The Rescue Game
Fletcher could tell his boyfriend was nervous on the drive over to his family’s house. He held Taylor’s hand tightly in the backseat of his neighbor’s car while he spoke to her and his younger brother sitting up front.
“So, I think we should just go in and grab what we need,” Jesse told him. “I’m sure you probably would want to grab a few things from the room too.”
“Yeah, but you’re more important right now. It’d be nice to have some of the things Dad gave me before he passed, but we need to make sure we get all your important documents for your registration.”
“Orientation’s July 31st. You sure you can make it?” Jesse asked.
“Of course, bud. And we’ll get you everything you need for your dorm and shit. Man, I wish I could’ve gone to college,” Taylor sighed.
“And you can’t forget the dog, kid.” Caroline reminded.
“Wait, what dog?” Taylor asked.
Jesse let out a nervous laugh. “I took in a stray before I ran away.”
“And then I took intwostrays,” Caroline laughed.
“What kind of dog is it?” Fletcher asked.
Jesse reached into his pocket and handed Fletcher his new phone. His lock screen had a picture of a scrappy-looking poodle thing who sat in his lap. “His name is Rocco.” He looked at Fletcher and smiled.
Jesse looked a lot like Taylor. They both had kind of the same beautifully stoic face and angular features. Taylor had more of a rugged, ethereal look to him while Jesse looked a lot younger and lively. Taylor’s hair was wavy and on the shorter side, but Jesse had long, sleek black hair that fell well down his back. Fletcher assumed he kept his hair long because of his and Taylor’s Indigenous heritage. Taylor had told him one time that when his dad passed away, he and his brother both cut their hair short. Apparently, Taylor’s hair was longer like Jesse’s when he was younger, but it became too much to manage with all his hockey and stuff.
“How the hell are we going to get a dog back to Seattle? And how the hell will we convince Gretchen to let us have a dog?” Taylor complained.
“What, she doesn’t like dogs?” Jesse asked.
“She doesn’t like doodles. She thinks they look too sentient,” Taylor groaned.
“I’ll just use some of my classic Piers charm to convince her,” he laughed.
“I’d say Mommy Gretch is the one person the Piers charm doesn’t work on,” Fletcher joked. “That woman has your brother whipped into shape, man. It’s hilarious.”
Jesse turned back and gave Fletcher a suggestive smirk. “And you don’t?”
“Turn your head around Jesse,” Taylor snapped. He reached over and flicked the back of his brother’s head. Fletcher tried to pretend it wasn’t hot hearing his boyfriend sound so…authoritative.
Caroline told them that they were five minutes away before turning up her true crime podcast on the car’s radio, subtly telling her passengers that she didn’t want to hear any more bickering.
Fletcher pulled out his phone and shamelessly sent Taylor a text.
Fletcher: Maybe I need to bend you over so I can whip you into shape
Taylor picked up his phone to read the message and smirked as he wrote out a reply.
Taylor: I can’t wait to bend you over tonight
Taylor: I made sure our room was on a completely different floor than my brother’s so we don’t have to worry about being quiet
Fletcher: What are you going to bend me over on?
Taylor: Maybe a few different places, but we could start with my knee
Fletcher: Have I been a bad boy?
Taylor: Yes you have
