Another flash of crimson.
“I like to stay in shape,” Marcus said, returning to his room and stepping into a pair of joggers he’d thrown on the floor.
Gavin followed him into his bedroom.
“So, you didn’t answer my question. Did you get any sleep?” Marcus asked once again.
Shrugging his shoulders, Gavin sat down on Marcus’s bed.
“I guess at some point? Every time I closed my eyes, I kept seeing his smirking face staring at me. I kept hearing him say not to worry, he was going to leave me a really romantic Valentine’s card when he killed me. I finally gave up trying to sleep and decided to snoop around your house instead. Strangely enough, it was the sound of your snoring that finally made me fall asleep.”
Marcus threw a shirt over his head and managed to squeeze his arms through the tiny holes.
“Well, I guess that makes sense. You see me as your big, strong protector. So it’s only natural that you would feel comfortable sleeping when you're around me.”
“So does that mean I get to cuddle with you at night?” Gavin’s eyes lit up, and his smile nearly swallowed his head.
“Nice try. I’ll get you a doll and slap a picture of me on its face. You can cuddle that instead.”
Disappointment set in as Gavin’s fantasies of beingswallowed alive by Marcus’s swollen body evaporated before his eyes.
Gavin let out a sigh. “Fine… You’re no fun.” He looked up at Marcus, then back at the door. “Do you think they saw me sleeping outside your doorway, like a neglected little puppy?”
Marcus glanced at the door, then shook his head. “No, those gossip queens won’t open their eyes until at least noon. Something about beauty sleep and them not being spring chickens anymore.”
“Don’t let them hear you say that.” Gavin chuckled. There was something calming and relaxing about Marcus. He felt like no matter what, he could be himself around the big, burly man.
Placing his hand on Gavin’s shoulder, Marcus led him out of his bedroom and into the kitchen.
“So, what do you want for breakfast? I guess you don’t eat eggs,” Marcus noted, scouring the fridge as he tried to figure out what vegetarians eat for breakfast.
Gavin couldn’t help but smile.
7
MARCUS
“So, is it true?” Caden asked the second Marcus walked into the back of the bar.
“Is what true?” he asked, dropping a box of supplies onto the table.
“That you are babysitting a Valentine murder victim?”
Marcus glanced up at Caden and gave him a look.
“How could I be babysitting somebody who’s dead?”
Caden looked at him, confused and trying to figure out what he got wrong.
“But Lucas said…” he began before realizing what he was about to admit to.
“Lucas has a big mouth,” Marcus said, turning back to the box he had just brought in. He began unloading boxes of straws and putting them in a pile for Damien to take to the front of the bar whenever he had a chance.
“So? Is it true?” Caden asked once again, this time leaning against one of the tables in the back.
Marcus broke up the empty box and then laid it flat on the table. He gave Caden a stern look, then double-checked that no one else was around to overhear.
“Yes, what Lucas said is true. Sheriff Burke asked us to watch and protect Gavin until they can catch this motherfucker and Gavin can testify. I need you to keep this info to yourself. The fewer people who know the truth, the better.”
