“Did you ever go to church?”
Calder laughed, putting on his thickest Texan drawl. “Shit, son. My daddy used to say, ‘The Texas stadium has a hole in the roof so God could watch his favorite team play.’ Church is required if you live in the Lone Star State.”
“Did you like church?” Robby asked, setting down one section of hair and starting another.
“I mean, I liked it okay, I guess, but we stopped going after my sister disappeared. My dad got too weird for even our most fervent congregation members. He started talking about people kidnapping girls for satanic rituals as part of some conspiracy regarding the New World Order. After that, it all started to seem pretty ridiculous to me.”
Calder’s pulse jumped as Robby dropped a kiss on his head. “Calder?”
“Yeah, angel?”
“I think you should ask Linc to help you try to find your sister.”
A shock wave of adrenaline spiked through Calder’s body like he’d shoved a knife in the toaster. “I don’t know if I can open that part of my life back up again.”
“That’s just it. You closed it up but that wound is still there underneath. It’s infecting everything you do.”
Part of Calder knew Robby was right, that he needed to close the chapter on that part of his life for good, but that meant facing the truth. “I guess I’m just afraid to know for sure. It’s easier for me to believe that she somehow saved herself and has a new life and a new family than to face the much more likely scenario that she died from a drug overdose or at the hands of some thug.”
“Well, I’m living proof that your past always comes back to get you eventually.”
Calder snagged both of Robby’s hands and pulled him down, tilting his head back to kiss him. “I know you’re right. I do. I’ll talk to Webster about it tomorrow.”
“Whatever you find out, I’ll be here. As long as you want me around.”
The uncertainty in his voice killed Calder. But no matter how scared Robby was, he always said what he thought, consequences be damned. It was an insanely brave way to live. “Thanks, angel.”
“Well, as long as I don’t end up in prison,” Robby added, his voice quivering despite his attempt to make it sound like a joke.
Calder turned, getting up on his knees, so he was eye to eye with Robby. He cupped his face with both hands. “Believe me when I say this. I will never let you see the inside of a jail cell again. Not ever. Tell me you believe me.”
Robby’s eyes welled with tears, and he nodded. “I believe you.”
“Good. Let’s go back to bed for a while.”
The smell of coffee and bacon forced Robby’s eyes open. For the first time in a few days, he didn’t instantly wonder where he was. He rolled onto his back, stretching his limbs with a groan—muscles he never knew existed protesting and an unfamiliar ache in his backside reminding him of exactly what they’d done last night. He smiled to himself, grabbing Calder’s pillow and pulling it against his face, inhaling the familiar scent. Last night had actually happened. Calder had taken Robby’s virginity, and they’d talked until they’d fallen asleep, wrapped around each other. Robby wasn’t sure it was possible to be happier than he was right then.
“Rise and shine, angel,” Calder called. “Grubs on.”
Robby dragged himself into a sitting position. Calder’s phone blipped from the side table indicating a text. “Somebody texted you,” Robby managed, voice sleep soaked.
“What’s it say?” Calder asked from the other room.
Robby’s brows shot up. “You want me to look at your phone? What if it’s one of your groupies?”
“You think I’d give them my private number, angel?” Calder asked, amusement evident in his voice.
“Haha,” Robby said, refusing to let Calder’s teasing ruin his good mood. “I don’t know your code.” Calder called a four digit number out to him without hesitation, and Robby’s heart skipped a beat. It was stupid to read anything into that, he supposed, but it felt like it meant something, like it meant Calder had nothing to hide. Robby pulled up the message. “It’s from Linc. He said, ‘Resignation not accepted, asshole. Get your ass into the office and bring the kid.’”
Calder barked out a laugh. “Get in here and eat your breakfast. I’ve been slaving away for hours.”
Robby stood with another stretch, adjusting Calder’s boxers as best he could, before shuffling into the kitchen like a zombie, stopping short when he saw Calder dressed in his usual attire of ripped jeans and a ratty band t-shirt, hair already piled on his head. In his lap sat Cas, gazing up at Calder with his good eye, tongue lolling as Calder fed him tiny pieces of bacon. The dog really wasn’t supposed to have bacon but they both looked so content, Robby didn’t dare say anything. Cas was ancient and bacon was delicious. A little couldn’t hurt.
Calder had set a place for Robby, piling more eggs and bacon and toast on his plate than Robby could ever hope to eat. Even if he wasn’t filming now, he would be soon and his trainer would kill him.But,a voice nagged, there was a possibility he was going to prison, so maybe he should enjoy what he could while he could.
As he walked past, Calder snagged Robby by his hoodie, tugging him down for a kiss. “You look like a baby bird, angel. That hairstyle doesn’t hold up to you sleeping on your face all night. How do you breathe like that?”
“Don’t tease me before I’ve had my coffee,” Robby grumbled, dropping into his seat and taking a sip of the hot liquid, letting it burn its way down with a sigh. “So, does Linc’s text mean you’re still going to be my bodyguard?”
