Page 50 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 13-16
“Okay.” Collin turned the screen towards Damian. “Look at the first five. Anything we have to handle before tomorrow?”
There was only one piece. Damian shot back an answer. Collin closed down the application and checked Damian’s to-do list, the one he’d scribbled on a legal pad beside him. Old habits died hard.
“You’re good,” Collin pushed him. “Come on. Jun’s waiting.”
“Waiting?”
Collin grimaced. He crossed the room and refilled Damian’s water bottle, then thrust it at him. “Drink.” He left Damian with it and started picking up Damian’s suit jacket from where he’d thrown it across the second desk and checking for his keys and other items. He called Damian’s security of the day and let them know to be ready.
“Come on.” He gave Damian a hand out of his chair. “We’ll take my car. It’s just circling the block.”
“I’m doing it again, aren’t I? Making you take care of me.” Damian grimaced, remembering a particularly significant punishment he’d received from Richard the fall before that had been precipitated by relying too hard on Collin.
“We’re in an actual crisis,” Collin said, looking at Damian fondly. He took Damian’s hand and led him out of the office, locking the door himself. “I’ve been doing this for Richard, too.”
“Who’s looking after you?”
“Ash, weirdly. I think Alice put him up to it. And Matthew has been around. Émeric and Richard when they’re here.”
“How are you?”
Collin shook his head and smiled. “I’m okay. I’m doing what I love. I know this all has an end date. Jun and I are close; he looks after me too, when he can. I’m not getting forgotten, Damian.”
“I just—“ Damian rubbed his face. “I feel like I’m letting some things slide.”
“We all are, just for a while.” Collin led Damian into the elevator. His tone shifted into something more publicly appropriate and he dropped Damian’s hand, still standing shoulder to shoulder with him as their security punched the button to the bottom floor. “Getting St. Elmo’s up and running in time is taking up almost everything we have. And Richard has the train project. Jun’s getting the tour put together. It’s going to be a full summer.”
Summer. That was right. They were already into spring. When had that happened? He’d been traveling so much, weather was something he checked his phone for, not something that felt like it had rhythm and reason. It had been fall two weeks ago when he was in Brazil.
The SUV drew up to the curb as they left the building. Collin spoke to the driver and their security settled into the front and back, leaving Collin and Damian in the middle. Collin took Damian’s hand again, holding it quietly while they drove.
Damian almost asked why Collin was escorting him to Jun. It could have been a text, but he didn’t voice the question. Collin wasn’t one to waste effort or time. If he wanted to do this, then Damian wasn’t going to question. The same for Jun.
He fell asleep before they even made it out of downtown. Collin woke him up as they came to a stop outside the Church.
“More water.” Collin held Damian’s bottle out.
Even that brief nap had helped. And the water was working. His eyes felt less crusty and his head hurt less. He did want to go back to sleep, but his curiosity was enough to get him moving and drinking. He finished the bottle outside the SUV and screwed the cap back on as Collin rounded the car. Together, they walked up the steps to the doors.
Cedric opened the door as they approached. Damian shook his hand and gave him a one-armed hug. “How’s Anna and the kids?”
“Kimbo and Rue are well. Rue caught a cold from school, and Anna has it now, but they’re doing okay. No complaints. Well, except Ann. Sinus pressure gets her every time.”
“Sorry to hear that. Hope she’s better soon.”
“She’s drinking all the tea and taking all the meds. Her mom came down to help.” Cedric pointed them through the doors. “This is where I stop. My guys and I just swept everything. You have complete privacy. No cameras. No one’s coming in unless you call or we smell smoke.”
“Thanks.”
Collin held open the door and Damian went through to the sanctuary.
The birdcage that had been there the last time was gone, just a ring on the floor of left behind sawdust. Half the pews had been removed or bunched together in various places. There was a faint scent of smoke, like it was old and lingering.
Jun jumped down from the stage at the front and walked towards them on what was left of the nave. He looked beautiful, all long lines, skinny black jeans and a white button down with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows and the buttons opened down to his chest. “Alpha.”
Damian reached for him. Jun. His Jun. He smelled right. Freshly washed. A hint of that smoke on him as well.
“What burned?”
