The Returnee

Chapter 5

"It is," Lee agreed, not about to try and argue a well-known fact. The more stressed he got, the less he could eat. He looked Joey up and down, taking another bit to try his unease of the man appearing in front of him.

A different suit graced him than the previous night, this one with a similar little blue shirt but a black jacket and trousers instead of the dark blue of the previous night. His top few shirt buttons were open, though a tie peeked out of his chest pocket ready to be used if the situation arose. Joey leaned back, body language open and inviting as he trapped Lee in place. The foot felt more like a ball and chain than anything benign. The suit fit Joey like a second skin, Lee could relate to that. The implication behind the scene didn't help his stomach.

He'd been prepared to walk into whatever office Lee was working in, and find him by force. The air around Joey, the casual strength in his suit and a handsome smile on his face, no one would have stopped him. People responded to things like that positively. He'd used the same technique to get through the crowd.

"What's your number at?"

Lee winced. It was one of Matt's methods to let vulnerable ones verbalise how they were doing when words got in the way. Everyone scale differed but ultimately it was all the same numbers and meanings. Lying wasn't an option at this moment. He put the piece of toast down, considering it. Anything below a five was a request for help and guidance. Anything above an eight said the world was beautiful and nothing bad could happen. He wasn't getting away with that.

"A six, I think," he settled on. The nightmare shook him, he couldn't escape that but any lower and he wouldn't have left the room. He tried to give a big smile back. He was fine. Nothing could be wrong if he was eating, right?

He needed to finish the piece he had started. A third slice might be a little too optimistic now but if he invited Joey on his walk then the man would see Lee didn't need help to breathe. If he proves his control over stress levels, the man might let him deal with the family on his own terms. Or Joey might outright kidnap him, a bit extreme but not completely out of the realm of possibility.

"Finish your toast," Joey said, fingers tapping on the table.

Lee obeyed, the taste not sand but not the delicious sensation that the few slices produced. Eyes remained glued to him, the front on his ankle rubbing as Joey got out his phone and typed something on it. Slice finished, Lee reached out and slathered the final piece with butter and jam. The knife scraped against the bread and his ears, everything heightened with the focus of having Joey sitting beside him.

"You didn't answer your phone this morning?" A question, not a statement though Lee wasn't sure where it came from. Had someone called him?

"I did to Damian last night? I left my phone upstairs so I would be distracting from eating." The confusion in his words must have been clear as Joey relaxed more, settling into a more natural state rather than for show. A shiver went up along Lee's back. He'd passed some kind of test there, he was sure of it.

"I phoned you this morning. I'm very pleased to hear that you reconnected with Dami," Joey said with a content purr in his voice. If Matt reminded Lee of a wolf, prowling and snarling with displeasure, Joey currently gave the impression of a lion. Large, dignified and absolutely ready to tear a man into spreads if the cause or desire arose. They could seem lazy, napping the sun but were quick to jump into action at the slightest hint that things were not perfect and happy. "He missed you as much as the landing party did. Colin got jealous. It was sweet, I guess."

A flare of heat had Lee looking down at the food ready to eat. He hadn't checked his phone after his call with Andrew. Of the four men, Colin was like him, like Damian, a vulnerable one. Colin would feel it more.