Page 26 of Only Temporary

So after work, I went to the store, grabbed a couple of things, and headed here. I fully expected to be turned away, but Braylen answered the door. He was so upset, and it was like he was actually relieved to see me.

After getting him to calm down, he told me about how the kids at his school were mean. Kept asking about where he was from and about his parents. It was probably perfectly normal behavior—just trying to get to know the new student, but Braylen wasn’t ready to talk about his mom.

So then we talked about other things, like if he liked his new teacher. That seemed to make him pretty happy, and then what really shocked me was Raegan. I didn’t think either teenager would come out of their rooms, but she wandered out to get a snack and actually told me that the school has an art club.

She seemed genuinely interested in it but wasn’t sure Kellan would be okay with her walking home by herself two days a week if she stayed after school. Which I’m not really okay with either. I told her maybe we could figure something out.

When Kellan got home, I’d prepared myself for him being extremely angry at me for showing up here, unannounced, after hours. But he also looked so relieved that I knew I couldn’t regret my decision. And then Raegan asked me to stay for dinner, and he answered for me—and my heart just melted into a stupid puddle of goo right then and there.

I’m in so much trouble.

“So it would be Tuesdays and Thursdays.” I come back to the conversation as we all sit at the table and eat the pasta. Even Cason joined us for dinner, though, he hasn’t talked much.

Kellan seems to think that over, his brow furrowing. “I don’t know, Rae. That’s... You walking home after school. It’s going to start getting dark earlier.”

“Well, couldn’t you come pick me up? It would be four-thirty. I mean, you could just leave a little earlier on those days.”

I can sense her anger starting to rise and Kellan’s stress ratcheting up even before he speaks. “It’s a job, Raegan. I have to keep it so I can keep the roof over our head.”

“The roof that leaks onto our heads, you mean,” Cason not so helpfully supplies.

Kellan glares at him, his cheeks heating as he turns to me. “I’m going to get that fixed. A guy I know said he could help me out.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” I say calmly and then turn to Raegan. “Maybe I can help out.”

“Really?” Her eyes light up, lined in dark black but so very blue. She looks so young and vulnerable right now with her excitement, and yup, that’s pretty much decided. I can do that too.

“No,” Kellan says, and I worry that I’ve overstepped, but when I look at him, I see he appears concerned, not angry. “We can’t ask you to do that, and besides, don’t you work until five too?”

I shrug. “Not always. Sometimes I work way over, but I can schedule around it for Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

“Does that mean you’re going to cook for us on those days?” Braylen asks, eyes all alight, and I can’t help but chuckle.

“He’s not our cook,” Kellan says, all pouty and cute. “And I can cook, damn it.”

Everyone kind of laughs at the poor guy then, and all I want to do is give him a reassuring hug.But no touching.I have to stick tosomerules. “We’ll figure it out,” I say with a quick wink at Kellan, who offers me the slyest, sexiest smile I’ve ever seen in my life.

After dinner, the kids all clear out, and I’m standing side by side with Kellan at the sink, trying my damnedest not to breathe in the intoxicating scent wafting my way. They should bottle that shit. No joke. All oil and dirt and sweat. Man.

Jesus. I really need to go home and take a cold shower or something. I have never been this gaga over a guy in my life—and believe me, I’ve acted foolish when it’s come to guys before.

But there’s something so different about Kellan—and so familiar. I know I can’t fall for him. That it would be a catastrophe if I did. First of all, pretty sure he’s straight. Never fall for a straight guy. And second of all, he’s a client. Never, ever fall for a client.

“You look tired,” I blurt out because of course, it’s not enough to be smelling him, I’m staring at the gorgeous man too.

His lips turn up in a slight smile as he turns to look at me. “Thanks?”

Great job, Phillip. Be more insulting. “I just mean...”Christ. What do I mean?“Have you been practicing self-care?”

His dark eyebrows quirk, and he’s looking at me like I’m insane. Can’t blame him there. “Self-care? What? Like jerking off?”

“W-what?” I sputter, my eyes going wide, and my cheeks going hot. I let out a quick puff of air. “No! Not... that’s not what I meant.”Is it hot in here? I think it’s really, really hot in here.

He doesn’t seem at all bothered by the topic, and I guess, why should he? He’s a healthy twenty-four-year-old man—of course jerking off isn’t that strange of a topic for him. He’s not flustered and feeling an uncomfortable tightening in his jeans like I am either, I’m sure. I think he was dead serious, asking if that’s what I meant. Has he never heard of self-care before?

“Sorry. I think Tatum got in my head a little.” He just shrugs, looking confused and goes back to washing the dishes. “What did you mean?”

He hands me the dish he just washed, and I rinse it before putting it on the drying rack. “No, I mean I suppose that’s self-care.” I’m blushing.Good lord. I’m twenty-six and blushing over masturbation.“I don’t know, like reading? Going on walks. Bubble baths.”

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