Page 13 of Coming to Grips
“Cool. I’ll check the schedule and buy the tickets.” Grabbing his phone from the coffee table, he swipes and pokes at it for a few minutes and then says, “Sweet.”
“What?”
“There’s a three-day homestand that coincides with my days off week after next. How’s that sound?”
“Let’s do it.”
Kyle swipes and pokes a few more times and says, “Done. We’ll drive up on Thursday morning and come home on Friday in time for rehab.”
Chase groans but nods. “Perfect. Thanks.”
“Can’t skip rehab.”
“I know, I know, but still.”
“Still, yeah.” Kyle tilts his head. “You gonna shower?”
Chase sniffs a pit and makes a face. “Yeah; why?”
“Well, if I’m gonna give you a massage, the shower seems like the best place, don’t you think?”
Everything inside of Chase goes on alert. Kyle had been the gentleman last time. Efficient and neutral. His own reaction worries Chase more than anything. But after yesterday’s exertions and today’s physical therapy, the lure of a massage is pretty overwhelming, but another shower together?
“Uh…us showering together is a little odd, isn’t it? I mean, I can shower on my own.”
Kyle shrugs, looking completely unfazed. “We wouldn’t exactly be showering together. You’ll shower, I guess, then when you’re ready, I’ll come in and provide the massage.”
“I suppose a trip to Snyder or back to Big Spring is a little out of the way.”
Kyle nods, offers a moue of agreement. “It kinda is. Plus, it’d get expensive. Even at, say, twenty bucks a session, that’s sixty bucks a week. Plus gas. I’m perfectly willing to play masseur. I learned a thing or two from Nolan during the three months we went out. He practiced on me a lot.” Kyle waggles his brows. “And he taught me some stuff too.”
At the mention of yet another of Kyle’s exes, Chase’s stomach clenches. Nolan had appropriated a lot of Kyle’s time, to the point where his grades had begun to suffer. Nolan’s long out of Kyle’s life, though, having gone back home to Oklahoma shortly after the two of them had parted ways.
“But if it’s really going to bother you, we can do it out here once you’re done showering. I just figured doing it under the hot water would really help loosen and relax the muscles.”
“Makes sense, but what if someone finds out?”
“What are they gonna find out? That I gave you a massage? After I took you to rehab?” Kyle shrugs. “So what if they do?”
“I know you’re right... Of course you’re right.” Chase is just being paranoid. “A massage would be great. I really appreciate everything you’ve been doing.”
“But...?” Kyle’s eyebrow rises in conjunction with the pitch of his voice.
“Anna’s already accused me of breaking up with her because I’m gay.”
Both of Kyle’s eyebrows go up now.
“She doesn’t need any more ammunition against either one of us.”
“I couldn’t care less what she thinks or says, but if it’ll make you feel better, we’ll deadbolt the door. Since it’s an internal one, no one can get in even if they have a key. If she asks, we’ll tell her the truth.”
Chase opens his mouth to protest, but Kyle continues.
“That she’s no longer welcome in our home, and until she returns the key you gave her, we’ll be using the deadbolt.”
“Okay,” says Chase.
Kyle seems to have all the answers, but one.
