Page 35 of Forget Me Not

Worsesaid the starting point wasbad. Callalily, as evidenced by his absentminded searches for the correct word he needed in a particular situation, didn’t seem like someone who would toss out a phrase like that if he didn’t mean it.

“Trial?” Ray finally settled on the easiest question of the many he had, the one least likely to make his head start pounding again.

“Oh.” Cal was surprised again and upset about it. “Right. I suppose that would be gone too. Yeah, you said you didn’t really remember Ross.” A flutter started in his wings and carried through his entire body. He cleared his throat. “I’ll explain that after breakfast. Let’s get some food in you first.”

“I’m not sick!” It spilled out of Ray in a snarl, which he immediately regretted and not only because of the throbbing at his temples.

“Food,” Cal said again, more decided now and not showing any signs of fear. “I’ve been eating some slightly stale pastries with some instant flavored coffee. From the packets? They taste like those sweetened “cappuccinos” from gas station vending machines.” He explained to this as if it was going to make Ray want one and not wrinkle his nose. “But I think you have some microwavable breakfast sandwiches in the freezer. Come on.”

Ray thought of his stomach but didn’t budge. He had more he needed to know. “Did we always have multiple locks on the windows?” He couldn’t remember that from his life before.

Cal paused, half-turned toward the kitchen. “No. That’s fairly new. Benny also put wards on them, despite your itchy nose. You asked him to.” Ray jolted in surprise. Cal took a deep breath and waved him closer. “Come here, Ray.” He reached out, and Ray found himself crossing the space to take his hand. Cal smiled to himself as he led Ray the few steps into the kitchen.

***

RAY PUT HIS sandwiches into the microwave while Cal disappeared to take a shower. Ray ate at the counter, not really tasting anything, while he studied the kitchen table currently being used as another desk and idly listened to the shower. Seeing Cal’s phone made him realize he didn’t know where his phone was, and he poked around until he found it plugged in to charge. Cal’s thoughtfulness amid of all this made Ray smile to himself before he caught it. He finished his second sandwich with a bit more relish and then returned to the kitchen to make a pot of real coffee.

Cal wandered back into the room just as Ray poured himself a cup. He was naked, damp, and pink. “I had a thought,” he said, then stopped when Ray froze to stare at him. Cal’s attention went to the mug of coffee. “Is that black? Why do you drink that anyway? How many cups does it even take to do anything to you? It’s like when you drink scotch because older human men always drink scotch. You know you don’t like it.”

“Calvin Parker drinks scotch.” Ray heard himself say this in a faint voice, his focus narrowing to the slide of one water droplet down Cal’s throat until it reached his collarbone. “He… used to buy them for me and drink them with me.”

“Exactly,” Cal gave a huff, “my point.”

The droplet continued to Cal’s chest. Ray forgot about it, his gaze carrying on to Cal’s hips and then his cock. This was Cal’s home and fairies were often naked. Ray should not have been caught off guard. He should also not be staring. He dragged his eyes up, then exhaled in pleasure, because the warm scent of Ray’s soap was on Cal’s skin, which would be warm from the shower too.

“Oh, you made me breakfast?” Cal darted over to the toaster, where two flaky frosted pastries were resting. Apparently, Ray didn’t eat those. Considering the artificial coloring, he was not surprised. “I did eat earlier but I can always eat again.”

Ray shook his head to clear it and regretted the action. “I wasn’t sure which flavor you liked.” One had blue frosting, the other neon pink. He couldn’t speak to the flavoring.

Cal didn’t help matters by stacking one on top of the other and nibbling them together. He looked up, caught Ray staring, and froze for a single moment before leaning against the counter, happy to let Ray look his fill.

“I’ve missed that look,” he remarked between bites. “You know,” he added after licking the crumbs from the corner of his mouth, “this is a reversal. This time you’re dressed and I’m naked.”

He was clearly referencing something. Ray considered asking, but it was taking most of his strength to return his gaze to Cal’s face. He also considered apologizing for ogling, but, if anything, Cal was pleased.

“I could get dressed if it will be a problem?” Cal offered after a while, reaching up to gently tap Ray’s mug, which Ray had completely forgotten.

“It’s your house too.” Ray’s rumble would have embarrassed him with what it gave away, but Cal’s eyes—and glitter—lit up. “Your body, for that matter,” he added. Fairies were not shy and had the public nudity citations to prove it.

“And people say weres are possessive,” Cal said coyly, despite still looking, and smelling,delightedwith Ray’s attention.

“Am I?” Ray wondered, distracted, then jerked his eyes up to Cal’s face when he realized what he’d said and how he’d said it.

But again, Callalily only seemed happy, even smug.

“Hmm.”Satisfactionwas rich in the air. “It’s the bane of your existence that you can’t leave any marks on me that will last. But I make sure everyone knows. It’s important for fairies too, you know. Not in the same way. But... it matters. I am….” He frowned delicately as if trying to think of a way to explain it. Ray must have looked very confused. “I walk in the village and I am one of them—now, I am one of them. When I was kid… not so much. I was an awkward-looking pubescent half-fairy, and there were comments, sometimes. Little digs. There weren’t a lot of us around. The junior college was weird about me being there.Fairieswere weird about me being there. It was… no group is a monolith and there’s a lot that comes with….” He cleared his throat. “Anyway.”

Ray was familiar with being the only one. The only were, aside from his mother and sister, in a town of humans. The only one in his class. The only being on the force until he met Penn, and then still just the two of them.

Cal sighed. “They know and love my father. They know me, now. But it matters to me, Ray, that everyone in the village knowsIcare for you. Like a fairy. Like a real fairy would. I’ve made it more than clear to them. And you’ve allowed me to, even though you have a reputation to consider and you have boundaries. I try to satisfy both.”

He gave Ray a weighted look that could have meant anything from fucking to some other unknown fairy display, like buying Ray candy.

Ray thought of the chaos of the village he’d overheard yesterday. “You have to prove yourself? You shouldn’t.”

Cal’s expression was fond and sad. “Oh, Ray. But yeah, sometimes. Other times it’s just… divided loyalties.”

“Am I one of them?” Ray thought he understood the sad look. “I wouldn’t expect you to choose me. There’s nothing wrong if you don’t. Do you… I know they say some fairies are capable of monogamy or settling down.” He couldn’t recall who had said that, only that he’d heard it. Maybe it had been Calvin. “There’s nothing wrong with how you are. It’s that wolves are this way. All the wolves I’ve heard of, at least. Which…” he heard his voice go gruff with barely concealed embarrassment, “isn’t many. You aren’t bored with me?”

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