Page 63 of Voice to Raise
“Okay.”
“Maybe I want to show off my house?”
“Sure.” He didn’t sound convinced with that word.
“Perhaps I want to share a king-sized bed with just you? No cat?”
He grinned. “On Moses’s behalf, I should be offended. Alas, I’m not. Even right now, he’s spread across my bed like a king on a large divan. We all know who really runs my house.”
“Your tiny cat?”
“Yep. As many pet owners discover—our companions often rule the roost.”
“Well, that’s good to know. I’ve never had a pet, as I told you.”
“Have you considered getting one?”
“I’m often out of the house for long days. We’ve done a couple of small tours. It’s not like I can take a dog or cat with me.”
He appeared to consider. “That’s probably true. Although if musicians can take their children with them on the road, I don’t see why they couldn’t take their pets.” He squeezed my hand. “Now, are you showing me your house, or am I grabbing a bus back to Moses?”
I grinned. “Okay, come on in.” I released his hand and hopped out of the vehicle. While I plugged in the charger, he retrieved my guitar from the back seat.
Without being asked.
His quiet consideration often got to me. He put others before himself for much of the time. Without expectations of reciprocity. In fact, he was uncomfortable when people offered to take care of him.I want to change that.
Once the charger was set, I beckoned him toward the door. “The garage faces the alley, and it’s bordered by a high fence—so people can’t sneak in the back way.” We stepped into the backyard and I set the alarm before I closed the door, ensuring the thing was locked. “The paranoia was mostly my father’s, but it stuck with me. Everything is alarmed.” Even as I said the words, the back floodlights turned on.
Spencer shielded his eyes. “Christ, that’s bright.”
I panicked with my heart rate galloping. “I’m so sorry—I didn’t think. I can’t turn them off.” I groped for his hand. “Follow me into the house.” I yanked.
“I’m all right, Malik. Just…unexpected.” Still, he didn’t lower his hand and instead allowed me to guide him. Once we were at the back door, and out of the bright lights, he dropped my hand.
I fumbled with my keys, but managed to get the door unlocked. I stepped inside and killed the alarm. “So sorry.”
The light in the back hallway wasn’t as bright, thank God.
I took my guitar from him.
“You don’t have to apologize. Bright lights don’t always trigger a headache.”
I eyed him. “Did it this time?”
He shook his head.
Inwardly, I breathed a sigh of relief. “Can I get you something to drink? To eat? Lunch was a while ago.” After we’d finished our hot dogs, we’d wandered through the park, taking in all the sights. We’d even wandered over to the motorcycles. I knew more about bikes, and would’ve stayed longer, but clearly Spencer hadn’t been interested. Oh, he’d feigned interest—but I knew him better. In the end, as dusk had set in, we’d made our way to his place.
Moses had a huge stuffed squirrel to play with and a full belly.
I had Spencer.
Somehow, I got the better end of that deal. “Do you want to take your coat off? I don’t keep the place too warm, unless it’s freezing out, but—”
He shrugged out of his coat and hung it in the coat closet.
I put the guitar case down on the hardwood floor and did the same thing. Then I straightened. “So. Uh…food? Tour? Music?”Why do I feel so nervous? Oh, right. Because I never bring anyone here. Certainly no one I care about.That thought brought me up short. It shouldn’t have—but it did. I cared about Spencer. No two ways about it. He’d become important to me. His opinion mattered. I still thought he was a bit of a stuffed shirt…but he was growing on me. As time marched on, I saw less of my father and his disapproval. Spencer…he wanted to make me a better person. My father had simply wanted to browbeat me into submission.
