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Chapter Fourteen
NathanandBennywalkin on the sound of laughter. They pause just inside the bedroom door, exchanging a look of concern, then following the noise into the closet. Carter and Casey are on the floor, Carter sitting with his back against the dresser, one knee up, the other leg out straight to press against Casey’s arm where Casey is lying sprawled out on the floor with his feet kicked up against the wall.
“-and I threw up all over Santa,” Carter says with a laugh. “I thought my mom was going to die!
Casey laughs with him, the sound beautiful and bright and entirely unexpected. Nathan and Benny look at each other again.What the fuck is going on?
“Uh… hello?” Nathan says cautiously.
Casey startles, rolling over and settling on his knees, but Carter just smiles. “Hey.”
“So… things went well with Maison?”
“He served his purpose.” Carter nudges Casey with his toe. It’s enough to startle him out of his mindset, the young man slowly uncurling his body and relaxing back again. His cheeks are red.
“You alright, Case?” Benny asks.
It takes Casey a moment, but then he lifts his chin and looks directly at Benny. “I’m hanging in there.”
A flurry of complicated emotions passes over Benny’s expression before he settles into a smile. “Good. That’s – that’s really good.”
“Yeah.” Casey smiles. “Yeah, it is, isn’t it?”
“Speaking of good things,” Carter says, his eyes meeting Nathan’s. “I told him about the files you showed me – the ones with all the people we’re going to save. Do you think you could get us those before you leave? I thought maybe we could spend our free time looking them over while you guys are gone. Maybe they’ll help him like they helped me.”
Nathan nods. “Of course. I can get them right now. Then I need to toss together a bag of luggage.”
“I could help you, if you want?” Carter blushes, looking anywhere but at Nathan. “I mean, I just – I know what you like to wear and – and what you need. Or, most of what you need. I could help.”
“That would be nice, Carter. Thank you.”
“I’ll show Casey around the room a little while you two do that, then. Show him the mini fridge and the box of food we brought in. Where the medical supplies are. All that.”
“Um. Sure.” Casey gives a very awkward thumbs up to Benny. “Sounds… great.”
Nathan gives his friend a sympathetic look before turning to his own awkward situation. “Carter, you ready to come with me then?”
“Um – yeah.” Carter nudges Casey with his elbow, giving him a small smile. “I’m in earshot if you need me, okay?”
“Yeah. Okay.”
After one more lingering look, Carter takes a deep breath and heads into the closet. Nathan follows closely behind.
The two of them awkwardly stand in the center of the small area, neither of them speaking, neither of them looking at each other, listening to the low rumble of Benny’s voice as he speaks to Casey. One of the times Carter tries to sneak a glance at Nathan, Nathan is sneaking a glance at Carter. Their eyes lock before they both quickly look away.
“So…” they say at the same time. They follow the word up with awkward, tense laughter.
Why is this so much harder suddenly? Because Carter has Casey now? Because he just saw Carter so happy and free and saw the way he deflated at the sight of Nathan?
Nathan decides to speak first. Carter has earned at least that much. “I’ll need 4 suits, just to be safe. 3 black, 1 blue. Stick with neutral tones for undershirts and ties. I’ll grab the more casual outfits I might need, if that works?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“The garment bags for my suits are-”
“Hanging in the back corner, I know.” Carter gives him a small smile. “I’ve been in here once or twice.”
Nathan forces a smile back. “Right. Sorry.”
