit when he pulled on that shirt.
Abs. He had abs himself, but they were a bit … buried. By necessity, but still. Didn’t mean he didn’t appreciate the hell out of them on somebody else.
Nurturing,he reminded himself. “Brought you something to eat,” he told Hayden. “Easy on the wonky stomach.”
