Page 99 of Just Business

“You’re not a monster,” Justin said. “I know that now.”

If only the voice in his head agreed. “And you’re not awful.” He touched his forehead to Justin’s. “You’re just a brat.”

That got him a laugh. Justin loosened his grip. “Well, you have a solution for that.”

Eli cupped Justin’s chin and stroked his jaw. “I do, indeed.” His tremble under Eli’s touch sent a shiver of delight to Eli’s core. “Don’t you forget it.”

“I won’t.”

The world clicked back into place. The apartment was a horror, they were both a bit fractured, but everything wasright. Eli stepped back. “I’ll see you in the office tomorrow. Call if you want a ride and we can rescue your bike.”

“Yeah. That sounds good.” Justin looked lost, but also determined. “Tomorrow.”

It took effort to turn, to walk away, but Eli managed. His fingers shook a bit against the wheel as he drove back home, and the house felt big and empty. But Lavi was there, all purrs and demanding meows, and the couch was still comfortable.

Eli made himself a cup of valerian root tea, lay down on the couch, let Lavi crawl up onto his chest, and closed his eyes.

Usually he despised winter. He might change his mind about this one. Time would tell.

***

Monday morning, Justin melted against the passenger seat of Eli’s car. “Oh God, you turned the warmer on.”

“I thought you might appreciate it.” Eli waited until Justin had clipped his belt before pulling out from the curb.

“You have no idea. It’s freezing in there.” He stretched his fingers out in front of the vents.

Eli bit his tongue to keep from speaking. Still not the time or the place to harp on Justin’s living conditions. He thought about finding landlord’s name and calling around until the situation got fixed, but Justin would resent that. Hewasa grown man, after all.

And Eli didn’t own him. Just wanted to protect him, which had its own pitfalls. He tightened his grip on the wheel.

“I know. You don’t like it.” Justin dropped his hands to his lap. “Itishideous in there.”

“But it’s yours,” Eli said. Anything more would be too much. His chest hurt from conflicting desires. Rescue Justin. Let him be. The second was the correct choice, whether Eli liked it or not.

“Except it’s not mine, it’s the landlord’s, and he doesn’t give a shit.” Justin ran a hand through his hair. “I needed space, but...” He trailed off and glanced out the window.

“Sam and Michael have a roo—”

“No. If I’m going to move in with someone, it’ll be you or no one.”

For a moment the world stopped, then Eli hit the brakes to not ram the car in front of them. Thank goodness they were nearly there. His breath was gone and his limbs tingled to his feet and hands.

No idea what he looked like, but whatever his expression, it caused Justin to chuckle. “I’m not ready to move in, don’t you fear.”

“It’s not fear.” He found a snow-free parking spot near the office—one without a chair stuck in the middle of it—and pulled in. Fear didn’t taste like light and laughter and woodsmoke in the air. Fear was a bitter, awful thing.

Justin grinned. “Could have fooled me.” He unbelted and got out of the car.

Eli followed and they walked in silence up the street. So many words in his head, so many plans and ideas, all the things he wanted to tell Justin. Hopes he wanted to unbox, shake out, and share.

Everything was so raw. So new. “Would you like dinner tonight? Maybe order a pizza?”

Justin blew out a puff of air, passed the office door, and pulled open the one to Grounds N’at. “I have class tonight.”

Right. Monday. Eli shook his head ruefully and entered the warm shop behind Justin. “I forgot.”

“Well, I’m going to have to bum a ride to campus and back fromsomeone. Maybe we can pick a pie up on the way home?”