Ryan and Deacon found Ben and all's well. Now everyone is getting some much-needed rest. But what comes next? See what's going on in this week's chapter of In Pieces. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
The ride back to the motel was a quiet one. Mercifully,
Deacon asked no questions, just hugged Ben before letting them both into the
van. Ryan and Ben shared the passenger seat, Ben in Ryan’s lap, which was
probably highly illegal. Luckily, they met with little traffic at that night of
night, and the one police car they saw passed them by without a second glance.
When they returned, they found everyone still awake, waiting
intheir room. “Guys, I’m so sorry,” Ben began, but Abby quickly shushed him,
pulling him in for a hug.
“Don’t be, we’re just glad you’re okay.” She kissed his
cheek, then gave Ryan a warm smile of encouragement.
Thank you, Ryan
mouthed.
“We should probably all get some sleep,” Deacon said,
stifling a yawn. “Tomorrow’s an off day, so no reason to get up early. We’ll
catch you all tomorrow sometime.”
“Yeah, sleep sounds good,” Keanu agreed. For once, his words
held no innuendo, sexual or otherwise.
“What about Cameron?” Ryan asked, concerned.
Aiden and Abby exchanged glances. “If he has the nerve to
come back, I’m going to show him how eunuchs are made,” Abby said, no trace of
humor in her voice.
“I think I’d pay to see that,” Keanu said and everyone
laughed.
“Why don’t you guys crash with us?” Deacon suggested. “We
have two beds, not a problem. Deal with that sleazeball later.”
“Yeah, okay,” Aiden said. “Thanks, man.”
Deacon, Keanu, Abby, and Aiden all said their good-nights,
with renewed promises of texting one another the next day, leaving Ryan and Ben
alone in their room. Ryan could tell Ben was exhausted, both physically and
emotionally. Sleep was the best remedy he could think of that. That, and a
whole lot of Ryan’s TLC.
It occurred to him, perhaps belatedly, that Liza could show
up again, since she knew which room was theirs. But he suspected she wouldn’t.
At least he hoped not. He thought about complaining to someone at the motel
about them letting her into their room but decided it didn’t matter since they
were probably leaving soon anyway.
“Let’s get ready for bed,” he suggested.
“Good idea,” Ben agreed, but he made no move to rise from
the edge of the bed where he sat. Ryan, standing beside him, leaned down and
hugged him tightly before helping him up. Removing the priest’s garb, he hung
it up in the closet, then knelt at Ben’s feet to take off the black boots and
socks he was wearing, leaving him naked. He watched Ben remove his contact
lenses and set them into their case.
“Be right back,” he said, heading toward the bathroom. Ben’s
things took up half the space by the sink. Ryan found his make-up remover, then
dampened a wash cloth with warm water and took them with him. He gently wiped
at the smeared mascara, than used the remover for everything else. Once that
was taken care of, he removed his own clothes and set them up.
“You want anything before we go to sleep?” he asked Ben. He
would get dressed again, if necessary, and get Ben anything he wanted.
Belatedly, he realized they’d left the sedan behind. That could wait until
tomorrow.
“Only you,” Ben said.
Ryan could do that. “You’ve got me,” he promised him. “Now
and forever.”
He turned down the blankets, then loosened the too-tight
sheets where they were tucked in at the foot of the bed. He hated the way those
felt, too constricting. Then they climbed into bed. Ryan laid his head on Ben’s
chest, listening to the comforting beat of Ben’s heart. He felt Ben’s fingers
in his hair, stroking and caressing. No words were exchanged between them, but
none were necessary. They were together and that was all that mattered. At some
point, Ryan fell asleep.
Ryan wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he heard his
phone ring. Opening one eye, he saw their motel room fairly flooded with
daylight, so it couldn’t be too early. He stole a quick glance at Ben, to see
if the sound had disturbed his sleep. He never moved, his mouth slightly open,
softly snoring.
Ryan rolled out of the bed, grabbed his phone from the
nightstand and carried it into the bathroom, closing the door. Glancing at the
Caller ID, he recognized the number immediately.
“Hey Cassie,” he said, pitching his voice deliberately low
so as not to bother Ben.
“Hey yourself, stranger.”
Cassie’s familiar voice sounded so good, especially right
now, that Ryan had to fight hard not to break into tears. He wasn’t going to
give her any reason to worry about him. At her next words, he realized it was
too late for that.
“Sweetie, what’s going on there? Is everything all right?”
“Um… why do you ask?” Ryan hedged, trying to think. What
would make her thing something was wrong?
“I got this strange call in the middle of the night. Some
crazy woman who said she was Ben’s lover and that you needed to stay away from
him or she would make life difficult for both of us.”
What the fuck?
“Damn,” Ryan said softly.
“I waited to call you, so I wouldn’t wake you. Who is she
and what is she talking about? Ryan, I’m scared for both of you.”
“She’s his mother,” Ryan said with a soft sigh. “Liza.”
His words were met with silence, then a startled, “Holy
shit.”
Holy shit indeed.
“You know I’m here for you, Ryan, right? And for Ben too.”
Ryan knew that, and the knowledge warmed his heart. “Oh God, Cassie.” He tried not to sob. Too
late, the tears had already begun.
“You don’t have to tell me anything, just know I want to
help,” Cassie said. “I love you, Ryan Fremont.”
to be continued
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