“That was Murphy,” he says, and Ellery immediately tenses beside me. “He decided he’s going to get personally involved in dealing with this human trafficking situation?—”
Ellery cough-laughs, interrupting him, but he perseveres. I suppose there’s some irony there, given what Ellery said before.
Colm spreads his hands wide.
“Look, I just work here. But he’s in motherfucking Missouri right now, and he wants you and I back there immediately. Ellery, it doesn’t seem like he’s heard about your part in our littletrip, so you’re safe. And as much as I want to invite you back with us, it sounds like you don’t want to be seen by the old man.”
“You’re goddamn right,” they spit.
“So, I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to cut this short. I’m sure we’ll have to come back once we make a plan, and we can arrange to come back so you two can catch up. If that works.”
Ellery looks between the two of us for a second before settling on me.
“You don’t have to jump when Murphy says so, you know. You really want to go back?” they ask, seeming sincere in their concern.
This is such a weird sensation. I’ve always liked being a feather on the wind, utterly unbothered which way I get blown. But as much as I want to spend more time with Ellery, the thought of letting Colm leave without me causes an ache in my chest I can’t ease.
I’m speaking to Ellery, but I hold Colm’s gaze when I open my mouth.
“I want to go. I’m not leaving Colm.”
I get to see the exact moment that the words land, and emotion floods Colm’s normally stoic face. I feel his emotion reflected in myself in a way I never have before, and it feels good.
He nods, not saying anything, but there’s nothing to be said. I know him.
“Besides, he’s too boring to survive without me. Plain white bread, and all that. I’m the sprinkles.”
That makes him crack a smile, while Ellery lets out a low whistle.
“Good grief. Alright. I see someone’s finally managed to get you smitten. Congratulations. I’ll speak to the Costellos, they can help you get home. Come back and see me when you can. And promise me you won’t fall for any of Murphy’s bullshit.”
“I can do that. As long as you’ll still be here and won’t run away again,” I say.
“I can do that.”
Ellery reaches out one more time to chuck me on the chin, and I feel like I can finally, truly breathe. Whatever else we have to deal with, the important thing is done. I know where they are and that they’re safe.
Colm and I can handle the rest.
Epilogue
COLM
Iwas a little worried when Fallow suggested this. Obviously, we had to rush back to Possum Hollow to meet Murphy and hash out a plan. Fallow seemed chill about it, but somewhere along the drive to St Louis he started to get nervous, and I wasn’t shocked when he asked to take a break in a motel room for a few hours before we get home.
If anything surprised me, it was him selecting the motel and not insisting we fuck in the car on the side of the highway. Either way, I was happy to comply.
I expected him to strip down and do his thing until the nerves eased up. It wouldn’t be the first time. So, when we went in the room and he asked me to really fuck him, not lie back and allow myself to be ridden I was caught off-guard.
Now we’re on the bed, face to face with him pinned between me and the bed and my dick in his ass. He’s seemed more and more comfortable with the touching every day, but this is a lot. I’m worried it’s going to overwhelm him.
“Is this okay?” I ask, so close to him that my lips brush his when I speak.
Fallow kisses me chastely, then wiggles his body as much as he can with me inside.
“I kind of like it. You’re a like a big weighted blanket with a dildo and a mild-mannered personality attached.”
He gives me a little smirk, even though I have to lean back to see it, and my apprehension rolls back.
