Page 52 of Good Friends

“Little Rock.”

It all slammed back into his brain, making him groan. “What time is it?”

“Only three in the morning, Master.”

The good kind of shiver washed through his soul. As much as he knew he’d be regretting the tequila, he knew he’d needed this as soon as they parked the car at the cemetery.

He’d needed this good-bye with Dane, and he needed it with Gavin at his side.

God bless his boy for wanting to do this, because even he hadn’t realized how badly he’d needed this. “Did we get pictures?”

“Yes, Master. We took selfies, and I got several good pictures of the marker.

“Okay.” He sniffled but didn’t move. “I know he’s not really there. It’s just a box, and dirt, but…thank you.”

Gavin kissed his forehead. “I needed it, too. You needed to mourn him, and I needed to forgive him for hurting you like that. For leaving you when you’d tried so damn hard to help him and love him.”

“He really liked you,” Porter said. “He kept trying to get me to date you. I think if we’d started dating sooner, he would have killed himself sooner. He said about two months before we met in Puerto Rico he almost did it there, but he lost his nerve.”

“You couldn’t have stopped him,” Gavin gently said.

“I know. I just haven’t figured out how to forgive myself for that yet.”

They lay there for several long minutes before Porter spoke again. “Please don’t ever do that to me. I…I can’t go through that again.”

Gavin’s arms tightened around him. “You’re stuck with me forever, Master.” He nuzzled the top of Porter’s head.

From the way they were entwined, the back of Porter’s right hand had ended up pressed against Gavin’s right nipple and the ring piercing it. Porter had both of Gavin’s nipples pierced Sunday evening, at a place in St. Pete. “At least I have a way to chain you down now so you can’t go to goddamned Costa Rica.”

Gavin burst out laughing in the dark and the musical sound lightened the load in Porter’s soul by about three tons’ worth. “Yes, Master. You certainly do.”

Porter got up, used the bathroom, drank several glasses of water and took some ibuprofen, then climbed back into bed with Gavin. “I hope he’s at peace,” he softly said. “That’s all I ever wanted for him was peace, even if I couldn’t be the one to help him find it.”

“I know, Master.”

“Love you, Gav.”

In the dark, Gavin’s lips found his and pressed a long, sweet kiss there. “Love you, too, Porter. Forever.”

THE END