Chapter 48
Levi didn’t trust Robbie. He stared at the back door, waiting for them to return.
“Levi, something on your mind?”
“Yeah Leo. A friend of Jon’s just showed up out of the blue. Something about what he said isn’t sitting right. They’re outside catching up now.”
“Ah. Well, even I know that boy thinks you hung the moon, so I don’t think an old boyfriend is going to go riding off with him, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He chuckled. “Can I get a beer while we hash this out and figure out what’s going on?”
“Oh shit. Sorry, I’m a tad distracted. James should be helping, but I’ve got him spying to make sure everything’s cool.”
Leo smiled. “Plausible deniability?”
Levi laughed. “Yep. If you smoked, I might suggest you go out there, but since Jon’s never seen you out there, it might be a bit too obvious.”
Leo shook his head. “Hell, I’d smoke my first cigarette in decades to help you out, but you’re absolutely right. He’d know something was up.”
Levi’s shoulders dropped. “Am I overreacting?”
“Possibly. But I don’t think it’s a bad thing as long as you’re doing it out of concern for him, and not because you don’t trust him. Betty would be better to ask, but she’s not here.”
Levi watched James peek out the window and then bolt to a seat near the stage. Levi would smack him across the back of the head if he were within reach. He was selling it too hard. “Hold that thought for a sec. Something’s going on.” The doors opened and Jon entered. Robbie was not following. He headed straight toward Levi. “Leo, do you mind giving us a sec?”
Jon smiled. “It’s ok Leo. You can stay.”
Levi nodded his tacit assent. Leo drank his beer, silent.
Levi narrowed his eyes. “Are you enjoying your chat with your buddy?”
Jon sighed. “Yeah, finally got the truth out of him. It wasn’t hard when I told him you would come running when you figured it out.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Come on Levi, you would’ve figured it out soon, anyway. If my parents sent him, he wouldn’t have just showed up here trying to find me. They would’ve given him my number. Besides, now that Grampa Doyle’s on their case, they wouldn’t try it again so quickly.”
Levi cursed under his breath. He should have caught that detail, but he was so jealous at meeting one of Jon’s old crushes. He didn’t know why he was jealous. “So, what’s his deal, then?”
“He’s going through some shit, and he’s on his way to Houston for some sober living program to get a fresh start. He overheard my mom talking to one of her friends about me and figured he’d find me and catch up. That much was true, at least as far as I can tell. I’ve not talked to him in nearly five years, but he was always a shitty liar.”
“Sober living?”
“Yeah. It sounds like he’s had a rough time.” Jon paused and stared at the bar. “I told him I would get him the rest of the way, so I’m either going to give him a ride tonight or a ticket on the commuter bus in the morning.”
Leo cleared his throat. Levi felt his left eye twitch. He inhaled and let out a measured breath. He didn’t want to sound freaked out, no matter how true it was. “You want him to stay with us tonight, don’t you?”
“I was kinda hoping he could. It’s up to you, though. I’ve not promised him anything yet.”
Levi thought for a moment. He didn’t want to let Jon go home alone with Robbie. Not because he didn’t trust Jon. He didn’t trust Robbie. “I’ll be honest. I don’t know how comfortable I am with him being in our house. He’s your friend, but I’m a little paranoid. I mean, what would you have said if the day James showed up out of the blue, I suggested he stay with us?” Jon’s shoulders fell. “But I’m not one to turn away a friend in need. The apartment upstairs is cozy enough. He could stay there tonight. You could even hang out with him as long as you want. I know he’s probably getting antsy to leave the bar. If he’s needing extra cash, and it sounds like he might, he could help us clean up after last call. That’s up to him, though.”
Leo stared at him and smiled. Jon’s face lit up. “Really?”
Levi smiled. “Yes. Really.”
Jon ran behind the bar and embraced him. Levi kissed the top of his head. “Granted, it’s all up to him. Let’s go out to talk to him and let him know. I’m sure y’all do still have a lot of catching up to do. I love you, and if helping him is important to you, it’s important to me. Besides, he’s going to need someone he can talk to. Someone he can trust, and something tells me you would be good at that for him. I caught how his face lit up when he saw you.”