Page 69 of Galen's Redemption
Chapter Eighteen
MOUSE BOUNDEDoff the couch and right into Galen’s lap the moment he sat down. She was still a lot smaller than she should be, but the vet said she was healthy. In the three months she’d been with him, Mouse had taken over the apartment—and Galen’s life. Surprisingly, he didn’t mind a bit. She made him laugh, even when he trudged back home after yet another rejection.
His father—or the people he’d hired—had well and truly blocked any path he tried to take in order to get a job. He didn’t want to be a leech and have Andy pay for everything, so he even tried to get a job working the window at McDonald’s. When they’d told him he was overqualified to be a cashier, he had to bite his tongue to keep from snapping that he’d worked there once ages ago. Instead he askedabout a managerial position, and of course, they balked. They eventually came back to tell him that he wasn’t the right fit for the job.
Oh, no one came out and said his father had a hand in it, but from the way they wouldn’t meet Galen’s gaze, the stutter when he asked why, and the fact that the lawyers were dragging their feet on getting everything settled, Galen knew. Father’d done prettymuch the same thing to Lincoln. If only Galen had the wherewithal to walk away and start his own business, but even there it seemed like Father had learned his lesson and blocked those avenues.
Still, things could be worse. At least he had a roof over his head and food in his stomach. Nights that he and Robert would talk, Galen would hear the sadness in his voice as he told about the number ofpeople coming in, the lack of appropriate clothing, or any other thing on a list of stuff he was trying to contend with. Galen offered his help, but Robert assured him everything would be okay.
Mouse got up on her tiny legs and rushed to the edge of the sofa. She perched there, her tail whipping back and forth, while she was intently focusing on the counter.
“You’re not going to make it.”
It didn’t stop her from trying, though. She leaped into the air and dropped like a stone. When she hit the ground, she stood, shook her head, then rushed back to the safety of Galen’s lap. He loved their lives together and never regretted one day of having Mouse. Well, the occasional hairball and the sharp claws that kneaded on his chest notwithstanding.
When he went to bed, she would climb upand fall asleep on his pillow. When he woke to go to the bathroom, she followed him, then fell asleep in the sink. He went back to bed alone, and, against all rational thought, he missed having her next to him.
At five every morning, she’d get onto his bed and perch on his chest, purring until she woke him. He’d smile at her, and the tiny tail would start swishing back and forth. Galen couldn’tremember ever feeling so content before.
Andy had been spending more time with Marco, but the two often included him in their plans. He usually begged off, not wanting to be a third wheel, but the fact that they thought enough of him to ask was amazing. Seeing Andy fall deeper in love with Marco was a beautiful thing. Even with good parents, Andy still never dreamed love would be in his cards,but now that it was, he was holding on tight.
And speaking of caring about someone, there was Robert. If Galen hadn’t been in love with the man before, he sure as hell was now. It hit him so hard, he wasn’t prepared for the ferocity of it. Robert stood by him, despite their initial meeting. He made Galen believe he was more than his father ever saw. They always found time to talk, even if onlyfor a few minutes, and that was always the highlight of Galen’s day.
Though they couldn’t see much of each other on the weekdays, they had dinner together every Sunday, then went back and cuddled on the couch to watch a movie. The last one,2001: A Space Odyssey, had been one of the films Robert said was his favorite. Galen thought it was a little weird, but cool, and he loved it.
The realizationthat his life was becoming something better hit him one day as he washed dishes. Mouse climbed up his pant leg and sat on the counter, squeaking at him until Galen put everything down and picked her up, carried her to the couch, and sat there, holding her. Robert was right. Mouse gave love without wanting anything but to be loved in return. How had Galen never seen the simplicity of it?
He knewhe had Noel to thank for opening his eyes, and he couldn’t put his appreciation into words. He believed one day he would be strong enough to go to Noel and Lincoln and apologize for the things he’d said and done. He could only hope that he’d earn their forgiveness.
And life had changed for Galen, in all the best ways. He’d gone with Robert to see his parents twice, and Rachel fussed over himjust like she had Andy and Brian. When it was time for them to leave, Galen was stunned when Rachel hugged him. He expected Dwight to shake his hand, but then he wrapped him in a bear hug and whispered in his ear how glad he was Galen had come. As much as Galen hated to admit it, in the short time he’d known the Kotkes, he felt closer to them than his own parents.
“So what are we doing tonight,Mouse? Should we clean house? Or maybe watch a movie?”
Mouse curled up on his chest and let out a little squeak.
“Okay, I guess we could stay here and snuggle.”
The chirp of Robert’s tone had Galen scrambling for his phone. “Hello?”
“Hey, baby. How you doin’?”
Galen laughed at whatever accent Robert was trying to pull off. He was such a weirdo. But he made Galen laugh and feel special, sohe could go on being as weird as he wanted.
“I’m on the couch with a young lady curled up on my chest. She says hi, by the way.”
“Well, you tell her Uncle Robert says hi.” He paused. “You know what tomorrow is, right?”
Of course Galen knew. “No, I have no idea.”
“Liar. It’s four months to the day that we sat down together for chili. So tonight I was wondering what you thought about us goingout, picking up an order, taking it back to your place, and watching a movie.”
A movie. God, Robert had to be made of steel. Four months they’d been kind-of dating, and the most he and Robert had done was make out. And while that was fine, it got old, especially when Robert left and Galen had to rush to the bathroom to jack off in the shower.
“Galen?”
“Sorry. I… uh, Mouse was demanding my undividedattention.”
He regretted the lie, but it was a lot simpler than whining and asking Robert if they were a couple or if they were just friends without the benefits. Sure, they made out with increasing frequency, but it never seemed to move beyond that. Galen had no reference point for what was right, since this was his first possible relationship, but even Andy had said he thought by now they’dhave done more than first base.
