Chapter 19
Calvin
When Braeden asked if Seth and I were a couple, I knew how it would look to outsiders, dancing around with him, but I couldn’t be bothered to care. He needed me, and I wanted to be there for him as he’d done for me countless times. I still owe him those damn cookies.
Did I like holding him close? Absofuckinglutely. He felt good against me. He smelled fucking fresh, clean, and citrusy. The scent of coconut in his hair had me taking deep breaths while he rested his head on my shoulder.
I may or may not have rubbed one out after our dance and again before bed.
The next day, Braeden dragged me out to shop for school supplies.
I bought him a laptop, too. What he wouldn’t let me buy was anything for his room, and I’ve been trying.
I want him to feel at home and to get settled in.
Maybe he feels like he’s not a permanent fixture in my house.
Perhaps he’s waiting until I get full custody of him, but I doubt the fourteen-year-old is thinking about that as much as the complete uprooting of his life.
The boy is holding back, and I don’t know what to do.
Now, I sit in my car, staring at the high school with Braeden. It’s a Wednesday in early October. He’s missed so much school. They’re aware of his situation, so I’m sure they’ll get him sorted out. At least they managed to fit him into band class.
I’m strangely reluctant to let him go. He lost his parents, his home, and he lives with a virtual stranger. Now, he’s starting a new milestone in life. High school. He also doesn’t know any of the kids here.
The students are walking toward the building, spilling out of school buses and cars. They’re together in clusters of friends, laughing, looking bright, fresh, and eager.
I glance at Braeden to see his fingers digging into the strap of his backpack so tightly that it turns his knuckles white.
“You don’t have to go yet,” I tell him. “Take some more time.”
His shoulders sag, and he lets out a long stream of breath and opens the car door. “No.”
When he climbs out, I say, “Call me if you need anything.”
He looks back at me with so much fear and sadness. My heart aches for him. I feel like I’m not helping him at all. With that, he turns around and walks off. I watch helplessly until I can’t see him anymore.
Since he’s returned to school, I can return to work, even if I won’t work a full day. I’ll have to pick him up after three.
Hopefully, I can focus. I’m so damn behind, but I probably won’t. I’ll be distracted with worry about Braeden. Will he make friends? Will he do well? Will he find some sort of joy being around his peers? I was popular in high school, but I’m outgoing. Braeden isn’t.
With a sigh, I pull out of the school parking lot and drive into work.
“Long time no see, Cal,” Olivia says.
“Morning, my queen bee. Thank you for holding down the fort.” My tone is light and joking, but on the inside, I’m stressed the fuck out. Stressed about Braeden. Stressed about Seth. Stressed about my job. And I still fucking hurt about losing my friends.
When I sit in my office and turn on my laptop, Olivia comes in carrying my favorite cup of coffee.
“You look like shit,” she says when she places the mug next to me.
“I feel like shit.”
“Oh, boy. No quip? No snark? No comeback? You are bad off.” She sits across from me but doesn’t open her laptop to start our morning meeting. “Seriously, if you need to talk, I’m here, Cal. You lost your friends, and you’re suddenly the guardian of a child. That’s a lot.”
I smile at her before clicking open my calendar. “It is, but I’ll push through. Thanks, Olive Oyl.”
We chat about the upcoming jobs, schedules, and meetings planned for the rest of the week.
“Cal, we need to catch up on the Eagle Saloon job. We were supposed to have the design, estimated cost, and drawings ready for next week’s meeting.”
I rub my face before taking a sip of coffee. “I know. I’m really trying. I’ve been working on some ideas and changes from my original plan, but I keep getting pulled away. Maybe I can call Harry Jackson, the one who hired us for the job, and ask for an extension.”
She nods and pushes some fallen strands of hair behind her ears. “That sounds solid. I hope he gives it to you. I would be honest and tell him what happened.”
“As much as I want to give this job to one of the other designers, I promised I would be hands-on for this one. This job could push this company to the top. But if I fuck it up, it could hurt us. All this shit couldn’t have happened at a worse time.
Hell, is any time a good time to lose friends and be some unexpected father? ”
Olivia stands, tucks her laptop under her arm, and gathers our mugs. “If anyone can do this, it’s you. I have the utmost faith in you.”
“No pressure,” I quip.
She smiles and leaves my office. I feel a little better being here and being proactive again. Now to get some shit done.
Tonight is poker night, and it’s my first time.
I’ve played the game, but not with the Royal Dads.
According to Louisiana law, I can technically leave Braeden home alone for a few hours, but I’m not going to do that because he needs me, and I’m terrified to leave him alone, at least before he starts therapy.
Next week. One more week. He’ll finally get some help.
Next week is my official hearing, too. Once I get legal custody of Braeden, then I’m going to do whatever I can to make a home for him.
We’re supposed to meet Seth over there because he has to drop his kids off at the daycare, so I’m driving Braeden and me to Seth’s friend’s house.
I plug their address into my GPS and drive into New Orleans proper, through the Garden District.
“It’s so old,” Braeden says, staring out the window.
“New Orleans has its own vibe for sure. It’s old, mystical, historical, and filled with a lot of tragedy.”
“Can we go sightseeing one day?”
My heart bursts wide open. That’s a good sign, right? He wants to see the city with me, so he must be starting to feel better.
“Of course, kiddo.”
We pull up in front of the beautiful old home that has been fixed up. “Nice place,” I say as I get out of the car.
We step up to the front door, and I knock. A tall Black man opens the door with a warm smile. “You must be Calvin. I’m Reuben.”
“Cal,” I say, and reach for his hand to shake.
“And you must be Braeden.”
“Hello.”
“I’m working on getting the kid to say more than one word,” I quip.
Reuben chuckles and steps aside to let me in. “That’s a never-ending conundrum, my friend.”
I follow him into the kitchen to find three other men sipping on drinks. The two younger men were stunning, as if matched by Apollo himself.
“Everyone, this is Cal and Braeden.” Reuben points to a white guy with gray hair about his age. “This is Travis, my beloved pain in the ass.”
“Psh, I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to your ass.”
I laugh and shake his hand. “Thanks for having me.”
“TMI, Trav.” One of the younger men reached for my hand as well. “I’m Paul, and this is my husband, Edmundo.”
My muscles grow taut. I knew he’d be here, but knowing he’d set Seth up with that prickhead fires off all my protective neurons. “So, you’re that Edmundo.”
The man winces as he shakes my hand. “You heard, huh?”
“Yeah, I was ready to throw hands with the asshole, and maybe you, too.”
“I deserve that. I was pissed, too. Seriously, I was shocked when Seth told me.”
Travis nods solemnly. “We all were.”
“He’s okay, right?” Reuben asks.
“Yeah, I think he’ll be fine. He had a scare, but I’m confident he’ll bounce back. Speaking of my neighbor, where is he?”
Reuben wiggles his phone in front of me. “He texted that he’ll be here in a few.”
Braeden hasn’t said a word since saying hi when he walked in. God, I wish he’d open up more. In fact, he’s still gripping my arm.
“Can I get you a drink?” Paul asks.
“Yeah, I’ll take a beer, thanks.”
Once I have a bottle in hand, someone knocks on the door.
Reuben goes to answer it, and soon another man walks in with hair color similar to mine, but he has blue eyes and his body is covered in tattoos.
Beside him is a blonde girl with a splash of freckles over her creamy skin.
She looks to be in her mid to late teens.
“Hey, you must be Calvin. I’m Slade,” he says, reaching out to me. I shake his hand as he introduces his daughter. “This is Fern. I thought I’d bring her along tonight to hang out with Braeden.”
“You can call me Cal. And I appreciate it, man.”
Fern steps up to Braeden. “Can I call you Brae?”
The boy nods.
“Cool! Let’s go to the back of the house. There’s a room with a TV and video games. Do you like to play?”
Braeden shrugs before looking back at me for permission. “Go on. Have fun.”
When the kids leave, Edmundo says, “Slade here is our resident tattoo artist. He’s got a shop in the French Quarter.”
“Nice. Do you do tigers?” I ask. Hey, no one has to know why I’m suddenly into tigers.
“For sure. Easy.”
“I’ll set up an appointment then.”
“That must be Seth,” Reuben says when someone knocks on the door again.
When Seth steps into the kitchen, I have to admit that my heart does a little happy dance.
He’s dressed differently, having ditched the preppy look.
He’s wearing a fitted, dark blue casual button-up with the sleeves rolled over his forearms. It’s tucked into dark-wash jeans and paired with white trainers.
His pretty blue eyes land right on me, and his smile takes my breath away. Even his hair looks impeccable. He has some waves he tries to tame. Now, he’s embraced them. God, and that fucking little dimple that loves to hang out on the corner of his mouth, begging for attention.
“New haircut? Hot date tonight?” I ask him to hide my growing attraction, which increases exponentially the moment he walks closer to me.
His face pinks, and he rubs his neck. “Oh, uhm, nah. I just… styled it differently.”