Composed at Randy’s (Diner Days)

4. Bael

Chapter 4

Bael

T he little guy is out cold again, and I look at Gwen in alarm. “Is he okay? What did I do? Did I do something to him?”

Christ on a crutch, maybe he is like a fish. I’ve accidentally killed the shit out of so many fish. Poor little guys…

“Calm down. You didn’t do anything to him. He’s just exhausted and fell asleep again. This is good for him.” Gwen does doctor things around Wren while I work on not freaking out.

His name is Wren! Isn’t that just the cutest name ever? That Hello Kitty sandwich I ate earlier has nothing on this guy. He’s adorable from top to bottom.

No, I didn’t feel him up when I was carrying him. First of all, I was way too freaked out at the time to think of anything other than finding someone I trust to fix him. Second, gross, okay? Just… no.

I’d kick a whole slew of assholes down a flight of stairs if they even thought about touching Wren like that while he was sleeping. I’d do it for anyone, but the idea of it being Wren gets my dumbass hero complex ramping up an extra notch or three.

So no, I didn’t feel him up while he was unconscious. But if I did happen to notice how warm, small, and perfect he felt in my arms, it was an unavoidable, if enjoyable, side effect.

“How long until you’re done with him? I’ll call and make arrangements to have him moved.”

“I’ll be done soon, but you can’t move him while he’s asleep.”

“Of course I can. Wren said I could.”

“I was in the room the entire time, Bael. He definitely didn’t say that.”

“He said he wanted to go with me so I could take care of him. That was his consent for me to take him and keep him safe.”

“Bael, that is not what happened just now.”

“I’m pretty sure it was. We were both in the same room, right?” People tease me about being unobservant, but really, I think everyone else just fails to grasp the essence of most situations.

“This isn’t like you, Bael. I mean, yes, you’re dangerously impulsive, but you don’t usually get attached to people so quickly.”

“Come on, Gwen. I’m nice to everyone.”

“Nice isn’t the same as attached. I’m not surprised you helped this kid, but I’ve never seen you stick around for the aftermath of one of your good deeds. Are you sure you’re up for this? I can find someone else to take him in for a few days.”

Alarm shoots through me. “No! I’ve got this. If you’re really worried, you can check in with Harvey like you said.”

Gwen is crazy if she thinks I’m going to ditch the mysterious bundle of adorable human that just got dropped in my lap.

I mean, where did he come from? How did he become homeless? He seems like such a sweet little guy. How could the world throw him away like that? And will he let me fix everything for him, so he won’t ever be hungry again?

I start texting the band group chat furiously so I can rally the troops to my side before Gwen can talk herself out of letting me take Wren.

Bael

I have a sick friend who needs to crash with us in the suite for a few days. Can some of you double up so he’ll have somewhere to sleep?

Mel

Your friend is totally welcome! But my room might be full. I found some new friends this evening, and who knows what will happen?

Travis

A. Mel, stop bragging. Everyone knows you’ll have company. You do every night you go out, you slut. B. Someone better make room because Bael NEVER invites a friend over. It can’t be me though because my drum kit and my spare drum kit are taking up most of my room and half of my bed.

Mel

I can’t help it if I’m popular.

Shay

My mom is staying with me tonight, so I’m out.

Travis

You invited your mommy? Is she going to tuck you in?

Mel

She’d better not clutch her pearls over my guests while she’s here.

Shay

My mom isn’t going to give a shit.

Travis

She’s an accountant. She’ll probably run screaming at the door of the suite.

Shay

Dude.

I just…

How long have we been friends? Do you really not know what being an ‘accountant’ means?

Mel

You never told me your mom was an accountant, Shay! *heart eyes*

Bael

I NEED YOU TO FOCUS HERE, PEOPLE.

Travis

Jesus, Bael, you don’t need to shout. Why don’t you sleep in the common area on a couch and let your friend sleep in your room?

Mel

Or you could share, Bael. Is he that kind of friend?

Bael: …

Mel

Ohmygosh.

Travis

OMG.

Shay

Dude.

Harvey

Please stop adding me to your chat groups.

Mel

Harvey, my love, light of our lives, and the reason our world goes ‘round, you’re here because you made us add you, remember?

Shay

You said it would cut down on collateral damage if you knew what we were up to.

Harvey

And I regret every minute of it. Bael, I got Gwen’s text. I’ll assign you an extra assistant to help with Wren. You don’t need to keep him in your suite. He can share a room with the new assistant.

Bael

NO.

I stuff my phone in my pocket so I don’t have to argue with Harvey. He’s not shoving Wren in some tiny broom closet with a stranger. Not when I promised Wren I’d take care of him. I’ll just stick him in my bed for now and figure everything out later.

I message my driver and tell him to bring the car to the front of the building.

“Okay. I’m ready to take him,” I tell Gwen. “Does he have anything I need to bring with me?”

“Harvey is sending someone over now to get him, and I’ll give them a list of instructions. You can go home.”

“Nope,” I say and then scoop Wren into my arms.

It’s okay. I made sure he’s free of the IV stuff, folks. Don’t stress.

I carry him out to the street and climb into the limo with him in my arms. Having a driver to open doors for you is mad handy, by the way.

I hug Wren to my chest as we head to the hotel. Once again, I’m not feeling him up. I’m just a little antsy because everyone seems to be eager to snatch him away from me. I can take care of him, okay? Everyone needs to chill.

He doesn’t stir at all. Even when I picked him up to carry him, it was like moving a ragdoll. A warm, soft, floppy ragdoll.

How did he make it so long on his own like this? What if someone else had found him and hurt him?

What if someone has already hurt him?

I clutch him tight at that thought and he makes a sleepy eep of protest.

“Sorry, little buddy,” I say, but I realize he’s still fast asleep. He’s really out of it.

I’m good at sleeping too, but if someone squished me like that in my sleep, I would be up and swinging before my eyes opened. It was a helpful defense mechanism when I was younger, and the fact that Wren doesn’t even have that level of self-preservation chills me to the bone.

I have to convince him to stay with me until I can fix everything for him.

Hopefully, he won’t fight me on that. He said I could take care of him, after all. He won’t be fully cared for until I know he’s in a safe and stable situation, so that means I’m supposed to be in charge until then, right? I think we can all agree on that.

Wren continues to sleep all the way to my hotel, past security to my private elevator, and down the hallway to the door of my suite where I smile at the final set of security guards.

I know it sounds like overkill, but fans can be incredibly persistent and resourceful. I’ve woken up to too many strangers in my bed that I didn’t invite there. It wasn’t until Harvey installed the second set of guards that it stopped happening. Everyone in the band is on board with it—even Mel, who will fuck anything that moves.

“Hey, Brent. Hey, James.” I try to wave at the guards posted at the door, but I’m hampered by Wren, so I wiggle a few fingers at them. “Can you get the door?”

“They’re usually conscious when you guys bring ‘em in, but you do you, boss,” James says with a deadpan expression. I honestly can’t tell when he’s joking. Or if he even jokes.

All of Harvey’s security guards come off a bit lacking in the personality and morals department, but deep down, I know they’re decent people. When they throw people out for trying to sneak in, they always say excuse me first.

I snort and say, “Come on guys, who do you take me for?”

James doesn’t respond. Instead, he faces forward while Brent opens the door for me and Wren.

Just as Brent is closing the door behind us, he tells me, “We saw nothing.”

He’s probably joking.

Right?

Well, even if it wasn’t a joke and he is willing to cover up a kidnapping for me, at least I’m not the kind of person to take him up on it.

Everyone says I’m a total sweetheart.

They also say other stuff, but I like to focus on the positive things in life.