Page 29 of Tied In Tentacles
“Let’s eat.”
“Eteriion!” Elise came over and hugged him, then held her hand out to Justin. Her silver hair was in its usual style of being piled on the top of her head, and her glasses were perched on the end of her nose. “You must be Eteriion’s friend. Ged told me about you.” Once they’d shaken hands, Elise pointed to a booth. “Get in there. Two breakfasts and coffees? I know what you want on yours, Eti, which just leaves you, Justin.”
“I’ll have everything but thoroughly cooked.” Justin winked at Eteriion, who rolled his eyes.
“I’ll bring your drinks over.” Elise looked Justin up and down, then waggled her eyebrows at Eteriion.
Justin sat down and sucked his lips in as he nodded. “You were right about Ged telling everyone.”
“They mean well, but they also do like to have a gossip now and again.” Eteriion looked over at the counter. “I think she’ll be on the phone to Ged and telling him we’re here.”
“As long as the food is good, I’m not bothered.” Elise brought their drinks over, then peppered Justin with questions about where he lived, and his family, and his job, and his—
“Elise. Is our food ready?”
“Huh? What?” Elise blinked, then her light blue eyes widened. “I’ll check now.” She leaned closer to Eteriion and whispered, “I like him, Eti.”
Eteriion nodded and looked at Justin, who was smiling at them. “Me too.” Elise disappeared and a couple of minutes later, she returned with their food. It was as good as always and once they’d finished and paid, Eteriion showed Justin the small townhe’d come to call home. When they’d finished, he drove them back to his cabin and spent the rest of the day in bed with Justin.
Whatever time they had left, Eteriion wanted to burn into his memory, because Justin would be gone, and he would be alone again.
Chapter Fifteen
Once his car had been packed, Justin turned to face Eteriion, who stood watching him. He didn’t know what to say. He knew this day would come, but now that it was here, he didn’t know how to handle it. He wanted to stay. He didn’t want to leave, but he had no choice. His life wasn’t here. He had a job and family, and he couldn’t simply walk away. He had to deal with things first and how did he know what he felt about Eteriion wasn’t because they’d been forced to live together?
Eteriion came over to him and stood in front of him. “Drive safe,” he murmured.
“I’ll call when I get home.” Eteriion nodded, and Justin wanted to reach out and touch him, but he wasn’t sure if he should. “I’ll call you.”
Eteriion growled low and deep, then pulled Justin into his arms and slanted his lips over Justin’s. Justin sighed into their kiss, his arms winding around Eteriion’s waist. He could feel Eteriion’s hard body on his own and he wanted him again, even though they’d had sex earlier.
Tongues tangling, Justin tried to remember Eteriion’s taste. He wanted this moment to last forever, but he eventually ended the kiss and stepped back. Eteriion’s foot scraped the ground and Justin stared at it, then exhaled. “I have to go.”
“I know.” Justin kissed him one final time, then got into his car. He watched Eteriion step back and wave as he pulled away from the cabin, and he could feel his eyes tearing up. He swallowed and gripped the steering wheel in his hands as he turned down the road that would lead him back home but also away from his alien.
He didn’t want to leave, but he had to. He had to know these feelings growing inside were true feelings and not brought about by their situation. He would only know that by being back home with his friends and family.
The journey took several hours to complete and once home, he sat in his driveway and stared at Simon. Simon, who sat on the step watching him. Getting out, he walked past Simon and unlocked his front door, walking inside and shutting it behind him. He heard Simon shout his name and knock on the door.
“What do you want?” he demanded as he flung the door open.
“To talk about us.”
“There is no us. We’re over. Leave me alone or I’ll call the cops.”
“On what charges?” Simon tried to push past Justin, but he refused to move. “Let me in!”
“This is my place, not yours, so I get to decide who enters or not. We are over. You cheated. Repeatedly. Go back to Garry or Harry or whatever the fuck his name is. I’ve moved on, and I suggest you do the same.”
“You’re cheating on me!” Simon screamed, and slapped Justin’s chest. “Cheating bastard.”
Justin slammed the door in Simon’s face and walked away, ignoring the screams coming from outside. It took over tenminutes for Simon to get the message and leave. Once he had, Justin went back to his car and grabbed his bags, then sat at his desk and made plans. It was time to put his idea of running his own business into action, and for that to happen, he needed to know everything there was about being a business owner.
The sooner the better.
Epilogue
Six months later
