***
When Shane eventually got to Chris’, Damon and Dean were already there. They had done some packing for Chris and were playing cards with Kate.
“So I hear you boys are going out of town.” Kate beamed.
“That’s the plan.”
“Good. We’ve packed a bag for him.” She pointed at a packed bag at the bottom of the stairs.
“Thank you very much, Kate.” Shane smiled. “There’s another thing you can help me with. Do you know where the keys to the Florida house is?”
Kate pointed up the stairs. “It’s in the safe up there.”
“A safe,” Shane muttered. “Great! How the fuck am I to know the password?” Shane muttered as they all climbed the stairs. All four of them went closer to the safe, each wondering what the password could be. After staring at the safe for a while, Shane stepped in front of it and punched in N. I. C. K.
“Dude, I thought you didn’t know the password.” Dean’s voice raised in surprise as the safe opened.
“I didn’t,” Shane said, surprised himself. “I just…guessed.” He finished in a whisper.
Shane stared at the contents of the safe and felt his eyes well with tears. Inside the safe were only two items. The keys and the box of Dominos Chris had given him all those years ago. He’d used a red pen to write his own name on the box and it hadn’t faded. Shane leaned his head against the safe as silent tears coursed down his cheeks.
“I’ll be downstairs,” Kate said softly and left the three men.
Damon and Dean watched Shane. They knew he was crying but neither knew what to do. In the end, Damon stepped forward, with the intention of pulling Shane back so they could close the safe. If Shane and Chris were to travel, they had to get going. But when Damon got closer, he saw the box of Dominos and immediately understood Shane’s reaction. Chris had told him about it.
“Your box of Dominos,” Damon muttered as he drew Shane into a fierce hug. “It’s okay Shane.” Damon crooned as he rubbed Shane on the back, soothingly.
Dean stepped closer to Shane and patted his back too, showing his support. Shane couldn’t have been able to put into words how he felt that very moment if he’d been asked. Seeing that box of Dominos had affected him more than he cared to admit. If just a box of Dominos could do that to him, he dreaded what going into that house would do.
“Oh god,” Shane mumbled, as he pulled out of Damon’s embrace. “Yes, it’s my box of Dominos.” He said quietly. “He kept it.”
Then Shane turned around, grabbed both the Dominos and the keys, and closed the safe. By the time they got back downstairs, Chris’ bag had already been put into Shane’s car.
“I’ve called the caretaker, Jon, at the house in Florida,” Kate said quietly. “He’s getting the place ready for you.”
“Thanks, Kate.” Shane smiled. “Please tell him to expect a car to be delivered in the next two hours.”
“I’ll tell him. Oh and I’m arranging for a chef to be at post for the next two weeks.” She said with a grin. “Have fun.”
“You’re the best Kate,” Dean said, hugging Chris’ housekeeper. They all liked her because she spoilt them whenever it was Chris’ turn to entertain on Saturdays.
“Of course I’m the best.” She purred, making the guys chuckle as they left the house for their cars.
But for Damon and Dean, the feeling was solemn as they drove towards the hotel and Chris. Chris had told them some years back just how much he hated the idea of ever going to that house in Florida. Though he hadn’t told them why at the time, he’d told them that though he never planned on going there, he also couldn’t bring himself to sell it off. So they knew it was going to be very difficult to convince Chris to go on the trip. Neither Damon nor Dean wanted to be in Shane’s shoes.
***
Chris couldn’t remember ever being as drunk as he was that very moment. He knew he was bound to pass out at a point and was actually looking forward to that. His mind kept going to Shane’s face when he told him he’d fucked Peaches. Fuck! Chris turned to look at Peaches, fast asleep beside him on the bed. She’d drunk too but not as much as Chris. After telling him her piece, she’d fallen asleep, leaving Chris to wallow in his own misery.
“Hey, Peach wake up.” Chris slurred, shaking Peaches gently. “You said you have rehearsals at five p. m. It’s almost five.”
“Already?” Peaches groaned, rolling over onto her back. “I wish I could…what the fuck?” Peaches trailed off as they both heard the main door being opened from outside. Since the door between the bedroom and the living room was wide opened and directly in line with the main door, they could watch as it opened.
Chris was too buzzed to care about the fact that someone was entering his suite. He watched quietly as Kyle, Aaron, Matt, and Cole entered the suite. He stared at his friends, noting the condemnation in their eyes. Of course, it wasn’t what they were all obviously thinking but…would they believe him? Fuck them, he thought.
“Really?” Matt growled, staring daggers at Chris. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Can you please excuse us, Madam?” Cole said politely to Peaches, who was already getting out of the bed.
“Of course.” Peaches said, pushing her feet into her shoes. “For the record, we were not hooking up or anything. I’m just keeping him company that’s all.” She said as she went around the bed to Chris’ side and kissed him gently on the cheek. “Take care.” She whispered and sashayed out of the suite.
“We’ll be downstairs, baby,” Kyle whispered to Aaron and kissed him softly. “Come on, guys.” And with a final deadly look from Matt, the guys left the room, leaving Aaron behind.
Aaron stood by the door for a long moment after the guys had left, eyes locked on Chris’. Then he walked into the bedroom, toed off his loafers, and climbed into the bed to sit with his back against the headboard, just as Chris was.