Leaving Home, Chase, A. [best ereader manga .txt] 📗

me into your house.” Chaz frowned. “I need a place to stay for a few weeks. I have a problem. I’ll admit it, but I want to overcome it.”

“Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. Isn’t that what they say?”

Peter thought about tugging his hand away. Something held his hand there, and it wasn’t

Chaz.

“I suppose so.”

“Maybe you should go to a rehab centre. We’re not really equipped to deal with your

problems.” Part of Peter wanted to slap his hand over his mouth to keep him from talking

Chaz into leaving. The other part knew he was telling the truth.

Chaz shook his head. “Nah. Can’t do rehab, and my problem isn’t that bad. I just need a

couple weeks to clean up before I head out for my job.”

Peter didn’t believe Chaz was being entirely honest, yet he couldn’t call the man on his

lies. They weren’t friends, or even really acquaintances.

Before Peter could say anything else, Margie opened the door. She looked Chaz over,

her knowing eyes seeing everything. Probably more than Chaz would want her to see.

“Were you two coming in or are you going to spend all of your time on the porch?

There’s a hose on the left side of the house. You could wash off outside if you don’t want to come in.”

“Hello, I’m Charles O’Brien, but friends call me Chaz. Thank you for opening your

home to me. I’d love to come in. Peter and I were finished discussing some issues.”

Margie shook Chaz’s outstretched hand, then stepped back to allow him inside. Peter

followed him, stopping just inside the door to slip his boots off. Chaz spied him doing that, and did so as well.

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LEAVING HOME T.A. Chase 16

“Peter, take Chaz to the blue guest suite. I put out some of Randy’s old clothes. I think they should fit Chaz just fine. After you do that, wash your hands and come to the kitchen.

Dinner will be ready in ten minutes.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

They padded down the hallway to the right of the foyer. Two guest suites had been

added to the house, since they never knew who would be stopping by or who might need a

place to stay for a little while. He went to the door on the left of the hall, opening it when he got there.

“Here’s your room. It has a bathroom attached, so you don’t have to worry about

sharing it with anyone. There’ll be clean towels, and new toiletries on the counter. At least, I’m assuming Margie would have put them there.”

He watched Chaz walk into the room, trying very hard not to let his gaze drop below

the man’s waist. He shouldn’t be checking Chaz out. Obviously the man had more issues

than Peter wanted to deal with.

What was he thinking? How could he be interested in a druggie? Peter had been

attracted to other men, but he’d never had the inclination to do anything about it. Which was why Peter was still a sexual novice at the ripe old age of thirty.

“When you’re done cleaning up, you can come join us in the kitchen and get something

to eat. Margie will have made plenty. Or you can get some rest.”

Peter shut the door behind him and took a deep breath before heading to the kitchen

where he knew Margie was waiting to ask him a ton of questions that he couldn’t answer

about Chaz.

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LEAVING HOME T.A. Chase 17

Chapter Two

Chaz stood under the water, letting it pound on his muscles and wash away the grime.

Jesus Christ! He was a complete idiot. Why hadn’t he stayed put at his hotel after he’d taken those pills? If he’d stayed, then none of this shit would’ve happened.

He wouldn’t be standing in a stranger’s guest shower, cleaning off days of grime, sweat

and vomit. Also, he’d still have the rest of the pills that Peter guy had taken. Chaz had never been so stupid before, and that scared him. When had his problem become so bad that he’d

lost track of his life?

He banged his forehead against the tiles of the shower, and winced when the pain from

his neck rocketed down his back. Fuck! He really needed some of those pills, but it was going to take some smooth talking, or searching, to find them.

The season was starting up soon, and he needed to get back into fighting shape. After

turning off the water, he climbed out and towelled off. He brushed his teeth, then wandered out into the bedroom. All his dirty clothes were gone from where he’d dropped them. Chaz

grimaced at the thought of anyone touching them.

He’d never got so bad before that he couldn’t keep himself clean. He’d really lost track

of time while he was on vacation. He couldn’t believe it. As he slowly dressed, he managed to ignore the pain. He’d lived with it for the past three years. He could go a little longer until he needed another pill.

He slid on some socks before padding down the hallway towards the main part of the

house. Chaz heard voices coming from the back, and he made his way there. Peter and

Margie were sitting at a table, quietly talking. The smell of sauce and garlic bread caused his stomach to growl.

Margie looked at him, motioning to one of the chairs. “Sit, young man. From the sounds

of your stomach, you’ve missed a meal or two.”

Ducking his head, Chaz shuffled over to the chair. He flopped into it, keeping his gaze

on the table. Margie reminded him of his grandmother, and Nona never took shit from

anyone. It was best to be respectful to her, or else he’d be feeling the flat of her hand.

He jumped when Peter poked him in the arm. “What?”

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LEAVING HOME T.A. Chase 18

“Are you feeling better?” Peter’s voice was smooth and soft. Very different from the

men Chaz usually heard on the circuit.

“Yes. That shower was the best thing. Where are my clothes?” Chaz put the napkin on

his lap, then picked up a fork.

“They’re in the washer. Everything that was in them is on the dresser