Chapter Fourteen
TJ
TJ still hadn’t decided what to do about Cody.
No, he had, then he hadn’t. He flip-flopped constantly about him.
Worse, he couldn’t stop thinking about Cody and how he had reacted to him.
The way he kissed, so sure and dominant, taking control in a way that TJ hadn’t been prepared for.
He’d liked it, but when Cody had dropped to his knees in front of him…
fuck, he’d been so hard, and he hadn’t been like that in years.
Even his ex hadn’t made TJ want to strip naked and fuck the way Cody had.
It actually scared TJ, the way he’d responded.
Cody. Young Cody, who wasn’t young anymore.
Only he was, but not the way TJ remembered, and he struggled to move past that simple truth.
Cody had gone through so much in a short period of time.
The boy had gone and now a man stood in his place.
TJ shouldn’t behave the way he did around Cody and the fact he hadn’t realized his attraction to him—
“TJ. Time to go, boss. You’ve been here all day.”
TJ waved a hand over his near empty desk. “When was the last time you saw my desk this clear?”
Miles leaned against the doorframe and whistled. “Sure helps now that Taylor is back. I like not seeing mounds of paperwork on my desk.”
“He won’t be happy by the end of the week.” TJ stood and stretched. “He’ll regret coming back.”
“I may have heard the odd grumble earlier, but that could be because he was going over my forms.” Miles smiled. “He knows your pain now.”
“He’ll be asking me for a pay raise just for handling your stuff.” TJ grinned. “We all know how much you love the paperwork side of the job.”
“Why do we need so much? A form for this and a form for that. Did I fart or take a shit before I left the station? What color are my boxers? Did I have a blue or black pen or was I extra naughty and had a red one?”
TJ burst out laughing and pointed his finger at Miles. “They’re not quite that bad.”
“Not yet but give it a year or so and they’ll be asking us what we ate before we came to work.” Miles walked with TJ as he left his office. “Any plans?”
“Not really. Go home, eat, and then sleep.”
“I meant for tomorrow.”
“Huh?” TJ slowed and looked at Miles. “Is something happening tomorrow I don’t know about?”
“You have a day off?” Miles shook his head and clapped TJ on the back. “I think you need it, too. When are you having the boys and Macy?”
“This weekend.” This weekend when Cody was living with him.
TJ didn’t want to answer questions about Cody and their living arrangements, because they didn’t have any.
Cody needed to face Cass, and the sooner, the better.
Whatever issues Cody had with Cass wouldn’t be dealt with if he stayed at TJ’s house.
He needed to face them head on and deal with them.
The issue of Cody and his mouth had TJ sucking in a lungful of air. He didn’t know how long he could deal with his growing attachment to Cody. Young Cody. Very young Cody. How long could he use the age difference as an excuse?
Cody had to leave. TJ would tell him when he arrived home, that he had until Friday. It was Wednesday now, so two days. Would that be long enough? Yes, it would because Cody had family he could go to. His own family who loved him in their own way. By sending him to a conversion camp. Shit.
“TJ!”
“Sorry. What did you say?”
Miles gave a look of sympathy. “I think you need to get some sleep. Don’t even think about coming here tomorrow. Enjoy your day off.”
“I will.”
“Oh, and Crompton called. Said Orsen still looks like shit, and you need to sort yours out and deal with his old man. That’s almost a direct quote.”
Rubbing a hand over his face, TJ nodded. “Thanks for letting me know.” He was stuck between a rock and a hard place, but he’d make some calls and see if he could get someone to do a wellness check.
Miles walked back to his desk and TJ left the station, then climbed in his truck and sat doing nothing.
Okay, so it was time to face the truth. Since Cody had returned, TJ had been growing more attracted to him and never noticed.
No surprise there. He had the worst gaydar.
Did that count in this situation? Anyway, Cody liked him.
Cody had come back for him. Cody kissed like a man with a purpose and that purpose was TJ, and TJ had loved how he’d felt.
Small and overpowered and dominated, and he had it bad.
Oh, he had it so bad, and what the fuck did he do?
A week. Cody had been back in his life for a week and had completely turned it around and upended it, and TJ still sat in his truck going nowhere fast. His orderly life had been turned upside down, and Cody knew what he wanted.
So sure and positive and strong, and there he went again.
He didn’t even think like he normally did.
How could one man cause so much upheaval in TJ’s normally reserved, boring life?
When he arrived home, TJ found himself pausing. Muttering how stupid he was under his breath, TJ went inside and instantly smelled something wonderful cooking in the air. He could get used to this, but nope. He’d made up his mind, and he was sticking to it.
“TJ. Just in time. Do you want a shower before we eat?” Now that TJ was blatantly aware of his attraction to Cody, seeing the younger man stood in his kitchen had him instantly aroused.
How could someone look so good in a plain white T-shirt and pale distressed jeans?
And why did the T-shirt have to stretch across his chest just right, and look how his jeans cupped what TJ knew was a—
“Shower.” He ran up the stairs and into his bedroom, shutting the door and leaning his back on it. Running a hand over his short blond hair, TJ closed his eyes and moaned. He was in so much trouble, and Cody had to go.
“Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.”
“Food will be ready in ten minutes!” Cody shouted upstairs.
“I’ll be down soon!” Palming his dick, TJ trembled, then pushed away from the door. “Get a fucking grip.”
One shower later and another long talk with himself, TJ entered the kitchen and smiled at Cody as he put a plate in front of him. Chicken and dumplings. A bowl of greens was placed between them and the aroma wafted up to TJ, making him close his eyes and moan.
“I hope you like it. Mama taught me how to make it. I spoke to her earlier and she wants to meet you soon.”
“I’d like that. They sound like good people. This looks amazing. Thank you.”
Cody smiled and TJ stared. God, he was gorgeous with his thick black hair and bright blue eyes, and TJ wrenched his eyes away and shoved a forkful of chicken into his mouth.
The heat hit and he waved his hand in front of his open mouth while breathing through it to try to cool it down.
Cody laughed as he carefully blew on his food. Which was on his fork.
He ate his food, glancing at Cody and seeing him watching him.
TJ could feel the tension rising in the room, and he wasn’t sure how he wanted to handle it.
Did he run from it or embrace it? Cody. Young Cody.
Cass’ son Cody. Carter’s nephew Cody. Carter, who was married to Toni, the mother of TJ’s boys.
So tangled up in his head, yet he knew for Cody it was straightforward.
He didn’t care what they thought. He’d come back for TJ. Had told him that right to his face.
Putting his fork down, TJ sighed. “Cody.”
“You seem distracted.”
“We can’t do this. What happened earlier.” He hadn’t been sure what he’d say, so when he spoke, he surprised himself. “I think you should move out. This,” he waved between them, “can’t happen.”
“I thought you might feel that way, and I understand.”
TJ blinked. “You do?”
“I do. Eat up while the food is hot, TJ. I know you’ve worked more hours than normal.”
“Taylor is back now, so that takes some of the pressure off me.”
“It can’t all be down to one officer being off.”
TJ shook his head and ate more chicken. “No it isn’t. We had a man leave and I’ve been told there’s no money to hire more staff.”
Cody snorted. “Well, that’s a load of bullshit. They’re lining their pockets. You should speak to Cass. He isn’t squeaky clean. He knows what’s going on with the finances.”
“What?” TJ put his fork down. “How would Cass know? He has nothing to do with the council.”
“He’s friends with Angelo. He sits on the council. Look into it, is all I’m saying.”
Brow furrowed, TJ watched Cody eat some chicken. “How would you know to tell me to look into them?”
“I was a kid, remember? They talk in front of kids, especially kids who were fuckups like me. I heard things. They would say something cost like ten dollars when it only cost eight and keep the difference. Cass knew and said nothing. Another reason to hate him.”
TJ leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his face. “Shit.”
“You don’t have to deal with it now. You need to get some program on the computers, and it’ll do the job for you.” Cody carried on eating like he hadn’t dropped a bombshell in TJ’s lap.
“You can’t say this to me and carry on like normal. This is embezzlement. By the council.”
“Not the council. Angelo. Investigate him. Though I have been away for four years so it may have changed, but when I lived with them it was Angelo, and Cass knew. He might have been involved as well.”
“Would you have told me about this if I hadn’t mentioned being a man short?”
“Probably not. I don’t care about them. I care about you.
If you had moved from here, I would have found you where you lived.
” Cody sat back and placed his hands on the table.
“Cass isn’t the man you think he is. He plays a character for you and Carter.
Has for years, but I don’t care. I came back for you and only you. ”
“We can’t do this. I can’t do this with you.”
“I figured that when you ran out of here with your dick out for all to see.”
“Damn it, Cody. This isn’t funny.” TJ stood and straightened.
“I need you to find a new place to live by Friday. My kids are staying over then. I’m so happy you’re alive, but I can’t do this with you.
You’re a great kid, Cody. I’m glad you’re alive, that you got your life sorted out and you know what you want, but it can’t be me. ”
“Okay. I understand. Finish your food and then go to bed. I’ll sort something out.”
“You’re okay with that?” TJ honestly thought Cody would put up a fight, but he wasn’t.
Shrugging, Cody picked up his fork. “It’s all good. Sit down and finish your food.”
TJ slowly sat, his eyes on Cody, who ate like everything was fine.
Picking up his fork, he tucked into his food, enjoying every mouthful.
Cody could cook, and he would miss this when he moved out.
When he finished, Cody brushed off his attempts to help, telling him to go to bed.
Trudging upstairs, TJ undid the button on his jeans and sank onto his bed, running his hands over his head and face.
It had been a long day. A long god knows how many days. A sound on the stairs had him lifting his head and staring at the doorway. Cody stood there, watching him but saying nothing. When he stepped inside, TJ stood and watched as Cody closed the door.
“I am young, but I’m not a boy. I’m not a kid either. Stop judging me by a number.”
Sighing softly, TJ murmured, “It isn’t just your age.”
Nodding, Cody walked toward him, stopping when they stood toe to toe. “Cass. A man who means more to you than me. I don’t care about him. I only care about you.” Cody placed his fingers under TJ’s chin and tilted his head up. “Only you,” Cody murmured, then kissed him.