A Lover's Game by Hudson Max

Author:Hudson, Max [Hudson, Max]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-04-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Elias

Elias stood in his kitchen with an allergy pill and a cup of water. He placed the pill in his mouth and washed it down with water just as a knock sounded from the front door. He set the cup down and danced toward the door, whipping it open immediately.

He smiled. “Hey, guys!”

Scotty boofed in, greeting them as Charlie leaned in to kiss Elias. Elias glowed with delight. He gratefully took Charlie's lips, sighing contentedly when Charlie pulled away.

“Wow,” he whispered. “Do you want to come in or should we keep making out in the doorway?”

Charlie chuckled lightly. He nudged Scotty gently, encouraging Scotty to wander through the doorway. Scotty had short fur that was a mixture of black and brown. His long snout searched the edges of the couch and then fled down to the bottom corners, sniffing curiously. He trotted around the couch and chose to sit in front of the coffee table with his front legs crossed. When he turned his black eyes to Charlie, Charlie smiled.

“What a good pup,” Elias complimented as he shut the door. “And so quiet. Whenever I run my usual routes, I always encounter the yapping dogs.”

“I took Scotty to a trainer when we first got him. I wanted to make sure he set an example for the other dogs in the neighborhood. He only barks if there's an emergency.”

Elias nodded. “It's clear you've taken good care of him.”

“I've been doing my best.”

Charlie dropped his gaze, his eyes appearing puffy and red. As Elias stepped closer, he noticed how puffy Charlie's face actually was, more than when Charlie initially walked in. He noted Charlie's eyes were glossy with tears and Charlie's nose was crimson at the tip.

“Are you all right?” Elias whispered with concern. “You look like you've been crying.”

“Yeah, I've been...I...”

Charlie broke. He collapsed into Elias, short sobs wracking his body as his chest heaved. His entire form vibrated as Elias embraced him, rubbing his back to soothe away whatever ache he was feeling. Elias guided him to the couch and sat him down, pulling him back into a powerful embrace.

Charlie hiccupped. “Stanley is just being the most awful sort of human.”

“Did you tell your lawyer about the note?”

“I did. He said that's even more evidence for me to win over Scotty, but I don't want to have to sit in front of a damn judge.”

“You shouldn't have to. Not after everything that man has put you through.”

Charlie sniffled. “He needs therapy. He has all this pent-up anger that he keeps taking out on the people around him. If he would just go and talk to someone, maybe he could be a better human.”

“How can you do that?”

“Do what?”

Elias nestled in closer. “How can you always see the potential good in people?”

“I don't know. I would lose hope if I didn't try. Shouldn't I at least try to see Stanley as human even through all this crap?”

“I wouldn't even give him that much. You're a better man than me, Charlie Maddox.

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