“I got you covered,” one of the men said. “I’ll give you ours. We’ve got others in Essie’s car and one of the trucks.” He ran off to retrieve it from his car.
Another man walked up. “Are you both okay?” he asked.
Maddox didn’t recognize him, but Hank looked up and sadly laughed. “Yeah. I guess we know why the driveway was cracking.”
The man chuckled. “Yeah, I guess so. I’m so sorry.” He turned to Maddox and extended his hand. “Dave Marion. I’m their landlord.”
“Ah.” They shook. “Maddox Orosco, the best friend. They’ll stay with me.”
“I’ll get your deposit back to you, and the pro-rated rent,” he assured Hank. “I’ll have to get it wired in from my escrow account, so it might not be by end-of-day tomorrow. Might be the morning after. As soon as I have it, I’ll cut you a check and bring it to you personally.”
Maddox watched as Hank numbly nodded. “Thanks.”
At least JJ had calmed somewhat, with Eliza and June also helping comfort her.
“Let’s get them over to my place,” Maddox said. He made sure everyone had his address and cell number, and after they got the gifted car seat buckled into Maddox’s car, they headed out.
Hank silently slumped against the passenger door and Maddox didn’t try to make him talk or cheer him up. The man looked like he was in shock and wore a dazed expression.
JJ fell asleep on the way there. When they arrived, Maddox parked in the front yard to leave the driveway free for everyone else. He popped the overhead garage door open for them, too. While Hank got JJ out, Maddox directed the crew, which had picked up about ten more people along the way, it looked like, on where to put everything. He had them shift stuff out of his spare bedroom, which was more an office and catch-all room, so they could put JJ’s things in there.
With everyone working quickly, Hank was able to tuck JJ back into her own bed twenty minutes later. The boxes and suitcases holding Hank’s clothes were stashed in tidy piles along the wall in Maddox’s bedroom, and everything else was either put in the dining room or in the garage.
That’s when it hit Maddox that his biggest dream was, ironically, coming true, in a way.
Just not in any way he’d everwantedit to come true.
After everyone else left, Hank stood there in the living room, looking lost as he stared at the boxes holding the urns and pictures. It was now three a.m. and Maddox knew Hank had to be near collapse.
“I don’t even have fucking renter’s insurance,” Hank said. “I don’t have comp on the truck, either. I can’t replace mytruck.”
He rested a hand on Hank’s shoulder. “You’re both safe. Seriously,that’sthe most important thing to remember.”
Hank nodded.
“And you have a place to stay with me for as long as you need it. You’re family, and I love you both.”
Although Hank had no clue how much.
“I owe you,” Hank said, his voice cracking. “Dox…I owe youeverything, man. I can never repay you for tonight.”
Maddox pulled him in for a hug. “You don’t owe me anything,” he said.
“Yeah, I do. Whatever you want, you’ve got it. Anything you need, you ask. Anytime.” Hank broke down crying as Maddox held him while his heart broke for Hank.
If only I knew you wouldn’t push me away, buddy.
Otherwise, Maddox knewexactlywhat he’d ask of his friend, and it would mean Hank would never again have to worry about keeping a roof over his or JJ’s head.
Draping an arm around Hank, Maddox led him into the bedroom. “Just like old times, right?” He tried to keep it light in tone, but he felt emotionally crushed for Hank, and over the fact that he couldn’t simply admit to him what he felt.
Hank tearfully laughed. “Yeah, just like old times. But I don’t mind sleeping on the couch.”
“It’s a king-sized bed, dude. Seriously, it’s not like we haven’t slept together before.”
He briefly considered clarifying that, then decided no, fuck it.
“True.” Hank met Maddox’s gaze. “Thank you. Again. For everything.”
