could imagine an open dorm situation where his bunk mates might be drug users and alcoholics. He could imagine the noise and insecurity of a place like that. It definitely wasn’t where he would want to be unless he was healthy enough to defend himself.
“I don’t mind if you stay here a few more days,” Peter continued. “I have second shift the rest of the week and I usually work late. We’ll have breakfast together, but we probably won’t see much of each other after that. While you’re getting over the flu, Dan will sign you up for some programs that will help get you back on your feet.”
Peter made a motion with his hand, beckoning Donny back into the living room. “You don’t need to worry about your future, for now, so come back and finish your food.”
Donny wasn’t sure what to think about Peter’s assertion that they probably wouldn’t see much of each other . Did that mean that he wanted to avoid Donny or that he was reassuring Donny that he wouldn’t be encroaching on Peter’s privacy? As he followed Peter back into the living room and sat down to finish his dinner, he found himself hoping that it was the latter explanation.
Peter turned on the news while he finished his dinner and they sat in companionable silence. Donny had never had any interest in what was happening in the world--- or even in his own community. Totally insulated by money and position, it was hard to care about things that didn’t affect him. Now, Donny found himself watching local events with some trepidation. Work was scarce, violence was often gruesome and sudden, and housing that was affordable was as hard to come by as work. Good news seemed far and few between. This was going to be his new life, he thought, and he was as unprepared to deal with it as a newborn.
A fleeting thought skittered across Donny’s mind and he was surprised how quickly he mentally stomped it into oblivion. He might have scoffed at his sudden turn of altruism when he had been more than willing to open his fly for a few bucks in an ally, but the thought of using sex to manipulate Peter made him feel worse than he did already. The best thing that he could do for the man, in repayment for his kindness, was to get out of his life as soon as possible.
Peter looked over at Donny and then was turning off the television, his expression concerned as he stood up. “Maybe you should get some more rest?”
Stomach full and worries put on a backburner for the moment, Donny couldn’t deny that his eyelids were getting heavy and that getting from the couch to the bed seemed a distance that he couldn’t begin to cross under his own power.
“Pathetic,” Donny said around a yawn. “I need to turn in my Man Card , because I don’t think I can make it to the bedroom.”
“ Man Card ?” Peter snorted in amusement. “I think if you can still joke, as sick as you are, you’re still entitled to have one.”
Peter bent to help him stand, pausing a moment to decide how best to do that with his hands open and his eyes searching for holds that wouldn’t be construed as invading Donny’s personal space. Finally, he gave up any pretense of finesse and simply picked Donny up as if he were a child.
Donny felt impressed by the man’s strength as Peter carried Donny into the bedroom seemingly effortlessly. As he placed Donny on the bed, Donny couldn’t help saying, “You are unreal.”
“Is that good or bad?” Peter wondered as he straightened and looked down at Donny.
“Good,” Donny assured him and then let himself relax into his pillow. “Don’t worry, though, I won’t climb into your pants or anything. I know I’m not your kind of guy and that you have standards.”
Peter’s hand brushed Donny’s bangs gently out of his face and his eyes looked pained as he replied softly, “You keep putting yourself down.”
Donny felt a chill and it wasn’t from cold. The contact of those big fingers made him want so many things that he couldn’t
“I don’t mind if you stay here a few more days,” Peter continued. “I have second shift the rest of the week and I usually work late. We’ll have breakfast together, but we probably won’t see much of each other after that. While you’re getting over the flu, Dan will sign you up for some programs that will help get you back on your feet.”
Peter made a motion with his hand, beckoning Donny back into the living room. “You don’t need to worry about your future, for now, so come back and finish your food.”
Donny wasn’t sure what to think about Peter’s assertion that they probably wouldn’t see much of each other . Did that mean that he wanted to avoid Donny or that he was reassuring Donny that he wouldn’t be encroaching on Peter’s privacy? As he followed Peter back into the living room and sat down to finish his dinner, he found himself hoping that it was the latter explanation.
Peter turned on the news while he finished his dinner and they sat in companionable silence. Donny had never had any interest in what was happening in the world--- or even in his own community. Totally insulated by money and position, it was hard to care about things that didn’t affect him. Now, Donny found himself watching local events with some trepidation. Work was scarce, violence was often gruesome and sudden, and housing that was affordable was as hard to come by as work. Good news seemed far and few between. This was going to be his new life, he thought, and he was as unprepared to deal with it as a newborn.
A fleeting thought skittered across Donny’s mind and he was surprised how quickly he mentally stomped it into oblivion. He might have scoffed at his sudden turn of altruism when he had been more than willing to open his fly for a few bucks in an ally, but the thought of using sex to manipulate Peter made him feel worse than he did already. The best thing that he could do for the man, in repayment for his kindness, was to get out of his life as soon as possible.
Peter looked over at Donny and then was turning off the television, his expression concerned as he stood up. “Maybe you should get some more rest?”
Stomach full and worries put on a backburner for the moment, Donny couldn’t deny that his eyelids were getting heavy and that getting from the couch to the bed seemed a distance that he couldn’t begin to cross under his own power.
“Pathetic,” Donny said around a yawn. “I need to turn in my Man Card , because I don’t think I can make it to the bedroom.”
“ Man Card ?” Peter snorted in amusement. “I think if you can still joke, as sick as you are, you’re still entitled to have one.”
Peter bent to help him stand, pausing a moment to decide how best to do that with his hands open and his eyes searching for holds that wouldn’t be construed as invading Donny’s personal space. Finally, he gave up any pretense of finesse and simply picked Donny up as if he were a child.
Donny felt impressed by the man’s strength as Peter carried Donny into the bedroom seemingly effortlessly. As he placed Donny on the bed, Donny couldn’t help saying, “You are unreal.”
“Is that good or bad?” Peter wondered as he straightened and looked down at Donny.
“Good,” Donny assured him and then let himself relax into his pillow. “Don’t worry, though, I won’t climb into your pants or anything. I know I’m not your kind of guy and that you have standards.”
Peter’s hand brushed Donny’s bangs gently out of his face and his eyes looked pained as he replied softly, “You keep putting yourself down.”
Donny felt a chill and it wasn’t from cold. The contact of those big fingers made him want so many things that he couldn’t
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