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“You look shattered. Why don’t you go to bed? I’ll leave you my number on the board here in the kitchen in case you need to get hold of me. Oh, and the Wi-Fi code is on there too, if you need it.”
Ashok felt relieved.
“Thank you. For everything. I know it was a shock today being asked to take me in. I appreciate it, you know.” Ashok debated how much to tell him. Hayden didn’t need to know the ins and outs, but he felt he should at least give him something. “Today was…tough. I was planning on leaving, but something happened today that had me travelling earlier than I wanted to. It’s been tiring.”
Hayden nodded as Ashok stood, his legs just about holding him up. He wasn’t just tired; he was exhausted.
“I understand, and I think there’s stuff in the cupboards if you want something in the morning, but there’s plenty of fruit too, if you’d prefer. I’ll be back around one.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate what you’re doing for me.” Ashok placed his hand on Hayden’s shoulder before turning to the door. He was solid muscle.
By the time he made it to the bedroom, he barely had enough strength to undress but managed, throwing his clothes onto the floor of the small room. He didn’t feel comfortable stripping completely, keeping his boxers on. His head had barely touched the pillow before he fell fast asleep.
***
The next thing Ashok knew, light filtered through the blind, and for a moment, he wondered where he was. Realisation sank in, and a wave of sorrow and guilt swept over him. Sorrow at having left his mum behind and guilt at putting everyone to so much trouble. It was the right choice, though, leaving when he did. He couldn’t have stayed around any longer. Finally finding his phone under the pile of clothes, he checked the time.
Eight thirty? That couldn’t be right. He’d slept for almost twelve hours straight, and his stomach grumbled, reminding him of that fact.
Hayden would have left by now, he thought, but he still stood by the door to listen before venturing out of the room.
Nothing. He heard nothing and rushed to the bathroom. He looked at his reflection in the mirror as he peed. That bruise would need covering again before he went anywhere. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t done that before Hayden came home. No doubt there would be more questions. There always were. He’d been dodging them all his life.
“Ashok?”
Shit, he’d thought he was alone, and here he was in his lace boxer shorts, everything on display. He grabbed a towel from the rail and wrapped it around his waist before leaving the bathroom.
“Hayden.” There he was, right outside the bathroom door. There was no avoiding him. “I was just using the bathroom.”
“Do you want some tea before I head out? I can make you some if you’d like?”
“I’m good, thanks. You go on; I can manage.” Ashok just wanted him to leave.
He watched as Hayden’s eyes tracked across his bare torso, and he felt a tingle shoot through his body. It’d been ages since he’d been naked in the company of a man, let alone one as attractive as Hayden. Now he wasn’t so tired, he could appreciate him more.
“I’ll come back to pick you up later, if you still want to.” Hayden sounded hopeful.
“Yeah, that’d be great. I’m just going to…” Ashok indicated back towards his bedroom, and Hayden seemed to take the hint, heading down the stairs.
“My number’s on the board. Message me if there’s any change,” he shouted as he descended.
Ashok heard the front door shut and breathed a sigh of relief. That was close. He wasn’t ready for a big revelation, and certainly not on his first day in the house. He didn’t know Hayden, had no idea if he knew he was gay, although he was sure he hadn’t mentioned it to Seb or Dom, either. It wasn’t apparent, and he also didn’t advertise the fact. He learnt that the hard way and kept it all tucked away inside.
That damn scar tingled again, and he rubbed at it, old unbidden memories threatening to ruin his day.
Fuck no! He’d sworn never to let those bastards win, and by letting in those thoughts, they were winning.
He gathered up his hair and tied it into a knot before dressing and going downstairs.
The kitchen was spotless again, only the lingering scent of coffee in the air letting him know Hayden had even been here.
While he left the kettle to boil, he scoured the cupboards, looking for any ingredients he could use this evening. He’d do a simple dish, maybe a mushroom curry, but light on the spices. He wasn’t a huge fan of spicy food. If he could find an Asian supermarket, that would be even better, but in a pinch, he could use a regular one to get the supplies he needed.
The cupboards weren’t bare, but neither were they full to overflowing, and he concluded Hayden must eat a lot of takeout, judging by the amount of menus he found in a drawer. He found the green tea and made himself a mug, taking it upstairs back to his room, picking up his phone to check for any messages.
A few more from Manvik, none from his mum but another more worrying missed call from this father. He’d hoped that by moving away, it’d be a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’. It seemed his father wouldn’t give him up that easily.
As long as he didn’t know where he was, then all would be well. He knew his mother wouldn’t say anything and neither would Manvik. It was only fair to let him know he was OK, though.
