Un/Common Ground by Arielle Pierce

Author:Arielle Pierce
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2014-06-22T23:00:00+00:00

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Hours later, a belly happily full of spaghetti and beer, and one purring cat stretched out beside the sleeping form of Jamal, Matt sat by the window and looked out. It had taken seven phone calls, but he had finally found the B&B which had the New York couple, and they were happily bickering up in their room, according to the owner— who sounded like she was pissed off he had suggested they go back to her place. He snorted, well imagining her annoyance. But all was well. They had made a little gamble and it had worked out in the end.

The wind was slowing a bit, enough that he could see across the street, to the mansion which— like this one— had been broken up into several tiny apartments. It was the only way to keep most of the large homes in this town alive. He knew full well if they hadn’t had the famous racetrack in town, most likely this house would have been either abandoned or torn down by now.

A sigh from Jamal brought his attention back. The boy had all but fallen asleep over his dinner plate. Matt had to help him back into the bed. He even tucked him in. All he had to do now was lean back a bit in his chair and he could see Jamal’s face in the light of the lamp. He really was stunning, even with his green eyes closed in sleep. Black hair framing his face, high cheekbones, full lips… what wasn’t there to like?

Or want.

Matt had been a good boy when Jamal had gotten undressed for the bath. He could say on his mother’s honor he had no idea what Jamal looked like from below the chin or above the knees. His mother would be so proud.

But now he couldn’t help the lingering look over the slender boy. And who was off their fucking heads to not snatch him up for their boyfriend? It hadn’t occurred to Matt, until Jamal had made the bitter comment about no one wanting the likes of him, that he had never seen Jamal with anyone at the meetings before. People were so odd. He just wished he had known that three years ago. They could have been a couple that length of time, then. Provided Jamal had any feelings for him, that is. He didn’t seem to, other than being grateful for not being left to freeze to death in the blizzard.

He told himself he was only going to shut his eyes for a moment. One heavy blink was replaced by another. The last thing he felt was the heaviness of the cat settling in on his lap. At least he thought it was only a moment. But when he looked at the clock, it read six o’clock pm on the nose. They had been asleep for hours. There was a flicker of Jamal’s eyelids, and he opened them, looking as confused as Matt felt.

“I think we fell asleep right after lunch,” Matt said, hoping that helped him get his bearings.

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