Page 90 of Galen's Redemption
Chapter Twenty-Three
IT WASstill dark when Galen woke up. He was warm, nestled in Robert’s arms like he belonged there. Oh, who was he kidding? Hedidbelong there. Robert had stayed, and that was proof enough of his intentions. Galen wanted to fall back asleep, but he had things he needed to do. He moved at a snail’s pace, extricating himself from Robert’s grip. With one last longinglook in the direction of the bed, Galen turned and headed into the shower. As soon as he opened the door, Mouse bolted out of the room, squeaking up a blue streak at him. He bent down and picked her up, and as soon as he hugged her to his chest, everything seemed forgiven. He put a bit of kibble in her bowl, then made his way to the shower.
The water sluicing down his body was amazing. It workedout all the kinks the rough sex had given him. He snickered atkinkyandrough sexas he scrubbed himself down. He couldn’t believe how incredible last night had been. Who knew Robert could be something more than sweet and gentle? Of course, Galen did prod him a little, and the results were incredible. He filed that away for later use.
After he finished, he dried off and went back to the bedroom.He grabbed some clothes, then slipped out into the living room. He was shocked to find Andy sitting at the table, enjoying a cup of coffee, Mouse curled on his lap.
“I thought you were gone for the week.”
Andy shrugged. “We had a fight. I told him I never wanted to speak to him again.”
“But…. You’re teasing. Please tell me you’re teasing.” They’d been so happy together, and Galen couldn’t standthe thought that Andy would be alone. When Andy looked up, his eyes were filled with such sadness. Galen rushed over and scooped him into a hug. “Oh, honey. I’m sorry.”
Andy cracked up laughing and pushed Galen away. “No, you doof. They were having storms, and since the cabin is right on the lake, Marco worried the area might flood, so we came back. I was going to stay at his place, but thendecided to come home so we could talk.”
“You’re a jerk. I was worried for you.”
“Aw, I’m sorry.” Andy snickered. “Maybe not entirely, though.” He pinned Galen with an intent glare. “Let’s see. You’re up early. You’re walking funny. And you’ve got hickeys all the way down your…. Oh my God! You got laid!”
“Shhh. He’s still sleeping.”
“He? He who?”
Galen frowned. “I know it’s asking for a lot,but try not to be stupid.”
“Finally. I thought you’d go crazy waiting on him.” Andy grabbed Mouse and dropped her on the floor, then clutched Galen’s wrist and dragged him to the couch. “Sit. I want to hear all the details.”
Galen sat, and Andy spun around and put his head in Galen’s lap. Reaching out, Galen stroked his fingers through Andy’s hair. They’d done this a lot for each other overthe years. Every time they needed the contact, this had been their way of choice.
“He’s… he’s amazing. Last night he held me, and when I woke up this morning, he was still there. No one ever stayed the night before, and it was weird but exciting, you know.”
“So why are you up now?”
“I was going to make him some breakfast and then join him on the way to work.”
Andy cocked his head. “But I thoughtyou didn’t start until next week.”
Galen sighed. “I wasn’t supposed to, but I’ve got nothing else to do right now, and…. Can I tell you a secret? You have toswearyou won’t tell anyone.”
“Pinky swear.”
They wrapped their little fingers together. It might be childish, but Galen appreciated that about Andy. He retained an innocence that Galen envied.
“Remember the other day when I called lookingfor him?”
“Yeah. You called and said he was okay.”
“And he was. Mostly. I didn’t tell you what happened, though. Rachel called and asked me to check on him, so I went to the shelter and found Robert passed out drunk. He was so unhappy, and he said some things that got me wondering. While he slept it off, I went out to the office and met a kid named Brady, who wasn’t afraid of me at all. He seemedto be soft and sweet, but there was an edge there that told me not to fuck with him.” Galen sighed. “Anyway. So I’m looking through the books for the shelter and I see how much work Robert does just trying to find money to help these people. And the more I looked, the worse I started to feel about myself.”
“But why—”
“Because no amount of excuses or finger-pointing will change the fact thatI stole money that was going to be used to clothe, feed, and provide wellness for the people I always thought of as a blight. As I worked, Brady brought me some coffee, then went home. I pored over the papers for hours and was thinking about going in and trying to find something in the fridge. From behind me I heard a small voice whispering something. I turned around and there was a young girl there.She was probably eight or so, and she was dressed in tattered jeans that were held up by a cord, shoes that seemed to be a size too small, and a T-shirt that was two sizes too big. I asked her what she’d said, and she told me I looked hungry. Then she reached into the pocket of her pants and pulled out a smashed, half-eaten danish and put it on the desk in front of me before she scampered backto her bed. I sat there, staring at this act of kindness from someone who didn’t know me for the asshole I was, but for the human being she saw, and I cried. It was an epiphany for me in a way that I hadn’t had before. Yes, I felt bad for what I’d done, but until that moment, I retained a disconnect betweenthemandme. I took food from a nebulousthem, when what I really did was take food fromthat girl. It made me realize, there is nothemorme—it’swe, and if we don’t help one another, like sharing your meal with a stranger, then I might as well be my father.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I want to work with Robert to make things better for those people, because without you, I would have been one of them.”
“Oh, honey.” Andy sat up and wrapped his arms around Galen. “You’ve grownso much in the last few months, you know that?”
“When did I become such a horrible person? I used to think I was decent, but now I look back and see what I did to Lincoln and Noel, how I treated everyone who worked for me. Olivia says I was a great boss, but was I? I can’t think of a single nice thing I’ve ever done for anyone.”
Andy pulled him closer and kissed him on the forehead. “You canstop beating yourself up. Do you remember the day we met? I do. New kid in school, terrified of everyone because he was small and they were so big and loud. Then, among this sea of unwashed humanity, a white knight pushed through the dark and foreboding mass of bodies and pulled me away from all that. Do you remember that day? I can never forget it. You didn’t have to care, but you did. And you kepton caring. Oh, I know you had this whole thing about keeping me at arm’s length, but you didn’t do it because you didn’t care. You did it because you thought I’d come to resent you for having money or that I’d want something from you. And you know what? I did. I wanted to hold on to the first and only true friend I ever had.”
