“Come on then, I’ll help you.”
“Fuck, no. I can take a piss by myself.”
“It’s not the pissing I’m worried about. And you shouldn’t be worried at all. It’s not like I haven’t seen your dick.”
To hear Rhys joke about it was oddly relieving. And warming. Jevon sat on the couch and tried to decipher why that was—why the thought of Rhys being with anyone else made him feel good. And it all came back to Rhys—to the self-loathing that could only be eclipsed by acceptance.He needs to feel good about this too.
Rhys came back from the bathroom alone. “He’s in bed. Figure that’s the best place for him until Joe gets here. It’s gonna be a long ride back to Cornwall.”
Jevon could imagine. “Do you need to go right now?”
“Yeah. I’ve got to get back, shower, and get my arse to work by midday. Even if I don’t eat, I’m cutting it fine already.”
“Eat the cupcakes. We forgot last night.”
Rhys smirked, but there wasn’t much left to say. He gave Jevon a list of numbers to call if anything went wrong, then it was time to go.
He said goodbye to Jevon on the doorstep with a kiss that dragged them to the opposite wall, nipping Jevon’s bottom lip until he pulled away with flushed cheeks and a hooded half grin. “I’m not off until ten, but I can meet you somewhere later?”
Jevon shook his head. “I have to go back to Bedford tonight. Got a party in the morning, then I’m doing some stuff at a school in the afternoon. Maybe the day after?”
“I’m working. My next day off is Friday.”
Jevon groaned. “I’m going to Manchester on Friday. There’s a big aid summit in the city. I’m crashing it in clown mode and telling all the big charities how shit they are.”
“Seriously?”
“Well, I might not tell them they’re shit, but I’ve got a whole list of things that they can do better.”
Rhys chuckled. “You’re surreal. Sometimes I think I’ve dreamed you.”
“You might have to dream about me for a while. I’ll be gone all weekend.”
Rhys’s humour faded. “That sucks.”
Jevon couldn’t argue with that, and they’d run out of time in any case. Rhys kissed Jevon once, twice more, then he was gone, leaving Jevon to the unfamiliar flat and a stranger in the bed.
* * *
Angelo limped into the living room, leaning heavily on the furniture for support. “Did you clean up in here?”
Jevon shrugged. “A bit. Sorry, did I disturb you?”
“Only when I couldn’t remember who the fuck you were.” Angelo ventured further into the room, moving slowly, like his body had forgotten how to walk. Jevon caught him when he stumbled by the couch and eased him down. “Thanks.”
“Anytime. I think Joe will be here soon. You want to eat before he gets here?”
Angelo shook his head. “Nah. I’ve got too much tea in my belly right now to handle anything else.”
“Do you feel better?”
“No.”
Jevon smiled. Angelo had been asleep for a good portion of the morning, but what communication they’d shared had been brutally honest on Angelo’s part. “Fair enough. You remember who I am now?”
“If your name and the fact that Rhys seemed to have trouble looking anywhere but at you counts for anything. What’s the deal with you two? Are you together?”
“Would it matter if we were?”