Chapter Thirteen
“Is this your way of saying you’re sorry for ducking out on my dinner party?” Winter asked Terry as he gave Connor another cracker to munch on.
Terry had called him and asked to meet with him at their favorite restaurant for lunch. It was a couple of weeks after he and Creed had gotten engaged and found out that he was pregnant. Since agreeing to adopt Connor as well as admitting their love for each other, there was a new air around them not only between them but in their home too. He and Creed had grown closer and started venturing out on more dates together. Some of their outings were with and without Connor who tended to get all the attention with his adorableness.
They were starting to feel like a family, and planned on telling his parents soon that he was pregnant. He was also enjoying the rest of his summer before he had to start teaching at the university. He’d sent his resignation letter to the academy, giving them enough time to hire someone before the new school year started.
“In a way, and to tell you I have to go out of town for a bit,” Terry said.
“Already? But it seems as if you just got here.”
“I know, but I don’t think I’ll be gone too long this time. I just need to take care of something.”
Winter looked at his friend. For all the years he knew Terry, he’d been a fuck off and fuck ‘em kind of guy. But watching the man in front of him, he seemed completely different. Thinking back Winter realized there wasn’t much he knew about Terry, the little knowledge he had could be counted on one hand.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, I need to work through a few things.”
“What, are Mom and Dad cutting off your trust fund?” Winter joked.
“My trust fund is intact. Thank you very much.”
“Then why are you leaving? I thought you were finally going to settle down.”
“I might be.”
“Wait, what did you just say?” That caught Winter off guard. “Don’t tell me you’ve found your mate?” Terry looked at Connor for a second, seeming uneasy with the topic. “I was kidding you know, right?”
Terry turned his gaze back to Winter. “I know,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “There’s something I need to talk to you about when I get back.”
“Why can’t you tell me now?”
“Because I have to take care of a few things first.”
“You’re scaring me,” Winter told him. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”
Terry chuckled. “Stop being a hen.”
“Did you just call me a mother hen?”
“I didn’t stutter, sweetie, you feel that you have to take care of everyone.”
“I do not,” Winter grumbled.
Terry quirked a perfectly arched eyebrow, asking if he was serious. “But anyway, don’t worry, I’m not in any kind of trouble. Well, not the kind that might be going through your head. When I finally tell you what’s going on, I just need you to listen, understand, and hopefully, in the end, you will forgive me.”
“You’re really scaring me.” Winter gasped. “Did you kill someone?” he whispered.
Terry went to answer as Connor started babbling, and threw his toy that hit his friend in the face. Winter snorted from the shocked expression on Terry’s face. “I knew that kid hated me.”
“Well if you hold him once in a while maybe he won’t throw his toys at you. But answer my question. Did you kill someone?”
“Do you think I’d answer that question in a public place?”
Shit, I forgot.
“Okay, what the fuck?” Winter whispered as he watched his friend stand, lifting Connor out of his carrier. He sat back down with the baby in his lap. Connor turned his head and stared at Terry then smiled and reached up, grabbing a hand full of his long hair and pulling on it.
