Jake drove out of town the way that Jonah was most likely to take. He’d cut it close, leaving his parents’ home so late, but hadn’t had a choice. He loved his family, but there was no way he would let Jonah be banished just because he was unpopular. He and Jonah would have to bide their time, though. Something would happen that required another pair of hands skilled at fighting and that was when Jake would bring Jonah back; when people couldn’t turn him down.
Driving slowly so as not to miss him, Jake came across Jonah all the way out of town and still walking. Rolling down his window, he asked, “Want a ride?”
Jonah stopped, shaking his head. “You had a gun pointed at my head less than five hours ago. Now you want to offer me a lift?”
Jake shrugged as he put the car in park and answered, “It got you out, didn’t it?”
Jonah’s lips twitched into a brief smile as he agreed, “It did, yeah. Had me worried there for a few seconds, I don’t mind saying. And where are you going to give me a ride to, Jake? It’s not like you can just bring me home with you.”
“Why not? My Mom loves to take in strays,” Jake replied, grinning.
Jonah snorted. “Funny.”
Jake’s grin got a little bigger and he explained, “The Wilson place is empty, so you could hole up there for a while until things cool down.”
Frowning, Jonah said, “You’re serious.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Jake
countered. “You have every bit as much right to be in
“If I want to get yelled at, I’ll walk back to town,” Jonah snapped.
Jake took a breath, calming down. “Sorry. I guess I’m a little angrier about that than I thought.”
Jonah sighed and said, “Look, Jake, I appreciate the offer, but I think it’s best if I just move on.”
“Trust me, Jonah. Nothing good
ever came from running away,” Jake told him. “Come with me to the
Jonah looked at him a long moment before agreeing reluctantly, “All right. But if Gray comes after me again, I’m sending him to you.”
Jake grinned again, somewhat bloodthirsty as he replied, “I’d thank you for it.”
Shaking his head, Jonah muttered, “And people think I’m the one to look out for,” but walked around the car to the passenger’s side.
* * * *
It was close to
“Jesus, Jake, you’ve got the place stocked up for real,” Jonah commented with a hint of admiration.
Jake shrugged, a little embarrassed, and answered, “Always have a backdoor. You taught me that.”
“And someone else drilled the lesson in,” Jonah guessed shrewdly. “One of these days you and I are going to talk about what you’ve been doing for the last five years.”
Very much not wanting to talk about it, Jake started lighting candles. “You should be able to stay here without anyone noticing as long as you don’t take long walks outside.”
Jonah’s good hand landed on his shoulder, squeezing tight as he said softly, “I’ll be fine, Jake. This is a lot better than I expected, or deserve. Right now, I’m more worried about you. Something’s eating you up inside, it doesn’t take a genius to see that. You know that I’m here for you, no matter what.”
Jake wanted to believe that so badly, but he’d been on his own for too long to trust it. Too many people had burned him, Jonah included. He resisted when Jonah pulled him into a one-armed hug, but not too much because he didn’t want to hurt the injured man.
“I know you don’t trust me,” Jonah whispered, his bandaged arm resting against Jake’s back, “but I am here for you Jake. No matter what.”
He’d heard those words before. Though not from Jonah, if he was going to be truthful about it. Jonah had never given him any words as an equal before, just orders. But that was five years ago when he’d been a kid. Now he was a man and Jonah obviously recognized him as such. All that time he’d spent trying to get Jonah’s attention and respect by breaking the law, and all he’d had to do was uphold it at the end of a gun.
It tickled his sense of irony.
Sighing deeply, Jake slowly relaxed against Jonah, resting his head on the other man’s shoulder. It felt good to not be in charge for a change. There were so few people he could let go with like this, few enough to count on one hand. Despite the long day and his injuries, Jonah was rock solid, holding Jake up for a long time.
Jake pulled back reluctantly, but firmly. Looking into Jonah’s haggard face, dirt and exhaustion covering it, Jake half-smiled and said, “Let’s get you to bed. You’ve been on your feet way too long.”
Searching his gaze, Jonah asked quietly, “You going to join me there?”
The offer startled him. Blinking at Jonah in surprise, Jake countered, “You’d want me there?”
For some reason, the nod didn’t surprise him. Not really. Jake had always assumed his feelings to be one way; a childhood crush, or hero worship. They hadn’t faded during his time away, but he’d pushed them to the very back of his mind to deal with the lemons life had kept bruising him with. He’d had no choice but to concentrate on survival and forget any possibility of something more with anyone, let alone Jonah Prowse.
“What about Emily?” Jake asked slowly.
Jonah gave him a tired look. “Are you going to get back with her?”
Jake shook his head and answered, “I wasn’t planning to, but she’s…no. I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Then there shouldn’t be a problem,” Jonah said. He continued wryly, “And besides. I’m not really here anyhow, so no one would find out.”
Jake cupped Jonah’s face and told him firmly, “I would never do that to you, Jonah. This town can go hang itself if it has a problem with us. Well, other than you being part of us.”
Jonah chuckled, telling him fondly, “Fuck you, Jake.”
“Maybe when you’re feeling better,” Jake teased, smirking a little. “Come on, old man. I’m ready to drop, so I can only imagine how tired you are.”
The water didn’t work, of course, but one night going to bed dirty wouldn’t kill either of them. After making use of the bathroom, Jake stripped to his briefs and waited for Jonah to finish up his turn. When Jonah came out of the bathroom and swayed a little, Jake rolled off the bed and hurried over to him, steadying him with an arm around his waist.
Jonah let Jake strip him without comment or protest. He stood easy as Jake’s hands skimmed over his body in a brief exploration. When Jake gave him a questioning look, Jonah shook his head and said, “Really not up for it tonight, Jake. Sorry.”
Jake half-smiled and motioned towards the bed. “We’ve got time.”
They settled easily against each other and Jake couldn’t help thinking how right it felt. They were about the same height, but Jonah was broader through the chest and Jake rested there, more than happy with the slow rise and fall beneath him.
“Kinda weird, isn’t it?” Jake said out of the blue.
Sounding sleepy, Jonah asked, “What’s that?”
Jake pressed his mouth to Jonah’s collar bone and answered, “Us together like this.”
Jonah gave a tired chuckle before saying, “Not really. Probably would’ve happened a long time ago if you and Emily hadn’t gotten together. Then your father really would’ve run me out on a rail. Not that he didn’t try anyhow.”
Smiling, Jake admitted, “I’m glad you didn’t leave.”
“Thanks for bringing my car back,” Jonah countered and then yawned.
Which Jake took as code for: thanks for coming back. Jonah wasn’t one to open himself easily, even to the ones he loved. Jake echoed Jonah’s yawn and said, “You’re welcome.”
A soft snore escaped the other man and Jake’s smile returned, even as sleep tugged him down as well. They were both finally where they were meant to be. There would be hell to pay, once the town found out, but Jake didn’t care. Now that he was finally at Jonah’s side just how he wanted to be, nothing would move him.
Nothing.