A week later, I’m doing my laundry when Travis runs into my room. By the wide smile and insistent waving of his phone, my brother has news. “What is it?” I ask.
“Dakota just messaged me! Check it out.” Travis thrusts his phone in my hand.
Dakota: Hey, Travis! Are you and your brother looking for a roommate? I saw an ad online with Henry’s contact details. Pics look really good.
Shocked, my eyes snap to his. “Wow.”
“What?” he asks. “It doesn’t mean he’s looking for a place. Does it? It could just mean he’s seen it, and he’s asking about it.”
I smile. “He’s asking you about it, though. Not me. Maybe he knows someone who’s looking.” Gathering my clean tops in one hand, I pass his phone back before putting my clothes away. “Reply to him. Tell him the truth. That we’re looking for one or two people to move in. You can flirt at the end,” I suggest. “Maybe say, ‘Why, are you looking for something?’”
His eyes widen. “Good idea. I’ll do that.”
After a moment, I ask him, “Well, what are you waiting for?”
“Nothing.” Travis types as he strides away. At my brother’s actions, I shake my head. Dakota has my brother turning into a teenage girl. Not ten minutes later, he returns. “Bro, he says he’s looking for a place! He just said he’s looking to rent, because something’s come up. He can’t stay home anymore and needs to move out ASAP.”
“Really? Okay. Well, tell him he’s welcome to come around and have a look at the place. Better yet, call him.”
My brother looks nervous. “Nah. I’ll just text him to come have a look when he’s free.” He follows me out of my room and into the kitchen. While I make rolls for us for lunch, Travis keeps me updated with his text conversation with the hot real estate agent. My plan is to head over and see Ryan after lunch. I’m looking forward to it. We haven’t caught up since Wednesday, but it feels like a lot longer than four days since I’ve seen him. The man is addictive. Any time we’re not together feels like time wasted. It takes a lot of energy for me to focus on other things, but I manage. Knowing I’ll see him within the hour helps. Chewing my roll, I jump when Travis claps his hand against the table.
“What?” I ask around my food.
“He says he’s free today! Wants to come over in half an hour.”
I flip my wrist and check the time. “That can work. I’m here until two, so I’ll have a little time to show him around.” Travis nods and starts to reply to him. I smirk. “Unless. You know. You want to show him around without me here?”
“Huh?” He looks up and frowns. “Nah. You can be here. Maybe I’ll say I just started working out now, but you’ll show him around.”
I scowl. “What the fuck? No. You can hang in the background with us while I do the talking if he’s got your jocks in such a twist with his good looks. But you’re not pretending you’re too busy for him. Just tell him, ‘That’s cool, we’ll see you then.’”
He groans. “Okay.” Once he puts his phone down and gathers his roll in both hands for demolishing, he adds, “And he doesn’t have my jocks in a twist.”
“Uh-huh. Right.”
* * *
“And this is the backyard.” Sliding the door, I lead the way out. Dakota and Trav follow me.
“Wow. This is great.” Dakota smiles widely, sliding his hands into his pockets.
“Thanks,” Travis replies.
Our potential roommate and tenant glances at my brother. “So, you both live here. No one else?” he asks Travis, but my brother isn’t looking at him.
“Not at this stage,” I say. “We’re thinking of having two people move in, because we can comfortably fit four people.” Shrugging, I point out the deep end of the pool. “There are steps on either side, but that’s one and a half metres.”
“Sweet.” Dakota turns to face us both. “So, how much are you guys after for rent?”
My brother runs his hand through his blond hair, unintentionally showcasing his impressive bicep. “You… you wanna live here?”
Dakota, the silver fox that he is, nods. “I do. I mean, I’m in a situation where I need to move out. Like now. And sure, I could buy something small, but I don’t want to rush into anything. I just need to move in somewhere and relax for now, you know? I need to take a step back and re-evaluate.” He shakes his head with a self-deprecating smile. “To be honest, it also feels like fate.”
“Fate?” Trav asks.
“Yeah. I mean, I was on the computer having a look, and I saw your ad.” Dakota graces me with a glance before returning his attention to Travis. “So? What are you asking for?”
Trav’s eyes find mine only long enough for me to nod in encouragement.
He clears his throat. “Ah. Two hundred a week.”
Dakota raises his hand to his chin, scratching his styled beard. “Really?”
“Yeah. It includes Wi-Fi connection, an off-the-road car space, and everything,” my brother tells him. “We split bills and food cost though.”
“I was going to say it’s a real good deal.”
Travis grins. “Yeah?”
“Definitely.”
I step forward, even though it feels like I’m interrupting something. “Well, either of the rooms we showed you is yours if you want it. If we do end up having another tenant, they’ll take whatever’s left.”
“Cool. Hey, how the gym’s going?”
Travis grins. “It’s going well. We’ve done some work on it, and it’s coming along.”
“That’s great,” Dakota says. “Well, there’s only one other question I have for you both.” When he glances at my brother, Trav nods seriously, desperate to give the man the answer he wants to hear.
Man, I’d really like to stay and see where the conversation goes with these two. I clap my hands together. “Well, I’ll let Travis answer the question for you. I need to head out now. My man’s waiting for me.”
Dakota barks out a laugh. “Wait, your man ? You’re gay?”
My brother and I share a look before facing him at the same time. “Yes,” I say.
“Is that a problem?” Travis asks.
The gorgeous man chuckles. “No. My questions were going to be how you felt about homosexuals. If you guys turned out to be homophobic, this wouldn’t have worked out.” He pauses with a cheeky grin. “I’m bi.”
“Me too,” Travis replies. “I think I can speak for Henry when I say we’re relieved it’s not a problem for you either.”
“Definitely not.” He eyes my brother in a different way. A sexual way. And it’s my cue to leave.
I smile. “Okay, cool. Well, I’ll let Travis walk you out and leave you guys to it.” I hold my hand out to him. “Nice to see you again, man.”
He nods. “Yeah, you too.” After we shake hands, I clap my brother on the shoulder and head out.
* * *
Ryan is happy to see me. He’s buzzing with energy as he opens the door and lets me in. “Hey.”
I grin. “Hey, baby.” By his behaviour and the energy pouring off his body in waves, he clearly has something he wants to say to me. I’m certain of it. “Before we play, is there something you wanted to talk about?”
Ryan nods emphatically and strides over to his laptop. “Read this.”
With our positions switched for the moment, I obey him. Taking the time to read the email in his inbox, I let my smile grow bigger and bigger. The publishing house he sent his book to wants to publish it. My boy is going to be a published author. I place a hand on each of his cheeks. “Congratulations. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Sir,” he murmurs into my neck.
“I told you it was great, didn’t I?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Have you told your parents? Your sister?”
“No. Not yet.”
Drawing back, I just look at him. “Well, we need to celebrate.”
Ryan bites his lip. “Can we please celebrate later, Sir?”
My fingers grasp the hair at his nape. “You want to play first, baby?”
“Yes please, Sir.”
Who can resist that smile and those words? After pressing a kiss to his forehead, nose, and lips, I stand back. “I’ll be in the bedroom in ten minutes. I want you in your display position, ready for me.”
A relieved sigh is followed by a cheeky smile. “Yes, Sir.” Ryan leaves the room and I make a few calls. The last one is for Travis.
“Hey, man. What’s up?”
“Hey. Listen, you doing anything tonight?”
“Well, Dakota’s still here. He wants to move in soon. We were thinking of grabbing a beer. Hey, aren’t you with Ryan tonight?”
“Yeah,” I start. “Thing is, I’ve found out Ryan’s received some exciting news, and I’m trying to organise a celebratory dinner. You guys keen for some food and drinks?”
“Of course. Can I ask what the good news is?”
“The publishing house replied and they want to publish his book.”
“Oh, that’s awesome! Okay, well, we’ll be there. Where are you thinking?”
“Tony’s in Fremantle. Seven o’clock.”
“Nice. And it’s cool to bring Dakota?”
I shrug. “Why not? We’re all going to be living together. Might as well start bonding.” Travis laughs. I hang up soon after, wanting to take care of my man.