“Yes, Sir. I’ll plan supper for seven thirty!” Alain kissed him full on the mouth, happy and eager.
“See you then, little one.” God, he wanted to stay home and explore Alain’s lovely body instead of hauling off to work, but the real world was calling. He swallowed the last sip of his coffee, grabbed his keys, and left the apartment, confident that Alain could manage.
14
Neil felt like his ass was hanging around his knees in the back. He’d skipped lunch to grab a few boxes from his apartment, spent all frigging afternoon being a desk jockey, and then he’d stopped back at his place to get more of his shit.
Now he was going to have to haul all this shit into Isaac’s.
He’d totally misjudged how tired he was.
He’d finally figured out where to park for the freight elevator and loaded it up. Thankfully he’d had some help from one of the maintenance guys, because he’d been considering leaving everything in the truck until tomorrow.
Or even next month.
He grabbed his phone and called Isaac. He needed someone to help. Seriously.
“Hey, Smokey. You almost home?” There was music in the background, something jazzy.
“I brought a load of shit. I’m at the freight elevator.”Help?
“Oh. Right. We’ll be right there.” Isaac hung up and it wasn’t a minute before his men rounded the corner.
“Someone is moving in too!” Alain grinned and picked up a box.
Isaac surveyed his stuff. “Whoa, that’s…this is from your place?”
He frowned. Had he misunderstood? “Yeah. I—”Don’t. Don’t look like you can’t make a decision. He firmed his jaw and smiled. “I’ll give y’all a couple of important boxes to take in. The rest is going to a storage building. I think the maintenance guy misunderstood when he was helping me unload.”
“Neil,” Isaac said his name softly. “You don’t need a storage building; we have plenty of room. I just didn’t expect you to do this by yourself. And after work. You must be exhausted.” Isaac picked up a box and followed Alain.
“I have to still get the gun case, and we need to discuss furniture.” He had a ratty recliner that was heaven to sleep on, but it wasn’t pretty, and he had his granny’s weird hunter’s board that he couldn’t leave behind.
“You mean we have to discuss yourchair.” Isaac said over his shoulder and put his box down in the living room. He looked amused when he stood up again.
Alain scooted right by them both to go get another box.
“Well, only where I’m going to put it.” He felt confidence fill him again, and he winked at Isaac.
“Well, it needs to be where the TV is I assume, boy.” Isaac took his hand and pulled him back into the hall. “Maybe we can recover it.”
“So long as I get to crash in it after a hard shift.” Neil glanced back at his Isaac, his doctor, his guapo. “You know how good it is, knowing I’m coming home to y’all?”
“Something pretty close to how great it feels that you’re calling this home, I bet.” Isaac picked up another box. “You can crash anywhere you want.”
“I’ll finish helping get things in. I’m good.” He wasn’t going to be lazy, dammit. He was going to finish this, eat supper, and take a long shower.
“I meant in your recliner, Smokey.” Isaac put his box down and pulled him in. “Are you okay?”
“I’m tired, Guapo. Like hard-core. I was letting myself enjoy being lazy, huh?” He’d been letting his guard down, letting himself be open, and that wasn’t good for his job.
“Tough day?” Isaac let him go. “Is it just these two? Or is there more in your truck?”
“I have a truckload. I was…” Excited. He’d been like a kid, feeling like he was going home.
“I’m glad.” Isaac kissed him, eyes twinkling as he pulled away. “Alain’s making dinner. I’m going to tell him to get back to it. You want to knock this out together?”
“Mmhmm. What’s supper? I’m starving.” He’d skipped lunch.