CHAPTER 11 – THINGS COME HOME TO ROOST…
THE LOFT
MATT
He really is the most adorable man, he would be more adorable if he wasn’t currently drooling on my chest.
“Hunter, Hunter your phone is ringing.” I stop gently nudging and start firmly shoving.
“Grmufph.” He mumbles
Flailing his arm he finally connects with his phone.
“Mmm? Oh hey, yeah, we were. Oh. Okay then. Bye.”
He snuggles back into my chest and sighs.
“Uh Hunter…”
“We’re excused from family time.”
“We are? Why?”
He shrugs and wraps an arm round me.
“Just appreciate the lie in and go back to sleep.” He mumbles
“Shame, I was hoping to take advantage of that rather big shower…”
His eyes pop open and he grins.
“Race you.”
BRITIN
BRIAN
I smile and make my next call to Toronto; after I hang up from that I look into my other favourite pair of blue eyes.
“If anyone asks this was your idea.”
I ruffle her behind her ears and head back to the bedroom. Justin’s head is under the pillow, he’s on his stomach and has his perfect ass naked as the day he was born. As I approach the bed he slowly starts to sway said perfect ass. And who am I to miss such a sweet opportunity.
RED CAPE COMICS
MICHAEL
I am still steaming about not being able to speak to Ben, I am going to confront him about him and Steve very soon, how could I not see it!
“Hello Michael.” A familiar voice washes over me
“David! I thought I saw you yesterday but wasn’t sure! How are you? What are you doing here, come to tell me how my investments are doing personally? How’s Hank?”
I release him from my arms and step back to admire the view, he is looking good. He smiles back at me.
“I was visiting some friends and thought I would drop by. Your investments are doing wonderfully, how’s Ben and Hunter?”
My face drops and I sigh.
“Michael what is it, what’s wrong?”
“Ben was and I suspect still is having an affair. He used me being “mean” to Hunter to get me out of the house, I wonder how long it will be before he moves his stud-muffin in.”
“Okay you need to back up, close the store and we’ll get some lunch and you can tell me all about it.”
I nod and we head out.
As they walk down the street towards neither of them notice the pairs of eyes that watch them, a phone rings.
“He’s still in town but so far has made no effort to get near her.”
“Anything and I mean anything happens to her, you answer to me, do you understand?”
“Hey, we’ve got this nothing is going to happen to her. Nothing. Now go enjoy your day.”
FAAL
“Come on my lig, we have to go to Brian and Justin’s soon.”
I watch and she trots down the stairs.
“You heard from Matt?”
She shakes her head and grabs the keys.
“Let’s go.”
BRITIN
JUSTIN
I shake my head as Brian pretends not to be playing with Lilah.
“Give it up Kinney, she and I are onto you.”
He rolls his eyes and sticks his tongue in his cheek.
“Why her? Why not one of the others?”
He smiles and pulls me into his arms, Lilah makes a small mew of protest.
“She’s the littlest but strongest one, she’s got beautiful blue eyes and doesn’t judge me…she reminds me of someone.”
“Who?” I look confused
“You.”
He lifts up my hair and kisses the middle of my neck, I feel it all the way down to my toes and let out a little squeak, he alternates between kissing and sucking and I grip the counter.
“Oh I seem to have found another hot spot…” He murmurs
“Mmm.”
We are stopped from going further by the door bell ringing. Lilah waits patiently for us to untangle before assuming her position as his living scarf and he heads to open the door.
Pretty soon everyone is here and the room buzzes with conversation.
“Wait, where are the boys?” Carl asks looking round
“I gave them a pass for today.” Brian drawls
“What why? Do you think they would be too tired after their first night?” Deb cackles
“And this is why I gave them a pass.” Brian smirks
Everyone laughs and then there is a contemplative silence.
“Ah, the intensity of the first flush of lust, it is nice no?” Faal smiles stroking Zee’s neck.
“It’s not just lust, I really think they might...” Ben murmurs and we all nod.
“Ooohh I know, I know, let’s play a game!” Emmett cries.
We all groan but know we will indulge Auntie Em.
“What?”
“The most…as in what’s the most romantic thing your partner has ever done for you?”
“For the benefit of Brian, define romantic.” Steve suggests.
“Huh oh right. Nothing to do with sex.” Emmett flashes a grin. “Okay who wants to start?”
“Me. But it does have to do with sex. My girlfriend carrying Taylor and letting me keeping her after we split.”
“Seriously, I think you are the only bisexual top I know.” Ted chuckles
He snorts and shrugs.
“Ted, since you spoke, your turn.” Emmett orders.
“Makes me waffles when I am sick.”
“Ted, well he, does me a lunch every Friday.”
“Sweet. Okay, Carl. And we swing round until we end with Zee and Faal. So Carl.”
“Red let me move in.”
“He married me.”
“I’m going to skip this one.” Ben mumbles
“Oh, okay, sorry Ben I didn’t.” Emmett is blushing
“Drew what’s the most romantic thing Emmett has done for you?” Ben wants to move this along.
“Let me be 21.”
“Drew lets my flame burn bright.”
We chuckle as if anyone could stop that.
“Justin let me defend him first.”
“Brian puts me second now.”
They all look at me in confusion.
“Wait how the hell can you be happy with being second in your partner’s life?” Deb demands
“Because Gus is first.” I reply
She nods with understanding and smiles at Brian like a proud mum.
“Faal learnt sign language.”
“She took a bullet for me.”
There is a stunned silence as we all turn to look at them.
“A bullet and what’s this about sign language?” Emmett all but shrieks.
“His gun jammed and I got between it and him through and through right shoulder.” She explains like it is nothing at all. “And Matt’s deaf and it showed commitment for him to…”
“Matt’s deaf?” Brian asks stunned.
“Well he’s not totally deaf he has about 70% hearing. It’s a genetic thing, I was born deaf but taking a header down the stairs aged 4 sorted that out. It was one of the reasons me and his dad split.”
She takes a gulp of wine and continues.
“He’s an alpha male and wanted the perfect son. When he found out there was an operation that could fix his hearing he was insistent on Matt having it. The success rate wasn’t great and there was an 80% chance that his hearing would come back as he grew up but he wasn’t prepared to wait so I said either wait or leave…he left.”
“Does Hunter know?” Ben asks.
Faal nods.
“He is very honest my boy and told him at the BBQ, his friends help a lot, when they are out but if it is somewhere like a nightclub or somewhere very noisy, he wears his aids.”
“Oh my God, I have just realised he can lip read.” Ted gasps
“We all can. I sometimes forget.” Faal smiles.
We all burst out laughing.
“Does his dad see him?” Deb asks.
Zee grimaces.
“No, not anymore. He decided to be a dad when Faal and I started to date saying that culturally a white South African would have no concept of bringing up a Black child. When I pointed out a Black American who couldn’t be bothered to learn sign language and hadn’t seen his kid in 3 years was in no position to talk and that all Faal sees is a kid, he left us alone.”
“Wow.” I murmur.
“Yeah not everything is as it seems.” Brian whispers into my ear.
We are all quiet for a while and are startled by the ringing of Zee’s phone, she heads out of the room to take the call.
When she returns she looks a little confused and a lot smug!
COFFEE SHOP
DAVID
I had forgotten how much Michael can whine! His voice is like a drill bit through rock. But it would seem that there is trouble in paradise big trouble, I suspect Brian’s influence in him marrying Ben but that seems to be at an end, I shall be a good comforting friend to him now.
“You’re right you should confront him you know.” I say taking his hand and patting it.
He nods and squeezes my hand back.
“I think it is your time to be happy, you seem to have invested an awful lot in your marriage to Ben for scant reward. And as for Hunter, well. Do you, do you think you will get a divorce?”
I can virtually hear the wheels turning…jeez get there faster!
“Yeah you are right, so right David as usual. But let’s forget about that for now. Tell me what you have been up to. And you never said how Hank was doing.”
I proceed to tell him about my glorious life in Portland.
BRITIN
AFTER LUNCH - LOUNGE
FAAL
“Come on out with it.”
Everyone turns to look at me.
“What?” Brian asks confused.
“Sorry, I mean Zee, out with it, I know that look.”
She leans back in her chair and grins at me and shakes her head, she had purposely sat away from me so I couldn’t touch her into talking…my little minx, oh well time to bring in reinforcements.
“Out with what? What’s going on?” Debs demands.
“She knows something and is not telling and I don’t think that’s fair, after all I tell her everything.”
I bat my eyes at Debs and hear Zee’s indignant snort.
“Oh please like fuck do you!” She gripes. “Not telling so give it up.”
She sets her jaw and looks away, then winks at me.
“Oh come on my lig just give me a clue, you can tell me the rest later, just cool my fire down a little.” I wheedle.
“As long as you remain calm and I mean calm. It bugged me so I made some calls.”
“Cameron?” I snap standing up quickly.
“Calm, how is that calm?” She retorts.
“You are my, everything, the man threatens to kill you and you are acting…”
“What!” Deb shrieks
“It was 2 years ago after I did the investigation and he was angry at being caught and thought he was dealing with just a number cruncher and could intimidate me. I disabused him of that notion very quickly okay admittedly along with the help of my four rather large brothers and he’s done nothing since and nor does he have the capacity to do anything now…like I said he’s not stupid but he’s here for something.”
I pull her into my arms and kiss her forehead.
“If anything…”
“It won’t. Come on my geliefde, please, please. Call them off me, keep them on him if it helps you feel better but call them off me please?”
“Okay. My geliefde, now that I haven’t heard in a while. Be right back.”
I make the calls and am surprised to fine Justin right behind me.
“Can I talk to you?”
I nod and follow him to the study.
“You can wear them if you want, here I mean.” He looks at me with tears in his eyes.
Before I could speak Brian comes in and takes him into his arms.
“I’m okay Brian honest, I was just saying that they can have their guns here if they want, you love her so much and I took away…shit why do I cry every fucking time!” He wipes his face.
Brian hugs him tightly and I head to the door.
“Thank you Justin.” I say and go back to the lounge.
“Everything okay, where’d Brian and Justin go…ooh surely not?” Ted asks.
“No not this time I think.”
And sure enough they come back within 5 minutes and retake their seats.
“What was that word you said…gef something?” Emmett asks
“Geliefde, it means beloved.” I reply.
“Oh, that’s just…” He turns his head into Drew’s shoulder.
“Brandy anyone.” Ben heads to the cart.
The brandies are handed round and she raises an eyebrow at Brian.
“What?” He asks.
“Is this cherry smoke?”
He nods and raises his glass to her.
“It’s someone’s favourite. When he has a cold it helps apparently.”
Justin grins his sunshine smile.
“Capacity?” Ted questions.
“Huh?” I ask
“Zee you said he doesn’t have the capacity to do anything to you.”
Her version of the sunshine smile creases her face.
“Oh yeah, it would seem that folks didn’t take too kindly to him threatening me and his licence was suspended for six months but he couldn’t get it back and his practice closed down.”
There are cheers and cries of ain’t karma a bitch.
“Doesn’t explain the $50K though, that came out of nowhere.” She frowns
“You have been busy.” I tease her
She shrugs and then nods.
“Gonna look into a bit more but it might explain why he is here.”
“What do you mean?” Blake asks.
“The money came from Pittsburgh. Am going to trail it back to see who it was and give them a heads up. Discreetly of course.”
“No more talk about odious fucktards, how about another game of…”
“Emmett…” Drew warns
“Okay maybe not.”
Over the next few days David and Michael spend more time together. There was no drama, no problems until of course Michael heads to the diner for breakfast during the week.
DINER
BEN
“I cannot believe how hard you pushed me today, I am going to ache all over.”
Steve nudges me good naturedly.
“You can take it big guy.”
We head to one of the booths and decide to go over our next week’s sessions.
“Scheduling your next fuck fest?”
“Michael! What…”
“I cannot believe how you both played me! How long has it been going on, well you aren’t getting away with this. Ben get this, I want the money from my half the house you guys can fuck somewhere else!”
He folds his arms across his chest and glowers at us.
“Ignoring the crap at the beginning of your rant, you can’t have half the house Michael it is in my name and you didn’t contribute to it, were supposed to but didn’t.”
I state a lot calmer than I was feeling
“I put my money towards the store remember!”
“Which I helped you with too, so by rights I should ask for half your store shouldn’t I?”
He opens his mouth but then turns to Steve.
“How could you fuck my husband behind my back or did you and Justin conspire to ruin my marriage?”
Steve stands and I am pray he doesn’t hit him.
“No Michael you did that all by yourself and I have not fucked your husband, he’s my friend and I don’t fuck friends…”
“Where have I heard that before?!” He snaps
“Oh for fuck sake Michael! It was over 10 years ago at the White Party, what else did you think I was there for?!” I roar into his surprised face.
“Uh guys…” Steve begins
“You have a fucking nerve after behaving the way you did last time! I have had to accept being 3rd in our marriage because first came your comic hero Captain Fucking Astro and then your sex hero Brian and then me and after what happened in the hospital I am putting myself and Hunter first!”
“What are you talking about nothing happened in the hospital? Oh do you mean Justin playing kissy face with you right in front of me!”
“Seriously guys…” Steve tries again but I have had enough.
“Oh its Justin I am having an affair with now is it?! You know Michael just because people are in a coma it doesn’t mean that they can’t hear! I heard Hunter beg you to speak to the doctor about me but you wouldn’t listen to him and then what you said to Jenny…”
“What did I say to Jenny?” He is starting to back away now.
“Don’t worry honey you and I are going to be just fine. Ringing any bells. I can just about understand you planning your life without me but without Hunter, that’s downright fucking cruel!”
Michael’s mouth opens and then closes before he turns to leave muttering something before a fist connects and standing over him is a glowering Matt.
PITTSBURGH POLICE STATION
MICHAEL
“I am going to press assault charges!”
I cannot believe that punk hit me! I am going to make sure he gets the book thrown at him.
The door opens and the thug’s mother and father are here. Carl is talking to Ma who is for once on my side…well almost.
“I just can’t understand why Matt would hit him! He doesn’t seem that kind of boy.”
“Can someone tell me what the fuck happened?” Faal snaps. “And where is my son?”
“Michael had just finished being reamed out by Ben and was heading out and then out of nowhere Matt hit him.” Steve explains.
“That doesn’t sound like Matt, what did you do?” He turns to me.
“Excuse me I am the one with the bruised face and cut lip here, I did nothing!”
The door opens again and some guy heads towards Carl.
“Okay, I know this is unorthodox but everyone come with me…let’s see if we can end this without anyone ending with a rap sheet.”
“Oh no he’s not getting away…”
“Shut up Michael!” Ma snaps.
We head to the same room that the thug is in, his dad immediately comforts him and he glowers at me, a flicker of something crosses Zee’s face.
“Take it from the top what happened?” She is talking to Ben.
“I was shouting at Michael for being an ass as usual and he turns and walks away mumbling something and the next thing he’s on the floor.”
“What did he say sweetheart.”
Matt looks away from her and shakes his head.
“Carl is it Konzo who can…”
Carl nods and leaves.
“Michael what did you say?” Ma steps up to me.
“Nothing I didn’t say anything to him!”
Carl comes back with some other guy.
“Carl go with him. Matt just tell write it down please, please pragtige seuntjie1 please do this for me.”
He nods and starts to sniffle. The other guy puts on a DVD and it’s from the diner, it shows the row between Ben and I and then heading to the door before Matt hits me.
“See I didn’t do or say anything to him!”
“Can you write it down too Konzo?” She asks.
The guy looks at me and nods, then proceeds to write.
“Carl we’re done in here.”
Carl comes back with Matt and takes the paper way from Konzo and then looks at me like I am something he has stepped in.
“Carl what is it, what does it say?” Ben asks.
“You don’t want to know. Michael if you wish to press charges this interview and these papers will be placed in evidence and there won’t be a court in the land that will convict Matt of anything but defending the man he loves!”
Matt is in his father’s arms crying and saying something in a language I don’t understand.
“Hoe kan hy dit se dat sy eie seun sê, hoe?”2
“Ek weet nie, maar ek is so trots op jou, maar volgende keer dalk nie 'n man pons ja.”3
“What the fuck is going on here?” I demand.
“Konzo can lip read.” Carl straightens and looks at me. “Now are you going home to think?”
My stomach tightens, but hold my head up high, I storm out just as Hunter comes flying through the station doors.
“I need to speak to someone about Matt Stark!” He gasps.
I pause to say something, when I feel someone lean over me.
“I can lip read too.” Faal whispers.
“Michael.” Ben calls out. “We’re done, you go way and I’ll go mine. I want nothing more to do with you. I will honour the commitments I have made but nothing further, you are on your own.”
With that he turns back to Hunter and starts to tell him what happened.
Over the next few days the fledgling family is somewhat fractured with Deb still just about siding with Michael and Emmett angering Drew over his refusal to kick Michael out of the pool house in his current injured state.
Brian, of course, comes to the rescue insisting that everyone comes over for the weekend citing the kids being up too. Eventually after a lot of badgering people agree and start to arrive on the Saturday with the kids immediately escaping upstairs. Gus and Jenny very keen to get the lowdown of the previous weekend.
BRITIN
BRIAN
“Okay look here’s what’s going to happen, just tell us what he said then we can form our own opinions. I don’t think that Matt will tell Hunter since he hit Michael. So let’s just get it out in the air, I happen to like my family lunches un-tense.”
Lilah thumps him on the side of his face as he jostles her.
“And so does Lilah, so spill.”
“You always put that diseased bastard first anyway.” Faal sighs.
“No, Michael wouldn’t say such a thing! I brought him up better than that!” Deb exclaims
“Deb, honey that’s what he said.” Carl tells her.
“Oh my God, how could he!” Jennifer exclaims
“He shoots his mouth off when he’s angry just look at what happened at the anniversary party.”
Justin explains also earning a swat from Lilah, she had settled down between the two of them and didn’t appreciate his slight movement.
“Anniversary party?” Faal asks.
“He said something about Justin I didn’t like so I hit him.” I reply
“He did? What did he say? I know he was making nasty little comments…” Ted shakes his head.
“He was?” I am surprised.
“Yes. How Justin had the nerve to come with Ia...Ethan, but that was before you came.”
All eyes turn to me and I look at Justin, he shrugs and snuggles deeper into my side, stroking Lilah and looking down.
“He said I should’ve left Justin in the parking garage.”
The silence is deafening, the first to speak or rather yell is Jennifer.
“And you still worked on Rage with that, that…you still lent him the money after that!”
“Money what money?” Blake asks.
“Money to do up his piddling little store…and I hope he’s contributing to your household bills!”
She whirls at Drew and Emmett.
“Why didn’t you say something Brian?” Ben asks. “We would’ve…Jesus, I am sorry for my behaviour then.”
I shrug and say nothing.
“Me too Brian.” Emmett sighs
“Brian I don’t…I can’t…what has happened to him?” Deb is in shock.
“Nothing Deb, nothing has happened to him he’s always been like this!” Jennifer snaps. “Debs I am sorry, but I’ve only just…I can’t believe how – no matter I will deal with him and when…”
“Wait. Michael has money?” Emmett’s voice is ice cold, even Drew looks surprised.
“Yes, we gave Hunter a college fund and then the remaining $150K was given to Michael to do his store up…”
“He has $150K and is staying in my pool house and contributing nothing!” Emmett snarls.
“Um Ems, baby you okay?” Drew looks worried.
“He lied to me! Nobody but nobody does that!” Emmett growls
He stands up and takes out his phone.
“Hi Francine. Can you ask Mitchell to remove the belongings of Michael Novotny and then Michael himself? Thank you sweetie we will see you tomorrow.”
He cuddles up next to Drew and smiles but not his usual smile and once again I make a mental note not to cross Emmett.
“So you just gave him $300K, wow…” Carl murmurs
“No we didn’t give him that, admittedly we gave Hunter $150K for college or whatever but the remaining amount has to be paid back and that goes to Jenny’s college fund…” I explain.
“How did you come up with that?”
Emmett is now sipping on champagne seemingly returning to his normal self
“I didn’t Justin did.”
“Dad did that for Hunter and me?” Jenny’s small voice comes from the door
We all look at her in surprise and hope she’s not been there too long.
“See I knew he wasn’t all bad I knew it! I am going to call him now!”
She runs upstairs.
“Maybe we should let him stay in the poolhouse until after she speaks to him.” Drew suggests. “For Jenny’s sake, just for the weekend.”
Emmett sighs and makes the call.
“He’s gone Monday morning without fail.” He retorts.
Drew nods and pulls him into his arms.
“So Mother Taylor how did you know about the money?” I smirk at her.
She blushes and quickly looks away from Debbie.
“Ah so who told you Red?” Carl asks.
“That would be my fault.” Ben admits guiltily. “But I told her not to say anything”
“To Michael…and besides she’s my best…”
“Please! Don’t finish that sentence!” Ben chuckles.
It’s good that he can laugh.
“So Ted, how are the funds doing. I want to contribute to Hunter’s as well.” Ben asks.
“I can let you know on Monday if that’s okay?”
“We will be in that conference most of the day. Just do it now and get it out the way. You can use my laptop in the study, I can just unlock it for you.”
I lead them to the study and in no time we are looking at a very healthy balance for Hunter, Ben beams and then his face falls when he sees the balance for Jenny’s.
“Are you, are you sure that’s right?” He whispers his face ashen.
“Yes, it’s doing very well for the amount that’s in there…”
“There should be more in there than that.” He replies
“What are you talking about?” I ask
“Well with both of us contributing…” His voice trails off and he shakes his head.
“I can show you a statement of payments if you’d like?”
Wordlessly he nods his head and I have a bad feeling about this. Ted pulls up the statement and the silence is powerful, I can feel rage radiating off of Ben in waves.
“That…that…whining little, I am going to kill him!” He growls. “Great father, he’s a great father!”
“Ben, just calm down for a minute please.”
I haven’t seen him this mad since his roid days.
“Can someone tell me what’s going on?” Ted looks between us.
“I agreed to pay the same amount as him to Jenny’s fund and he…I can’t believe that he…”
“Stopped paying his share?” Ted asks.
Ben nods and sinks into the chair.
“Well two can play that game! Ted move!”
“Don’t do anything you will regret, think of Jenny!” Ted babbles frantically.
“I am thinking of Jenny and that’s the only thing stopping me from stringing him up by his very small balls!”
He growls jabbing frantically at the keyboard, which I think may need to be replaced by the time he’s done doing what he needs to do.
“There Mr Novotny, suck the fuck out of that! I need a drink!”
And with that he storms back to the lounge.
“Any idea what he’s just done?” I ask
“Nope but I suspect we will soon find out.” Ted sighs
We head back to the lounge to join the others and everyone has enough common sense to not ask Ben what’s wrong.
BOYD-HONEYCUTT POOLHOUSE – SATURDAY EVENING
MICHAEL
“More wine?” I ask David
He nods and I pour him some red, this time not the one that Drew pitched a fit over.
“I am so happy that you are here and Jenny’s talking to me again, all is right in my world.”
David smiles at me and moves closer and the next thing he’s kissing me.
“This okay?” He murmurs pushing me back.
“Yes, I am a free man I can do whatever I like with whoever I like.” I murmur pulling his head back down. I feel his hand…
Excuse me readers, narrator here…and with that we end scene – I am not narrating that, no!
BRITIN – SUNDAY MORNING
BEN
I look round at our newly reunited family. We are having a bubbles breakfast as Emmett puts it. Everyone making a conscious effort not to talk about Michael in front of the Jenny unless she mentions him…she doesn’t.
Gus and Jenny are video calling with their moms and Hunter and Matt are looking happy, I am so pleased they met. Matt had taken Debbie to one side to apologise for the act of violence but not for hitting him for what he said, she gave him a huge hug and told him not to worry she would’ve done far worse.
“We’re going to have to tell her sooner rather than later. It will crush her but I can’t do this anymore not now not after that. How could I have been so blind?” I ask Steve
“I don’t know what to tell you Ben. At least you don’t have to listen to that whine anymore…so that’s something right?” He shrugs and smiles.
I smile and back but can’t understand how he can be so self-absorbed and manipulative.
“Don’t dwell on it you will only drive yourself crazy. It went wrong, now learn from it and move on. Do the next best thing…leef jou lewe gelukigg…or in English live your life happy.” Faal calls out.
“Yes, to living your life happy!” Carl calls out.
“Cheers!” We all shout and raise our glasses.
“So Matt, Hunter how was last weekend…that hickey is fading nicely…”
“Faal!” Jennifer calls out mortified.
“What? Are you telling me you don’t want to know?” He looks round the table grinning.
“Dad! Mom make him stop!” Matt’s head bangs on the table.
Zee smiles and toasts her husband.
“As if I could!” She replies.
BOYD-HONEYCUTT POOLHOUSE
DAVID
“Michael come on I have got to get home, I will be back later.”
He smiles and reluctantly lets me go.
“I’ve missed this freeness we had. You see with Ben we always had to…” He explains
“Look that is your past and I would like to be your future. If you’ll have me…”
“Of course, I will…”
I give him one kiss and head out. My phone rings and my heart leaps its Hank.
“Hey! I’m…”
“What part of don’t call me don’t you understand?” He snarls and with that is gone.
I sigh and hail a cab.
“Springhill Suites Downtown please.”