Chapter Seven
Orsen knocked on Santino’s door and stood waiting for him to answer.
It had been a week since they’d met in the little tea shop, Tea for Two?
, and this was his second day of learning.
He’d done more tests yesterday, and Santino had told him what to expect from today onward.
He was behind, as he knew, but Santino had told him it wasn’t as bad as he’d thought.
He only had to catch up on five or six years of school.
Only.
But he would do it. Because he wanted to wipe away the shadows of the past and move forward, living the life he wanted. No more stealing. No more trapping animals. No more dodging punches or locking himself in his room, hiding from the person who should love and protect him, but hated him the most.
Life was his to live now, and he wanted to live it.
He did have one tiny problem, which wasn’t so tiny.
He liked Santino. He liked the way he spoke to him.
All soft and gentle, but with respect. He didn’t speak to him like he was a child, and Orsen liked that.
He knew in some ways he was innocent. He didn’t know much about movies or what shows were on TV.
He didn’t know the latest slang or how the world worked.
He didn’t really know about money or cards and things like that. But he wanted to.
“Orsen. Come in. You okay? You looked lost in your own world.”
Orsen smiled and ducked his head. “I was thinking.” Orsen smiled when Charlie came over, a toy in his mouth, and he stroked his head.
“Anything interesting?” Santino smiled, the crinkles around his chocolate eyes deepening in a way Orsen liked.
They made Orsen think of someone who smiled and laughed a lot.
Someone who enjoyed life. Santino’s hair needed a trim, but Orsen liked it slightly longer.
Santino had told him he was due in court soon, so he’d have it get it cut then, but for now he’d leave it to do its own thing.
Orsen touched his own long hair and considered getting his cut.
“Is your hair bothering you?”
“I thought I should cut it.” He tugged on one end and caught Santino watching him.
“Only if you want to. You can do anything you want with it, Orsen. It’s your decision.” Santino closed the door and ushered Orsen into the study where they worked, pointing Charlie to his bed. “Do you want a drink? Snack?”
“Oh, no, I’m fine. I had something before I left Crompton’s. He makes sure I eat.”
“You’ve put some weight on. It looks good on you.”
“Don’t people usually tell you to lose weight?”
“Usually, but when I first met you, you were a little too slender.”
“I didn’t eat very often then, and when I did, it wasn’t much.” Orsen put his bag down, pulled out his homework, and handed it to Santino. “I’ve never had pizza, or hot dogs, or those grilled sandwiches. Crompton makes sure I eat proper food.”
“Then I’ll order pizza for lunch. I’ll get a few small ones so you can try them and decide which ones you prefer.”
“Oh, you don’t need to do that. I didn’t tell—”
“I know you didn’t, but I want to do this for you.”
“I… okay. If you’re sure.”
“I am. Sit down and go over where we left off while I check your homework. I detested homework when I went to school.”
“Detested?” He’d heard the word before but wasn’t sure he knew what it meant. “Like hated?”
“Yes. It means to dislike something intensely, and that word would be accurate to me. It describes how I felt about doing schoolwork at home. Why did I have to when I went to school all day, every day?”
Orsen smiled when Santino did. “I’ll grow to detest it too.” Santino chuckled and Orsen’s smile widened. He liked making Santino smile.
Orsen worked through the math and only had to interrupt Santino a couple of times. He knew he was doing the easy stuff to ease him into it, but he liked it. Or was it that he liked Santino being his teacher? “Crompton asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday.”
“What about a small party? A few friends can come over and have hot dogs, more pizza, and other foods you’ve never tried.”
“I don’t know many people, so why bother?” Orsen was more than aware he wasn’t like others his age who had a wide group of friends. He could count the number of people he knew on one hand.
“Well, there is me. Then there are Cody and TJ, plus I know Toni has a soft spot for you. If you invite Toni, then Carter and the kids will come as well. And Crompton, but he may not stay for long, and don’t you know a couple of the men who work on the ranch?”
“What about my age? I don’t really have friends my age.”
“What about doing some of the local activities?”
“Like what?” Santino went to answer, but his phone rang. He gave Orsen a rueful smile as he answered, then spent the next twenty minutes talking about money and things Orsen probably shouldn’t hear. He told Santino when he ended the call.
“Did you understand what I was talking about?”
“No, but I’m not completely stupid either.” The question had made Orsen feel… he wasn’t sure, but he hadn’t liked it.
“You’re not, but what I discussed was pretty technical and you have to have some knowledge of forensic accountancy, but—and more importantly—I trust you.”
“You do? You trust me?” Orsen stared wide-eyed at Santino. He’d never had someone trust him before, and it made him feel nice. Special. That this important man trusted him enough to discuss cases in front of him.
“Yes, I do. I like you, Orsen.”
“Oh! I mean, Oh. You like me.”
Santino tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes on Orsen. “I think we’re getting our likes mixed up.”
“How so? How many likes are there?”
“There is the like when you like someone as a friend. Someone you have a laugh with, but that’s it. Then there is the like where you want to spend time with another person to get to know them better. That’s the kind where you may want to build on it and become more intimate.”
Orsen huffed. “How can one word be so complicated?”
“It’s how we use the English language, and if you go to England, they have different words for the same objects.”
“Really? Why would they do that?”
“It is their language, but we made it better.”
Orsen giggled. “You wouldn’t say that to an actual English person.”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t.”
“So you like me as a friend, but not the other. Why?” Orsen watched Santino open and close his mouth. “Is it because I’m not as smart as you? It’s not my fault.”
“I never said it was, and that isn’t why I hesitated to answer the questions. I’ve seen your test scores and, given time, you will catch up. You are actually quite intelligent. You answered some questions that you wouldn’t have been taught in school. You have great potential.”
“You haven’t answered my question. What is that called?”
“See, and you picked up on that. It’s called deflection. I like you as a friend, but I think it may become more.”
“How come?” He knew Santino would answer because he’d told Orsen he would always be honest with him.
“Because I think you are beautiful.”
“Me?” Orsen pointed to himself, mouth open wide. “You think I’m beautiful looking? Have you seen you? You’re gorgeous, and I shouldn’t have said that.” Orsen put his hands on his cheeks, feeling how hot they were.
“That’s what I like about us. We can say what we want. So now we know we like how the other looks, and we get on well. This is when we would usually go on a date, but would you want to sit in a restaurant?”
Orsen blanched at the idea. “God no. They’d all stare at me and talk.” He knew they already talked about him, but he wasn’t going to give them more to talk about.
“Agreed. We can do things here after you’ve finished your work.” Santino pointed to the open book in front of Orsen. “Get that finished and I’ll order pizza.”
“I don’t know what happens now.” Orsen had never been in this position before, and he didn’t like how it made him feel. He rubbed his chest until Santino placed his hand over it, stilling the action. “Sorry.”
“You’re entering a new stage in life, Orsen. One you’ve never experienced before. It’s fine to feel apprehensive about it. To feel a little unsure and maybe overwhelmed. I know Cody and TJ will be there for you, as well as Crompton. They want the best for you.”
“And you?”
“Me too, but maybe for different reasons. We’ll see how it goes. There’s no rush. You have years ahead of you to explore the world.”
“That’s not the kind of person I am. I don’t want to be out there doing things with strangers. I know Cody did that.”
“He told you about what he endured?”
“You mean how he was hurt?” Orsen was kind of figuring out how Santino spoke. There were words he’d never heard before, and Santino always explained them to him and never made Orsen feel like an idiot for not knowing. The bonus was that Orsen learned more.
“Yes. I think I have the cliff notes version. The edited one, where he only gave me the details I needed to know.”
“They hurt him, but he made it something positive.” Orsen ducked his head and picked at a nail. “He mentioned therapy.”
“I agree with him.” Orsen’s head snapped up, and he stared at Santino, who placed a hand over his again. “You’ve lived a hard life no child should have to, and it ended with you—”
“Killing Ambrose.”
“Yes, so talking will help, and Cody sees Dr. Mahon. Said she’s easy to talk to and helped him. Will you consider it for me?”
Orsen snorted. “Are you using my like against me?”
Santino laughed and shook his head. “Busted. I am indeed using the fact that you like me to persuade you to do something that will benefit you.”
“Huh. All I got was ‘yes, I am.’” Orsen looked at Santino and then stared at his lips. “If I promise to go, will you kiss me?”
“I… what?”
“One kiss. I’ve never been kissed, and I want my first to be with you.”
“I think things are moving too fast.”
“Over one kiss?” Orsen pulled a face. “That’s crap.”
Santino’s eyebrows shot up, and then he leaned over and kissed him on the lips. Super quick. “There.”
“Wow. I feel so loved.”
“You have been spending time with Toni and Carter’s children.”
“I like Arthur. He makes me laugh, and he’s teaching me how to play games on the console he has. He has some his parents don’t know about. Cody bought them for him and swore him to secrecy.”
“You told me. I could bust him.” Santino waggled his eyebrows, making Orsen laugh. “Get on with your work. I think you’re delaying doing it.”
“Nuh-uh! I’m enjoying it, but one day I want to hate it too. Then I’ll make your life hell.”
Santino burst out laughing. “I think I like you, Orsen.”
“Enough for another kiss?”
Santino stopped smiling and stared at him. “You’re seventeen. I’m thirty-one.”
Orsen sank into his chair and pursed his lips. “I’m not going to be like teenagers my age.”
“I know, and part of me is telling me you should go out and live your life, date, have sex and have relationships until you’re ready to settle down.
” Orsen opened his mouth, and Santino placed a finger on his lips.
“You think that’s not what you want right now, but maybe it will be when you’ve had therapy and have moved on from what’s happened.
What if I dated you and things developed between us?
Then you realize you want all the things those teenagers have and leave me? ”
“Cheat on you?”
“Maybe not intentionally, but yes. You’re not even eighteen yet—”
“Ambrose used to sell Allison. I would hear it happen.”