Page 7 of Teddy Tea Time

He’s the guy who takes charge when Theo has clogged the sewers after Taco Tuesday.

He’s the warm hug when we’re hurting, and the fierce protector when we’re frightened.

The last week has been hard enough without his presence; I can’t imagine what life would be like if he moves away for good.

“Why didn’t he call me himself?” Eli asks.

What a shocker, the Sadist doesn’t like not being in control of everything.

Jackson shrugs, but there is an uncharacteristic anger brewing in his expression. I can understand it, honestly. Eli might be the boss for those of us who work at Mac’s, but he seems to forget that he’s not in charge of everything in our lives.

Judging by the glares shooting between the two men, someone should probably step in. When no one in the crowd steps up, I realize that I am going to have to be the one to do it. Everyone else present is either a drama loving brat or they are too naturally submissive to confront the more dominant personalities.

“So does this mean I get to live next door to the teddy bear instead of your stanky ass?”

Lucky giggles from where he is now perched on Stan’s back, and the tension ratchets down a few notches between everyone. After a few more seconds of glaring, I manage to get everyone on track to pack and move the items between the two buildings. Even Eric loaned his truck while he’s busy at Mr. Drag to make moving things a bit easier. It might only be a move within the same neighborhood, but carrying a dresser over the length of a football field is not something you do if you don’t have to.

With the number of people helping, it honestly takes less than an hour to empty out the home next door and place the boxes of clothes and things from the house inside. For the sake of my nerves and my now cold Chinese food, I am thankful when Jackson and the crew from Kink Manor disappear shortly after the last of his things were removed from the home next door.

About fifteen minutes later, Jace pulls up.

Right now, I am kind of glad that I turned down the invitation for pizza at the house because Jace looks wrecked.

“Hey TB,” I call out gently when he doesn’t immediately move to get off his bike after taking off the helmet. “Care for some leftover Chinese food? Jackson is over at the house, so you can just chill here with me if you don’t want to people.”

The raw agony on his face when he looks over has me ready to burn the fucking universe for him. Now, I think I understand why Jackson was ready to go up against Eli like he did.

Whatever happened to our teddy bear is trying to destroy him from the inside.

Instead of answering me verbally, Jace just nods and follows me into my home like a lost puppy.

I am not sure what is going on, but he can at least help me get rid of some of this lo mein and orange chicken before it goes bad. Leftovers and chocolate cake do wonders for the soul – especially when you’re resisting the urge to dropkick someone at the unemployment office… or whatever is eating at my friend.

7

JACE

I never thought leftover Orange Chicken would be a cure-all, but spending last night with Ash really helped me. Good company and a comfortable couch might not be much; however, it was everything to me in that moment.

People underestimate the importance of having space to just exist. Ash gave me that.

Jackson would have hovered. Eli would have prodded. Lucky would have cuddled with me… okay, so that wouldn’t have been so bad except I would have to explain everything to Spencer, and I’m not ready for that yet.

Too many Daddy types are in my life that don’t want me as their boy but want to control my life.

Ash just let me kind of power down, and it brought me an unexpected peace to know they were there to take care of whatever popped up to the point that I didn’t even have to move.

“What do you think?”

The realtor’s voice brings me back to the present and I really look around the space that used to belong to a glassblower. The front of the shop is functional.

Honestly, the majority of my projects are commissions and projects that cannot be just placed in a window, but I also create some more conventional pieces that can appeal to the average passerby – especially around the holidays.

The real value in this location is the forge in the back. The previous owner made sure that everything was up to code to form his creations on site, so it would take only minor adjustments to get things updated for my welding and smithing. Plus, with the extra space, I can finally take on some of the more complex orders that I had to turn down from members at the Devil.

“This is the best option I’ve been able to find, Mister Whitetower. You can always convert other spaces, but zoning really makes it difficult to find a location where a forge would be welcome. Well, at least within the areas you have asked me to search. If you were willing to look outside of Wrenshaw proper, there would be more options with freestanding structures.”

Shaking my head, I hold up a hand to stop her from going into another sales spiel. Clara Hayes is one of the best realtors in the town of Wrenshaw, according to Clarence – my boss at the club – but she is a talker. She’s good at her job, though. Her finding this space will save me months of extra work and lost income setting up a place from scratch.