He’d have Seth’s car while he and Leaf were away, so if he forgot something, he could easily go get it while Angel wasn’t home. The thought of doing that, gladly going behind Angel’s back because of the tension between them, made his heart do a painful thing.
He carried most of his bigger things, like the chair and two monitors, down the stairs himself. He put them carefully by the front door, then went back to his room to carry more. It took a few trips, but in the end, everything he needed was piled in the hall.
Angel hadn’t said anything, and neither did Dev. The rumble of the SUV sounded from the driveway, and he sighed.
Very pointedly, Angel got up off the couch, left the TV on as a signal that he’d come back to it, and went upstairs. His door closed with a click, and the choked-up feeling came back with vengeance.
Seth didn’t have a chance to ring the bell; Dev wrenched the door open just as Seth got to it. He took one look at Dev, opened his arms, and let Dev burrow into a hug. Soon another pair of arms wrapped around them from the side, and kiss pressed against his hair.
“It’s gonna be okay, Dev. I promise,” Leaf murmured.
They let him soak in the comfort for a moment, but then Dev remembered the neighbors and pulled away.
Dev wiped his eyes, only then realizing there was something to wipe in the first place, and stepped back inside. “So, this is everything. If we put them in the car in a smart way and you drive carefully, I don’t think we need to wrap the screens or the computer.” He’d ended up taking just the work machine, because he had the dogs for company and he doubted he’d be doing much gaming anyway.
“Okay, let me grab this,” Leaf said, lifting the chair. “You take something, and we’ll figure out how Dev wants it in the car.”
Dev let Seth grab the plastic bins and took one of the monitors himself. He could’ve carried more, but he’d rather not risk it.
They managed to get everything nice and steady in the car, and Dev carried his suitcase to add to the back of the vehicle last. Then he remembered something and groaned. “Give me two minutes,” he said and ran to the house and up the stairs.
He went to his room and picked up his pillow, because he couldn’t sleep well without it for extended periods of time. It was a fancy one his mom had gotten for him because he needed good support for his neck with how much he sat at the computer daily, and he’d grown to love the weirdness of the memory foam.
He was about to go back downstairs when he changed his mind. He walked to Angel’s door and knocked lightly. “Angel, I’m probably back next weekend sometime. Not sure how long it’ll take for them to get back, depends on Seth’s mom I suppose. Anyway. See you.”
He waited for a few seconds, but when he got no answer, he walked away, feeling small fissures cracking into his heart.
Dev loved Angel more than anyone. He just couldn’t let this go easily, and he certainly couldn’t let Seth and Leaf go just because Angel didn’t approve.
SETH DROVEand Leaf sat in the back, his large palm on Dev’s shoulder the whole way to the pink house.
He was comforted, but also bone-weary, like he’d run a marathon instead of just packed some stuff and had an argument with Angel.
They unpacked at the house, and Seth showed him the space he’d made for Dev’s stuff in his study while Leaf went to feed the dogs.
“I just took everything and dumped it on the corner on Leaf’s desk. It’s not like he uses it anyway,” Seth said, smiling, but Dev could tell he wasn’t feeling the levity he was trying to portray.
“Thank you. I’ll set it all up properly tomorrow, but it looks good.”
“The password for the Wi-Fi is there, and if you need anything else, just call us. I’ll always pick up if it’s you.”
The words meant more to Dev than he could’ve put to words, so instead of replying, he went and hugged Seth again.
“Come on. Let’s have some dinner and go to bed,” Seth suggested, and Dev’s stomach was in knots suddenly.
“I’m not sure I feel like eating to be honest,” he said apologetically.
“It’s okay. Just sit with us even if you can’t eat.”
Seth pulled him into the kitchen and didn’t seem to mind when he sat down on the floor to wait for the dogs. The way he suddenly needed to see them surprised Dev a little. They all came to greet him, a bit more slobbery after their dinner than Dev usually would’ve liked, but he didn’t care right then.
Grace stuck to his side, and Missy crawled all over his lap. Even Husky didn’t seem to want to go far. It seemed like his need for comfort broadcasted enough for them to take notice.
“Okay, kids, go back out. Human dinnertime,” Leaf told them once it was time to sit at the table.
The dogs left, and Leaf pulled Dev to his feet.
“Here,” Seth said, pouring them all some wine. “I know you’re not a fan, but I think it’ll make you feel better.”
