Tea by Matthew J. Metzger

Author:Matthew J. Metzger [Metzger, Matthew J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, NineStar Press, Gay, body dysphoria, #ownvoices, PTSD/mental abuse/self-image issues, ableism, LGBT, Trans, age gap, family issues, British, Disability, blue collar
ISBN: 9781949909814
Publisher: NineStar Press
Published: 2019-01-07T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

IT DIDN’T WORK out like that.

John had just arrived at the flats and pressed the bell for Chris’s on the intercom, when Nora texted him.

You forgot your wallet.

John’s hand flew to his pocket. Shit!

“Hello?”

Oh, like hell he’d forgotten it. He always kept it zipped into the inside pocket. She’d poached it, the thieving little—

“Hello?”

Crap.

“Hey, it’s me.”

“Oh.” The door released. “You want to come up for a cup of tea, or…?”

“Um, no, best—best get going, I reckon.”

“Okay. Be right down.”

The intercom clicked off, and John stood back, quietly seething. The conniving little—just for this, just for this, he’d leave Chris in the car while he ran back up into the flat to get it. What was it with his family and trying to squeeze their way into this? Jesus, couldn’t he have one—

The communal door opened, and John’s thoughts jangled to a halt.

“That’s—not fair.”

“What?”

“You know what.”

“I don’t!”

“Christ…”

That bloody lip ring was back. And to add insult to injury, Chris’s hair had curled long enough for him to tuck it behind one ear. And in the midst of those wild curls, a new bit of metal had appeared. A silver bar, punched through the shell of his ear.

And judging by the lack of reddening or swelling, it wasn’t new. He just hadn’t bothered to show it off before.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Chris said loftily and skittered the cane lightly over the paving stones until it hit John’s boot. “So? We going?”

John’s answer was to lean over and suck one of the silver balls holding the bar in place into his mouth.

“Fuck.”

Chris shuddered. Grasped at his shoulder. Rocked entirely into him when John slid a palm around that slim arse and pulled him close.

And whined when John let go.

“Not fair,” he whispered.

“You put it there,” John accused and let go. “Come on. Nora’s filched my wallet, so we have to stop by the flat and get it. Then we can hit the road.”

“Can’t we stop at your flat for a shag first?”

“No.”

Chris pulled a face before very deliberately biting his lip so the ring glimmered in the weak sun.

“Sure?”

“Yes, or we’ll never get there, you looking like sex on legs in that silver.”

“It’s titanium.”

“Whatever.”

With all the insistence of a class A prima donna, Chris pouted all the way into the passenger seat and demanded a kiss before they set off, but settled benignly after and played with the radio to find a station he liked.

“How long is it to your holiday cottage?”

“Depends how bad the roads are. We might have to go the long way ‘round.”

“Okay.” A pause. “You, um. You do realise at some point this week, you’re going to see me have a seizure.”

“I know.”

“You…ready for that?”

“No,” John said. “It’s going to scare the shit out of me, I’ll handle you like glass after, and you’ll snap at me to make me get over myself. But, you know. Not going to take off on you.”

“Sure?”

“Promise. Though you might take off on me in a minute.”

“Why?”

“Mum was nagging about me taking you up to Hathersage to meet my folks today.

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