Page 11 of Need Him
“Hello?”
“Gareth, it’s Lindsay, Ben’s PA. He would like to arrange a meeting with you just before your shift tonight if you can spare the time?”
It wasn’t quite what he was expecting. Surely, she wouldn’t infer he would have the meeting and start his shift if he was likely to be fired, would she?
“Sure, yes. Any time in particular?”
“If you could be here for seven-thirty, that would be great.”
“Yeah, okay.” Half an hour. It couldn’t be anything too sinister. “Can I have a clue what it’s about?”
Lindsay sighed. “I don’t know, to be honest, Gareth. He just asked me to make the call. I wouldn’t be concerned, though. He didn’t make any noise about problems with you.”
“Okay. No problem. I’ll be there for seven-thirty.”
“Fantastic. I’ll let him know. Thanks, Gareth.”
He hung up and stared at the phone. If he wouldn’t just end up talking to Lindsay again, he would’ve called and asked to speak to Ben. He remembered the way Ben had looked when he stamped his foot the previous evening. His face had mottled, and if Gareth was a betting man, he would’ve expected Ben to swipe everything from the desk if his temper had risen any further. It was why Gareth had put his foot down, though he’d never expected the man to acquiesce as he had.
Gareth found himself wanting Ben to be the Middle he’d always wanted to care for. A Middle who had teenage tantrums pushed boundaries and demanded attention in a variety of sneaky and inventive ways. He could see it, but he couldn’t push his fantasies on the man. As far as Gareth knew, Ben could be a complete spoilt brat with his parents giving him everything he ever asked for, and that was a different type of brat.
His sandwich still tasted good, despite the competing thoughts barrelling through his head. He focused on the bite, chew, chew, swallow mechanics of eating and let his mind whirl. From experience, he knew trying to sort through the images and words before they’d settled was next to impossible. Worrying was something he tried not to do, but it wouldn’t happen when his brain took over, believing there was something he needed to do to take care of someone.
Like Ben.
Did Ben even need taking care of? Gareth’s instincts said he did, but he wasn’t sure if it was in the same way that Gareth wanted to take care of him.
After he’d put away the dishes he’d used, he grabbed his headphones and his armband for keeping his phone safe and slipped his trainers on. It was a little warmer weather than he would usually go jogging in, but he needed the release and freedom to work through everything before he went to work that night. At least, he’d thought to put shorts on instead of joggers.
He locked the door behind him and slid the keys into his zip pocket before plugging in his headphones and choosing his playlist. He had an eclectic taste in music, but for jogging, he preferred music with a beat he could time his feet to, giving him a chance to speed up or slow down and vary how strenuous he was. The phone slid into the armband, and he stretched his legs against the wall, then set off at a slow speed, ignoring the music to begin with.
The thump of his feet against the pavement settled him in a way few things did. Being a Daddy was better, but jogging would do in a pinch. As the distance between him and his home grew, he started following the beat of the music, his legs and arms pumping, and his mind cleared. He brought forward images of Ben, remembered their interactions, noting Ben’s body language and facial expressions. The attitude was hard to measure. It could be because Ben was the manager, and he’d earned the right to act how he wanted, or it could be because he wanted something he didn’t understand. Someone to give him the space to act out and bring him back in again.
Or was Gareth projecting his hopes onto him?
The only way he would know is if he asked. After all, hadn’t he just told his readers in his blog post to ask and respect the answer? Granted, the post hadn’t gone live yet, but still.
He turned a corner and found himself almost home; he really had been lost in his thoughts. When he paused outside his house, he stretched his muscles again briefly and headed for the door, stopping when he heard his name.
“Look what I have!” Victor called from his open car window as he parked on the road outside.
“If it’s anything to do with your sex life, I’m not interested.” Gareth smiled and waited, hands on his hips.
Victor stuck his tongue out like the child he was and climbed from the car, holding a white bag aloft. “Chinese!”
“In which case, welcome to my humble abode.” Gareth waved his hand and bowed.
“No way, mister! We’re eating at mine this time. Go get yourself washed and dried. I’ll be waiting.”
Gareth grumbled, but he supposed it didn’t matter because he would head to work soon, anyway. “All right. I’ll be there soon. Don’t eat my food.”
He dashed up the stairs to his bedroom and jumped into the shower while the water was still cold. If Victor had the chance, he would eat both their meals before Gareth could shave. Not that Gareth shaved very often. Although he might make the effort tonight, as he’d be seeing Ben. Gareth shook his head and concentrated on washing away the sweat he’d accumulated. A hair wash, a life-threateningly quick job with the razor, and a drying frenzy, and he dressed in his work uniform and hoped he didn’t make a mess of it. Kung Pao Chicken was not the easiest thing for him to eat without making a mess—nothing was, as a matter of fact—but he’d try his best. Otherwise, he’d nip home to change before going to work.
He didn’t bother knocking when he arrived at Victor’s house. He let himself in and hustled to the living room, where he knew Victor would be waiting.
“Finally! Where did you go for the shower? Australia?” Victor lounged on the sofa with his tie loose around his partially unbuttoned shirt, messy hair and bare feet beneath his suit trousers. The effect was…interesting. Weird but interesting.
“Yes, I did. The water is much better from there,” he quipped, leaning down to take his container and a fork—he refused to use chopsticks because he’d starve, no matter how many times they showed him how to use them.
