Page 28 of Collin: Episodes 1-3
“This old record should go for something.”
“Don’t you dare touch my grandpa’s record.”
“Tough luck, traitor. Should’ve thought of that before you left all your stuff and cut and…”
The phone was plucked from Collin’s hand. Mr. Reevesworth glanced at the caller ID and moved the phone up to his ear.
“Andy, I presume.” He dropped a hand on Collin’s shoulder. Like Mr. Moreau, he was also only half dressed. He smelled of male sweat and warmth. There was a shadow on his jaw.
Andy answered loud enough for Collin to hear even from two feet away. “Yeah, who’s this?”
“The man who kidnapped your former roommate. Do you have my ransom, or shall I start mailing body parts?”
Andy sputtered. “What the fuck? That’s sick.”
“So, you’re refusing to pay. Pity.” Mr. Reevesworth smirked. “Now listen closely, Andy. Since Collin has a witness of your threats to desecrate and appropriate his belongings, he will have a very strong court case, should he choose. Call this number again or follow through on any of your threats, and you will be speaking with both an officer of the law and my lawyer.” Mr. Reevesworth ended the call.
Collin swallowed. “Good morning, sir.”
Mr. Reevesworth squeezed his shoulder. “Good morning, Collin. That was Jinx’s boyfriend, I believe, the one who lives in your former apartment without paying rent?”
“Yes, sir.”
“A gem, truly. Much as I would prefer to wait until the end of the week, we may need to move faster.”
Collin swallowed. “I’m sorry.”
“Sir. You forgot the ‘sir’.”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
Mr. Reevesworth ran his hand across his jaw, ambling toward the door. “If you’re using those words to infer sympathy toward yourself and the rest of the world that individuals like that one exist, then I accept. But if you are expressing regret or accepting fault of any kind, be glad you haven’t signed the contract yet.”
Collin frowned. “Sir?”
Mr. Reevesworth smirked over his shoulder. “I foresee many spankings in your future, Collin, a quantity of them to teach you to not take on the guilt of other people’s actions. Breakfast will be in thirty minutes. You can use the bathroom, but don’t shower on your own. Damian will be in to help you.”
His mouth felt like a half-drained swamp baking in the sun. Collin made his way into the en suite bathroom and leaned against the sink, brushing his teeth. A knock at the door startled him. He looked up into the mirror.
Damian wore nothing but a pair of exercise shorts. Sweat stood out on his skin and pooled around his collarbone and on the upper mounds of his pecs. Collin blushed and averted his face.
Damian chuckled.
“Seriously!” Collin covered his face. “Does no one wear clothes around here?”
“Shower time.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not? Feeling dizzy?”
Collin let his fingers part so he could see Damian without revealing his face. “You want me strip down in front of you when you look like that. I might not have pride, dude, but I do have shame! And that’s all I’m going to feel in comparison. Seriously, dude!”
“You forgot the ‘sir’.”
“Sir.”
Damian’s eyes sparkled. “You just have to appreciate all the different variety of bodies, Collin.” He turned Collin to the mirror and guided the toothbrush down to the counter. They were almost the same height. Damian looked over Collin’s shoulder. He was broader than Collin, framing him and his blue-and-white-striped flannel pajamas in the mirror.
