A Hunger to Share ( Book Two )

chapter 43

James 

A Week Later

"What are you doing here?" Gideon spoke without looking up, busy with his flowers.

James closed the door of the greenhouse and breathed in the delightful scent of the flowers, and plants decorating the beautiful place. "Couldn't sleep." He unzipped his leather jacket.

"If you're looking for herbal shit you should go to Marcia. Her valerian tea works miracles. Unless you're looking for weed. Then you've come to the right place." Gideon advised, his back to James, tending to a downward looking flower with white petals James didn't recognize.

"Thanks, I don't want weed but I'd like to stay for a bit. Unless I'm interrupting your work." James leaned against the wooden table.

Gideon looked at him sidways. "You can stay as long as you want. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

James shrugged. "I'd heard from Ada you had a fancy greenhouse, thought I'd come, and see it for myself."

"What do you think?" Gideon gestured for him to sit on a stool nearby.

James smiled. "I don't know shit about gardening, but I like it here. It's peaceful, and quiet."

"You were just seeking out my company?" Gideon smirked. "I'm honored."

James looked at Gideon's long, pianist fingers working the beautiful plant in front of him. "You could say that."

"I thought you didn't like me." Gideon scratched his face, leaving a smear of dirt behind.

He was handsome but still couldn't hold a candle to Artyom.

James leaned back against the wooden table and crossed his arms in front of himself. "Yeah first time I saw you I thought you were an ass but then I noticed how much you cared about Ada and Artyom and the rest of your family. I guess you grew on me."

"I owe you a big apology James." Gideon looked serious. "It's long overdue actually."  

James rose an eyebrow. "For what?"

"Making you slap yourself back in the celler. It was a bitchy move done out of jealousy, and for that I'm sorry."

James chuckled. "Wait, wait, wait. you were jealous of
me? Really?"

Gideon rolled his eyes. "Don't start."

"But Ada and I weren't together anymore at that time. She was with Maggie."

Gideon sighed, running a hand through his hair, making it dirty. "I know but Maggie was family. You were a stranger and I could still smell you on her and it was driving me crazy."

"I'm sorry."

Gideon smiled. "Don't be. I had no right to feel that way. I was the one who had left her."

"We can't always control how we feel." James patted his shoulder kindly.

"No we can't." He agreed with a faint smile.

"You love her. It's natural to feel that way."

"Yes, but I still did a bad thing. I should have apologized sooner. I'm sorry I didn't."

James waved a hand in the air. "It's Ok. I forgave you long ago. I don't like holding grudges."

Gideon ruffled James's hair with his dirty glove. "You're too pure for this world."

"Hey." James protested. "Now I have to shower again."

"I'm sure Artyom would love to help." Gideon smirked.

James rolled his eyes. "Hell no. My ass needs some rest."

Gideon chuckled, put the flower he was tending to back on a shelf, and started on another one.

James watched him move around the greenhouse. "Jack, and I owe you a big thanks for taking care of our sister all these years when we couldn't."

"As if Gen would let anyone look after her but herself." Gideon snorted.

"Still, thank you."

"It was the least I could do after your family was torn apart because of me." His eyes darkened with shame, and regret.

"You know it wasn't your fault. My dad would have still done it with someone else. That's who he is."

"Yeah your dad's a real bastard."

"Yeah but we're back together again. That's all that matters. Dad can suck on that."

"That's the spirit."

Gideon started watering another flower. He asked James if he wanted to help, but James refused. He didn't want to ruin Gideon's beautiful greenhouse with his messy fingers. He'd rather watch him work. It was very calming. No wonder Ada loved it here.

"How do you like the Castle so far?" Gideon asked.

"It's interesting." James admitted. "Love the pool, and everyone's really nice."

"But?"

"I hate sitting on my ass, and do nothing." James blurted out with a groan, and propped his elbow on the wooden table, leaning his head against his palm.

"You can always sit on Artyom's dick, and do something." Gideon wiggled his eyebrows.

"Gideon I'm serious." James glared at him.

Gideon sighed, all traces of his playful manner gone. "I know how you feel. I wish there was something I could do to ensure Ada and the little trouble maker's safety but I've been in this game long enough to know there is no winning, only surviving."

James pressed his lips together. "That's not enough."

"It has to be." Gideon didn't sound bitchy, just tired, and honest.

"How did you manage to survive it for so long?"

"I don't know. I just...kept going."

"But it's so hard. I'm always worried, waiting for something bad to happen, something I know I can't control. It's driving me nuts."

Gideon took out his gardening gloves, and placed a hand on James's shoulder. "I feel you mate. I really do. I wish I had some great advice to give you, but I have the same worries as you, and no concrete solution." 

"It's good to know I'm not the only pessimist around here." James smiled bitterly.

"People think this castle is the safest place on earth, and it might be to some extant, but nothing is perfect. There's always a crack you miss, and that's how bad shit gets in. If the Twins want us defeated, we will be. We just have to hope that that day never comes, or if it does, we'll survive them."

"Thank you for being honest with me."

"As long as we have Adrian, we're probably good."

"I hope we never lose him."

Gideon lifted his hand from James's shoulder, and looked at the sliver of moonlight slithering through the greenhouse. "He's lived for three thousand years. I wouldn't worry too much."

"If you say so." James stood up, yowning. "I better go back, and try to catch some sleep. Thanks for the chat, and the company."

Gideon smiled fondly at him. "Anytime. Be safe. We don't want Artyom yelling your name in the middle of the night, and wake everyone up now, do we?"

"All right." James chuckled. "Good night Mr gardener."

"Good night lover boy."

James left the calm, fragrant interior of the greenhouse behind, zipping up his jacket against the cold.

No wonder Ada had fallen for Gideon. Who wouldn't adore a guy who loved flowers, and could rock the piano?