9
KEATON
Moose is dead.It was a weird thought, but it felt like the man I’d become in this park had died with Mom. As I stared in the mirror, it wasn’tmewho looked back. It wasKeaton. I had responsibilities that went further than paying the rent. I was Ginny’s guardian now. Fuck. Guardian.
I scrubbed my face, panic surging up in my chest. I supposed it wasn’t much different than what I’d already been doing. When it came to feeding her and helping her shower and get ready for the day, the duty fell on me anyway. Mom was never up early enough for any of that. But this felt more final. I had no choice now. Did I have to do something to make sure she stayed with me? I had no fucking idea. Maybe Zayn would know.
Shaking my head at the thought of the man still sleeping where I’d left him on the foldout, I sighed. He’d been great through this entire drama. He’d stayed at my side, offering me support, and when I’d needed it, pain, too. I’d been fucked stupid last night and he’d helped me forget, just for a little while. Now the sun was out and I couldn’t hide from the cold, hard truth.
Mom was dead, and I had to pick up Ginny from Mrs. Carmine’s and tell her.
I wasn’t sure if I was ready, but I’d never be. Protecting Ginny had been my main goal in life and now I had to be the one to give her the bad news. Mommy wasn’t coming home.
A gentle knock on the door stiffened my back.
“Are you okay, boy?”
Boy.Fuck. Why did I love that so much? I wasn’t a boy, far from it, but I washisboy. And he wasmyDaddy. How fucked up but hot was that? Falling into the role had been so easy last night. My body had felt weightless as I was able to let go of all responsibilities. He was in charge, not me.
Shivering at the thought of his dominant voice and the orders he’d given me, I straightened and finished washing my face. I’d already brushed my teeth and now I was ready to face the world. Well, as ready as I could be.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
I opened the door and looked at his tired face. Dark bags stuck out under his eyes and he yawned, jaw cracking with the movement. He shook his shoulders like someone had walked over his grave, or at least, that’s what my grandma used to believe.
“You look like you haven’t slept.”Of course he fucking didn’t, you dummy, Keaton. Look where he is. I’m sure he’s used to a much better bed than mine.“Sorry about the couch. It’s all we could afford.”
He smiled gently, and while I expected to see judgment in his expression, nothing came. He held out his hand, and I slid my palm against his, letting him tug me out of the small bathroom and into his arms. Brushing his nose over mine, he draped his arms around my waist. “I’ve slept in worse places.”
“Yeah? Where?” I didn’t know a lot about him. How did he grow up? He’d never mentioned anything about his family, butthen, I hadn’t, either. We’d both silently agreed to keep our lives private, though he’d asked about mine. But we were here now, in the trailer park, and I couldn’t hide behind a nickname.
He hesitated, but instead of answering like I wanted, he kissed me, which I broke away from almost immediately.
I scrunched up my nose. “Morning breath, Daddy.”
He chuckled and laid a kiss at the corner of my mouth. “Sorry, boy.”
“You should be,” I grumbled, but there wasn’t any real malice in my voice. I eyed him carefully, looking for signs that he was inwardly laughing at my living situation, but I didn’t see an ounce of cruelty. Not like Roger the Dodger, who’d mocked me whenever he’d gotten a chance. Fuck him. I hoped wherever he was now, it was hell for him.
“Who’s Roger the Dodger?”
I froze and blinked at him. “What?”
“You were whisperingfuck Roger the Dodger. Who’s that, boy?” His tone sharpened, a new edge to it, and I cocked my head. He was dangerous, wasn’t he? He enjoyed watching me fight and he’d said he wanted Hannibal’s number to join in on the fun at the nuthouse.
I shrugged, forcing indifference in the movement, even though the name made my skin itch. I fucking hated Roger. “We used to fuck. He’s the one who said I was dumb.”
“Hmm.” Zayn’s jaw tightened. “Where is he now?”
I scratched my jaw uncomfortably. “Fucked if I know, Daddy. He’s gone.”
“You curse a lot, don’t you?” His lips twitched and he leaned up into me, caressing his fingers between my pecs and down my abs. The familiar threads of lust curled in my veins and my blood changed direction, heading south. “Do we need to wash your mouth out with soap?”
Now he sounded like Mom. That was her threat when I was young. I smiled at the thought, but it fell as quickly as it came when I remember Mom was dead.
Drugs.
Fucking drugs.
