Page 12 of Daddy's Christmas Elf
Grey kept his hand on the door knob as Eli tucked his hair, damp from the shower he’d luxuriated in, back behind his ears. It was getting long, but a haircut was the least of his worries at the moment. The silence was stretching out, and Eli leapt in to fill it. Grey beat him to it.
“There’s breakfast downstairs. It’s a bit cobbled together, I’m afraid, but at least there’s plenty of coffee. When you’re ready.” Grey dashed off before Eli could answer.
Eli made his way downstairs, his nose twitching as his stomach gurgled. Was that bacon he could smell? His mouth began to water at the treat, so different from the budget brand cornflakes that didn’t stretch his finances too much.
The kitchen table was set with two places, opposite each other. In between was a plate piled with toast and a dish of butter.
“Bacon and eggs okay? Sorry, I should have checked to see if you were veggie, or anything?” Grey lifted the frying pan from the hob, an unsure look flitting across his face.
“No, I’m not. And I’d hardly call bacon, egg, and toast as being cobbled together. I thought you didn’t have anything in?” Realisation dawned on Eli as Grey answered with a sheepish grin. “Did you go out to the shops? You didn’t need to, not for me.”But I’m glad you did…Warmth fluttered through Eli’s belly, and he smiled.
“I had to take Trevor out for his walk, even though I ended up carrying him most of the way, so I killed two birds with one stone. And in this weather you’re going to need something hot to eat.”
“Yes, I suppose I will. Thank you.” Eli kept his smile in place by force of will alone. Grey’s words were a stark reminder his welcome in Grey’s house would last only so long.He’ll let me keep the stuff he leant me, just for now, won’t he…?
Grey made them both coffee from the shiny all-singing, all-dancing coffee maker before he served up and they tucked into their breakfast. For a few glorious minutes, every shitty thing that had happened to Eli was wiped from his memory as he gave every ounce of concentration to the food. Hot salty bacon, crisp and singed at the edges, and buttery scrambled eggs, all accompanied by crunchy, chewy sourdough toast. It was enough to make an angel weep.
“That was fantastic.” Eli pushed his knife and fork together and sat back with a sigh. “Benny, my landlord and supposed friend, won’t have meat in the house because of Lenny. Before Lenny, Benny all but lived on supermarket economy burgers and sausages.”
“Sorry — but Benny andLenny?”
“Yeah, they sound like an old time comedy duo, don’t they? Except, since Lenny’s been on the scene, things haven’t exactly been a barrel of laughs. Or at least, not for me. But I’m going to be moving out soon.”
“Ah, I see. Or at least I think I do. Two’s company but three’s a crowd?” Across the table from him, Grey raised a questioning brow. A nicely groomed brow, but not too groomed…
Eli cleared his throat. “Got it in one. Things were fine until Lenny moved in, and he made it plain from the beginning there wasn’t room for me.”
“Any other friends you could share with?”
Grey gathered up the plates, and held up his mug to ask if more coffee was wanted. Eli nodded his thanks.
“Not immediately, which means I’m going to have to grit my teeth and sit tight for a little while, even if it does hack them off. Most of my friends are kind of in the same position as good ol’ Ben and Len — loved up, and not looking for a third. I mean a lodger—”
Grey laughed, a low, deep rumbly sound that sent a low, deep rumble all the way down into Eli’s groin. His dick twitched.God no, not now…Eli shifted in his seat, and tugged the long sweatshirt lower.
“I know what you mean. But you saidnot immediately, which implies there is somebody who can help you out, if not quite yet.” Grey raised his brows in question.
“There’s Rufus, a friend of mine. Trouble is, his place is currently rented out as he’s working abroad and he won’t be returning until the end of February. I’ll be able to rent a room at his place, but it’s just outside London and nowhere near a tube station. Or any station, which is okay if you have a car. Which I don’t.” Eli shrugged. Despite his friend living in the back and beyond, if he could just hang on at Benny’s for now—
“…your parents?”
“Hmm? What?” Eli blinked up at Grey. “Oh, yes. Sorry. Isolated little rock of a Scottish island, remember? All that fresh air would kill me. And way too remote. I thrive on diesel fumes, traffic clogged streets and urban edge. Seriously, where they are is beautiful, but it wouldn’t work, even for a little while. I just hope I’m not forced to put it to the test.”
Eli bit his thumb nail, gnawing away at it as worry gnawed at this stomach. His parents, much as he loved them, were the very last resort. What he wanted to do, he couldn’t do on the tiny rock of an island.
“Why wouldn’t it—?” But Grey didn’t get any further as his mobile rang, cutting across the question. He pulled his phone from his pocket and frowned at the screen. “Sorry, it’s work. I need to take this.”
Eli watched as Grey left the kitchen, unsure whether or not he wanted to answer Grey’s question. He still had some way to go before he could make his ambition a reality, and until then he wanted to hold it close. His shoulders sagged. Finding someplace new to live was an expense he could do without, as he’d have no choice but to dig into his carefully harvested savings. Why was his life always one step forward, and ten back?
A tap of claws on the tiled floor was accompanied by a bark that was far too loud for Trevor’s tiny size.
“Hey, you.” Eli scooped the dog up. Depositing him on his lap, he tickled him behind one of his floppy brown ears. “You don’t fool me, it’s because you can smell the bacon. Greedy sausage!” Trevor squirmed on Eli’s lap as he tried to lap Eli’s nose with his tongue. “Oh no you don’t, didn’t I tell you I don’t kiss on first dates?”
“Oh!”
Eli looked up. Grey stood in the doorway, surprise etched on his face.
“Me and Trevor are just getting better acquainted.”
