Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
“No,” DJ said, but immediately continued speaking. “It turns out that the plumbing thing in my building is a big deal. My landlord said something about damage to the foundation and the beams. I don’t remember the details, but the end result is that he has to demolish the building and I have to find a new place to live.”
“You already have a place to live.” And Seamus was thrilled that he wouldn’t have to argue with him to make that happen. He needed to take care of DJ and now he’d have that opportunity.
“I can’t move in with you.”
“Why not?”
“Have you ever had a roommate?”
He had moved from his parents’ house to Hope. “Do my parents and my brothers count?”
“No.” DJ chuckled.
“I have plenty of space,” Seamus pointed out.
“I realize that, but it’s your space. I don’t want to invade it.”
They drove in silence while Seamus thought about what he could say to convince DJ that he wanted him to move in. As he turned onto DJ’s street and parked in front of his building, he realized the truth was the best option.
“I like having you in my space,” he admitted quietly, still looking straight ahead out the windshield. After some more silence, he turned his head to the right and met DJ’s contemplative gaze.
“I’ll stay with you while I get things figured out. We can call it a trial run, and if it gets to be too much for you, you’ll tell me and I’ll get my own place. No harm, no foul.”
That wouldn’t happen. Seamus didn’t know how he knew that, but he was certain it was true. “Thank you for giving it a chance.”
“I’m the one thanking you here. You’re helping me out a lot.”
Like he had a few minutes earlier, he reached for DJ’s hand and clutched it. DJ was doing him the favor. The relief he felt from finally being allowed to provide his assistance and ease his husband’s stress was immeasurable. And he wanted to do so much more for him.
“Ready?”
He reluctantly released DJ’s hand and nodded. They both exited the truck and walked to the bed. “You’ve had a long day,” he said as he gathered an armful of boxes. “I’ve got this.”
“That makes two of us.” DJ grinned at him as he picked up the rest of them. “As much as I admire the chivalry, you didn’t marry a woman.”
He thought of DJ’s well-developed, defined muscles. “I know.” He swallowed down the moisture in his throat. “I don’t want you to be a woman. I just want you to let me be your husband.”
DJ’s smile softened. “How about you carry all the heavy boxes once we’ve packed them?”
“Deal.”
The street was quiet and empty as they approached the building. Even with the limited streetlights, Seamus could tell that it had seen better days and wasn’t well-maintained. Once they got inside and into DJ’s apartment, that observation was confirmed. He kept his space orderly, which Seamus had anticipated having seen how quick DJ was to put things away and clean up after them when he came over. But every part of the apartment was run down.
“I guess you can see why they’re demolishing it,” DJ said quietly, his neck and cheeks reddened.
Not wanting him to feel embarrassed about where he lived but also unable to deny the obvious, Seamus focused on the positive. “All I’m thinking about is getting you home.” He set the pile of boxes down and picked up one of them. “Where do you want me to start?”
“Umm.” DJ looked around the small room. “How about the kitchenette? I’ll pack my bathroom things and my clothes.”
With a nod, Seamus went to the kitchen area and got to work. It didn’t take him long to box up everything in it and in the living area. There wasn’t much empty floor space, and between the two of them, they had filled it with boxes. “I’ll take these to the truck and then pack more.”
“Sounds good. We’re actually almost done.”
It only took him a few trips to get the boxes in the car, and as he came back inside, he heard DJ saying something from the bathroom.
“What was that?” he asked as he walked over. “I was outside so I didn’t hear you.”
“Oh, I was just talking to myself. I had too many sodas at work and my brain is so fried that I forgot the water doesn’t work.”
Instinctively, he turned toward the toilet. “Probably doesn’t matter if you can’t flush when it’s going to be…” The words caught in his throat. “Is that blood?” He moved closer and looked in the toilet bowl. “It is.” Heart racing, he flipped around. “We need to go to the hospital now.”
“I’m fine.”
He clutched DJ’s shoulders. “You’re pissing blood. How is that fine?”
“It’s only a little blood.” He set his palms on Seamus’s chest. “It’ll clear up in a few days. Nothing to worry about.”