What I Left Behind (boyxboy)

Squatters

Our morning at the hotel was rather uneventful. We got up early and thanked the clerk on our way out.

I hopped into the drivers seat of Nicks van and adjusted the seat. There was a business card from Anthony on the visor.

The ride back started rather uneventful. We were both so quiet, happy, nervous in anticipation for our little cabin in the woods.

"Shit, Jessica called me. There's a voicemail." He rapidly tapped through his phone.

"Nick, call me. I have news for you...well okay so I heard that our old asshole boss is slandering us all on social media, calling you and Flynn the "queers of North Royalton" and "squatters". I honestly don't even know if you care but he's going hard on social media" click.

"Well, just another reason why I don't have a cell phone" I didn't know how else to respond.

Nick sat in silence. His face was white and motionless as he stared out the passenger window.

"Nick?" I asked after a few silent moments.

Silence.

"It's fine Nick, don't worry about it. He's just a ol-"

"What the fuck don't you understand Flynn? You are always so passive aggressive and let shit roll off. Do you fucking understand how small of a town this is? How religious everyone is? Open your fucking eyes; good luck to us if we ever get a fucking job because of this." He snapped.

"Fucking bullshit" he added and lit a cigarette. Tossing the lighter onto the dash.

I felt my face, ears and neck go beat red. I couldn't even muster a response. I wasn't trying to be passive I just wanted to make him feel better, I know that this is just another hiccup on the road. It'll pass. I felt bad for making him upset. I gripped the wheel tighter and changed lanes.

——

After about an hour of silence Nick finally piped in.

"Take the next exit" 

Exit 23 Government Center/ Quincy Market.

I silently followed his directions into Boston's north end. I was still in shock about his earlier outburst.

"Park here" He quickly pointed to a spot.

We got out of the van and walked down the street. It was a very trendy neighborhood. It was definitely Italian.
We turned the corner onto Hanover street.
I followed Nick up to a big line that was on the street. We both didn't say a word. As the line moved forward I saw the sign

Mikes Pastry

"Nick!" I whined
"You know I have the worst sweet tooth ever!" I smiled.

He didn't reply, just gave his devilish half smile.

The line moved rather quickly, this place was packed. But they obviously were used to it.

"Go ahead Flynn, get whatever you'd like."

"Ohh, Okay; let me get two hazelnut cannolis, one chocolate chip, and a red velvet" I glanced to Nick.

"I'll take two pistachio, and a hazelnut" he thanked the woman as she filled the box and wrapped it with string.

"Also two coffees" he added. She handed us our coffees and cannolis and we left the busy store.

"Don't eat them yet. Follow me." We walked down the street and hooked a left and walked a little more. We came up on this little park on the waterfront. It was pretty. The view was nice. You could see the Zakim bridge and had a cool view of planes landing across the harbor at Boston Logan airport. 

We sat down on a bench and I tore into the cannoli box. The way the woman wrapped it with the string was like trying to break into a safe. I struggled as I pulled on the string and finally Nick pulled out a pocket knife and cut it.
I stuffed a half a cannoli down my throat and nearly passed out from how good it tasted.

Nick looked at me wide eyed and a smile grew across his face.

"Okay, look" he began, sipping on his coffee.

"I'm sorry Flynn, I shouldn't have ever snapped on you like that." He took a deep breath and continued.

"I honestly was so mad at him I took it out on you, and you just took it all and didn't even fight back. I'm sorry for taking my anger out on you. It was so uncalled for. Forgive me?" He took a couple of shallow breaths and glanced into my eyes. I was secretly trying to choke down the rest of my cannoli.

"Nick, I'm sorry too. Nothing you can do would ever make me stop loving you" I replied softly.

"I love you" He smiled and stood up, he stretched his arms out for a hug.

I dove into his arms. He was warm, and I felt so at home right there in his arms.

We stood wrapped in each other's arms for few moments.

"Hey Aiden, look at those cunts" I hear a guys voice. I step back from Nick, instantly furious.
It was two teen boys about three benches down, they must have been 14 or so.

"Let's get out of the city" he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close, planting a kiss on my lips. The boys laughed like it was the funniest thing they had seen.

We walked back up the hill and found Nicks van. I piled inside and turned the heat on, it was cold out there.

Nick, my human GPS, got me back into the tunnel and northward bound again. We listed to the weather and pointed north.
Heading home.

——-

It was dark and late when we finally saw the steel bridge that crossed the river to our new home.
It had obviously snowed more since we left. The plows had left quite the pile at the end of the driveway.

We parked up on the snowbank and using our flashlights on his phone made our way up the two steps onto the little porch. Nick fiddled with the lock and pushed the door in.

Nick turned on the light and instantly burst out laughing.

"Is it strange I kind of forgot we both own zero furniture?" Nick laughed.
They had the entire place empty. All that remained was the little three seat half circle table that was built in right near the front window.

We both let out a burst of laughter.

Nick walked back out the door and entered with a pile of store bought firewood that was left on the door. A small note was staples on top

Stay warm!
Courtesy of Holly and Alex Alteri
Mountainair Airways

"How nice?" I smiled.

Nick and me sat down on the floor as the wood stove began to throw heat. The bedroom was empty. The bathroom was too, they cleaned the place out top to bottom.

The only thing that was left was a green old school rotary phone on the wall.

Nick and myself used our jackets as pillows and curled up on the uneven wooden floor next to the wood stove and fell into a peaceful sleep.