“On the way here, I asked forty-three people if I could use their phone.”
Kaden half-laughed, half-groaned. Alistair did the same.
“No one helped you?” Alistair said.
“Most walked faster. I don’t understand. I offered money.”
Alistair set the coffee down. “Sit.”
Joe obeyed.
“We’re not a trusting lot,” Alistair said, gentler now. “But you were unlucky. If the forty-fourth person had been me, I’d have said yes.”
Joe smiled. Then remembered that, to Alistair, this was their first meeting.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your time with Kaden,” Joe said.
“We’d just about finished.” Alistair studied him, assessment flickering behind his eyes. “So what are you the two of you going to do? Where are you going to stay?”
“I’ll find somewhere for us,” Kaden said. “Or sneak you back in.”
Joe shook his head. “Don’t break the rules. I don’t want you to get into trouble.”
“If he wants to throw me out, let him try. It isn’t as if you’ve been staying with me for months. He had no right to make you leave.”
“But he’s the landlord. He can find a reason. I mustn’t get into trouble and I don’t want you to have a problem.”
“Perhaps I have a solution,” Alistair said, stirring his coffee. “Why don’t you both stay here on the top floor while you look for somewhere?”
Kaden inhaled sharply. “That’s incredibly kind, but—”
“Yes, it is kind,” Alistair cut in. “And I benefit. We can make better progress on the book. You can walk Elsie. Cook sometimes. Endure me boring you.” His mouth curved in a wry smile. “What do you say?”
Joe knew what he wanted, and what he wanted Kaden to say but all he did was fix his gaze on Kaden.
“Really?” Kaden asked. “I could talk to my dad. He’d let Joe stay with him.”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Alistair’s voice didn’t waver. “You’re welcome here while you sort something out.”
Kaden held Joe’s gaze longer than necessary, as if weighing something only the two of them could see.
“Okay,” he said finally. “Thank you. We’ll take you up on that.”
The first word landed in Joe’s chest and he felt tension slip away. He hadn’t realised how tightly he’d been holding himself together until that moment. His shoulders loosened. His breathing steadied. He and Kaden could be together. This was what safety felt like.
Alistair nodded. “Good. Then it’s settled. I’ll show you the top floor after we finish our coffee.”
Kaden squeezed Joe’s hand briefly, then let go. “Thank you,” he said to Alistair.
“You can repay me by not burning my kitchen down,” Alistair said dryly. “And by being honest with me.”
The words weren’t sharp, but they landed all the same and Joe’s stomach tightened. He lowered his eyes, focusing on the dark surface of the coffee. Honesty was dangerous. Honesty meant edges, consequences. He’d learned that early on. Honesty should be a good thing but it wasn’t always good for everyone.
“I don’t expect to be told everything,” Alistair went on. “But I do expect the truth where it matters.”
Kaden glanced at Joe, concern flickering across his face.
“We’ll tell you when we can,” Kaden said.
