Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Shit.” Chase pulled away from me, walked to the window, and looked out. His back was to us, and he stood there, tense and silent.
“What does this mean for now?” I asked. “It’s not concrete proof of anything.”
“No. Absolutely not. We need to talk to George, is all, and hell, it’s not like he hasn’t gone on benders for a few days or more and disappeared. This isn’t exactly out of character, so there’s no need to jump to conclusions. I wanted the two of you to be aware. I have a feeling whoever did this is harmless—”
“What he did wasn’t harmless!” Chase shouted. “All Kellan’s clients have canceled with him except for two. There are photos of him out there that no one has any business seeing. That’s not fucking harmless.”
It didn’t escape my attention that he hadn’t mentioned what this did to him—only to me. “I’m fine, Chase. We’re okay.” Did I hate that people had seen our moment? Hell yes. Did I worry about my career? Definitely. But we would figure it out as long as we did it together.
“You’re right. That was a bad choice of words. It’s not what I meant,” Chief Potter apologized. “Do you have any idea where your dad might have gone?”
Chase shook his head. “None that you wouldn’t already know. It’s not like we’re close.”
The chief didn’t stay long after that. He had a few more questions for us, which we answered to the best of our abilities. Chase was tense the whole time, and it was me who walked Chief Potter to the door and thanked him for filling us in.
“Will you continue to stay here? If I need to get ahold of you?” he asked at the door.
“No. We’re going to head back to my place. We’ll both be there if you need us.”
He nodded. “I’m, um…real proud of you, Kellan. You’re a good man. Your parents would be proud too. You take care of Chase, ya hear?”
I couldn’t help the warmth that spread through my chest at hearing that. It wasn’t as if I knew the chief well or anything, and it wasn’t often that random people in Havenwood said things like that to me. “Thank you. I appreciate that, and I will.”
He nodded again before turning and walking away. I stood there for a minute, letting his words soak in, and…they helped. Sometimes it felt like I was so different from everyone there, like I was on the outside looking in, even with Griff, Nat, Josh, and Chase, but maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Sure, there were assholes, but there had to be as many people who weren’t.
And he was right. I knew my parents would be proud, that they would have loved the idea of me and Chase.
I closed the door and went to Chase, who was sitting on the couch. I straddled his lap and held his face. “Mom and Dad would have loved us together.”
He closed his eyes, like it was too much for him to take in. A few moments later, he asked, “Do you really think so?” his voice gentle and vulnerable. “Even with all this?”
“I know so. They loved you. And I love you. You were a son to them, Chase. I know it’s not the same as your own blood, but you’re so much better than George Hawthorne could ever be. You had a mom and dad who loved you.”
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me tight against him. He held me, breathed me in, then whispered, “Thank you.”
“There’s nothing to thank me for.”
He looked at me like he didn’t believe me. “I love you.”
“I love you too…and since you love me, you’ll take me puppy shopping today! Oh my God, I’m so stoked to get a dog!”
Chase laughed. “Sounds to me like a good way to spend the day.”
We got dressed, and Chase packed a bag to take home with us. I shot Griff a text, letting him know Chase and I were going to be coming home or would be staying with Josh, and asking him which he preferred. Like I knew he would, Griff replied: This is your home, Kell, no matter what.
We drove out to Richmond, to one of the shelters there. They’d gotten a litter of German shepherd puppies in, the owners having abandoned them. I hated people who treated animals that way.
Chase and I sat in a room surrounded by playful pups. One of them was climbing all over Chase’s lap and licking his face like crazy.
“Oh, you’re a cuddly boy, aren’t you?” Chase asked as he petted the pup. He grinned at the dog like he was already in love, and I knew he was the one.
“I think we should pick him.”
“Yeah?” He looked over at me, his smile growing.