Page 43 of The Road Home
"It's my job, I was glad to do it." Orson nodded to the sandwich he was making. "Do you want one?"
Glad to see Orson was following orders to eat anything and make himself at home, Jared nodded. "Yeah, if you don't mind." He tossed his bag down by the wall. "Actually, speaking of jobs, I have something to talk to you about."
"Oh?" Orson turned to face him.
Taking a seat at the table, Jared nodded. "Yeah, I'm friends with the owner of the gym downtown where I work out. I got talking to him today and he mentioned he was hiring. It's for a custodial job around the gym five nights a week, five hours a day."
"Oh, thank you. If you'll give me the address, I'll go in and apply tomorrow." Orson smiled. "Thank you for letting me know."
"Actually, you don't even have to apply. If you want the job, Richard said it was yours."
"Seriously?" Orson dropped the knife he had in his hand and turned back to Jared.
"Yep, said to drop in one day this week and fill out the paperwork."
"Thank you." Orson closed the distance between them and threw his arms around Jared for a tight hug. "You have no idea how much this means to me."
Jared laughed as he stepped back, needing to put distance between them. "You're welcome. I didn't do anything other than mention my roommate was looking for work." He narrowed his eyes. "Was I right?"
"That I'm looking for work? Yes."
"No, that you're my roommate." Jared hoped Orson would choose to stay.
"Do you still want me to stay after last night?" Orson went back to the food on the counter.
"Yes, of course I do. That didn't change anything."
"Then yes, I'd like to stay. I'll pay rent as soon as I start getting money, and I'll continue to help out in the yard and around the house." Orson put the sandwiches on the kitchen table. "I'll need to go to the shelter tomorrow and let them know I don't need one of those apartments, unless of course you'd rather I stay on the list and get out of your hair faster."
"No, the offer is for as long as you need it. You don't have to go into that program. Leave the spot for someone else who needs it." Jared picked up the sandwich and took a bite.
Orson sat down across from him. "You're sure? I don't want things to be uncomfortable for you or for me to be in your way."
Jared shook his head. "Seriously, we get along great. It's not a problem. We'll be working the same hours pretty much, we won't have any issues. In fact, I can swing by and pick you up after I get off work if you don't mind hanging out for an hour once your shift ends at the gym. I'm not sure there is a bus that will run that late, but I'll have to go in way before you and doubt you want me to drop you off two hours or more early."
"No, that's okay. I mean yes, I'd love to have you pick me up at night, but I'll see tomorrow about getting a bus pass from the shelter. It won't be so bad once I have some money saved, but for now, I'll have to get one through them."
"If you can't, I can get you one."
"You can't cover everything."
"No, but I can help with some stuff."
Orson rolled his eyes. "I didn't agree to stay here so you could spend money on me. I'll figure it out."
"Well, since we are talking on the subject of spending money on you, I have another offer to make. Hear me out before you say no, okay?" Jared could already see Orson getting ready to resist whatever it was.
"Okay, I'll listen, but I don't have to agree to it, right?"
"Right, you never have to agree. Anyway, Richard, the guy you'll be working for and his fiancée have invited me to dinner tomorrow night with them. They asked that I bring you along if you want and that will give you guys a chance to know each other better. The choice is yours if you want to go, but if you do, I was thinking maybe after we drop by and see Harry, you'll let me take you shopping. You're going to need some new clothes for work and you could use a new pair of shoes. I'd like to get that stuff for you to help you get started."
Orson sighed.
"I know it's not easy to let others buy you things, but we're friends. Look at it as a congratulations on getting a job gift."
"A job that you got me." Orson narrowed his eyes. "You've already helped me a ton. You don't need to waste money on me too."
"I don't look at it as wasting. If it's such a big deal, you can work it off around here somehow or pay me back once you get a few paychecks. I just know you'll want something lightweight at the gym, something comfortable to work in. Richard will give you a t-shirt to wear, but you'll have to have pants or shorts. And we both know you really need new shoes. I don't know how you're keeping those together." He nodded to Orson's torn and battered tennis shoes.
