Page 20 of Collin: Episodes 10-12
“What if I just live with you? You both live with Mr. Reevesworth.”
Collin and Damian exchanged looks. That would NOT work. They didn’t have to say it out loud. They could hear each other saying it.
Collin gulped some water. “I don’t think that would be appropriate.”
Ash’s eyes darted back and forth across the table. “Oh. Ohhhh. Uh! Are you two boyfriends?”
“No.” Damian shoved more curry in his mouth.
Collin shook his head. “It’s not that.
“If I’m annoying, just say so! I hate people who lie.”
Collin took a deep breath and put his hand on the table. “Mr. Reevesworth is very private. And so is his husband.”
Ash studied Collin’s face. “Fine. But don’t tell me it’s one of those things I’ll understand when I’m older.”
“Why don’t you ask Ellisandre about it?” Collin said.
Ash raised both eyebrows. “Are you jerking my chain?”
Damian chuckled. “No, he’s actually not. Ellisandre knows everything.”
Ash’s one visible eye took on a calculating gleam. “Did they tell you that you should get paid for arguing?”
Damian laughed. “No. But they do know who did.”
“Collin,” Ash said. “I need to buy alcohol.”
“Why?”
“Because Ms. Linda says that’s the best way to get Ellisandre to say all the interesting things. Eggnog and alcohol.”
Collin scooted away from Ash and covered his pocket. “If you want to get Ellisandre drunk, you get Ms. Linda to help you. I do not want to get in trouble for that.”
Damian shook his head, looking scared for the first time all day. “You’re on your own, kid. I’m not buying you alcohol for Ellisandre either.”
“Fine.” Ash made a fist on the table. “I’ll ask Paulsen.”
Damian frowned. “The PI guy?”
Ash smirked. “He owes me.”
“Oh, Lawd help us.” Damian put a hand over his face.
Damian and Collin got home just before eight thirty. Collin was ready to drop straight in bed, but Damian pointed him at the bathroom and held up the key. “Do you want to shower?”
Collin sniffed himself, then shook himself. Why was he even wondering? What was he thinking? Since he started submitting to Mr. Reevesworth, he’d never showered and cleaned so much in his life. “Yeah, I should.”
Damian nodded and leaned against the counter in the master bathroom. after removing Collin’s cage. “You should wash everywhere. I’ll wait.”
“Thanks.” Collin stripped off and headed into the shower. Once Collin was done, Damian locked the cage again and stripped off himself. Feeling pensive, Collin sat on the bathroom counter, brushing his teeth and waiting.
“Want me to stay?” Damian asked as he came out.
Collin nodded.
Damian dried off and left his towel over the shower door, heading into the bedroom. He dropped down on the small bed. Collin crawled under the covers in the larger one and lay on his side, facing Damian.
