Page 29 of Cuddles for the Bear
Devon snorted. He could hear Wren laughing outside.I want that for him.“Look, Wren and I have just claimed each other. Thank you for your congratulations. That means I’m entitled tothree days off. Three days to celebrate my mating. I’m gonna take Wren out. We’ll go to Big Sky or Bozeman. Big Sky, probably, but we won’t go far. Think about Wren for a minute, would you, Cyrus?
“Wren doesn’t know the simple pleasures of window shopping or having lunch out in a bar or a café. He’s never had a chance to go into a store and buy himself new clothes, or maybe books or music. He’s never been out to see a movie or a play. Cyrus, he’s never lived. I want him to experience just a little bit of life – let me do that before we have to deal with the agency shit. You have my word that before we get back, I’ll ask him about information about his grandparents and the men who took him. Is that good enough?”
“It would be appreciated,” Cyrus said. “I can hold the agency off that long. Believe me, if it wasn’t for the fact that there might be other children involved, I would have just told the agency to go to hell about this. But kids, you know?”
“I know. That’s the only reason I’m even considering bringing up bad memories for Wren in the first place.”
“The agency did do one thing positive,” Cyrus said in a lighter tone. “There’s a package of official-looking documents here in the name of Wren Taylor – birth certificate, driver’s license, marriage license with your name as the second groom. There’s even a bank account with a sizable deposit and a bank card in his name.”
Devon hadn’t expected that. “That’s decent of them, thanks. I’ll pick them up as we’re on our way out. That will give Wren more independence when we go shopping. Pass on our thanks, please.”
“Will do. Have fun.”
The call ended. Pulling up his browser, Devon searched for hotels in Big Sky. As a tourist town, they would have plenty of options.Something expensive,he decided. It was time to show Wren what it meant to be spoiled.
Chapter Nineteen
“Hey, how are you doing? Was the food all right? Are you doing okay?”
Wren looked up at his mate with a smile. It was early afternoon, and they weren’t in the Alley, they were in a town called Big Sky, having lunch in an outdoor café like regular people. There was a part of Wren that wanted to pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
Whatever had upset Devon with his phone call hadn’t been discussed, so Wren assumed it was work-related. Devon had found him chatting and giggling with Flint, and after a bit of teasing and Flint congratulating Devon for their mating, Devon had said he was taking Wren on vacation for a few days. While Wren had been excited about it, he had also been wary. There was something off about Devon – as if Devon was hiding something – and it made Wren edgy because he wasn’t sure what it was.
Focusing on the moment, Wren tried to answer the question honestly. “It’s all very loud, isn’t it?” he said quietly, knowing that Devon would be able to hear him. “I’m glad we’re sitting outside, as I think it would’ve been a bit much eating in there.” He glanced over his shoulder through the large picture window into the café. The place was packed with every table filled. “It doesn’t smell as bad out here.”
Devon chuckled. “I did warn you about the smells,” he said softly. “Cologne is a big issue. Also, perfume, body washes, or even natural odor sometimes.” He wrinkled his nose, and Wren laughed. “We’ll build up to things slowly on that side of things. You do get used to it over time.”
“It’s funny in a way. Back before…” If Wren had his way, he would never mention Michael’s name again. “I used to watch people on the television, through the window sometimes if I was cleaning them, or even on the computer, but I was always conscious of that distance – does that make sense – between what I was seeing and doing. But I’m really here this time. I guess I never realized how loud everything was. Or vibrant. It’s wonderful and going to take some getting used to, all at the same time.”
“I did wonder about that.” Devon smiled gently, pushing away his plate and picking up his coffee mug, although he still held Wren’s hand with his other one. “We had so many conversations about films, movies, like that two-week debate aboutStar TrekandStar Warsand things like that. They were chats that I really, really valued. But how did you know about all the shows we used to talk about? Did you use to watch them online?”
“Not exactly,” Wren said slowly. “Back in those days, when we first started chatting, that other person had a girlfriend and was staying out a lot of nights. I was able to spend more time on the computer. You would say something really interesting, and then I would go and Google it and see what other people said. It worked,” he added, realizing he’d just basically admitted lying to the man who was now his forever. “It kept the conversation going – a conversation that was truly my only lifeline some days.”
Wren looked down at the table. “I always worried that if you knew the truth about me, then you’d realize I wasn’t a very interesting person. But in our chats, that was the closest thing I’d had to being normal in my whole life.”
“It’s quite weird, isn’t it?” Devon said, glancing up as someone walked past and waiting until they’d gone before he explained. “We spent all our time, both of us did really, online, trying to besomeone else, yet my connection with you was, so many times, the highlight of my day.”
“Mine, too.” Wren nodded, and he quickly blinked away a few tears.
“You do realize you can watch those movies now, don’t you? We can watch them together. In fact, you can do…or we can do anything you want to do. I want that idea to be a core part of your new life.”
Wren looked out at their surroundings, not quite sure what to say. For all his dreams of being outside, if it wasn’t for Devon’s constant presence, he would’ve been terrified. Big Sky seemed like a really friendly place, with fun shops and little boutiques, and everybody appeared to be happy, smiling, and enjoying themselves.
“I think that’s going to take a while to get used to,” he admitted. “When I was first introduced to the internet, it was like a whole new window to the world for me – one I could actually control for short periods of time. I really enjoyed studying, even the basic classes. It broke my heart when I got told I wasn’t allowed to do it anymore. Even though it was only online, I felt like I was doing what other people did, what I perceived other people did.”
He laughed and then looked up at his mate again. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to the way Devon looked at him – like he was the only person worth paying attention to. “After the isolation of my grandparents’ place, and then…my other situation…a lot of the impressions I had of what normal life was like came from television. Sometimes I was allowed to sit on the floor when it was on. I do realize the stuff I was seeing wasn’t real, but I could dream about life outside of where I was because of those programs.”
“And now you have a chance for some of those dreams to come true – I think we both deserve some fun in our lives.”
Devon was stroking his hand, and it was as if he didn’t care if other people could see what Wren was sure was an affectionate gesture. A couple went past on their way out of the café, and Wren knew they’d seen – Devon’s hand was holding his on the tabletop - but Devon ignored them.
“We can start with simple things, like staying at the hotel, walking down the streets, eating at a café, or going shopping.”
“We’ve done three of those things already.” Wren giggled as he briefly rested his head on Devon’s shoulder. “Who knew this going on vacation business was so easy?”
“Ah, but you have the shopping side of things to come yet.” Devon leaned closer and said quietly, “Have you ever had the chance to walk into a store and buy something you liked for yourself? Something you chose?”
“No, although…” Wren peered across the road from where they were sitting, looking up and down the street. “This place seems lovely, but I’m not sure any of the shops here would have the sorts of clothes I’d like to buy. The stuff in the windows seems more rugged and hardwearing, or sports gear.”
