Trouble & the Wallflower (25 page)

“Hey, Davy.”
Why, God
?
Nate had his hands in the pockets of his chinos. His face wasn’t as bitchy as the last time Davy had seen him. In fact, he was looking quite contrite.

“Nate.”

“Can I sit?”

“Uh, sure.” Davy moved his messenger bag that was taking up the booth seat next to him.

“I love their lamb gyros,” Nate said lamely.

Davy had no patience today. “Nate, you don’t have to make small talk. You can just sit there. My food won’t be much longer.”

Nate laughed. “Well, you sure aren’t quite so timid these days, huh?”

“What?” Davy’s voice was thin from exasperation.

“Okay, so I didn’t order anything. I saw you coming in and I decided it was high time you and I had a talk.”

Great.
“Now’s not a good time, Nate. I’m tired.”

“Please. I want to apologize.”

Well that was…. Davy would
not
look surprised. No way. “Okay.”

“I’m sure you figured out by now why I was such an asshole.”

Davy frowned and shook his head. No, he actually still just assumed Nate didn’t like him or was just a bitchy guy.

Nate sighed. “I was jealous.”

Davy snorted. Rich boy jealous of Davy?

“I’ve had a crush on Gavin forever.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” Nate looked thoroughly embarrassed. “He wouldn’t give me the time of day. He was such a cold motherfucker to me. Of course, that was the appeal. The guy’s a badass, or was. The guy everyone wants to tame. Then in waltzes you and you’re all shy and I couldn’t understand it. I mean, you’re cute, but—”

“What’s your point?” Davy felt a bit insulted and he didn’t like thinking about all the guys chasing Gavin. Everything was still so raw.

“That’s why I was rude to you. You’re nice. If anyone deserves a chance to be happy with Gavin, it’s you.”

Color me surprised.
“Thanks?”

“I mean it. I’m really sorry. I saw you didn’t do well in crowds and I took advantage of it. We don’t have to be friends, just know that’s not me. I’m not always that person. I’m really sorry.”

Davy studied Nate’s face for a second. He looked as though he was awaiting a firing range. “It’s okay, Nate. I mean, he
is
hot.”

Nate let out a surprised laugh.

“And I’m not the kind of guy who holds a grudge, so consider it done, okay?”

Nate nodded, looking at Davy with such relief that Davy couldn’t see that mean-spirited Nate he’d known thus far in the man before him.

“Gavin must have really given you hell for you to hunt me down to apologize.”

Nate grimaced. “No. I mean, yeah he jumped my ass, but the apology is all me.”

“Well, thanks.” They fell silent for a moment, and Davy began to wonder where in the hell his food was.

“He misses you, you know,” Nate whispered. It sounded like it pained him to say it.

Davy sighed. “I miss him too.”

“You’re a better man than me. I never would have given him space like you did. I know you well enough to know it’s not because you actually had to consider staying there for him and his brother. You’re doing it for him.”

Davy laughed at how transparent he was. “Yeah. I am.”

“Well, you’re smart. It’s done him good. I’ve never seen Gavin try so hard to get his shit together. And he’s not just doing it for his brother, Davy.”

Davy smiled at Nate. “Thanks for saying that. He kept telling me I was the one who needed to think about whether I wanted him
and
a kid, when really it’s him who had to figure out if he was going to keep his brother and if he’d have time for me too.”

Nate put his hand on Davy’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. He’ll call you soon. I know it. You and Oliver are all he talks about. You’ve been there in a way he never let any of us be, no matter how hard we tried.”

“Order number forty-nine!” the woman at the counter bellowed. Davy looked at his receipt.

“Um, that’s me,” Davy said, showing Nate the ticket. Nate nodded. “Thanks, for saying… all of that.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you around.” Nate stood at the same time as Davy. Davy grabbed his food from the cashier with a smile and a thanks. When he turned, Nate was already gone. He hoped Nate knew he really did appreciate the words. After nearly a month apart, it was nice to hear that Gavin still thought of Davy as much as Davy thought of him.

Thanks, Nate.

D
AVY
HADN
’
T
realized he’d passed out before finishing his food until he woke up wearing his side of rice that he’d started picking at what he thought was only a moment earlier. He groaned miserably because now he’d have to drag his tired ass out of bed and change his shirt.

He looked at his sheets and saw he’d rolled onto the container of hummus he’d had sitting beside him, so now he’d need to change the sheets as well. He stood, ignoring the way his feet complained at holding his weight. He was beginning to wonder when working in a soda shop had become a contact sport, because if he judged by the aches in his body, he was getting tackled at least four times a day.

He wasn’t sure what woke him up, but he figured it could be the cold hummus sinking in through his shirt. He almost wished he’d just slept through it, blissfully unaware of how gross it was until he woke, rested enough to take care of the new linens.

He trudged to the kitchen, dumped what was left of his dinner in the trash, and threw his fork into the sink. He pulled off his shirt and tossed it in the open washing machine before going to strip his bed. He just hoped his spare set of sheets was clean. He couldn’t remember if they’d made it into the wash on his last laundry day.

When he opened the linen closet, he sent up a prayer of thanks, not even caring that it was silly to be thankful for clean sheets. As he stretched the fitted sheet over his daybed mattress, he heard his phone vibrating. He realized it must be in his bag, and the steady vibrations meant someone was calling. He had a moment of panic as he dug through the messenger bag. He pulled it out just in time for the caller to have given up. He saw it was only seven thirty and he’d received four missed calls, all from the same number.

Janie? He hadn’t seen her since he’d last taken her to see Ray a week ago. He couldn’t imagine why she was calling. That thought froze him. Well, there was a reason. He hit the Redial button and waited through the ringing until Janie answered with a feeble, sniffling “Hello.”

No.
His words died in his throat.

“Davy?”

“Uh, yes. Yes, ma’am. What’s wrong?”

“Honey, it’s Ray.”

“No.”

He listened as she rustled around, sounding as though she was going into another room. “Sweetheart, I’m at the house with Oliver. Gavin is by himself at the hospital, and he wouldn’t let me call anyone for him. But I know he needs someone. He needs you.”

“But—”

“No more of his stubbornness. He’s been silly for long enough. Please, Davy. Go to him.”

Davy nodded, then realized she couldn’t see him through the phone. “Okay. I’m leaving now.”

“Good,” she said quietly. “Good. You bring him home, you hear? His brother needs him.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Davy hung up after a quick good-bye.

He didn’t trust himself for a moment, freaking out briefly. He grieved, hating that he hadn’t seen Ray once more before he’d passed, but he figured that was normal. He’d seen the man just two days ago, and he’d seemed so lively. You would have guessed he was going to recover any day now. But didn’t they always say you had one last uptick before you went?

Davy took a shuddering breath, then dialed a taxi. After pulling on shoes and a clean shirt, he gathered his wallet and keys. He was surprised when he got downstairs that the taxi driver was already calling to say he’d arrived. He dove in the car and rattled off where he needed to go. He debated calling the guys, but he’d wait until he knew what Gavin wanted to do before he made that decision. He didn’t feel it was his to make. He was making a big enough decision rushing to Gavin’s side without being summoned. He figured he should only take a little control from Gavin at a time.

When they arrived at the hospital, Davy threw some cash at the driver and didn’t even stop himself from running inside. He could feel the tether between him and Gavin pulling him, reeling him in, guiding him home. When the elevator doors opened on the floor Ray’s room was on, Davy darted out. When he passed the nurse’s station, he nodded to them, receiving waves and sympathetic smiles.

He stopped at the door to Ray’s room. He couldn’t imagine Ray was still there, but since the nurses hadn’t stopped him, he figured that was where he’d find Gavin. He placed his hand on the closed door, looking at the nameplate that no longer said
Raymond Walker
. He closed his eyes, holding off the tears. It wasn’t his time to grieve. He had to get Gavin. He had to hold Gavin.

He straightened up, sucked in a breath, and opened the door, then stepped into the room. Gavin sat in the chair, looking at the bed as though he couldn’t believe it was empty. Davy didn’t know what to say, so he stood silently watching Gavin. Gavin wasn’t crying, wasn’t showing any emotion at all.

Until he turned his head and saw Davy. It was slow. First his eyes softened, the furrow in his brow smoothing out. Then his lips curled up into a gentle smile, one that broke Davy’s fucking heart. Davy took a step forward, holding out his hand. Gavin looked at it for a moment, his smile beginning to quiver. When he flicked his eyes back up to Davy’s, they were still soft but brimming with unshed tears.

“Let’s go home, Gavin,” Davy said quietly.

“Home?” Gavin’s voiced rasped.

“Home.” Davy smiled.

“Thank God.” Gavin literally deflated before Davy’s eyes as he stood and moved into Davy’s embrace. “Thank God,” Gavin said brokenly.

G
AVIN
COULDN
’
T
remember any days of his life ever going by in such a blur. He remembered mourning faces and loss so deep that it cut. But he also remembered Davy’s calming presence and his friends’ love. He’d nearly lost it when he’d said good-bye to Ray and afterward, when Oliver leaned over and kissed Gavin on the cheek before saying so sweetly, “I sorry you sad, Gavvy.”

Davy had stayed with Gavin and Oliver the night Ray had died and the night of the funeral, but he’d continued to respect Gavin’s request for space in the following days. He’d taken time off work and helped Janie occupy Oliver and make sure Gavin ate one of the dozens of casseroles people had left.

Gavin barely remembered the reading of the will, other than
remembering Ray had left his daughter another trust, but everything else to Gavin. His attorney said the permanent residence and substantial money he’d inherited would go a long way with the judge in proving he could provide for Oliver. No one figured it’d be much of a problem, though, since they’d contacted Carmen and she’d agreed she was going to sever her rights to Oliver in favor of Gavin being his brother’s guardian. Now he had months of social services visits and a pile of attorney fees to look forward to. Not that it wasn’t all worth it. His brother and Davy were the best things he had going for him.

Davy. Davy stood by him, loved him, and had proven he was the stronger of the two of them over and over since Gavin had met him. He didn’t feel worthy at all as he looked in while Davy tucked Oliver in for bed. “Davy, you staying tonight?”

“No, little man, I have to go home. But I’ll be back in the morning.” Davy was so good with the kid. It warmed Gavin from the inside out watching the care Davy took as he tucked Oliver in just the way the kid liked (“snug as a bug in a rug”) and kissed him on his forehead.

“Night, Davy.”

“Night, Ollie,” Davy said as he clicked off the lamp, only the nightlight illuminating a corner of the room. Davy smiled when he saw Gavin in the doorway and held his finger up to his lips as he crept over and closed the door behind him.

Gavin followed Davy into the kitchen, where Davy made sure everything was put away before he picked up his messenger bag. “Okay. Everything is cleaned up. I’ll see you tomorrow. Do you need anything before I go? Or when I come back tomorrow?”

Oh, Davy.

“I love you, Davy.”

“I love you too, Gavin.” Davy put his hand to Gavin’s face, and Gavin leaned into the touch and kissed Davy’s palm.

“Can I survive this?”

Davy shook his head as though Gavin was being silly. “Of course you can. And you will. For Ollie’s sake, if nothing else.” Gavin was overwhelmed by Davy’s faith. What had he done to earn or deserve that?

“Why did she do this, Davy? I’m afraid I’m gonna screw up everything. She just keeps fucking around with my life.”

“Hey, hey.” Davy wrapped Gavin up in a hug. When everyone else saw the two of them, they saw Gavin who was nothing but trouble and Davy who was a wallflower, but in Gavin’s estimation, if you looked inside you’d see that Gavin was just a scared little boy and Davy was his hero.