Page 68 of Need Him
They’d had a busy weekend. Ben loved his new apartment, although it didn’t have the same cosy feeling he had when he was staying with Gareth. That house felt like a home, whereas his apartment was a shell of what it could be. Maybe he needed to spend some time making it cosier and “him.”
The previous day had gone a long way to making it more so. Playing with Victor when he was a little was an eye-opening experience. Ben hadn’t expected him to be an older little. For some reason, with Victor’s demeanour and attitude, Ben had thought he was a younger little, interested in nappies and bottles. The man had surprised him, though. He wasn’t sure what age he regressed to, but he enjoyed having books read to him and playing with Lego and board games. At times, Ben had seen behaviours that wouldn’t have been out of place on a teen. Would Victor do well as a Middle? Ben had forgotten to ask Gareth that question because once Victor had come out of his little space, they’d given him his aftercare routine, and he’d gone home, Gareth had ravished Ben. A lot of things got missed that evening.
Ben smiled, sighed and focused on his paperwork. It was never-ending, but he was coming to believe he did actually enjoy the challenge of hitting targets and finding ways around things. For the moment, at least, he would stay where he was, but he didn’t push aside the idea of finding a new job if he decided this wasn’t for him.
****
The five weeks passed in a flash. Ben spent half the week at Gareth’s place and half at his apartment, but no matter where he was, Gareth came back to him every morning. They’d got into a routine, and Ben loved it. He’d never been so relaxed and happy in all his years. But now, he was a nervous wreck.
Lindsay had pulled out all the stops for the party, and Ben had persuaded the bosses to allocate some extra money towards it, despite it being unnecessary. He would gladly admit to selling it as a team-building exercise, but it was more than that. It was his chance to show them he wasn’t the ogre he had been.
His behaviour change had not gone unnoticed throughout the store, and many staff had warmed to him, even going out of their way to greet him. He was pleased, but the comments of the team leaders had not been swayed. The last meeting, three days ago, held less hostility, but some were still concerned about his ability to lead them. Ben rolled his eyes, even though no one was with him. Some people were so set in their ways that they didn’t like change. Even change for the better. He understood that now, but it was hard to accept he couldn’t change their minds. Showing them, however, was the only way to get through to them, and that was what he was doing. Not only in holding this party but because he was working his ass off to show he could still hold the store to the height he had before.
The office was quiet with it being a Saturday, but he was still there doing his job before the party that night. A few minor problems had arisen on the shop floor, although he had rectified them easily enough. He was clock-watching because he wanted to go home and see Gareth, but he still had too many hours to go. He refocused on his laptop, getting everything ready for that quarter. With it being the first of the month, he had things from his bosses that needed to be implemented.
A knock on his door pulled him out of his work, and he smiled when he saw his Daddy.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were waiting for me at your place.” He rounded the table and threw his arms around Gareth.
Gareth kissed him and said, “I knew you were likely to be climbing the walls, and I thought I’d spring you early.”
“I can’t leave yet. Felix won’t be here for another two hours.”
Another knock sounded. “Reporting for duty,” Felix said.
Ben snapped his head to the side. “What are you doing here?”
Felix chuckled. “Gareth called and asked if I would be willing to start a couple of hours earlier.” He shrugged. “No skin off my bones. I’m just as happy here as I am at home.”
“Thank you.” Ben hugged Felix, too, surprising the man. “Let me go through a few things with Felix, and we can go,” he told Gareth.
“I’ll grab a cuppa. Come find me when you’re done.” He held out his hand for Felix. “Thank you, Felix. I appreciate it.”
“Might as well let you young ‘uns get some socialising in. I’m too old for that.”
“No, you’re not!” Ben argued.
They argued for a couple of minutes longer before Felix told him to shut up or he’d be late for his own party. Twenty minutes later, he found Gareth in the staff room, talking to several people. He didn’t interrupt, but Gareth pulled him to his side, sliding his arm around his waist. Ben fought to keep his face from heating. Not because he was embarrassed about being with Gareth, but because he’d never been one for PDAs before Gareth.
He tucked his hand into Gareth’s back pocket and smiled at him as he cracked a joke. The others laughed with him, Gareth made their excuses, and they headed out.
“You’re so good with everyone. There’s no one you can’t talk to,” Ben said when they stopped beside his car.
“There are plenty of people who don’t like me, but I’m just me. If they don’t like me, that’s up to them. I’m not going to change who I am ever again. What you see is what you get.” Gareth held his arms wide.
“Don’t change,” Ben said, resting a palm on Gareth’s chest. “You’re perfect the way you are.”
“As are you.”
They kissed. Right there in the car park, for everyone to see. And Ben didn’t care.
When they pulled back, Gareth held the car door open for him. “Wrong door.” Ben chuckled.
“I’m driving.”
“Didn’t you bring your car?”
Gareth shook his head. “Felix picked me up.”
