Page 33 of Cruel Love

“Could be better, I guess,” he answers.

I push off the floor. “That’s to be expected.” I gesture around. “So, how are we doing this Boston thing? Fly or road trip? It’ll be easier to travel armed if we go by road, but time would definitely be an issue…”

“Caleb,” he says, his voice falling.

“What?”

His brow creases even more. “I think it’d be best if you stayed here with Dani.”

I scoff. “Yeah, right.”

“No, I mean it.” He shifts on his toes. “This might get dangerous and you—”

“Goddammit,” I mutter, feeling a tepid rage boil beneath my skin.

“What?” he asks.

“He told you, didn’t he?”

Fox looks down. “Don’t be mad at Box, Cal. He just wants what’s best for you. To keep you safe.”

“Pretty sure I’m the only one who gets to vote on what’s best for me.”

“And I would never claim otherwise… but—”

“No buts, Fox. You can’t trust these people and I’m not letting you get dragged back down to the hell you already climbed out of.”

“I get that,” he says. “But if something happens to you, something that could easily have been avoided…”

“Ditto.”

He laughs. “I’m not making any progress here, am I?”

“Not really, no.”

“Okay.” He takes a step into the room. “How are you feeling?”

I roll my eyes. “I’m fine.”

“You know, when Box told me, I got the clearest image in my head of what that kid will look like. I don’t know about you, Caleb, but I can’t wait to meet them.”

I look down. “That makes one of us, then.”

He shrugs. “What are you scared of?”

“I’m not scared, I just...” I glance up into his knowing eyes. “Okay, fine. I’m terrified. I don’t know the first thing about parenthood. I can field strip an M16 in fourteen seconds, but I have no idea how to change a dirty diaper.”

“You learned how to strip a rifle,” he says, smiling. “You’ll learn how to change a diaper.”

“And Boxcar? I mean... can you imagine him wearing a kid in one of those wrap things? Loading up a car seat?”

“Actually, yeah.”

I squint. “Come on.”

“Really. I can,” he says. “I think Boxcar deserves a little more credit than you give him. He might not be teaching anyone how to throw a football, but he’ll step up when necessary.”

I pause mid-pace and lean my back against the wall. “Or he’ll take off again.”

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