Page 38 of Drake
With the food delivered, I kick my feet up on the coffee table and settle back on my sofa. A huge bowl of pasta and my tv remote and it’s like I’ve never been away. The last thing I expect to hear is someone knocking on my door. For more than one reason: like not pressing the intercom to get in or anybody knowing I’m home. I really want to ignore it. I cannot deal with any hassle tonight. I want silence; after three months on the road with musicians, I have great respect for silence.
The knocking continues. Fine, but someone’s apartment better be on fire. I swing the door open, and the unknown annoyance falls through the door.
Royal.
Why is it always Royal?
“What are you doing here?” we both say.
“I live here,” I remind him, sarcasm dripping heavily from my words.
“I know that, dickhead. I mean what are you doing back without letting anyone know?” he says equally snarky. Do brothers ever grow up? We’ll be giving each other nuggies and arm burns next.
“I got back this morning.” I walk away, leaving the door open for him to follow me in. I hear the door shut and his footsteps on the wooden floor. “How did you know?”
“I saw your car was back,” he says. There’s more to it than that, but I’m hungry and don’t want my food to get cold. Royal will tell me whether I ask or not. What’s odd is that he has no reason to be around here; he lives in a more residential area on the other side of town. “Have you spoken to Dad or Pops yet?”
I’d kept in reasonable contact with Pops, but with the constant travelling and time differences, it was difficult. Instead of explaining, I give him a withering look. “Royal, I’ve beenasleep all day. I’m hungry and have jetlag. And this part is important: I don’t need to tell everyone my whereabouts every minute of the day. I’ve been doing my own shit since I was seventeen.”
All he does is give me a smile and shake his head as if I’ve said something stupid. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. But just because this is what you do, it doesn’t mean that we don’t worry about you. Pops is always worried about you when you’re away. Even if it’s you swanning around the States with the hottest popstar. You’re a bodyguard, and you’re armed. That’s a good enough reason, don’t you think?”
“I’ll call him later,” I promise him. “You never said how you were here to see my car. Have you all been taking turns to watch my parking space?”
Again, he shakes his head, yet a pink blush blooms on his cheeks. “No, nothing like that, I was over here with Memphis. Did you get my text about the sentencing?”
Yes, I’d seen it and felt a little guilty for not being with them all for support. Plus, the chance to see Mansbridge get a life sentence. Matt Bennett took a plea deal and got six years. “Yeah, thanks for sending that. Is Memphis happy, more relaxed now it’s over?” I should ask about Finn; this is the perfect time to bring him up, and to see if he’s single. “And Finn, how’s he? Was he satisfied with it all?”
This time he grins like a loon. “You’ll have to ask him since he’s practically your neighbour. That’s why I’m over here. Memphis is with him now.”
I remember Finn saying there was a place here for sale. I didn’t believe he’d buy it. How is that going to go if he’s with someone else? I’m not going to be happy if I see them together. The little voice in my head whispers that it’s all my fault for leaving and not calling him. A smile plays on my brother’s face;the slight tilt of his lips makes him look like he’s hiding a secret from me.
“Aren’t you going to ask me? It’s gotta be killing you.” He laughs, and I feel better with that reaction. I know that he’s not going to take the piss if Finn has met another guy. I can tease as much as him. If I show nonchalance, it will bug the hell out of him.
“I’ll find out sooner or later, but I’m good for now. You’d better get back to your boy.” It’s my turn to smirk.
“You’re not even gonna ask?” He stands up and crosses his arms over his chest and laughs loudly. “Anyway, it’s 604. See ya later and call home.”
He shuts the door, leaving me to my thoughts about the sexy man two floors below—and the chance that he’s still single. Royal is going to tell Finn I’m home. It’s up to him now. I hope he’s still interested, but he has to understand my job. If he does want something with me, I know that honesty is paramount. I’m not used to being accountable to anyone other than my boss, and in recent years it’s been Pilkington, or me, seeing as I’m a one-man band when it comes to being a bodyguard. But you can’t have a Dom/sub relationship without it. Rafe wants me to find the Dom I need in Finn and to not take anything less. If it’s right, it’s a learning curve for both me and Finn. It’s not easy to start a relationship like this without knowing much about each other. We may need to try having a relationship outside of any clubs first.
I can see the parking area from my floor to ceiling living room window. I can’t decide if it’s a good idea to watch for Royal and Memphis to leave or not. It’s not like Finn will rush up to see me. Still, I watch the car park as I keep my promise to Royal and call home or, more specifically, Pops.
It answers almost immediately. “Drake, are you okay? Where are you?” The concern in his voice has guilt flooding me.Royal is right: I am a selfish bastard. Not that he used those words, but I got the gist.
“Hi, Pops, I’m fine. I just wanted to let you know I’m home. I got in this morning but had to crash. It’s been a long, hectic time. I’ll come over tomorrow, if that’s okay. How are you and Dad?”
His words are full of joy, but there’s a little wariness in what he says next. “How long are you home? Did Rafe come with you?”
That takes me by surprise, why would he think that? He guessed the first day I called him. But there have been pics of us together. Pics that Finn will have seen too. Yeah, he’s not going to be knocking on my door any time soon. “No, to Rafe. There’s nothing between us but friendship; we’d ended that part of our lives before I went out there. And I have no plans to go anywhere soon.” I take a deep breath, before telling him what I hadn’t even admitted to myself. “I’m done with all of it. It’s time to be a normal person for the first time in my life.”
Relief whooshes out of me. A tension I didn’t know I was hanging on to slips from me. My shoulders relax. Why now? Because of a chance with a man I ignored for three months. The same man with whom I shared one moment, a blissful moment, but still probably less than a couple of hours. Why should he feel the same?
Maybe he won’t, but if there’s a chance, however small, it’s worth trying.
Isn’t it?
I didn’t plan on buying an apartment in the same building as Drake, but once I started looking, it became the best of the bunch. I like the location, the easy access to the good bars and restaurants that line the river and overlook the meadows. I don’t want the hassle of a garden. I don’t need a garage, making this ideal, so I boycotted houses. Did I factor Drake in this? Of course. I’m not giving up on a chance with him. Although a little grovelling on his knees sounds appealing.
No one thought it strange that it was the same building as Drake’s, no one except for Robin, the brothers’ Pops. Everyone helped me move everything in, and while I know I’m pretty strong, I’ve got nothing on Knox and Saint. It made all the heavy lifting quick and easy. When everything was all in place, Robin gave me a wink and said it would all turn out all right. I had no clue what to say, so I took the easy way out and said nothing. I’ve haven’t seen him since, not for lack of his trying though. I’ve had invitations to Sunday brunch or Saturday pizza and beer. Even another soup night. That one was tempting; I have to admit. Call me stupid, but I want to get to know Drake by being with him, not hearing everything about him from daft tales or past stories. Drake has a right to introduce me to them if it happens. I don’t want to already be part of the family, settledinto the routines they love. On the flip side, if we don’t get on or try something and it’s not right, then always having me at his parents’ house would be too embarrassing. Which leads me back to now and Drake’s BMW being back in his space.
