Page 57 of Collin: Episodes 4-6
“I’m going to end the call. We’re at the office building.”
“Call me when you get ready to head home.”
Collin pressed his lips together. He glanced toward Ash and waved the younger man forward.
“Um..sir.”
“Yes, Collin.”
“Is there a way I could be out for a little while?”
“Hmm.” Mr. Reevesworth took a moment. “I’ll have to meet you soon. I could give you a dispensation for a few hours. Why?”
“Ash needs more than one set of clothes that won’t get him arrested as a delinquent. I was going to call Ellisandre and ask them for help.”
“I’ll come to the office.” Mr. Reevesworth hung up.
Ash had already summoned the elevator and was holding it for Collin. They rode up together in silence, Ash bouncing from heel to toe. He dashed off toward the restroom as soon as they reached their floor, leaving Collin with the bags. He reappeared, flushed from running, two minutes later, drying his hands on his pants.
“Where are we taking these?” Collin asked, ignoring the younger man’s nervous hand drying.
“The dungeon.”
“You call it that too?”
“It sounds more interesting than the server room.”
“Fair.”
Inside, the dungeon was the same organized chaos Collin was used to seeing, but he noticed a blanket and a suitcase peeking out from under one of the desks.
“Are you sleeping here, Ash?”
Ash colored. “Um…no?”
Collin raised one eyebrow. If he kept hanging around Ash, this was going to become a default face setting for him.
Ash dithered, scuffing his shoes on the floor. “Maybe.”
“Do you have an apartment?”
“I…might have gotten kicked out. Or left before they kicked me out. It’s not like I needed it. There’s a shower here and everything. Even a washing machine.”
“We have a washing machine?”
“Not us, no, but the building does. Maggie lets me use it.”
“Who’s Maggie?”
“The building manager.”
Collin rubbed his face—twice. “Where does your mail go?”
“Oh, a PO box.”
“And your legal address?”
“I haven’t had to use one, I mean, not since I left the apartment at least. So, I guess that one is still it?”
