Page 17 of Lord of the Lock

“C’mon, man. I came to get off.” Lewis kissed me again, his hands tangled in my hair. It felt gross, I was shivering. But wasn’t this exactly what I’d always wanted.

One of his hands moved from my face, down my neck and along my arm, then guided my hand to his hard on. “C’mon, man. Help me get off. I just want to cum.”

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Chapter Ten - Nathan

Mum was working longer and longer days, and constant care for my dad was starting to piss me off. What was pissing me off even more was my father’s insistence that I be with him 24 hours when everything around him had been adapted for him. I’d never anticipated having to bathe my Dad when he wasn’t long past fifty years old, but I’d done so multiple times despite the shower-seat that was set up so he could just slide on from his wheelchair, and the bar installed so he could even stand up if he wanted to.

I’d dressed him, prepped his food, and made him a cup of tea. And Mum had closed the Pont for the day as it was so hot outside the chefs were overheating in the kitchen, so he would be alone for less than an hour whilst she wound up. That didn’t seem to satisfy him.

“Bloody hell, Nathan. You find a new man and you’re suddenly neglecting me. It’s not fair and you know it.”

I held my tongue, but I imagined my response spearing into him from my mind.What isn’t fair is bringing me back to this shithole and making me wait on you hand and fucking foot, Dad.

“Dad, I’ve left you with everything you need. I just need to get out of the house, OK?”

“Then let’s go to the Eagle.” He smiled.

“I’m going to Cardiff with Finn, I already told you. And you know…you know I don’t like the Eagle.”

“You left that Lewis boy high and dry, I’m not surprised his friends are out to get you.”

“Dad…” I started. I was angry at him. But under all that was a current of sadness. Before he lost his leg, he’d been one of the kindest and most hard-working souls in the world. It was strange to see how the loss had twisted him, made him cruel. “You know things with Lewis weren’t right in the end. You know he wasn’t nice to me. So I will not be going to the Eagle as long as we know his friends are going.”

“Fine, I’ll go to the Eagle myself,” he said.

“OK, that’s fine. Make sure you text Mum to let her know where you’re going. I’m glad you’re trying to be more independent like the doctors recommended.”

His expression soured even more like he thought a threat to go out on his own — which literally everyone had been telling him to do — would make me want to stay home with him.

As I reached the door, I heard him speak again. “If I get knocked down into the road off this wheelchair, Nathan, it’s all your fault.”

I rolled my eyes, and with just the slightest twinge of guilt, shut the door behind me. He would be fine. Hewouldbe fine.

When I got to the bus stop Finn was already waiting for me, and the bus was just cresting over the hill. “Everything OK?” he asked as I got near him. I just wanted him to hug me, but I resisted asking. I didn’t want to be too needy. We were fake boyfriends, and I didn’t need to mix those feelings up when I was still so messed up inside.

“I’m fine. Got the tickets?”

“Tickets? I got us the VIP treatment,” Finn grinned as he got onto the bus and paid for both of us. “Where we’re going, we don’t need tickets.”

“O…kay,” I said. Finn squeezed his huge body into a bus seat, and I sat down next to him. His legs were angled diagonally because the seat in front was so close to him, and it meant that our legs were pressed up against one another. I was getting over my discomfort around him, and it scared me that I didn’t know what that discomfort was being replaced by.

The bus ride into Cardiff got busier and busier, and by the time we finally reached the Central Station people were packed in like sardines and I was pressed even more into Finn’s warm side.

The bus emptied and I grabbed Finn’s hand automatically to guide him through the huddled mass. As soon as we were off the bus I dropped it. Town was busy and it was hot, the sun beating down on us as we made our way through the crowds. The best thing about being with someone of Finn’ size was that the crowd parted around us as he walked through. He was an intimidating figure and people steered clear.

I’d thought I was a city boy at heart but after a year in Hiraeth and months back home in Pontycae, the city felt claustrophobic, and Finn’s presence calmed me and kept people away from us.

“So what’s the big VIP experience?” I finally asked as Finn led me towards the big, imposing Millennium Stadium.

“You’ll see.”

I’d never been much interested in rugby, but I’d gone to a couple of matches once upon a time to watch Lewis play in local matches. Finn was vibrating more the closer we got to the stadium like some kind of homing beacon. His excitement was infectious.

We neared a stall selling hats, scarves, flags and Welsh dragon face paint. “Two scarves, please,” I said, holding on to Finn’s arm to stop myself from losing him in the crowd. The vendor handed over two CYMRU/WALES scarves decorated in dragons and daffodils. I passed one to Finn.

“Nice!” Finn said. “I haven’t had one of these since…well, since I started playing for Wales. Didn’t need a scarf to watch when I was playing. Thank you.”

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