Chapter 13 #2
“Yeah, sorry about that, man,” Rico says with genuine sympathy. “Have you got somewhere you can stay?”
Romeo gives him another smile, but this one is tight and doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sure I’ll work something out.”
It would be so easy to leave it at that.
I could easily explain why I was talking to him by simply saying I was giving comfort to a distraught member of the public.
But I realize that as unsure as I am about this whole situation, I don’t want Romeo to think I’m embarrassed by him or want to keep him a secret.
Quite the opposite, actually.
I clear my throat. “Guys? This is Romeo Quincy. It was his sister’s wedding I helped out at a couple of days ago. By some crazy coincidence, this is his apartment building.”
It takes them a second to process what I’ve told them. “Oh!” Lili cries, apparently the first to put two and two together. Excitement flashes across her face before turning quickly to sympathy. “Oh, damn. I’m really sorry about your home, dude.”
“That’s okay,” Romeo says, even though it really isn’t. He wraps his arms around himself, looking like a lost little lamb.
Fuck, I want to hug him again.
Gene barrels his way through the gaggle and lands his hand on Romeo’s narrow shoulder with a thump.
“Julian said you’ve been through your fair share, kid.
I’m real sorry you have to deal with this crap now as well.
Our investigators know what’s at stake, though.
The second it’s safe to let people back in the building, even if it’s just to pick up anything important, they’ll be in touch.
You just leave your details with one of the officers on scene. Try not to fret too much, okay?”
Romeo can’t know Gene has five kids and that being a dad is as natural as breathing to him.
When he heard why I was stepping in at the wedding in the first place, he had a few blunt words to say about what kind of parents he thinks the Quincys are.
But the fatherly sense of calm assurance he’s projecting now is powerful, and I’m not surprised when Romeo’s lip wobbles.
“Thank you, sir,” he says. “But I’m fine. I’m sure there are other people that need you guys’ help more. You don’t have to worry about me.”
My heart hurts at his obvious attempt to deflect the attention away from himself. I’m sure he’s feeling extremely vulnerable, especially now he realizes my team know something about his family background.
Well, tough. He’s getting fussed over whether he likes it or not.
“We’re here to help everyone who needs us,” I tell him firmly. “That includes you.” I get close so only he can hear me, not caring that the others are watching us intently. “Don’t be a brat now.”
That startles a laugh out of him, and I lean away and grin. But he immediately gets me back by not quite lowering his voice enough when he replies, “Yes, Captain Daddy.”
Lucy splutters which she manages to turn into a semi-believable cough. “I’m sorry, Julian. What was that?”
“That was the captain’s brand-new nickname,” Lili murmurs with a manic look in her eyes.
“All right,” I announce with an eyeroll. Apparently I do have limits on how public I want my private life to get. “Perhaps there are other residents who could do with your help after all. Go hand out water and blankets or some shit.”
“Are you going to stay and look after your friend?” Lochlan asks with sincere concern. At least one of my guys isn’t hell bent on giving me crap. Bless him. He probably doesn’t even realize that’s what the others have been doing.
I nod and glance at Romeo. “Maybe we can go over options for where you could stay while the building’s getting evaluated?”
“Wait,” Sawyer cries excitedly, raising his finger like he’s just had an eureka moment. “Cap, what about your place? Isn’t it ready to go for renting anyway?”
It proves how all-consuming my thoughts for Romeo are that I didn’t even consider the annex above my garage as an option. Probably because that’s an insane idea and moving about a million miles faster than anything I wanted between Romeo and I right now.
It seems he agrees. “Oh, no,” he cries in horror. “I couldn’t possibly impose on Julian like that. I’m sure I can crash on one of my colleagues’ sofas or something. I’ll be fine.”
Well, shit. The notion that he’d be stuck awkwardly couch surfing immediately overrides all common sense in me, and I’m speaking before I even fully register what I’m saying.
“You wouldn’t be an imposition on me at all,” I tell him, aware I’m frowning at the idea he’d think that.
“The apartment is self-contained, freshly refurbished, and sitting there empty. You could move in right away and stay until you know what’s happening with your place. ”
“Um,” Romeo glances at my team who are still unashamedly gawking at us before looking back at me, clearly torn.
“That’s really kind of you. I guess…well, that would definitely reduce my stress levels by about a million degrees.
” He nibbles on his lower lip and looks anxiously back at his apartment building. “How much would the rent be?”
I scowl at the notion that I’d charge him while he’d have money tied up in the damaged property. “Nothing, Romeo. You can stay for free.”
He snaps his head back toward me, his eyes wide. “But don’t you have to keep up with the mortgage payments?”
I shrug. “It’s technically part of my house, so no separate mortgage.” I nudge my arm against his reassuringly. “It was my dad’s place, and he didn’t pay rent either. I know he’d want you to stay there.”
Usually, I’d expect mentioning my pops to cause a pang of grief in my chest. But I’m struck with how much he’d want his former home to help out this amazing young man, and the possibility of hosting Romeo in that space is comforting to me instead of sad.
From the look on his face, I’d say the significance of the gesture isn’t lost on Romeo. He knows from our conversation yesterday morning how close I was with my parents and how hard their passing has been on me.
“Are you sure?” he whispers.
I beam at him. “One thousand percent sure.”
He rubs his arm, looking between his home that’s so near yet so far away, the One-Thirteen and Captain Padilla, then me. As we lock eyes, something transpires silently between the two of us. I think we’re both hoping this isn’t a bad idea, and he’s probably wondering if he can really trust me.
Very subtly, I nod my head.
“Okay, then,” Romeo says with a nervous laugh. “Let’s do this.”
“Hell yeah,” I agree with a grin.