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11

RAIN

Within a few days, the window had been fixed, the locks had been changed, new deadbolts had been put in, cameras had been hidden around the property, and a sign claiming that they had a security system had been planted in the front yard.

During that time, Rain also started his receptionist job. Anyone who wanted to get to Mason now had to go through him . To be honest, he was still reeling from Mason’s story, his chest spiking with pain whenever he thought of Mason grieving alone in this house while those vultures picked at him.

Well, not anymore. Not on Rain’s watch.

There was still a big empty spot on the dining room wall where the painting had been and Mason stared at it a lot. Rain found him up there one morning, holding another piece in his hands with several more stacked on the table beside him.

“Rearranging?” Holding a steaming mug of coffee, Rain yawned, still waking up. He’d lost a little rest due to the break-in but the added security had him right back to sleeping like a log and getting up late on his days off.

Used to Mason’s silence, Rain got comfortable in one of the antique chairs, watching as Mason swapped between the different works, frowning at everything. Eventually, he stopped with a sigh, looking around the room, and Rain could see the lingering grief on his face.

“Coming up here reminds you of her, huh?” he asked softly.

Mason’s gaze snapped to Rain and he nodded once, adding the painting in his hand to the pile on the table.

“Are these all your Gran’s?” Rain tilted them up, inspecting. Like Mason, she focused on people or landscapes and each piece emitted a warm, comforting light.

Nodding again, Mason turned to him. “I want to put new things up, move around her work, pack some stuff away…but every time I try…” His defeated shrug broke Rain’s heart.

“I know that I’m modeling and screening your calls which is, like, sooo much work.” Standing, Rain walked over to Mason, grinning up at him. “But I could help you with this too.”

Rain could see the why in Mason’s gaze.

“I like it up here, it gives art museum vibes, but it needs a little polish. And I want to help.” Waiting, he let Mason process, watching his face fill with hesitant joy.

“Can we start today? Just the main floor. We’ll do upstairs…later.” Mason gritted his teeth and Rain realized upstairs meant going through his grandmother’s bedroom and personal things.

Nodding eagerly, Rain chugged the end of his coffee.

“Sure! Let me change and we can get started.” It didn’t take him long to braid his hair and throw on a T-shirt and shorts, and by the time he returned to the dining room Mason had gotten some boxes.

“Um…” Mason always looked so adorably uncomfortable before he expressed any thanks and Rain bit his lip, trying not to grin. “Thank you.”

Rain bumped him with his shoulder. “You’re very welcome. Let’s do this!”

As usual, they worked well together. Rain knew the variances in Mason’s frowns so he could tell when something had to go. That’s when he stepped in to gently take it away and put it in a box. Once the purging was done, they cleaned whatever was left in the living room, dining room, and foyer. After a short lunch break, Mason brought a few new pieces up and they began rearranging things.

The process ended up being unexpectedly fun, like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, and it didn’t take long for Mason to nod in approval at each room. Things had only been adjusted, not completely changed, so the place still held its original feel. They’d even moved some of the furniture around to create a better flow and now it was much easier to walk through the first floor.

“I like it,” Rain tilted his head, trying to gauge Mason’s feelings. After a few agonizing seconds, the side of his lip curled up.

“Me too.”

“Yay!” Rain tossed his hands in the air, shaking his ass, and Mason let out something between a huff and that marvelous laugh from the other day. Although he’d never say it aloud, Rain would do anything to hear that sound again.

What the hell was wrong with him? He was just meant to fuck this guy, live in his house, and not do feelings. Had he been naive? Were feelings inevitable? Or was it Mason who made those feelings inevitable? He needed to talk to someone but he’d been anti-relationship for so long that he felt like a bit of a hypocrite.

Not that he wanted a relationship with Mason…or did he?

For fucks sake, they already slept in the same bed and knew each other’s routines; plus, Mouse shared them equally. Had they somehow wandered off-trail and ended up in relationship-land?

And did he even have feelings for Mason? Or was this infatuation, a crush on the guy who gave him a place to stay and a pedestal to stand on? Would he help Mason with his family and his place if there weren’t feelings involved? Maybe. He’d help Tommy, Ollie, and Emma for sure, but they didn’t give Rain a strange flutter in his chest. And they didn’t worship Rain behind the lens, making him feel important and valued in a way no one ever had before.

Mason’s ringtone cut through the celebration and both of them started. Pulling out the phone, Mason showed Rain the screen.

“I think it’s your lawyer. Stanley Fisher?”

“Why? I fired him last week.” Mason scowled at the phone, taking it back and answering. “Stanley.”

Rain leaned against the elegant wooden table that took up most of the dining room, placing a hand on the back of one of the chairs and resting his chin on it, watching.

“Yes, I meant to fire you…Because I’ve given you a lot of money and you’ve done nothing. My brother broke in last week and-” Mason’s scowl deepened, rage making his eyes seem translucent, and Rain began to harden in his shorts.

“The courts.” Mason’s voice went even flatter when he was livid. “….no, I don’t want to go to the police. I wanted you to do your job.”

Stanley must’ve said something awful because all of a sudden that monotone had force and venom behind it, making Rain scared and horny.

“Settle. You wanted me to settle and make this easier. You’re fired. Again.” Mason hung up, heaving out a breath, and Rain clapped his hands.

“Good for you!”

“He said I should’ve been less stubborn.” Mason shook his head, his words still a bit weighty. “As if I’m the one causing the problem. I’m-” Stopping, he quirked an eyebrow at Rain’s obvious erection, the question unasked but there nonetheless.

“You’re hot when you’re angry.” Sashaying over, Rain stood on his toes, putting arms around Mason’s neck. “Why don’t you fuck it out on me?” He breathed over Mason’s lips. “We could both use a shower and eek- ”

Snatched up under one arm, Rain squealed with laughter as Mason brought him downstairs with a hidden strength that made Rain even hornier. Dropping him on the bed, Mason gave him a look that told him to strip and Rain instantly obeyed, grabbing a lube and some condoms before padding barefoot into the adjoining bathroom, which had a spacious shower stall.

Shedding clothes along the way, Mason joined Rain, starting the spray, and Rain shamelessly ogled his ass and anything else his eyes could reach until he was yanked under the water. Wetting his hair down, he met that sea-glass stare, grabbed the bodywash, and poured it down Mason’s chest.

Starting at Mason’s collarbone, Rain circled his palms, lathering Mason up, never breaking eye contact, even as his hands traveled south. Brushing against hard nipples, Rain followed the trail of hair down Mason’s stomach until he was appropriately soapy, stopping just short of the treasure, a place he knew Mason wanted him to touch, but he was about to do something even better.

With a lascivious smirk, Rain dropped his arms and rubbed himself against Mason as if he were a full-body washcloth, moaning at the slick slide of skin. Mason jolted under him, his hands immediately clutching Rain’s waist as if he were holding on, and his cock pulsed and throbbed as it dragged along Rain’s stomach.

Rain could feel Mason trembling with restraint and he grinned, wondering how far he could take things, when Mason spun him in his hold.

With his back against Mason’s chest, water pelted Rain from the neck down, hitting his pert nipples and drumming against his cock, adding to his pleasure, which soared up several levels as Mason’s thick rod pressed between his thighs, scraping against his balls enticingly.

Letting out a choked gasp, Rain instinctively tilted his hips, tightening his legs, and Mason growled, the continuous stream of water slicking them as he pushed up, sliding his cock under Rain’s.

It shouldn’t feel so good. Rain had done this before and always found it boring; however, being with Mason made everything special, as if Rain had never been touched before. That wasn’t normal, but once Mason rocked his pelvis back and thrust forward, Rain no longer had a thought in his head.

Standing on his toes, Rain arched back against Mason. Even though there was no penetration it still felt like he was being fucked, especially as each slide became more powerful. He tried to concentrate on keeping his thighs locked but it was a lost cause as Mason’s hands trailed up, teasing his nipples. Those fingers pulled, flicked, and twisted so very right, bundling together with Mason’s low rumbles, the feel of his larger body, and the press of his knowing cock, causing a familiar sensation to curl in Rain’s belly.

“M-Mason I’m gonna come!” He didn’t need hands for this. All he needed were a few more glorious thrusts from the shaft gliding against his and he was going to shoot all over the shower wall.

Lips caressed the shell of Rain’s ear and Mason growled a single word. “Come.”

That low tone made Rain into a mindless creature of lust and his orgasm blasted through him like lightning. He could hear his cries and he knew they were his, but he was floating in a dimension of pleasure and it would be a while before he returned to his body.

Distantly, he felt Mason jerk against him and noticed that he pulled back when he came, coating Rain from his cock to his hole. The water quickly washed it away but it left a sensual mark in its wake, and Rain sighed as reality buzzed in around him.

They stayed pressed together for a few minutes, swaying under the water. Rain drifted in that space, content; it was a new feeling that he wanted to keep. Tilting his head, he found Mason staring down at him, his gaze overflowing with that strange unnamed emotion, and Rain couldn’t help but be drawn to it.

Slowly, their lips inched closer together and Rain could tell that this kiss wouldn’t be like the others.

It would mean something.

Rain’s heart beat so loudly that he was sure it echoed in the shower stall, but Mason paid it no mind, focusing on Rain with an intensity that bore through him until they were a whisper away, but then his attention shifted, grabbed by something right outside the door.

The moment broken, Rain followed Mason’s gaze to where Mouse was sitting, watching them with wide golden eyes.

“Voyeur!” Rain proclaimed, and she let out a long meow, moving toward the bedroom, trying to get them to follow and feed her.

“Cats are demanding.” Mason stared after her but neither of them had moved yet, and Rain took advantage of the distraction, planting a kiss on Mason’s cheek and leaving the comfort of those solid arms before things became awkward.

Drying off, Rain donned his white robe, putting product in his hair and combing it through while Mouse circled his feet, begging loudly.

“Mousey-girl,” Rain raised an eyebrow, judging her. “This whole thing right here? It’s not a good look.”

She paused for a moment, as if she were thinking about the comment, and then let out a mournful cry.

“I’ll feed her.” Towel around his waist, Mason strode by, droplets of water streaming down his back, and Rain almost dropped the comb, wanting to lick along those trails and start another round.

“We shouldn’t feed her every time she asks or she’ll ask all the time.” Grabbing the blow dryer, Rain plugged it in, flicking the dial to low. Mason didn’t reply as he pulled on his clothes, slipping out and taking the begging feline with him. Rain could only grin; she had Mason wrapped around her paw.

Once his hair was more manageable, Rain twisted it up and went to find the two troublemakers. As expected, Mouse was in front of the food bowls eating like she’d never had a square meal in her life but Mason was scowling at his phone.

“Is everything okay?” Rain quickly approached, hoping that Mason’s family hadn’t struck again.

Letting out an annoyed huff, Mason turned the screen to Rain, showing him that the new cameras worked. “Ollie and Finn are on the porch.”

“Really?” Rain smiled but then reality kicked in. “Oh, wait. I’m not supposed to be here.” A part of him wanted to open the front door and surprise Ollie, but he should probably talk to Mason about that first.

“Stay down here. He’ll be quick. He’s picking up the boxes.” Although Ollie had moved in with Finn, some of his influencer mail hadn’t been forwarded, and Mason had stacked everything in the foyer.

“Okay.” Nodding as Mason headed up, Rain couldn’t help but feel guilty. Ollie had been through a lot and Rain didn’t like keeping things from him and Tommy. Plus, he wanted to have them over. He missed seeing his friends.

Distracted, he didn’t realize that Mouse had finished eating until he didn’t see her anymore.

“Mousey-girl?” Looking around, he checked under the couch but she wasn’t there. Straightening up, he headed toward the bedroom when he noticed the door to upstairs was cracked open and his stomach dropped. To Mouse, that was The Forbidden Land and she ran up there anytime she got a chance. Hopefully, he could get to her before she paraded around in front of Ollie and Finn.

Padding up the stairs as silently as possible, he glanced around the kitchen, cringing when Ollie’s voice rang through the house.

“You know what’s a good name? Mouse. And you can come out now, Rain!”

After everything he’d done for Mouse, she’d thrown him under the bus. With a sigh, Rain straightened his spine and strolled into the foyer.

Luckily, Finn ended up being the shocked one while Ollie took it all in stride, more focused on the fact that he didn’t know about Mason’s basement apartment even though he’d lived in the house for six months, and he demanded to see it.

Now that his living situation was out in the open, Rain felt lighter than he’d expected, but Mason wore a deep frown, annoyance around his eyes as Ollie and Finn looked around, his sour mood boiling over when Ollie jokingly asked to see the bedroom. Barking out a no, Mason stormed off to lock himself in the darkroom, where he stayed until Rain knocked twenty minutes later.

Mason didn’t open the door right away; in fact, it sounded like he was moving things around, and Rain listened to the scraping and banging, wondering how big the darkroom was. It was one of the few spots in this house that he still hadn’t set foot in, but he had no reason to, and he stepped back once the lock popped and Mason slid out.

“They’re gone. Ollie said bye,” Rain supplied, noting that Mason’s frown hadn’t gone away. “Are you mad that they know about…” He wanted to say us but he couldn’t form the word. “About me living here?”

“No,” Mason answered immediately, putting Rain’s doubts to sleep. “It’s Finn. He irritates me.”

Sometimes Rain forgot about Mason’s aversion to people, which showed Rain how inner circle he’d become. “Well, you’re gonna have to get used to him because they’re engaged now.”

The frown twisted a bit. “Typical. Ollie could do better.”

“Why don’t you like Finn? Is it because he teases you? I promise he’s not bullying-”

Mason shook his head, interrupting Rain’s train of thought. “I know that. He’s smarmy. It’s annoying.”

“Smarmy? You think Finn is smarmy ?” Rain raised his eyebrows. “I never thought I’d hear you say that word…but Finn? I dunnoooo. I think he’s a catch!”

Mason’s expression almost had Rain giggling but at the last second he stopped himself, catching something in that sea-glass gaze he’d never seen before, something that told Rain there might be feelings on both sides.

Jealousy.

“Congrats, Tristan! You did it!” Rain gushed into the phone.

“I’m still riding the high,” Tristan chuckled. “I was on the mountain this morning so it doesn’t feel like my hike is over yet.”

“I’m super proud of you.” Rain shifted on the couch in the storage room. Tristan’s text and photo had come in just as Rain had gotten to The Pointe, so he’d beelined to his old hideaway, stunned by the sight of Tristan on top of the Mount Katahdin sign at the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. He definitely looked like he’d walked over twenty-two hundred miles; his beard had its own zip code and he’d gotten almost too lean, but the life in his eyes couldn’t be denied. Whatever he’d been looking for on the trail? He’d found it.

“It’s a big achievement. I’m proud of myself.” Tristan’s voice was soaked in joy.

“Are you going to come back here or are you hiker trash for life now?” Rain ventured.

“Well…” The word hung in the air, laced with hesitancy, making Rain glad that he’d chosen to rely on himself and not be a burden to Tristan. “You know the people I met on the trail? My tramily? One of them has a place in Maine and we’re going to stay there, take a bunch of zero-mile days and eat, maybe check out the rest of Baxter State Park. I won’t be back for a few weeks.”

“Good, I want you to enjoy yourself. You deserve it.”

“Thanks, kid. Now tell me the truth, how have things really been?” He’d lived with Rain and Eve for close to a decade, so of course he knew that Rain’s reassuring texts were bold-faced lies.

“It was rough for a while.” Rain tried to keep his voice loose. “But I’m doing okay now.”

“Where’s Eve?” Tristan asked with polite curiosity.

“She’s living with some asshole.” Rain felt that he was being kind.

“And you’re not.”

“Nope. I got a second job and a place to stay.” He’d elaborate more when Tristan came back.

“That’s good. You’re safe, right?” Tristan always cared more than Rain’s mother and it made Rain’s chest twinge. That’s why he never wanted to know who his real father was because, as far as he was concerned, Tristan was his dad and he’d been lucky to have him.

“I am.” Rain checked the time. “And I should probably get to work. Stay in touch during the next adventure?”

“Always, kid.”

Hanging up, Rain smiled, excited for his shift because tonight he’d see Mason. Since the bride and groom were tying the knot at a separate location he wouldn’t arrive at the hall until later, and Rain bit his lip as he headed upstairs, eager to watch Mason in action again.

He knew something was up the minute he stepped into the kitchen. Conversations stopped, a few servers eyeballed him, and Kate’s eyes were as wide as saucers.

“Rain!” Gaze glittering with gossip, she grabbed his hand, dragging him into the corner. “You’ve been living with Mason ?”

He blinked, shocked into silence as he tried to figure out who’d spilled the beans. Glancing over at Emma, she gave him a slight shake of her head, but Rain knew she’d never break her word. The only other people who knew were Tommy, Finn, Ollie, and probably Liam by extension, but none of them would talk to Kate about his private life.

“How-” he barely got a word out before she cut him off.

“Bryce saw you two being domestic at the grocery store, said you were groping his ass in the cat food aisle.”

Rain sighed. When presented with a choice, Bryce would always make the wrong one, and now Rain and Mason’s situationship was front page news.

“I bet he told everyone.” Even if he hadn’t, it was only a matter of time, and Rain needed to do damage control before Mason showed up.

“Yeah.” Kate gave him a solemn look. “For what it’s worth? I wouldn’t have spread that around because you’re my friend and I’m happy for you. I knew you had a guy when you stopped flirting with the new servers but I never would’ve guessed it was Mason.”

“It’s really not what it looks like.” Rain held up his hands. “I’m his model for an exhibition and he gave me a place to stay as a trade-off.”

Eyebrows pinched together, she stared at him. “Is that place in his bed?”

Rain fiddled with the end of his braid. In the beginning, it had been a joke. He’d planned on staying in Mason’s room until he got tired enough to go back upstairs, but that had never happened.

“Maybe. But we’re not a couple or anything!” He didn’t sound convincing.

“Riiiight.” She gave him a nod full of sarcasm and he pursed his lips at her.

“Listen, Mason is gonna be here later and I need to keep everyone from harassing him.” The lines between them had begun to blur, resulting in Mason slowly coming out of his shell. He still didn’t talk much but when he did the genius was clear in his gaze, right alongside the worship for Rain. While that kind of admiration usually bothered Rain, Mason was creating with it, bringing them together into something that Rain still couldn’t define but wanted to protect because it was fragile. If the wrong person teased Mason about this, then they might go back to square one.

“You know you’re in deep, right?” Kate seemed to read his mind, putting a hand on his arm. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure no one bothers Mason. Most of the servers are afraid of him but I’ll recruit Marci as backup.”

Rain heaved another sigh. “I know she’ll get the job done but oof, she’s going to roast me.”

“Let’s backtrack for a minute.” Emma strolled up with gloved hands full of flour. “You’re going to be in a photography exhibition?”

“Excuse me, ma’am, were you eavesdropping?” Rain put his hands on his hips, knowing that half the kitchen had heard their conversation but he couldn’t resist teasing her.

“Of course.” Emma looked at him like he’d asked something stupid.

“I’m eavesdropping too!” Angelo called out from his station on the other side.

“I love this place.” Rain shook his head, laughing. “Yes. Mason is doing a portrait exhibition with a bunch of other photographers and I’m his subject.” Rain spread his arms out and gave them an exaggerated curtsy.

“Send me the info because I’ll be there,” Emma stated before squinting hard. “Unless you’re gonna be nude because I like you hun, but not that much.”

Angelo burst out laughing, leaning on the sink.

“I will be wearing clothes, thank you very much,” Rain smoothed his hair back. “I know, it’s shocking.”

“I think the whole thing is super cool.” Doing a little hop, Kate clapped. “I’ll be there too.”

“Count me in!” Angelo waved and Rain blew him a kiss.

“Thanks, everyone.” The support buoyed him and surprisingly, the next part of his shift went quickly. Marci did needle him, stating that she already knew, but she also put out the word to leave Mason alone. By the time he walked in with the bridal party no one would even look in his direction, and Bryce must’ve gotten an extra scolding because he darted away whenever Rain tried to corner him.

Although he wanted to run right up to Mason, Rain held himself back, trying not to add fuel to the rumor fire, but Mason blew that out of the water by immediately approaching him.

“Can you assist me,” he asked in a flat tone. Now that Rain knew him better, he could see the toll weddings took on him, the strain evident on his face.

“Yeah.” A quick request into the headset freed him from the cocktail hour, and he followed Mason outside where Marci had the bride and groom waiting. Quickly taking out the drone, Mason had it up and running within seconds, letting it hover perfectly.

“Make sure it’s steady and take some shots.” Mason handed him the controller. “Please.”

Marci’s eyes widened but she said nothing as Rain nodded.

Over the last month they’d gone out for several more flying lessons and Rain had gotten used to steering the drone around; plus, he’d been studying photography online, looking at free videos and tutorials, and learning about anything he could get his hands on. Before this, he didn’t have the bandwidth or opportunity for ambition but now? He could feel the possibilities.

The wind had Rain making adjustments and he squinted at the viewfinder because he could tell even from above that this couple found Mason’s gruff manner more alarming than most. They weren’t nailing the pose and frustration was beginning to build on both sides. Marci tilted her head, looking like she was about to step in, but Rain had a better idea.

Striding forward, he gave the remote back to Mason and smiled brightly at the bride and groom, holding out his hand.

“Hi! I’m Rain, I help Mason out from time to time, and I fly drones. He’d like it if you stood like this,” Rain imitated the position, clapping as the groom visibly relaxed, mimicking him. “Yes, yes, just like that! Okay now I need the bride to lean in,” he fluffed her veil, setting it out perfectly since he’d seen dozens of photographers do it. Glancing at Mason, he tried not to stutter at the wonder in that gaze. “Just a little more - perfect ! Stay right there!”

Running out of frame, Rain spent the next forty minutes switching between liaison and drone, finding it exhilarating. He enjoyed using his people skills to help Mason out in many aspects of his life, and while Mason had become significantly less stressed, Rain could tell he was still worried about the house because they hadn’t managed to land another lawyer.

Even though Rain had contacted a ton of attorneys, only a few had responded, and they’d refused to take the case unless Mason put down a ridiculous deposit, stating that he might not win. But Rain wouldn’t stop trying. He even thought about asking around at The Pointe. Liam was aiming for law school, maybe he knew someone.

“The cocktail hour is starting, I should get them inside,” Marci stated, and Rain couldn’t help himself, he smiled from ear to ear. He’d just saved the day; not only was Mason able to get the shots he needed, but the couple were more than pleased. In fact, at one point the groom had broken away to shake Rain’s hand.

Giving Rain an impressed nod, Marci ushered the newlyweds back into the wedding hall, leaving him and Mason alone for a few minutes by the gazebo, where they couldn’t be snooped on.

“Thank you.” Mason stared hard at him and then took a few photos. “You helped a lot.”

“I’m glad.” Reaching up, Rain patted Mason’s face, loving the feel of his stubble and noting that he didn’t flinch or stiffen up anymore when touched, making Rain’s chest fill with warmth.

Carrying that sensation with him, Rain worked the party with enthusiasm, happier than he’d been in a long time, especially when he caught Mason taking sneaky pictures again. Adding it to the list of adorable things Mason did, Rain pretended not to notice, making silly faces in the reflections when he sensed the camera on him, and as the reception wrapped up, he became more and more excited to see the drone photos he’d taken.

Rushing through cleanup while ignoring everyone’s knowing stares, he jumped as his phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket, he checked it with a smile that quickly fell from his face.

Across the screen were three letters that caused him far too much pain.

Mom .

Dashing to the storage room, Rain started weaving his way to the back, pressing accept .

“Hi, Mom.” He fake-smiled so his voice would sound cheerful, but truthfully, he was terrified. Even though he’d been texting and taking her calls, his visits to her office had lapsed. He’d gotten too comfortable at Mason’s but he’d been working hard on himself and she would only sully what he’d been building, so he didn’t want to see her in person.

“Babeeee, where have you been? I’m worried that you’re gonna miss my special day.” She sounded on the edge of hysteria and Rain took a deep breath, his palms sweating. To be honest, he’d been planning to stop by her workplace this week with a birthday gift, knowing that he’d take some mental damage, but it would hold her off for a while.

“I’m not going to miss it, Mom-”

“Liar,” she barked.

Rain sat down hard on the couch, pulling his braid out of its bun and fiddling with the end.

“I’m telling the truth. How about I treat you to lunch tomorrow? I’m sorry I haven’t been around. I have two jobs and I’ve been working a lot.” He hated that she made him feel like he was still under her thumb.

“So, you’re gonna get me a big gift then?” Her mood changed on a whim but Rain was used to it.

“You bet. I already have it wrapped.” But it wasn’t going to be good enough after this conversation, so he needed to go out early in the morning and buy something else.

“You know what you can get me?” she asked in a leading tone and Rain braced for impact. “Come home for dinner. I want us all to eat together.”

Home? Gage’s shitty rental house wasn’t home and he hadn’t been back there since he’d dashed in for a few important belongings and the SD cards, which he still hadn’t looked at because they would probably traumatize him.

Rain couldn’t help it, he let out a disbelieving laugh. “Like a family?”

She went silent, and Rain instantly regretted snapping because when she finally spoke, her icy tone chilled him to his bones.

“Rain, get your ass here tomorrow night. I don’t care if you have work, it’s my birthday. I brought you into this world and I’ll fucking take you out.”

“How’s the food?”

Rain picked at his meal, which his mother had ordered from a delivery app, and if Rain hadn’t answered the door and plated it all himself, then he would’ve been too suspicious of Gage to eat anything. It was bad enough that the pervert sat across from him, leering whenever his mother looked away, but the hypervigilance and the mask were stifling, making him sweat through his shirt.

“It’s good! Thank you, Mom.”

She smiled, pleased with herself, as if she’d done the cooking. “What wedding hall do you work at again, Rainy?”

“The Evergreen Club,” Rain replied smoothly, more than used to lying to her. Gage coughed, giving him a sly look but Rain ignored it.

“So that’s the place holding my son hostage,” she pouted. “I know you’ve stopped by my work but this is still your home, you know. I’m still your mom.”

Holding back his cringe, Rain turned his budding squint into a hopefully-decent grin. “I know but I’ve got two jobs now, one at the wedding hall and another for a photography company. Plus, I met someone. You know how it is.” He pointedly looked at the two of them. “I’ve been staying at his place a lot.”

“You have a boyfriend?” Gage’s beer stopped halfway to his face, his beady eyes full of eerie curiosity.

“Yeah, I met him at the gym. He powerlifts and is about to go pro.” Rain needed it to be a threat and it seemed to work because Gage’s scoff had an edge of unease.

“Aww, that’s my boy!” His mother cheered, throwing her napkin at him. “What’s his name?

“Bryce.” Rain easily caught it, dropping it on the table.

“ Bryce, ” she pondered, eyes on the ceiling as she tilted her head to the side, the tinsel in her long dark hair glittering, matching the sparkles in her makeup. “Sounds good, Rainy, but -” she pointed a taloned finger at him, “remember to keep your options open.”

“I will.” He nodded as if she’d given sage advice, and the rest of the meal passed without incident. No one mentioned the lack of a bedroom door, Rain’s destroyed belongings, or the fact that he didn’t live there anymore. His mother was too focused on gifts and thankfully, she loved what he’d picked out for her.

The original present had been a bracelet but he’d gone back to the store and bought the necklace and earrings too, as well as a luxurious-looking chocolate cake, and she squealed over everything, happy to have all the attention on her.

Once she finished blowing out the candles, Rain cut up a few slices and Gage wandered into the kitchen twice. The first time he tried to squeeze by Rain, who darted to the side, and the second time he leaned against the counter and stared. By the time they sat down for dessert Rain was rattled and scared, as if his inner child shook for him, and he could barely choke down a few mouthfuls.

His mother’s cell chimed and she squealed again; Rain had forgotten how grating it was.

“I’m gonna take this,” she put the phone to her ear, running to the bedroom before Rain could respond, leaving him alone with Gage, who continued to stare him down.

“So you have a boyfriend, huh?” His tone implied that Rain was lying.

“Yep.” Despite the extreme tension, Rain pretended to nonchalantly check his phone, scrolling with one hand while the other slipped into his pocket, popping the cap on his pepper spray, more than ready to use it indoors. He’d take some in the face if it meant not getting into Gage’s clutches.

“You know what Rain,” Gage shifted, moving closer, and Rain reeled back, a millisecond away from blasting him. “You should move back here. Your mom misses you.”

“You took my door,” Rain stated, pointing right at the elephant in the room.

“ My door. In my house. And you gave me the wrong key.” His greasy tone made Rain’s skin crawl and when he moved even closer, Rain jumped out of his seat, circling the table, keeping Gage directly across from him. His mother’s laughter rang out from the back of the house and he knew that even if he called out, even if he screamed, she wouldn’t help him.

“Oops, my mistake. But you didn’t have to go through my things.” He couldn’t help the anger in his tone and Gage scowled, his face flushing with rage.

“Listen you slut, she keeps whining about missing you and I don’t want to hear her shit anymore.” He took a few steps to the right and Rain countered, hoping that Gage continued because every inch put Rain closer to the front door. He didn’t care anymore; his mother could flip out all she wanted but he was never coming back here again.

“Then leave her!” Rain must’ve taken one too many glances because Gage reversed direction, positioning himself right in Rain’s path and moving him back to where he’d started.

“Leave her? She might be crazy but she’s got a tight hole.” Gage grabbed the front of his pants, pulling on his dick. “And I bet yours is even tighter.”

Panic shot through Rain’s limbs and in a moment of clarity he remembered the back door. It might be locked, and flipping the deadbolt would take precious seconds, so he needed a distraction. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out his pepper spray, extending his arm.

Gage laughed at him. “Are you serious? You won’t use that shit in here.”

Flipping the cap up, Rain placed his thumb on the button. “Try me. I’m leaving. Tell Mom I said happy birthday.”

Quickly walking backward, Rain felt for the knob and when it easily turned and the door cracked open, he wanted to cry. But his relief was short-lived as Gage circled the table, charging at him, his sweaty face now purple with rage.

Fear taking over, Rain turned and tore down the street, hearing Gage’s feet slap the pavement behind him, but Rain had walked this area again and again. He knew shortcuts and was also younger and fitter.

Pushing himself, he hopped a fence, darted across someone’s backyard, hopped another fence, and within a minute, he’d lost Gage. But he couldn’t stop now, he needed to get back to Mason’s. Heart beating out of his chest, Rain hurried through the streets, wanting to call a cab or rideshare but unable to stay in one place for too long in case Gage was out there looking for him.

He didn’t know how he got home but the familiar white house seemed to appear before him and he stumbled inside, triple-checking the locks with shaking hands.

“M-Mason?” His voice sounded small and weak. When did it become so hard to breathe? Gulping for air, he staggered into the bedroom, almost tripping over Mouse, who circled his feet with concerned cries.

First, he needed to be safer, to make sure his mother’s shitty boyfriends couldn’t get to him here, so he locked the bedroom door too, his palms so sweaty that his fingers kept sliding off the knob. But it wasn’t enough. They could still break in.

Desperately looking around, he ran to the small dresser next to the closet. Since his breaths were coming in little gasps, it took effort but he pushed it across the room until it blocked the door. Now they couldn’t get in. Just to be sure, Rain should get under the bed like he did when he was a kid, before he’d been old enough to read about and install his own locks.

A sharp pain stung his ankle and Rain hissed, looking down at Mouse, who had her claw stuck in his sock. Staring up at him, she let out a long, mournful meow.

“Don’t worry,” Rain gasped out, his chest squeezing the life out of him. “I-I’ll make sure they w-won’t get you.”

Picking her up, he moved away from the door to the other side of the bed and laid down, intending to shuffle them both under it, but he froze, tears filling his eyes as the panic overwhelmed him.

Mason’s mattress was on a platform, a solid piece of wood that had drawers in it. There was no space underneath.

Which meant there was no place to hide.