After Ben (42 page)
Authors: Con Riley
That was what Joel had explained. They had so many meetings and support groups at the shelter, but most of the patrons never reached out for help. Joel said they hadn’t hit their own rock bottom yet, or had done so when there was no one around to lean on. Only a few had the strength, or luck, to find a way out.
THEO: It sounds like someone needs help. They might not be ready for it yet, but they need to know it’s there for them, unconditionally. The way they are now isn’t them. It’s situational. All you can do is be there, and keep reminding them of how fucking strong they must be to even think of trying to find a way out.
He scanned other threads until it was nearly time to leave. Just before he padded down the hallway to wake his dad and explain that he was heading home days early, the original discussion starter came online, saying that they didn’t know what to do next.
THEO: Tell your sister that you love her and only want her to be happy. Tell her that you’ll stand by her, and that things will get better. Tell her that this part of her life feels overwhelming, but it’s tiny compared to everything that came before and everything that will come after. Tell her that you love her, that she’s lovable, and that this bad time doesn’t define her. Tell her the truth.
His dad’s hotel-hallway hug was good and tight. He rubbed sleep from his eyes as he looked over his shoulder to where Theo’s mom still slept. “Don’t worry about a thing, son. We’ll see you soon.” They hugged again. Theo pulled his case along the hallway, heading for the stairs, then looked back over his shoulder. His dad looked kind of frail standing there in his striped pajamas, his face sleep-creased and vaguely rumpled. Theo hurried back.
“Please stop climbing ladders, Dad. Let me do that from now on.” He kissed his cheek and left without looking back.
Theo’s last-minute flight took him home via Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, and the stopover was longer. He ate a lukewarm pasta dish and thought of Joel as he noted how much the Dutch liked their cheese. Then he thought of Evan as he paced the departure lounge, stretching his legs before the long transatlantic flight in an economy seat, noticing that the airport even had its own art gallery. When he spent most of the final flight playing with a wide-awake toddler as her desperate parents caught a little rest, he thought of Maggie, and hoped that her kids weren’t still jumping from their playhouse roof.
But mostly he thought about Morgan.
He’d thought about him relentlessly, especially when he’d found the ugliest gift ever created in one of the high-priced terminal gift shops. As the assistant wrapped it carefully, making something relatively small become cumbersome and awkward to carry, he hoped that Morgan would still be there when he got home.
With his cell phone turned off for the flight and his hands full with what soon seemed like every child on the plane, he had moments where he wondered if he had lost his mind. Lack of sleep, and too many miles in too few days, left him snoring just as they began the descent toward Seattle. He awoke to the pilot’s announcement, and light—bright as if reflected by millions of diamonds—blinding him from the snow upon Mount Olympus and Mount Constance.
Ben used to mock his excitement whenever they flew home, but Theo couldn’t help it. He’d felt the same when they first drove up from San Francisco all those years before. Seeing those mountains over the Puget Sound had made him never want to leave again. He’d give that up if it meant Morgan would be still be at home.
He wanted Morgan in his life more than anything else.
More than anything at all.
Theo tried to keep his eyes open on the cab ride home, then lurched awake as the driver told him his fare. When he fumbled in his pants pocket for some cash, he found his cell phone and switched it on as he waited for his change. Once inside, the elevator took for-fucking-ever to come. He pressed the button to call it, over and over, remembering the engineer who took him on a secret rooftop elevator ride when he’d been younger than Morgan. The engineer had told him that pressing the button over and over made absolutely no difference.
He pressed it a few more times regardless, needing so badly to see if Morgan was still at home.
His phone chimed as he reached his floor, and the struggle to balance suitcase, gift, overcoat, laptop case, and phone almost made him lose his balance. An e-mail alert sat in his inbox stating that he’d received a private message on the forum. He clicked the link and awkwardly tried to manage his load as the page opened. The last few paces up the hallway took forever. He cursed as he dropped the phone by the door, then rammed his unwieldy gift between his legs, freeing up a hand to pick it up and click the link again.
MORGAN: I love you so much.
This time Theo didn’t need to bruise his nose, forgetfully pressing it against the door buzzer as he fumbled for his keys.
When he looked up, the door was already wide open.
Morgan waited there, ready to let him in.
About the Author
C
ON
R
ILEY
lives on the wild and rugged Devonshire coast, with her head in the clouds, and her feet in the Atlantic Ocean. Injury curtailed her enjoyment of outdoor pursuits, so writing fiction now fills her free time instead. Love, loss, and redemption shape her romance stories, and her characters are flawed in ways that makes them live and breathe. When not people-watching or wrangling her own boy band of teen sons, she spends time staring at the sea from her kitchen window. If you see her, don’t disturb her—she’s probably thinking up new plots.
Read more:
http://conriley.com
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Coming Soon from
C
ON
R
ILEY
Saving Sean
Seattle Stories: Book Two
Nearly a year after being rejected for another man, Seattle paramedic Peter Morse is still pining, so when the one that got away asks him for a favor, he agrees. His mission: track down Sean Reid, the runaway brother of a mutual friend. Peter isn’t thrilled about it—until he finds Sean injured by the side of the road.
Everything about Sean stirs Peter’s protective instincts—saving people is what he lives for—but he never anticipated falling for someone so hell-bent on running away. On top of his physical wounds, Sean struggles with grief and guilt, and the mess his estranged father left when he died threatens to overwhelm him.
Saving Sean means Peter must let go of his pride and turn to friends and family. Asking for help is a bitter pill for Peter to swallow, but if he can’t, how can he expect Sean to accept his help—and his love—in turn?
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Also from
D
REAMSPINNER
P
RESS
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