Chapter 4

Of course, it was easy for Timothy to suggest that Derek look for a job at Snowed Inn. Actually finding a job was another matter entirely. Derek knew that the easiest solution would be to ask Peter for a job, but that was a good way to get stuck cleaning toilets or something. While he wasn’t really in a position to turn down any work at this point, he wanted to at least try and find something that was actually interesting to him first.

The only problem now, however, was where to begin. It took him the rest of the afternoon to track down his first prospect.

“Do you even have any experience with this sort of thing?” asked Tony with a frown. From what Derek understood, Tony fell between Andrew and Timothy in the birth order. They’d only spoken a few times in the past, but Derek had liked him. It also helped that Tony’s department was one of the more interesting ones in Derek’s opinion.

“I mean, I can drive.” Derek shrugged. He knew he wasn’t really selling himself very well. It was a skill he’d never managed to develop.

They were standing in one of the vehicle barns on the far side of the condos near the lake. Several large vehicles, with tracks instead of wheels, were parked inside. Derek vaguely remembered hearing them called “snowcats.” They were used for keeping the trails and slopes nicely groomed and ready for skiing and snowboarding. With winter weather just around the corner, it looked like Tony had decided to give them all a once over to make sure they were in prime condition.

“Look, I don’t…I don’t want to sound rude, but driving isn’t really all that special of a skill.” Tony grabbed a rag off a nearby shelf and began wiping the grease off his hands with it. “Driving these things isn’t like driving a car either. Plus, I’ve already got all the guys I need for this.”

“I get it, I really do,” said Derek rubbing the back of his head in frustration. “Honestly, I don’t really care what sort of work it is. I’m willing to do whatever you need me to do. I learn fast, I’ve got no problem getting up early, and I really don’t even need all that much money. I’m not looking to get rich here.” That last part was kind of a lie. He’d checked out the rental rates for places in town and he was going to need a decent sum in order to get settled.

While he probably could have moved somewhere cheaper, he was reluctant to leave Snowed Inn now that Luke had put down roots here. They hadn’t been particularly close growing up, but over the last few months, he’d been more of a family to Derek than his own parents had been. The chance to reconnect with one of his old college friends was also too good to pass up.

Tony was silent for several long moments as he began packing up the tools he’d been using. Eventually, he stopped and eyed Derek as if sizing him up.

“So, Peter cut my budget pretty significantly in order to help make ends meet. I’m sure you know all about what happened with our bank accounts and stuff by now.” Tony didn’t wait for Derek to confirm whether or not he actually knew what he was talking about before continuing. “So I’ve had to double up my guys a little. Which means that I’m kind of short staffed when it comes to running the shuttles between the lodge and town.

“It’s boring, long, and I can’t really afford to pay you very much, but if you want to try it then I’m willing to show you what to do.”

“So it’s just driving up and down the mountain?” Derek asked, perking up a little. That didn’t sound so bad. He could do that.

“Yeah, but it’s pretty much every day. We get a second shuttle running on the weekends. Then you’ve also got to be okay with driving in all sorts of weather. We keep the road up the mountain clear as much as possible, but the trees keep it shaded so it gets icy sometimes. You’re going to have to be comfortable driving in those conditions and you’re going to have to know how to handle those situations as safely as possible.” Tony folded his arms across his chest and tilted his head to one side. He was broad shouldered and had a particularly imposing presence for an omega.

“I can do it. I mean, I’ve never really had to drive in that sort of weather before but I’m willing to learn.” Derek figured it was best to be upfront about his lack of experience. Hopefully, his eagerness and Tony’s desperation would meet somewhere in the middle.

“Honestly, what I’m able to pay you is almost criminal. It’ll be minimum wage, barely. You only get paid for the hours you’re actually driving. The downtime in between shuttle trips is your own time.” Tony chewed on his lip for a moment before continuing. “Look, I doubt you’re going to be able to afford an apartment on what I’m offering here.”

Derek turned Tony’s words over in his head for a moment. “Are you trying to dissuade me from taking the job by making it seem so inhospitable no one would want it? or are you just being honest?”

Tony sighed and his shoulder relaxed slightly. “Both?” he chuckled slightly and shook his head. “Having you take the job solves a lot of problems for me, but I really don’t want Peter accusing me of taking advantage of you. I figure if I tell you all this crap and you still take the job then at least you’re informed about what you’re getting yourself into.”

Sure, it wasn’t the dream job that Derek had been hoping for but at least it wasn’t scrubbing toilets. “I wasn’t joking when I said I was willing to do anything,” said Derek, steeling his resolve. “I can figure out the housing situation later. Right now I just need a job.”

Tony promptly made Derek fill out a formal job application and sign it. Then, after scanning it over and nodding to himself, he signed it and scribbled a mostly illegible note to Peter near the bottom of it.

“Take this to Peter,” explained Tony as he handed back the application. “I’m not going to be the one to tell him that his boyfriend’s cousin wants to work for peanuts driving the shuttle.”

With that, he ushered Derek out of the vehicle barn and shut the door behind him.

Dusk had fallen across the lodge and the temperature had already dropped several degrees. The overcast clouds overhead continued with their threat of snow. Derek silently prayed to whoever was listening that they would hold off for a little while longer. At least until Tony had taught him what he needed to do for this job.

Application in hand, Derek tromped back across Snowed Inn’s grounds in search of Peter. He finally found him in his office, digging through a pile of memos with the help of his assistant.

Derek hesitantly knocked at the open door of the office and hovered uncertainly in the doorway. The somewhat uncomfortable memory of the romantic liaison he had interrupted that afternoon made his cheeks flush slightly.

At the sound of Derek’s knock, Peter looked up from his desk. He glanced momentarily at the clock, yawned, and stretched.

“That’s it for today, Teddy,” said Peter, setting aside the papers he had been sorting. “Mom’ll be mad at me if I make you miss dinner again.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” said Teddy as he gathered up his things and slipped out of the office before Peter could say another word.

“Looks like someone was eager to head home,” chuckled Derek. “I thought there were only seven of you though. I didn’t realize you had another sibling.”

“Teddy is my cousin. My uncle Reuben lives in town with his husband. Teddy wanted a job and so he’s helping me out,” explained Peter as he sank into the chair behind his desk. “So then, what can I do for you?”

“I…” Derek cleared his throat as he stepped further into the office. “I wanted to apologize first. What happened this afternoon…I should have texted or something.” He wasn’t used to feeling this awkward when talking with other people. His usual brand of confidence wouldn’t aid him in this situation.

“It’s not your fault really,” said Peter, waving his hand dismissively. “It’s just been a while since we’ve had a chance to be alone. So when Henry went down for a nap without a fuss we thought it was worth the risk. At least you didn’t see anything too traumatizing.”

An uncomfortable silence settled over the room for a moment. Navigating the social waters of family ties had never been something he was very good at. If Peter hadn’t been his cousin’s boyfriend he would have been free to step forward, hand him the application form, and demand a job. But that wasn’t an option here. These sorts of social encounters required a bit of tact and that was something he had a little less experience with.

“So, was there something you needed?” prompted Peter as he switched off his computer and moved to close the curtains over the window.

“Uh, y-yeah there was.” Derek took a deep breath and steadied himself. He didn’t have anything to worry about. Tony had practically given him the job already. He just needed to hand that piece of paper over to Peter and let him know. Nothing to it. Why was he so nervous then? What was causing this almost unbearable tension in the air?

“I was talking to Tony earlier,” Derek continued. He forced himself to swallow the nervous lump in his throat and move forward with the conversation. There was no way this could end badly for him. In the absolute worse case Peter would say no and he would be in exactly the same position he was in now. Things couldn’t possibly get any worse for him. “I asked him if he needed any help in his department and he said that you had cut back his man hours quite a bit.”

“Heh, yeah. Unfortunately, Tony’s was the department that we could afford to trim the most fat from.” Peter laughed, but he sounded strained. When he turned back to face Derek there was a hint of something in his eyes. Was he nervous too?

“Right, so, here.” Derek thrust the job application towards Peter.

Peter took the sheet of paper without a word and glanced over it. He paused to read Tony’s illegible chicken scrawl and then looked up at Derek with one eyebrow raised quizzically.

“You realize this is a wholly unfair contract, right? The pay rate he’s suggesting here isn’t equal to the work you’d be doing.” Peter set the application down on his desk and folded his arms across his chest. “I can’t let you take this job.”

“I don’t mind the rate! I swear.” Derek stepped forward and clenched his fists in protest. “I just need a job, Peter. Any job. I don’t care if I’m getting paid peanuts, I need this.”

“It’s not just about you, Derek.” Peter inhaled sharply and rubbed the back of his head in frustration. “How am I supposed to explain this to Luke?”

“I’m getting paid for the hours I’m driving, right?” Derek paused and waited for Peter to nod in confirmation. “Then I’m getting paid for the work I’m doing. That’s it. What more am I supposed to get? I can’t sleep on your sofa for much longer.”

Peter’s gaze flicked away as Derek spoke. Something was bothering him and he seemed reluctant to put it into words.

“Look, I get that you love my cousin. That’s great. I’m a grown man. I don’t need Luke’s approval in order to take a job.” Derek clenched his teeth as he finished speaking. He wasn’t going to back down on this. It was the closest he’d gotten to finding actual employment.

“Fine, if you’re that determined then I’m not going to stop you. I’ll file the paperwork and you can come in and give me your information tomorrow.” Peter reluctantly dragged his eyes back up to Derek. “For now, I…I’ve got to ask you something.”

The tension in the air grew taut once more. This was it.

“I’m…I’m going to ask Luke to marry me tonight.” Peter reached into his pocket and dug out a small velvet box. “I bought the ring yesterday and I’ve been trying to figure out the right time to ask him. There are always other people around and we’re not really the kind of couple that likes to make a big scene or anything.”

Derek frowned. “Peter, just spit it out already. What is bothering you?”

Peter sighed and met Derek’s gaze. “I’m asking you to stay in the hotel tonight. I already had Eli set aside a room for you.”

“Oh.” All of the tension drained out of the air and Derek was left feeling deflated.

“I tried to think of any other solution, but ultimately this was the only thing that really made sense.” Peter looked guilty for even making the suggestion, but he clutched the velvet covered ring box tightly in one hand. He was clearly determined to see this night through without a hitch.

Derek took a deep breath. He should have expected this. He knew he was wearing out his welcome, but he’d hoped to make it last a little longer. While Peter hadn’t exactly kicked him out, things were clearly heading in that direction.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Derek, pulling his mouth into the most genuine smile he could manage. “I needed some peace and quiet tonight anyway. So, go and make an honest man out of my cousin.”

Peter looked relieved at his words. “Thanks, Derek. I know you don’t have anywhere else to go right now. You can have the couch back tomorrow night.” He turned back to his desk and quickly rifled through the papers sitting on top of it. “Here,” he said as he turned back and handed Derek a keycard with a sticky note on it. “There’s your room number. The key will deactivate tomorrow at noon.”

“Thanks. Do I have time to head back to the condo and get some things, or…?” He let the sentence hang in the air.

“I don’t really want to tip Luke off…”

“Say no more.” Derek held up his hands to silence the slew of incoming apologies he sensed. “It’ll be fine. I’ll see you both tomorrow.” Without waiting for a reply, he turned and forced himself to walk out of the office with measured, confident steps. He crossed the lobby, headed up the stairs to the second floor, and made his way down the hall towards his room.

Only when he was out of sight and alone did he allow his steps to slow. He glanced down at the card key in his hands and released a shaky breath. While he understood the situation, it didn’t change the fact that this was yet another place that he’d been kicked out of. Peter had told him he could have the couch back tomorrow, but the look on his face had said something different. He was a man that just wanted to spend time alone with his soon-to-be fiance and their child.

Derek didn’t blame him for that. He couldn’t help but wonder though if he would ever find a place where he belonged. A place that no one would be able to take away from him.