Chapter 19
Calvin
WhenBraedenaskedifSeth and I were a couple, I knew how it would look to outsiders, dancing around with him, but I couldn’t be bothered to care. He needed me, and I wanted to be there for him as he’d done for me countless times. I still owe him those damn cookies.
Did I like holding him close? Absofuckinglutely. He felt good against me. He smelled fucking fresh, clean, and citrusy. The scent of coconut in his hair had me taking deep breaths while he rested his head on my shoulder.
I may or may not have rubbed one out after our dance and again before bed.
The next day, Braeden dragged me out to shop for school supplies. I bought him a laptop, too. What he wouldn’t let me buy was anything for his room, and I’ve been trying. I want him to feel at home and to get settled in. Maybe he feels like he’s not a permanent fixture in my house. Perhaps he’s waiting until I get full custody of him, but I doubt the fourteen-year-old is thinking about that as much as the complete uprooting of his life. The boy is holding back, and I don’t know what to do.
Now, I sit in my car, staring at the high school with Braeden. It’s a Wednesday in early October. He’s missed somuch school. They’re aware of his situation, so I’m sure they’ll get him sorted out. At least they managed to fit him into band class.
I’m strangely reluctant to let him go. He lost his parents, his home, and he lives with a virtual stranger. Now, he’s starting a new milestone in life. High school. He also doesn’t know any of the kids here.
The students are walking toward the building, spilling out of school buses and cars. They’re together in clusters of friends, laughing, looking bright, fresh, and eager.
I glance at Braeden to see his fingers digging into the strap of his backpack so tightly that it turns his knuckles white.
“You don’t have to go yet,” I tell him. “Take some more time.”
His shoulders sag, and he lets out a long stream of breath and opens the car door. “No.”
When he climbs out, I say, “Call me if you need anything.”
He looks back at me with so much fear and sadness. My heart aches for him. I feel like I’m not helping him at all. With that, he turns around and walks off. I watch helplessly until I can’t see him anymore.
Since he’s returned to school, I can return to work, even if I won’t work a full day. I’ll have to pick him up after three.
Hopefully, I can focus. I’m so damn behind, but I probably won’t. I’ll be distracted with worry about Braeden. Will he make friends? Will he do well? Will he find some sort of joy being around his peers? I was popular in high school, but I’m outgoing. Braeden isn’t.
With a sigh, I pull out of the school parking lot and drive into work.
“Long time no see, Cal,” Olivia says.
“Morning, my queen bee. Thank you for holding down the fort.” My tone is light and joking, but on the inside, I’m stressed the fuck out. Stressed about Braeden. Stressed about Seth. Stressed about my job. And I still fucking hurt about losing my friends.
When I sit in my office and turn on my laptop, Olivia comes in carrying my favorite cup of coffee.
“You look like shit,” she says when she places the mug next to me.
“Ifeellike shit.”
“Oh, boy. No quip? No snark? No comeback? Youarebad off.” She sits across from me but doesn’t open her laptop to start our morning meeting. “Seriously, if you need to talk, I’m here, Cal. You lost your friends, and you’re suddenly the guardian of a child. That’s a lot.”
I smile at her before clicking open my calendar. “It is, but I’ll push through. Thanks, Olive Oyl.”
We chat about the upcoming jobs, schedules, and meetings planned for the rest of the week.
“Cal, we need to catch up on the Eagle Saloon job. We were supposed to have the design, estimated cost, and drawings ready for next week’s meeting.”
I rub my face before taking a sip of coffee. “I know. I’m really trying. I’ve been working on some ideas and changes from my original plan, but I keep getting pulled away. Maybe I can call Harry Jackson, the one who hired us for the job, and ask for an extension.”
She nods and pushes some fallen strands of hair behind her ears. “That sounds solid. I hope he gives it to you. I would be honest and tell him what happened.”
“As much as I want to give this job to one of the other designers, I promised I would be hands-on for this one. This job could push this company to the top. But if I fuck it up, it could hurt us. All this shit couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Hell, is any time a good time to lose friends and be some unexpected father?”
Olivia stands, tucks her laptop under her arm, and gathers our mugs. “If anyone can do this, it’s you. I have the utmost faith in you.”
