AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, it’s not much. It’s really just a crash pad until things are ready upstairs. But I was assured that the mattress is pretty comfortable, so at least he won’t wake up in pain. And there’s space for me to plug in the refrigerator and stove on the opposite wall as soon as they come in. Probably this weekend. It’ll be a little cramped in there with the bed pulled out, but at least he’ll have creature comforts while he’s down there.”
Jason immediately threw himself into my arms and gave me a hug. “You are the best, Axel. You have no idea how much this means to me and Jesse.” He pulled back and then gave me a smirk. “Billy‘s gonna be pretty grateful for it too.” He waggled his eyebrows, as if that was supposed to mean more than what he said.
“Okay, well, as long as he’s safe.”
Right then, Jesse and Billy came in from the yard with a couple dogs trailing behind them. Kona was one of them, so I snapped my fingers to get her attention and she came running to me. “Hey there, missy. Did you have a good day?”
She climbed up me, licking my face and trying to get her tongue into my mouth. If I had my lips parted in the slightest, she liked to lick right inside them. Gross dog.
Jesse and Jason exchanged a look before they both broke out into huge grins.
I took a step back, leaving this moment to them. They deserved all the credit for doing something thoughtful for their friend and employee.
“Billy…” Jesse took the lead, reaching for his friend’s hand and walking him toward the storage room. “I know we’ve talked about you taking some overnight shifts when we start boarding dogs. We’re working on a more permanent solution, but for now, Axel has set up the storage room as a place to sleep if you ever need to.” He opened the door to the storage room and took a step inside, with Billy right behind him.
Billy didn’t say a word as he went inside and saw the bed extended in the small space. “We’re going to start boarding? Already?”
Jason stepped into the room too and put his arm on Billy‘s opposite shoulder. “We haven’t started advertising it yet, but we wanted you to know that this room is available anytime. As soon as tonight, if you want to stay here, it’s yours. Anytime you just don’t feel like going home or want to have some space to yourself, you’re welcome to use it.” He turned back to me, and I joined them in the small space. “And Axel said the room upstairs should be done within a few months. We can’t officially call it your apartment, but if you wanna live in there full-time, you’re welcome to.”
Billy was just shaking his head, obviously overcome with emotion. “I don’t know what to say.”
“No pressure.” Jesse was quick to put an arm around Billy. “You don’t ever have to use this room, and you’re not obligated to do any overnights here either. We haven’t even started telling our clients about that service. But since you’ve mentioned that things can get tense with your dad sometimes, we thought you might like to have an alternate sleeping arrangement sometimes. Or all the time. Or never.” He took a deep breath and looked Billy in the eye. “Just know that it’s here if you need it.”
A soft sob broke through Billy’s throat as he almost tumbled into Jesse‘s arms, holding him in a big hug while Jason completed their little circle by embracing him from the back.
I stepped out of the room to give them some privacy and to make sure the moisture that had welled up in my eyes didn’t seep out.
Billy had a safe space. That was all that mattered. The fact that I wanted to pull him into my arms and protect him from the world was purely instinctive. At least, that was what I tried to convince myself of as I looked out over the backyard with Kona still in my arms.
A few minutes later, Billy appeared at my side. He cleared his throat and spoke more words to me than I’d ever heard from him. “Thank you for doing this for me, Axel. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.”
I turned and immediately got locked into his gaze. “It was Jesse and Jason‘s idea. I’m just the muscle.” I grinned to let him know I was teasing.
But his eyes immediately went to my biceps, and then to my chest and then…lower. Interesting. Maybe he wasn’t as immune to my physique as he led me to believe. I’d been halfheartedly trying to get this kid’s attention for a month, but he always disappeared from any room I entered.
I was beginning to get a complex about it.
“They told me how quickly you jumped into action and…it means a lot to me. Things have been getting stressful at home, and I didn’t have anywhere else to go. So, thanks.”
I wanted to pull him into an embrace, but that felt like overstepping. I had to settle for placing my hand on his shoulder and giving him a gentle squeeze. “I’m happy to help. And if you ever need anything, day or night, please know you can give me a call. Kona and I spend most of our evenings eating takeout and watching TV, so you’ll never be interrupting anything.”
He sucked his lower lip between his teeth and nodded. “Thanks.”
I could’ve stood there staring at him all day, but I still had more work to do. I let the boys finish up with the last of the dogs while Kona and I went upstairs to begin the demo work. There wasn’t a lot I could do without materials, but I began pulling down the walls so I could measure for insulation and wiring.
We needed a lot more power outlets up here, and an additional circuit box to handle a full-size refrigerator and electric stove. From what I understood, Billy had trained to become a baker, and I wanted to make sure he had what he needed to pursue that passion.
SIX
BILLY
I was completely overwhelmed when I realized what everyone had done for me. They were spending so much time and money, and they barely knew me. No one had ever done anything like that for me before, and I didn’t really know how to respond.
I just had to hope that my few words of thanks were enough to convey how much I truly appreciated their kindness, but I would probably spend the rest of my life trying to repay them for what they’d done.
And not just Jason and Jesse and their partners. But also Axel. He was getting paid for the project, but I could tell that he actually cared about doing a good job and providing a nice place for me. He’d been in that room for hours, and when I realized he had been making the bed and putting the pillows in pillowcases, well, those small finishing touches did not go unnoticed.
Maybe I could make him some cookies at some point.
