Page 14

14

L ord, his shoulder wasn’t loving flying.

Thank God it was nonstop, Austin to New York, but damn, Trent was tender.

On the way home, he was springing for first class.

“Are you excited, darlin’?” he asked. He was. He was tickled to see what Fox’s life was like before.

“I don’t know. I love the city. I’m kind of dreading all the moving, but I can’t wait to share the rest of it with you.” Fox took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’m mostly excited. Let’s go find our ride.”

“Sounds good.” Please don’t let anyone jostle him hard. “I’ll follow you.”

Fox put an arm around him and pulled him in front protectively. “This is better.” Fox steered him carefully, finding the path with the least commotion. “At least we don’t have bags to worry about.”

“You know it.” He’d stored his extra clothes in Fox’s carry-on because Fox had clothes in his apartment still.

“Okay. We’re headed out that way.” Fox pointed to a trio of revolving doors. “A car is waiting for us.”

The doors moved slow and had lots of room for luggage so the two of them fit easily with the single carry-on. Inside the airport, there had been a low hum of crowd noise. Outside was loud. Luggage lined the sidewalk, cars were idling or honking, and people were busily getting in and out.

A man popped out of a shiny black car with dark windows and waved. He looked like something out of a movie in a dark suit, dark tie, and a chauffeur’s cap. “Mr. Fox!”

“That’s us.” Fox steered him in that direction “Hello, Paul.”

“Good flight?” Paul opened the back door for them.

“Fine. Long. Paul, this is Trent James.” Fox handed off their suitcase.

Paul touched the brim of his cap. “Mr. James. Welcome to New York.”

“Lord have mercy. Call me Trent.” He held out his hand to shake, a little confused. Folks actually wore those hats? How fucking cool was that?

Paul shook Trent’s hand and gave him a nod, then glanced at Fox and put their suitcase in the trunk. “Straight to home, sir?”

“Yes, please.” Fox gestured for him to climb in the back seat. “After you. Get comfy; it’s a bit of a drive.”

“I’m just glad to get out of the plane.” He settled back with a pained groan. “I swear to God, darlin’…” He glanced to make sure the driving guy didn’t hear him. “I’m going to just bite the bullet and pay for first class for us on the way home.”

“We could have done first on the way up, but I was afraid you would think I was being too extravagant. I’ll switch the tickets for us. No worries.” Fox reached up and gently massaged his shoulder. “Do you need your meds?”

“Maybe. I’ll wait and see if it gets worse before I take more.” He leaned into the touch, but not too much. It was tender. “Lord, it is busy here, isn’t it? Even more than Houston.”

“The airport is a little crazy, yeah. We’ll take a quieter route to my place and avoid the touristy stuff.”

“I’m not bitching. It’s cool to watch.” He wasn’t driving, after all…

Fox chuckled softly and kissed his temple. “Oh, complaining about the traffic is practically an Olympic sport here.”

“Mmm… Do you have a gold medal?”

“You’re not the only champ in town.” Fox waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

“Yeah. I tried, but I did win more than a few events, right?”

“Mhm. A lot more than I did.” Fox was solid next to him and seemed to have a comfortable confidence about him. “I thought we’d relax a while and then go out for dinner. I have some paperwork I need to deal with for the movers.”

“Sure. I can help do whatever you need me to. I’m good at packing.” He’d be good at whatever Fox had to have. “I bet Ames will be excited to see her stuff.”

“Oh, she’s the reason I’m finally getting this done. She’s been asking for it. But you know me. I needed to be sure she was happy and be sure we were staying, and…” Fox shrugged. “I haven’t always been like this. I’m kind of hoping—well, small steps.”

“So are you unhappy like you are now?” It seemed an important question.

“No. God, no. I didn’t mean I was unhappy. I just feel insecure sometimes. Indecisive. Unsteady. I used to be very sure of myself. I’m just different, not unhappy.”

Trent nodded. He got that, bone-deep. “I understand that a little bit. I mean, who I am now? Ain’t who I was six months ago, for sure.”

Fox nodded. “Yeah, I guess you would, huh? Your whole life has changed too.”

“Yeah. Not so much as yours, but… I got a lot to figure out, and fast. I got to make the ranch make money. I got a family to provide for now. I got critters.” And he would never ever admit it, but he was a little scared.

“Family.” Fox smiled and kissed him lightly. “I think your plans for the ranch will pay off, but I get that it takes a little time. You don’t have to worry about providing for us, okay? I’m going to help with all of that. We’re fine.”

He dared to kiss Fox’s knuckles. “I just want you to know I’ll never be the guy that leaves you wanting.”

“Thank you. But we’ve got each other now and we’re not going to want for anything. We’re going to make the ranch spectacular.”

They went over a bridge and ended up on a tree-lined highway that followed the river.

“Oh, isn’t this pretty. We should plant trees along our driveway.”

“That’s a great idea. When they get big, it will be like a long country lane.” Fox chuckled. “Which I have really only ever seen in movies.”

“I’d love that. We could plant peach trees. I do love some peaches.” Or maple trees, if they didn’t want to grow fruit.

“Who doesn’t love peaches?” Fox was always game to try anything, which was a good thing and a bad thing because Trent was always full of ideas.

“Cool. Cool. We’ll plant them in the spring.” He loved that idea, in fact—rows of peach trees, fresh fruit. Yum.

They turned and the trees receded a bit as they drove into a quieter part of New York than he could remember ever having seen before. The street was fairly wide and lined with eight- or ten-story buildings that seemed residential.

“Ah. We’re here.” The car stopped, and Fox waited for Paul to come open his door. Warm air rushed in, though not as warm as home.

“Welcome back, sir.”

“Thank you, Paul. I’ll want you later for dinner.”

“Text me when you’re ready.” Paul extended the handle on the carry-on and handed it to Fox.

“Will do.” Fox turned to him. “Ready?”

He was. Sort of. He wanted to see Fox’s old life, but he didn’t want to, in a weird way. “Absolutely. Let’s get to work.”

Fox led him up the sidewalk to a long burgundy awning.

An older man in a gray bellman jacket and hat stepped up to greet them. “Mr. Fox. Welcome back.”

“Hey, Mike. Thank you.”

“Miss Amelia?”

“Not with me this trip, but this is Mr. James.”

“Good to meet you.” Mike nodded to him, then led them to the door and held it open.

“I’ve added Mr. James to the guest list for the week.”

“Yes, we were expecting him. Thank you.”

Fox stepped through the doors and into a narrow lobby with marble floors, a reception desk, and a bank of elevators. He hit a button, and the elevator doors opened right away.

“Pretty!” Lord have mercy. This was a fancy-assed place, wasn’t it?

They rode up in the elevator to the tenth floor, which was also the top floor of the building. “It’s nice. It’s indulgent, though. I’m putting it on the market as soon as we’re on the plane home.”

Home. He liked that. “Yeah? If you’re staying home and not wanting to be a landlord, it’s probably the best thing.”

“Ugh. I have no interest in being a landlord. Especially not a New York landlord.”

The hall was wide, well-lit, and carpeted, and Fox’s door had a polished oak look and was framed by an ornate molding. Fox used a card and then dialed some numbers into a keypad and the door popped open.

Fox grinned at him. “No judging.”

“Honey, I’m beginning to think you should have been the one judging.” Although he had land. Animals. Trees. A bike trail for the kids. An in-ground trampoline.

Fox had totally traded up.

“God, no. I bought this place with Xan. He wanted a certain way of life, and I was happy to give it to him.”

The apartment—though it seemed like a stretch to call it something so simple—was huge. Clean. Minimalist.

Shiny.

It was hard to see the Fox he knew being happy in a place so… white.

“There’s a bathroom off the kitchen.” Fox pointed.

“Neat.” He’d seen Fox’s bedroom on the way through the house. It was filled with fun things that he’d found on their weird little adventures. It wasn’t plain at all.

“What do you need? Do you want to sit and relax your shoulder? Find your meds? Take a shower?” Fox left the suitcase where it was, eyes on him.

“What do you need from me? Is there somewhere to buy a Coke?” Can I just explore? “Should I start packing something?”

“I don’t need anything today. I’m taking you out to dinner later—informal—otherwise, I just thought we’d hang out. There are Cokes in the fridge. Feel free to wander around. Amelia’s room is down that hall on the left.”

“Okay. Thanks.” Obviously, Fox needed some time and space, so he grabbed a Coke and took a pill, then went to wander.

“Down that hall” was a lot farther than he expected, and along the walls on his way to Amelia’s room were pictures of Fox and a man that had to be Xan by themselves or with baby Amelia at the beach, at the park, in bed, at a birthday party…

Lord, the man had been tall, like Fox. He was damn handsome, though, and he didn’t seem like the type who had callused hands.

Amelia’s room was the only room he’d seen so far that wasn’t white. The walls were the exact yellow Fox had chosen for it at home, and the furniture was girly and expensive looking, but he could see why Amelia loved it. There was a dressing table with a tall mirror and a little tufted seat, a fluffy comforter on the bed, and a line of dolls on her dresser.

He took a picture of it and sent it to Rope, so that they could show her they were here. She’d have to tell him all her stories about her dolls.

Also, he was gonna make her a dollhouse for Christmas. That would be a good project.

“You found it.” Fox’s fingers ghosted over his lower back. “You can see why she misses it.”

“Mmm… I can. Her furniture will look nice in her new room. She’ll have the best slumber parties.”

“I told her we’d call later when we got settled so we could hear about school today. Jude says they’re swimming right now.”

“Oh, good deal. She needs some exercise so she’s not missing you too bad.” He led them out of the room so he could have a kiss.

“Mm. Is this your plan to keep me from missing her?” Fox smiled down and put an arm over his good shoulder, pulling him closer.

“Is it going to work in the short-term?” He took another kiss before easing up. He felt a little like Fox’s husband was looking at them.

“I think it might. We may need to practice a little more though, to be sure.” Fox took his hand. “Did you get to the guest room yet?”

“I didn’t, no. Is it comfy?” He’d ordered a bed husband from Amazon. It was supposed to be here—either today or tomorrow.

“I don’t know, I’ve never slept there.” Fox chuckled. “I hope so.”

“Me too.” God, this was weird, but it was the way of anything new. Anything at all, but especially if it was important.

“So, the guest room is in here.” Fox ducked his head in and then stepped aside so he could look as well. It was neat and basic, almost like a hotel room. “It hasn’t been used in a long time.”

“It’s real nice.” He’d slept in a thousand hotel rooms that were worse, for sure.

“It’s just a few nights.” Fox shrugged and gestured toward a room across the hall. “This is—I’ll be sleeping in there.”

“All right, darlin’.” He hadn’t expected different. The man was still very much in love with his husband. Trent didn’t belong in his bed.

And it wasn’t like they were sharing back home either.

Fox headed back toward the living room. “Lots of stuff to pack up, but I hired people, and they’re coming tomorrow.”

“All right. Should I start doing something?” He grabbed their suitcase to put it away. It seemed out of place in this white space.

Rope

How is it there?

Rope’s text made him smile.

Trent

Very fancy. Like WHOA.

Rope

Jude says things like “pristine” and “perfect”. Fancy words. You ok?

Trent

Yes. Hurting some. It’s weird, being in another man’s house.

Weird. It was fucked up.

Rope

It’s Fox. You’re fine. Go easy on the packing.

He didn’t mean it was weird about Fox. It was Fox and Xan. That was almost another man, altogether.

Rope

Amelia says she hopes you’ll pack her dolls carefully. No pressure, dude. LOL

Trent

Tell her Uncle Trent is ON IT

Like he wouldn’t pay attention.

“Everything okay?” Fox gestured to his phone.

“Rope. I sent him a proof-of-life pic.” He showed off the image of Ames’s room.

Fox chuckled. “And now you have a pic so you know how to put it back together.” Fox looked around the living room. “I have a bunch of kitchen stuff. You want any kitchen stuff?”

“Darlin’, I grill out. You are my kitchen person.” He didn’t even know what kitchen stuff to want.

Fox nodded sheepishly. “Right. I’ll keep some and donate the rest. This place is a little different, huh?”

“It’s wild. You made a huge shift when you came home. Are—are you disappointed?”

“What? Why?” Fox looked genuinely confused.

“Well, this place is very… very—” How to explain what was in his head. He needed to be clear. “Specific. Like a magazine. Our house is very… not. It’s for dogs and cats and kids and thunderstorms.”

“ Our house.” Fox took his hand. “Is perfect. This place isn’t ours; this is what I’m leaving so I can have animals and thunderstorms and one very happy kid with you.”

“I’m glad. I just want to give you what all you need.” But this place was like a museum. He was scared to sit anywhere.

“You’re uncomfortable.” Fox nodded. “I get it. Should we get a hotel? That would be totally fine.”

“God, no. There’s a perfectly good bed in here for me. No reason to waste the money.” He was being a dipshit, that was all.

“If you’re sure.” Fox leaned down and kissed his cheek. “I’m glad you’re here. It’s not easy, I know.”

“I’m here for you, to help you through a hard thing. I didn’t want you to have to face this all alone.”

“Thank you. I’m not even sure what I’m facing. We’ll just see how it goes. But I’m leaving it here, Trent. Whatever it is, I’m leaving it all in New York.”

He gave Fox a long hug, hating that his guy was hurting. “Whatever you need from me, I’m here.”

Fox sighed into the hug. “This is it. This is all I need from you.”

When they broke it off, Fox added, “And maybe a beer?”