That was all fairly typical in a cyberbullying case. “So he’s discovered a passion for reading?”
Nick laughed. “It’s amazing how little there is to do when you’re fifteen and can’t use the internet. He used to be a pretty good artist. Anya bought him a bunch of pencils and sketch pads for his birthday this winter, but I don’t think he uses them much.”
“What happened to the kid he was bullying? There must have been a restraining order when they’re at school.”
“Anya said the kid’s parents sent him to a private boarding school.” He stretched his arms over his head. “Sometimes I think we should have found a place like that for Hayden too, somewhere with more structure and control, but it’s not like we could afford it, or like any of those fancy places would take a kid with a record.” Nick stood, checking his watch. “In any case, we’re wasting time.”
“For what?” Oliver grinned as Nick crawled into his lap.
“He’ll milk every second out of that phone call he can. I usually have to go knock on the door and tell him to wrap it up.” Nick bent to kiss Oliver, tongue demanding entrance. “He’s technically only got four minutes to go, but I’ll look the other way if he stretches it to six.”
Oliver laughed, hands settling on Nick’s hips. “That’s very generous of you.”
“Dad of the year.” He made quick work of the band in Oliver’s hair.
“I missed you.”
“I’m glad you came.”
* * *
Nick should have been considered a superhero for the strength it took to drag himself off Oliver before things got too far along. They were both panting, and Oliver’s hands were twisted in Nick’s shirt when he finally pulled back.
“Time’s up.”
Oliver narrowed his eyes. “Did you do that on purpose?”
“No, I accidentally fell on top of you with my mouth.”
“You know what I meant.” Oliver shoved at his chest, and Nick stumbled to his feet, laughing. Oliver turning up at the door had been a shock. Nick had actually forgotten that Oliver knew where he lived. And then came the unexpected panic thatmy boyfriendwas somehow tattooed on Oliver’s forehead in an invisible ink that only Hayden could see. Of course, Hayden didn’t appear to notice or care one way or the other. He’d inhaled more than half the pizza and disappeared into his room as soon as the charging was done.
Just a typical Saturday night at their house.
“Do you need to go get your phone?” Oliver asked. His lips were puffy, and he smirked as he pulled his hair back into place.
“What?” Nick adjusted his pants. If that had been six minutes of kissing, he’d gotten worked up embarrassingly quickly.
“Your phone? You said time’s up. If you were kidding—” Oliver stood and tugged Nick forward by his belt loops, “—then I’m happy to pick up where we left off.”
Nick laughed, stepping back again, and Oliver let him go.
“One sec.” Nick went down the hall and knocked on the door.
“Yeah?”
“Are you off the phone?”
“Almost.”
Nick glanced down the hall. The routines of Hayden’s confinement had become everyday to Nick, but having Oliver in the house made him self-conscious. The empty hallway behind him was a relief. Whatever Oliver thought about their situation, he was at least giving Nick some privacy by staying in the living room. “Come on, buddy. Time’s up. You know the rules.”
Hayden yanked the door open and shoved the phone through the opening wordlessly. Nick took it, met with another slamming door before he had a chance to say anything else. Out of habit, he checked the call log. One call, lasting five minutes. He added the contact as “Carson,” in case the probation officer did a spot check on his next home visit.
Oliver was on the couch when he came back to the living room. Nick sat next to him, careful to leave enough space that if Hayden walked by on his way to the kitchen, nothing would look suspicious.
“Everything okay?” Oliver asked.
“Fine. Yeah.” He stuffed the phone in his pocket.
