“He lost his apartment. It got flooded from the one above. Both he and his upstairs neighbor were gone all day, so it took a while for anyone to notice. He lost most of his things. No renter’s insurance, and he doesn’t have the first, last, and deposit for a new place. We offered him our house, but he wouldn’t stay there without us. This is one of our long trips out here, so…”
“Yeah, yeah of course. He can stay with me.”
“He won’t come easily.”
“No shit. He’s a stubborn little thing, isn’t he?” He was proud, and I respected that. I’d been the same, and I’d hated taking what felt like handouts from others. I’d done a lot of things to get where I was on my own, but I’d also learned along the way that it didn’t always have to be that hard.
“You can say that again,” Aidan muttered.
“I can handle him. Text me where he’s staying.”
There was a short pause and then, “Thank you, David.” Aidan still wasn’t the best at showing his emotions, unless it was with Finley. He was better, but I figured that was simply the way he was. “Finley says thank you too.”
“No problem. That’s what friends are for.”
We disconnected the call, and I waited for the hotel and room information. It came through along with his full name—Ian Jones—which I hadn’t known. I assumed Aidan supplied it in case I needed to go to the front desk. I put the address into my navigation. It was in a shitty LA neighborhood, not far from where I grew up. With traffic, it took me a good forty-five minutes to get there. It was a motel, so the doors were outside. Ian was on the bottom floor, in room 103.
I found it and knocked. A moment later, Ian was there. He rolled his eyes. “Jesus, I can’t believe Finley called you.”
“He didn’t.” Ian cocked a brow, so I added, “Aidan did.”
“Same thing.”
“Are you going to invite me in?”
I thought he’d say no or give a smart-ass reply, but he didn’t, just nodded and stood back so I could go in.
“Sit down, Ian.”
“I’m not a submissive, or whatever you guys call it.”
“I’m going to start calling you stubborn. Please, sit down.”
He sighed but did as I asked.
“What do I have to do to get you to move in with me?” I wasn’t going to tiptoe around the issue. I had a feeling he would appreciate that.
“You’re not even going to take me on a date first?” I waited him out, watching him for a moment in silence, until he said, “You cut right to the chase, don’t you?”
“I respect you too much to bullshit you.”
I could see the spark of surprise in his eyes, and his gaze softened. He hadn’t expected that. “I can’t move in with you. Why would you even want me to move in with you? I know it’s a favor for Fin. I’m sure the last thing you want is someone taking up space in your—wait. You’re not asking me to do what Finley does for Aidan, are you?” When Finley had first moved in with Aidan, it had been as his houseboy. Serving that way was what Finley wanted, and he’d needed the money.
A laugh jumped out of my mouth. “Don’t sound so scandalized. You’re hurting my feelings. And no, I’m not asking you for that, though you are a sexy little thing.”
“I—oh, wow.”
“Why are you so surprised by that?” Did Ian not see it? The more I thought about it…I didn’t believe he did.
The last thing I expected was for him to ask, “What’s going on with you and Jordan?”
“Why?”
“Because he’s my friend, and it would be weird. The other day you guys were flirting like crazy.”
I wondered if he knew what a caretaker he was. Ian would put his friends before himself any day of the week. “Jordan and I have decided to play together. That wouldn’t have anything to do with you staying at my house.”
He shook his head. “No thanks. Staying there while you guys do your thing would feel like I was crashing the party—not that I was gonna agree to it anyway.”
“You stubborn little pup.” I stood up and moved to sit beside him on the bed. It was hard, the room smelling slightly of dog as if one had been staying in it before Ian. “You remind me of myself so much.”
“Pfft. How could I be anything like you?”
“We both know what it’s like to come from nothing, only I was luckier than you and had my mom and sister.” I didn’t know the circumstances of how Ian ended up in foster care, just that he had. “I grew up poor and feeling responsible for my mom and sister, the same way I think you’ve let yourself feel responsible for others. I know you do with Finley, and maybe other foster siblings over the years.”
“Finley is my best friend. I love him. You make it sound like he’s an obligation to me.”
“No, that’s not what I mean at all. You love him, yes, but you want to make sure he’s okay. From what I understand, you were eighteen when you took off with him. You didn’t have to do that. You could have done your own thing, and they would have placed him with someone else, but you didn’t. I’ve done…more than you know to get where I am, and I don’t regret any of it. I think you did—and do—the same. You also have too much pride for your own damn good, stubborn pup. I’ve been told that myself a time or two.”
I liked those things about him. Funny how I could respect Ian for being determined to do things on his own, while also respecting Jordan for knowing what he wanted and having no trouble asking for it. Those things were in direct contrast with each other, yet both alluring in their own ways.
“It’s okay to accept help, Ian. There’s no reason to make things more difficult on yourself. I learned that the hard way. You don’t have to.” I shrugged. “Also, if you don’t, Finley will worry himself to death and might even come home from Texas to make sure you’re okay. I know you wouldn’t want that.”
A slow smile spread over Ian’s face, but I could see him trying to bite it back. “You don’t play fair. You’re manipulating me.”
“Hey, whatever works, right? Use all the weapons at your disposal.”
Ian closed his eyes.
“Stay with me, Ian. Save money. Work less. Don’t put as much stress on yourself. It’s not permanent, and if you want to pay me a little rent, I’ll allow it.”
He opened his eyes and turned to me, his brows raised to his hairline. “You’ll allow it, huh?”
“I guess, but I don’t like it.” He chuckled, and I added, “I’m a bossy motherfucker. I’m not leaving this room without you. I don’t care if I have to pack your shit, throw you over my shoulder, and carry you out of here myself.”
He held my gaze, confusion wrapped around what looked like desire staring back at me. His hand was on his thigh, and I watched it twitch as if he wasn’t sure if he wanted to run or beg me to do what I said. “You think so?”
“Look at you, getting mouthy with me. You don’t know if you want to listen or fight with me, do you?” Taking a chance, I reached over, hooked my finger below his chin, and held it there so he couldn’t turn away. “It’s okay to let someone other than Finley in. It’s okay to let someone take care of you, or hell, even just be there for you. Finley never left you. Jordan won’t leave you. I won’t either.”