The Driving Force to Love (MXM) ✔

Chapter 34

Dean Axle Lance

"Is that everything?" I asked Mark.

"Yeah," he said as he put his large duffle bag behind the seats in my truck. "Thanks again, Dean. I wouldn't have anyone without you."

"Of course," I said. His month at the halfway house was over and I was there to drive him to his new apartment. He didn't have anything - not furniture or dishes or anything other than what was in his bag. We were going to stop at the superstore on the way to his new apartment to pick up some more of the basics and then we would go to some discount stores to look at furniture.

"I've been saving up money from my job," he said as he got in and sat in the passenger seat. "So hopefully you won't have to help me out too much with finances."

"I came expecting to pay for at least some of your furniture. Don't worry about it. Just stay clean this time and don't leave me with the aftermath of what to do with your things by getting put in jail again."

"I'm trying," he said a bit defensively.

"I know," I said. But he always tried right when he got out of jail. It was what came after that which worried me.

"Sorry," he said. "It just gets hard when you keep reminding me of my mistakes."

"And it's hard for me to keep dealing with the aftermath of your screw ups."

He looked out the passenger side window and refused to look at me.

I sighed as I drove along the streets. "Sorry," I said. "I guess I need to try too."

He looked at me for a moment before settling back in the seat and looking out the windshield. "I forget you've been through a lot too," he said quietly. "It just wears on me when you constantly doubt me."

He was forty-three and for most of his life, I had been cleaning up after him and trying to fix his messes. It was hard to believe he could reform even though I wanted to believe it. I didn't say that out loud. It wasn't what he needed to hear.

"I want you to succeed this time, Mark," I said. "I'll try to remind you of that more instead of bringing up the past."

His body relaxed. "Thanks, Dean."

We pulled into the parking lot of the nearest superstore to his apartment. We bought him dishes, cutlery, towels for the bathroom, garbage cans for the kitchen and bathroom and everything else we could think of that he would need including food. By the time we got to his new apartment and unloaded my truck, it was past noon.

"You were planning to eat lunch with your boyfriend weren't you?" he asked as he placed the last bag on the counter. "You can go while I unpack."

Part of me thought it was too soon for him to meet Tonio, but I didn't want to leave him alone. I was supposed to be helping him for the day.

"You can come," I said. I wasn't sure how Antonio would feel about me just inviting him, but I didn't think he would mind that much.

"Nah," Mark said. "I'll stay here and put away everything we just got."

"Are you sure?" I couldn't tell from his expression if he meant it or not. I didn't want him to feel hurt.

"Yeah," he said. "Just bring me back something to eat."

I smiled. "Alright. I won't be long. Bye." I waved to him from the door. He waved back with one hand while the other opened his fridge door to put away the groceries.