“Go where?”
She looked over her shoulder at Tally. “Have you got somewhere to stay at the moment?”
Tally softly shook his head.
“Okay, I will get the list of hostels that might have spaces.”
She made to leave, but Sam stepped in front of her.
“That’s it? He has been through all this and just gets left on the streets?” The idea of dropping Tally off at a homeless shelter was horrifying. He couldn’t believe some bandages were the only help the authorities were going to give Tally.
She sighed. Her brown eyes clouding over. “I know it sucks. But Benji knows the drill.”
“You know him?”
She shrugged. “A little,” and she sidestepped around Sam and was gone. Sam paused for a moment and then turned and chased after her. She had gotten surprisingly far down the hallway.
“Can I take him back to mine?”
She gave him an exasperated look. “This isn’t a dog pound. You are both adults, you can do what you like. But I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“Why not?”
She sighed like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. “Look, you seem like a nice guy. But Benji is from a different world. Kids like him, care leavers, unwanted, vulnerable, get snapped up by assholes all the time. He has a pimp, he’s addicted to drugs. You don’t want to get tangled with all of that.”
Sam watched dazedly as she strode away. A movement behind him caught his attention. Tally was peeking from around the curtain. His eyes wide and terrified. He saw Sam and limped towards him, coming out into the hallway in only his borrowed boxers that were too big.
Sam rushed up to him. “Hey, let’s get you back onto the bed.”
“Please don’t leave me.” whispered Tally. his fingers twisting into Sam’s tee shirt desperately. His blue eyes brimming with tears.
Sam swallowed over the sudden lump in his throat. “I said I wouldn’t, didn’t I?” He helped Tally back into the cubicle and onto the bed. The nurse’s words rang in his ears. The fact Tally had a pimp made the idea of abandoning him even more horrific. Not only was there no one to take care of him, there was someone out there who would find him and abuse him.
Sam wasn’t naïve. He certainly hadn’t led a sheltered life. He could cope with whatever drama helping Tally might cause. How bad could it be?
He picked up the tee shirt he had given to Tally. “Let’s get you dressed and then home.”
Tally stared at him, wide eyed. “Home? With you?” The tentative way he asked nearly broke Sam’s heart.
“Yes,” said Sam.
A grin spread across Tally’s face that lit up his eyes. It was dazzling. Sam hoped to see it again, and often. It looked like he would have at least a few days to.
Chapter 3
AsSamwalkedintohis apartment with Tally in his arms, a wave of tiredness washed over him. It was eight a.m and way past his bedtime.
He placed Tally on the bed. “I’ll sleep on the sofa.” he said.
But Tally didn’t let go of him, keeping his arms wrapped tightly around his neck. “No!” he insisted, his eyes bright and pleading.
Sam sighed. Well, if Tally didn’t mind, he didn’t have any objections. The bed was a damn sight more comfortable than the lumpy sofa. He nodded his surrender and Tally let him go, so Sam could strip down to his boxers. Tally’s clothes looked comfortable enough, and Sam didn’t want to cause him any more discomfort by maneuvering him out of them, so he decided to let Tally sleep with them on. Sam climbed onto the bed and was rewarded with another dazzling smile.
They fiddled with the duvet for a moment as they both lay down and pulled it over themselves. Then Tally wriggled over and snuggled up to Sam with a contented sigh. Seemingly completely free of any shyness or inhibitions.
Sam moved his head a little as Tally’s hair was tickling his nose. He smiled in bemusement. Tally was certainly cuddly, and Sam realized that he didn’t mind at all. It was nice to lie in bed like this, just holding someone and being held. He hadn’t known how much he missed it. Hadn’t acknowledged how lonely he was.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t talk earlier,” said Tally, so quietly it was almost a whisper.
