Leaving Home by Chase, A. (life books to read .txt) 📗

me asking?” Peter propped his hip against one of

the building corners. “We’re in Cheyenne, Wyoming.”

“I know I’m in Wyoming,” Chaz snarled. “Home would be wherever I hang my hat. I

move around too much for a permanent place.”

“So then where do you need to get back to? Is someone waiting for you somewhere?”

Peter didn’t like the small rush of jealousy he felt at the thought that Chaz might belong to someone. Christ! He was an idiot. It was like he was a baby duck, imprinting on the first new guy he met.

“No, man. I need to find a place to crash for a few days, get cleaned up before I have to go do my job. The next event’s in Tulsa, and I need to make sure I’m ready.” Chaz braced his hands on the wall behind him before starting to stand up.

Peter watched as Chaz made it to his feet, swaying as he tried to find his balance. He

tensed when Chaz started to tilt to the left. He rushed in, and encircled Chaz’s waist.

“You never answered my question. Do you have a hotel room around here?” Peter

locked his knees to keep from falling over himself when Chaz put almost his full weight on him.

“I don’t think so.” Chaz reached into one of his pockets to pull out his wallet.

After taking the wallet, Peter fumbled a little bit, but finally got it open. He glanced

quickly into it, not wanting to invade the man’s privacy any more than he had to.

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LEAVING HOME T.A. Chase 11

“I don’t see a key card or anything. What else do you have in your pockets?”

Chaz’s hands were shaking too much for him to dig in his other pockets. Peter sighed,

and moved Chaz over to the wall again.

“Lean here.”

Peter tried not to think about the fact that he was putting his hands all over Chaz’s

body. He could tell the man took care of himself, for the most part. If he was a druggie, it hadn’t been for long, or else his body would’ve been wasted. He mentally rolled his eyes. All he really knew about drug users and the effects of drugs on the body was what he’d seen on TV.

From what he could feel, Chaz’s stomach was flat and his ass was firm. There was

nothing in Chaz’s front pockets, but there were a few slips of paper and a baggie of white pills in one of the back ones. He also found a set of keys in his coat pocket.

“At least we know you have a vehicle somewhere,” he pointed out, holding the keys up

for Chaz to look at. “We just have to go in search of it.”

Chaz’s eyes widened at the sight of the baggie, and Peter put it away in his own pocket.

He didn’t want to know what it was, and he didn’t think Chaz needed any more of it at the moment. The papers were receipts from different restaurants in the Cheyenne area. They

were dated for the last couple of days, which meant that Chaz had been in the area for a

while. He had to have been staying somewhere.

“Maybe the hotel card is in your ride.”

He checked his watch. Damn! He needed to get back to the ranch or Margie would start

to worry. With Les and Randy out of the country, and Jackson off on his honeymoon with

Tammy, there wasn’t anyone there to run the place. Not that Peter was such a take-charge

person, but he followed directions well, and Jackson checked in once a day to let him know what needed to be done.

“All right. We should find your car, and I’ll follow you to your hotel.”

“Don’t bother. I’ll get myself there.” Chaz pushed away from the building.

Peter watched him take a few steps before his knees buckled.

“Shit.” Peter swore as he caught Chaz right before he hit the ground. “Man, I’m not

leaving you out here. You know what? My car’s right down the street. I’ll drive you to a hotel or something. I have to get home, but damn me for being a good person.”

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Chaz didn’t say anything, and Peter checked to make sure the man was even conscious.

Chaz’s eyes were glazed over, making Peter think maybe Chaz had used up whatever

strength or determination he’d had to get as far as he had done. Either whatever he’d taken was wearing off, or Chaz had spent all his energy getting to where Peter had found him.

Sighing, Peter made a decision he was probably going to regret in the morning. He

stumbled and tripped as he carted Chaz back towards his car. He’d take Chaz home to the

ranch with him, and they would see what Chaz wanted to do after he’d cleaned up and

rested.

Crazy idea. He could hear Max’s voice in his head, telling him not to take Chaz home. It would be better to take Chaz to the nearest hotel and let him fend for himself than to bring him to where he lived.

You don’t even know who he really is, Peter. He could be a thief, or worse. Peter pursed his lips as they walked. Max’s voice might be right. Chaz could be a thief or a killer, yet

everything in Peter’s gut told him the man was a danger only to himself.

“Chaz, what do you do for a living? Underneath all the grime, it looks like you’ve taken

care of yourself. If you’re homeless, you haven’t been for long.” Peter kept talking, not knowing if Chaz could hear him or not. “I could look at your wallet, but I think I’ll wait until we get to the ranch for that.”

He managed to get his keys out of his pocket without letting go of Chaz. Clicking the

button, he got it unlocked before they reached it. He shook Chaz enough for him to focus on Peter.

“I need you to stand right here. Somehow keep upright. I have to get the door open,

then you can get in.” He waited until he got a slight nod before