Chapter twenty-seven
Scotthadn’texpectedthewelcome party when they’d got back at one in the morning, but Tim, Carly, Jay and Janice were all waiting for him in the entrance hall of the mansion. Their cars must’ve been parked up outside, but when they’d stopped, Scott’s focus had remained on the hand over his on his thigh.
Thomas’s hand.
He only removed it when he needed to change gears, then it returned, covering Scott’s.
They didn’t talk the whole drive back.
The small connection with Thomas’s hand always returning to his had been enough.
Tim, Carly, Jay and Janice plastered reassuring smiles to their faces, and Scott got wrenched out of Thomas’s arms and hugged by Janice and Carly before Thomas reclaimed him and pinned Scott to his side. Scott suspected it was half to keep him on his feet, and half because as traumatic as it had been forhim, walking in on the situation had affected Thomas too and he hadn’t yet spoken about it.
“There, you’ve seen him,” Thomas hissed. “Now you can go home.”
Janice slapped his arm. “Don’t be like that…you probably need my help cleaning up anyway.”
It was then that Scott noticed she was wearing washing up gloves.
Carly gestured to Scott. “And I doubt he had much to eat at the hospital.”
“Last I saw, he was emptying his stomach rather than filling it,” Tim said. “I hope you didn’t tip it away.”
Thomas sighed. “It’s in the back of the car as per your instructions.”
Tim went to tip his hat before remembering he no longer had it on his head.
“We’ll warm up some food for Scott,” Jay suggested.
“I’m not a pet,” Scott murmured.
Janice leaned in to pinch his cheek. “We know.”
She stood back, joining the line of staff, all waiting on Thomas. Thomas seemed torn, glancing between them and Scott.
“I am kind of hungry,” Scott whispered.
“Fine, you can help,” Thomas huffed, before keeping Scott glued to his side and taking the stairs.
Scott set the pace, limping along while the others followed behind. Thomas managed to let go of Scott on the spiral staircase but wrapped an arm around him again once they were at the top.
He opened the door, then hesitated outside the snake room.
“Is there much of a mess?” Janice asked.
Scott wasn’t sure how much Thomas had told them, but they all seemed fine with the fact that one of Thomas’s snakes had eaten someone.
“A bit,” Thomas admitted. He squeezed Scott’s side. “I’ll get you set up in the kitchen while me, Janice and Tim sort out the snakes.”
Scott swallowed, then nodded.
Thomas didn’t release him again until he was sat at the kitchen table with Jay and Carly doting on him, warming up soup and making him coffee, which was a strange combination, but Scott didn’t argue.
His gaze held Thomas’s all the way to the door, then Thomas left the room.
His sudden absence, despite knowing it was coming, landed like a punch to the chest. He hoped his shaky breath was unnoticeable, but Jay and Carly both stared.
Jay looked him over. “Do you want me to get you some fresh clothes?”
