Page 19 of Saint
“Call the agent, arrange to look at it,” Robin says. He’s not thrilled with me leaving, but only because he loves to spoil and pamper his family, and apparently, that’s what I am now.
“Oh, never mind. It’s unfurnished, I can’t afford to buy that too.” I sigh as my shoulders slump. It’s going to take me months to save for furniture. I thought most would come with at least a bed and a sofa. That’s all I need. I’m not a materialistic person; I’ve never had the chance to own much.
“Don’t let that be an issue. We can help with that. We’ve done this before for all our boys,” Kip says as he looks at the details of the flat and pulls out his phone. “It won’t be new stuff. The boys give it back when they’ve been able to replace it.”
“But—” Before I can lodge a complaint that started with not being one of their kids, Kip speaks to whoever he’d called. I listen in horror as he takes over and gets more details on the flat.
“Excellent, Steve, we’ll meet you there shortly.” He ends the call and grins at me. “You’re right, there’s been plenty of interest, but he’s holding off until we can get a look at it. So come on. Chop-chop, no time like the present.”
“What? How? I’m not sure, Kip. It’s still the top end of my budget.” What is it about this family that they just take over and make all the decisions? Now I know where Saint gets it from.
Robin gives my shoulder a squeeze and rolls his eyes. “We may as well do as he says. He’s got it in his head now.”
“Or maybe he just wants me out of your home. I’ve probably overstayed my welcome by about six weeks.” Which is just a little under how long I’ve been here. By the crease between his eyes as he frowns, Robin doesn’t like that.
Kip says, “You said you wanted your own space, Noah, and that’s perfectly normal. As for us, you’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”
“Did you speak to Saint about what we talked about?” Robin asks, and here I was hoping he’d forgotten about that uncomfortable conversation.
“Um, sort of. It was kind of awkward.” My cheeks burn with the heat of embarrassment. “Nothing came of it.”
“Stubborn boy. I’ll have to have a word with him.” He tuts and shakes his head as fear rushes through me.
“Please don’t, he’s been in such a bad mood with me. He’s hardly spoken to me since Thursday when he…” My words fade away at the memory of him pressing me into the wall and taking over my mouth.
“When he what? What has that bloody boy done now,” Robin snaps, his expression changing. “I could throttle him sometimes. Typical Dom, always putting the world on their shoulders, as if no one else can make a decision.”
“I heard he was at Bound on Wednesday night with Master Karl, Tate, and Roman. Apparently, Saint was punishing Tate,” Knox says as he walks in, catching the tail end of the conversation.
I baulk and feel the blood draining from my face. The glare Robin shoots Knox should have him quaking in his boots, but he just shrugs. “Why are you looking at me like that? It’s true. Roman got it easy, Karl punished him. Tate was the one on his knees, choking on Saint.”
My mouth drops open at the open way he talks about sex with his dads, and it’s really kinky sex too.
“That’s enough, Knox. You shouldn’t be talking about it. You know the rules.”
He shrugs again, totally unfazed by the rebuke.
Kip looks at me with his car keys in his hand. “Come on, Steve’s going to meet us there.”
“Where are you going?” Knox asks.
“We’re going to look at a flat for me.” I am happy to have the topic change.
“Ooh, cool. Can I come too?” Knox’s enthusiasm has mine building a little. I don’t want the images of Saint with the man who keeps showing off in front of me.
The place is perfect. The rooms are a decent size, even the bathroom. The living area is an L-shape with the kitchen at the back. It’s only a fifteen-minute walk to work, and there are plenty of amenities around me. I want it, it’s just what I need too. A space away from my surrogate family. I love Robin and Kip to bits, but it’s time for me to live on my own. I’ve never had a place to myself. The places in Leeds I stayed in were full of people, the rooms always chock-a-block with people I didn’t even know. It was transient. I knew it was time for me to move on when I ended up being one of the longest residents there. It wasn’t hard to walk away.
“What do you think, Noah? Is it what you’ve been looking for?” Steve, the estate agent, asks as he moves away from Kip.
“It is.” I smile as Robin gives me a side hug. I look at him. “Were you serious about the furniture?”
“Absolutely. Knox was the last to use it, and it’s all in good condition. We can sort it out when we get back home.”
My eyes roam around the space again. Its plain white walls will soon be covered in my artwork, brightening up the place. The sun comes through a large window taking up most of the main living room wall. I’ll have plenty of light to work. “I’d like to take it, please, Steve.”
“Excellent. I’ll take some details now, but can you come into the office Monday? We can finalise the contract there. It’s fixed for the first six months, then it’s a month’s notice when you come to leave.”
I give him the information he needs and then give it one more walk through.
