Page 6 of Dean (Unexpected #9)

CHAPTER SIX

DEAN

I probably shouldn’t have touched Avery’s legs like that. That was worse than just looking at him all damn day.

I know he’s gay, know that sometimes he stares at me a little too long, and yet I did it anyway. But he has nice legs and he looked good sprawled out on the couch.

And I did feel bad that the ride was so long, but it felt nice having him sitting behind me, his hands on my stomach, his face pressed against my shoulder.

It felt…real good. I didn’t want it to end.

I may have dreamed of him last night too.

Nothing sexual. Just…he was there. Looking at me with those pretty eyes, all that hair falling around his shoulders. He seems to be infiltrating my brain even when I’m not awake.

Fuck, it’s weird. But then again, Avery is not what I expected. He hasn’t been since I first met him. That fire, that sass.

He’s addicting in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

But all those feelings don’t mean I’m interested in him, not like that. I’m just intrigued by his charisma .

I need to be careful not to lead him on. He’s young and impressionable. And I’m much older and jaded.

Right. Our age gap is too much…it’s not a good thing.

Something like that would never last.

As I walk out to the kitchen to grab some coffee, I see Avery there, his hair a mess, some falling from his braid, and his legs on display.

He’s wearing my jersey.

Fuck a duck.

“Oh god,” he murmurs, his hand to his chest. “You scared me.”

I arch an eyebrow and he blushes, obviously coming to the realization of what he’s wearing.

“Oh fuck. I’m so sorry, Dean. I just really like…jerseys.” His cheeks are flushed and he looks ashamed. I don’t like that look on him. Not at all. I never want him to feel ashamed of himself, of what he likes and doesn’t like.

I want him to be comfortable just being himself.

Even if seeing him in my jersey sets me aflame.

“It’s fine. I haven’t worn that in ages. You’re welcome to it.”

He nods and glances away. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome to my clothes. Anytime.” And I mean it. I wouldn’t mind him wearing my shit. Bet it would look good on him.

“Oh god, don’t say that,” he murmurs and then clears his throat. “I made oatmeal. It’s good for your cholesterol.”

I huff. Damn Ben putting that shit into Avery’s head and making me feel older than I am. “My cholesterol’s just fine.”

He shrugs and hands me a bowl. “It has blueberries too. You’ll love it.”

I sigh in acceptance as I pour myself a cup of coffee and walk to the table, sitting down to eat. Avery joins me shortly after, and his knee brushes mine when he scoots his chair in. If a little zing of pleasure slips up my leg then so be it.

It’s just that it’s been so long since I’ve been domestic with anyone. And Avery fits so perfectly into my life. It’s felt seamless adjusting to him being around.

“Sorry. It’s a small table.”

“I don’t mind it. ”

He peers up at me, and then we eat in silence. It’s comfortable. Neither of us ever feels pressured to fill the void with chatter. Everything is fucking nice with him here.

Admittedly, after I invited him to live here, I grew apprehensive about my offer. I worried that perhaps I had been too rash, too quick to invite him in. Things could have gone south quickly, and I really do enjoy having him as an employee.

But in true Avery fashion, he took everything in stride, and it’s been fine.

It’s been more than fine. I quite enjoy having someone to spend time with when I get home from work and when I wake up in the mornings. And don’t get me started on the food. It’s amazing. His skills in the kitchen are something else. I’ve never eaten this well.

And to have someone to join me on my night rides is…well, it’s been really fun.

I like spending time with him far too much.

And it’s definitely excessive how much I like looking at him.

“What?” Avery asks, peering up at me through those long lashes.

“Just thinking about how we make good roommates.”

His eyes lower and his spoon drags around the bowl. “We do.” He pauses a moment and then meets my gaze again, and I can’t help it, it just slips out.

“And you should get your belly button pierced.”

His eyebrows rise and his spoon clatters noisily in the bowl. “What the fuck?”

“Just a thought I had.”

His cheeks blush, and I find myself shifting in my chair. “Well, maybe I’ll do that then.”

His pretty cheeks darken as he stares down at his bowl.

“How’s the oatmeal?” he asks.

“Fine.”

He grins and peeks up at me almost shyly. “Told you so.”

He leans back and drags that spoon across his tongue, and I force myself not to look. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable. Something shifts in my chest, and I feel a pang of something.

In my dick .

I’m just lonely , I tell myself. It’s been so long since I’ve had a real connection with someone.

The last woman I dated was fun and our evenings out were entertaining, but that’s all it was—entertainment. It was superficial.

But something about Avery is different.

I glance at him again, and he’s scrolling on his phone, his braid pulled to one side and twirled around his finger.

Hell, he makes me…feel something . Protective? Possessive?

I shake those thoughts away. I just need to go on a date. I need to find someone my age, someone I can connect with.

This thing I feel for Avery is just fondness because he’s a sweet person.

That’s all it is.

“I think I need to find a date,” I tell Cash when I get to work. He glances up at me from the ground and shrugs.

“Yeah, probably should. It’s been a while. Your balls are gonna shrivel up.”

I wet my lips and turn to see Avery up in the office, working on his computer. He’s wearing another cute little shirt that shows off his stomach.

“You could just ask him out, you know?” Cash murmurs and the words coming from his mouth are so surprising I drop the wrench in my hand and stare down at him.

“What the fuck? I’m not into guys. You know that.”

“Yeah. Sometimes things change, though.”

I ponder that for a second and then grumble a denial. I’m too old for that kind of change. Plus, I’ve been through marriage and the death of a spouse, and I’ve raised a child. Avery…hasn’t been through any of that. He has the entire world in front of him. I have too much baggage. No twenty-something wants to be saddled with that.

“Just a thought,” Cash adds and then disappears under the car.

I stare at his feet and then someone clears their throat behind me.

I glance over my shoulder and see a tall young man waiting by the entrance, his hair parted on the side, his hands shoved in his pockets, looking slightly apprehensive.

“Can I help you?” I ask.

“Um, I was looking for Avery.”

My mouth turns into a frown. Is this…who the fuck is this? Something ugly moves inside of me, and I try to tamp it down, but it kind of just…lingers.

Jealousy.

I’m fucking jealous.

What the fuck is that about?

“Yeah, let me grab him,” I reply, walking up the stairs leading to the office. When I enter, I hear Avery talking slowly into the phone.

“Bob, your car won’t be ready for another month. You need to stop calling and asking.”

He glances up at me and smiles softly, making my heart flutter.

Fuck. I’m just lonely.

“Yes, I know. Your wife is driving you nuts. I’m here to listen, but today I’m very busy. Can you call back later? No, I don’t need to know how she tried to poison you.”

He sighs.

“No, Bob. I don’t think she’s trying to murder you. We went over this…”

I bite back a smile at how annoyed he looks. He’s rolling his eyes, his braided hair falling across one of his shoulders. Something a lot like adoration moves through me, and that mixed with the jealousy makes for an odd conundrum.

“All right. Yes. Call me back tomorrow. If you’re still alive.”

A second later, he hangs the phone up and presses two fingers to his temple.

“That man, I swear. He needs a friend.”

“Seems you’re his friend.”

He snorts and leans back in his chair, his shirt riding up slightly. He’s really taken to wearing crop tops. Yesterday and then again today. I didn’t know he was into that, but it suits him.

“Anyway, what’s up?”

“Someone’s here for you. ”

“Oh? Is it someone hot? Oh god, let it be my future husband.”

The corners of my lips fall even further, a frown evident and unable to be hidden. Not that Avery sees it. He’s stalking past me, smelling like something floral. Probably his shampoo , I think as I follow him down the stairs. He looks giddy, but then it all disappears in a flash, his body stiffening as he reaches the main floor.

His steps falter and he groans.

“Ugh, Linc. Honestly? Why are you here? I really don’t want to see any of you.”

Linc shifts on his feet and holds up his hands. “I just wanted to talk…”

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Yeah, but I need to…”

“Fine. Fine. We can chat outside.”

Linc nods, and I watch the two of them disappear out of the warehouse door. Ford steps up next to me, clapping me on the shoulder. I don’t know where he was, but he has impeccable timing. Always seems to pop up out of nowhere.

“If you went out there and listened in, I wouldn’t be opposed. That guy was creepy as fuck. Gave me bad vibes.”

“Yeah?” I ask, feeling suddenly anxious.

“Yeah. Gave me the worst gut feeling.”

I don’t like that at all. I stalk forward, my hands set in fists near my side. This is only so Avery doesn’t get hurt. I don’t like the fading bruise on his pretty face. I don’t want him to get another.

I stride outside, pulling out my phone like I’m texting someone when in reality, I’m watching Avery and Linc stand opposite each other several yards away from me. Avery’s hands are on his hips, his back to me as Linc stares down at him, looking a little contrite.

“You can’t just show up at my place of work, not after what happened,” I hear Avery say, and Linc nods.

“Yeah. I know, but I felt bad, and listen…”

His voice lowers and my jaw clicks. Dammit. I want him to speak louder, so I can hear what they’re saying.

But they speak in hushed tones until Avery says, “I didn’t steal shit and you know it. ”

Linc runs his hand through his hair and nods. “I know.”

“I don’t want any trouble. I just want you all to forget I exist. Honestly, if I never saw any of you again, I’d be happy.”

Linc rubs the back of his neck and blows out a breath. “Just wanted to give you a heads up. If the police show up. You know how crazy Nick gets…”

“Jesus Christ.” Avery turns slightly and catches me moving toward him. I’ll punch this fucker for making him upset…make his head fall off.

“Do you know if that’s him—” His words are muffled as he leans forward, showing Linc his phone, and I see Linc shake his head and then shrug.

Before I can reach out and throttle him, Avery rolls his eyes, and I feel my cheeks flush. Busted.

Majorly.

He stalks the few feet toward me and pokes me in the chest. “You don’t need to eavesdrop. I would have told you if you asked.”

I catch his finger and squeeze it gently. “Okay, then what was that?”

He sighs as Linc stares after him. I don’t like that, not at all.

“Fuck off!” I shout, and Linc scurries away like the rat he is.

“Good god. Honestly, Dean.”

“Didn’t like the way he was looking at you. Now, who the fuck was that?”

“That was my old roommate. Apparently, Nick, the one who punched me, is claiming I stole his money when I left. He had a stack of it under his mattress like some kind of drug dealer…although, come to think of it, he probably was a drug dealer and I didn’t know it.”

I let go of his hand and it falls to his side.

“Linc just wanted to tell me that the police might investigate. A report has been filed.” He mutters something under his breath and runs a hand across his forehead.

“I’m sure they have better things to do than come after you,” I say, trying to reassure him.

Avery stares up at me, and I eye that fading bruise once more. It’s covered up by some makeup but the evidence of it makes me rage. Something ugly boils up inside of me, and I feel the heat of it slide across my skin. This is worse than jealousy. So much worse.

“You’d think so, but god, I don’t know. Anyway, I’m just annoyed at myself for being stupid enough to live there in the first place—without a rental agreement, I might add.”

“What happened that night?” I ask, and Avery shrugs, looking away, his eyes watering slightly.

A sniffle from him makes my heart crack slightly.

“It’s nothing. It doesn’t matter. I need to get back to work and not think about this shit. The phone calls are enough…”

He rubs at his eyes and some of his mascara is smeared across his cheek. I catch him before he can stride away, my thumb gently brushing the mess on his cheekbone away.

His skin reddens and his breath hitches at my touch.

“What phone calls…do you need a break from work? I’m happy to help in any way I can. Anthony owes me some favors…”

“We are not getting Anthony Costello involved. Or that Bane man. Absolutely not. Just forget this ever happened. I’m serious. Pretend you never stood out here and snooped, and let me get back to work, all right? I’m fine.”

He pats me on the chest and turns, walking away without the usual buoyancy in his step.

“Don’t know if I can do that, Avery!” I shout after him, and he glowers at me over his shoulder.

My thumb taps against my thigh as I think about what the fuck to do about this. That piece of shit filed a police report against Avery after what they did to him? It makes something ugly burn within me.

I should take care of this. I’d do that for Ben. I could do it for Avery.

But he’d be upset. From what I can gather, Avery has been taking care of himself for far too long. He wouldn’t appreciate me getting involved.

And yet still, something inside of me tells me to do it, to make sure he’s safe.

He’s not mine , I remind myself.

I need to stay out of it .

“Who was it?” Ford and Cash ask when I move back to the car we were working on.

“Just an asshole ex-roommate,” I tell them, and they huff.

“So he wasn’t trying to date him or fuck him?” Ford asks, and I glower over at him.

“None of the above. Avery didn’t seem to like him.”

“Good. Less competition for you.”

Cash and Ford meet eyes, and I shake my head. “It’s not like that. We’re just roommates for now. And he’s my employee. Plus, he’s young.”

“Age doesn’t matter,” they say in unison and then look at each other, slightly confused.

But I don’t care about what they think, so I don’t say anything. I just get back to work, my eyes traveling up to watch Avery through the office window. Once again, I try not to look too often, but I can’t help the way my gaze travels up and down his body.

I hope he’s okay.

That’s all this is.

I just want him to be okay.