Page 69 of Waiting for Ru
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RU HAD SLIPPED silently back to his room at two in the morning. Three hours of touching and kissing and talking and sleeping. The best three hours of his life so far. If anyone had heard or seen him come back, his plan was to tell them he’d been looking for Bela. But no one stirred. Bela was in her cage and Ru gave her some peanuts. He’d showered at the pool house after Jasim had left. Ru had hoped they’d shower together but Jasim had seemed anxious to leave.
That had been a bit disappointing. As had Jasim’s request that all texts were immediately deleted, but he did get it. The only thing that worried him was that there had been no explanation of why the two of them being together was dangerous. Even so, it also hadn’t escaped Ru’s attention that Jasim hadn’t pushed him to go all the way. What they’d done had been… wonderful. Even thinking about it made Ru’s pulse jump. If he’d had any doubts, though he didn’t think he had, they’d all gone.I’m gay. Like my brother.He guessed it wouldn’t make his parents happy.Tough.At least he’d learned something about himself and that made moving forward easier.
Ru fell asleep rerunning what had happened, the way he’d touched Jasim, the way Jasim had touched him, wondering when they’d be able to do it again.
The following morning, he packed his backpack, closed the cage door on Bela, and took her up to Jasim’s house for nine, as instructed.
“I’m going away for a few days, Bela. You have to be good. I’m coming back, just like I did before. Okay?”
He knocked on Jasim’s door and when Jasim opened it, Ru risked a smile.
“Hello, Beautiful Boy,” Jasim whispered.
Ru’s heart jumped. “Bela’s a girl.”
Jasim laughed. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Bring her in and show me what to do with her.”
Ru went into the house. “An upstairs room is better. She could go in the room I was in. If you just leave the cage door open and make sure she has water and some of these peanuts.” Ru handed him the bag.
“Leave your backpack down here and we’ll take her upstairs.”
Ru carried Bela’s cage up to the guest room. Jasim opened the window and when Ru unfastened the door of the cage, Bela hopped out.
“Come back here if you need to. Safe,” Ru said.
“Safe,”Bela cawed and went out of the window.
“Don’t worry if you see nothing of her. She doesn’t always come back at night. She’s still wild.”
“Right.” Jasim pulled his fingers through Ru’s hair. “I can’t believe I’m sending you away. What was I thinking?”
“You were thinking of me and not of yourself. So, thank you. I’m not sure if Dr Mitchell will be thanking you, though. I’ll try to be helpful and not a nuisance.”
“You’ve got your tight jeans on.”
“I have.”
“I should warn you that Leigh is gay. He doesn’t know that I am. Be careful.”
“You’re throwing a lamb into the lion’s den?”
“Yes. I trust you.”
“Okay.”
“I’m going to drive you there. We’ll stop for a coffee so I can tell you why we have to be a secret.”
“Have you made the coffee?”
“I have. And I’ve packed biscuits.”
Ru smiled. “Can I drive?”
