Page 27 of Just a Little in Love

But Rowan seemed to cry harder. “I haven’t…I haven’t,” but whatever Rowan was going to say got drowned out in sobs.

“Rowan,” Gabriel said after another moment of simply holding and rocking him, and having his heart ache so damn much he could barely breathe. “You don’t ever have to let anyone see your body if you don’t want to. You are entitled to your privacy and I’m sorry if I overstepped before.” Rowan took a gulp of air instead of a sob, and Gabriel thought he was listening. “I know you don’t have many clothes or supplies here. Please don’t be embarrassed to ask for what you need. I’m pretty sure most things can even be ordered online now, and I know you only have two spare pads. Patrick and Charlie can get you whatever you want, or we can order them. I can also arrange to get them from your mom’s—”

“No, please,” Rowan shook his head. “I never want to go there.”

“You don’t have to,” he soothed. “I just meant to pick up the rest of your clothes. Your college things. I’m pretty sure with your permission Charlie and Patrick could go, but we’ll check.”

Rowan nodded after a moment, and he took a shuddering breath. Gabriel passed him some more tissues. “Shall I get you a drink while you get changed?” Rowan stared at him but didn’t answer. His big, beautiful eyes still brimmed with unshed tears and Gabriel wanted to wrap him up and hide him from the world.

Run away with him, even. If ever someone needed a wall against the world, this boy did.

“Can…can,” but Rowan pressed his lips together and lowered his gaze.

“What do you need?” Gabriel prompted and squeezed the hand that was still clutching his.

“Can you help me?”

Gabriel nearly stopped breathing. “Of course I can, but on the understanding that if anything makes you uncomfortable, you say so immediately. Promise me.” Rowan nodded, then said yes. Gabriel heard his front door open, and Patrick and Charlie come in and take the lunch to the kitchen. “That’s Charlie. Still want me to help?”

Rowan nodded again, so Gabriel took Rowan into the bathroom, came back out, and gave him a couple of minutes to pee. Then he went into the bathroom after knocking to find Rowan washing his hands. He handed over some new pajamas that he’d bought last week, and Rowan’s face lit up. They had dinosaurs on them. When Rowan was warm and dressed, Gabriel took him into the kitchen and Patrick and Charlie were their usual selves, so lunch was quite chatty. Rowan didn’t say much, but Charlie made up for it. Then Charlie begged to see Rowan’s games and Rowan glanced at Gabriel as if asking for permission.

“As long as you take your water with you,” Gabriel said, because he knew Rowan didn’t drink enough. Gabriel put on some cartoons as well, and they were soon busy. He came back into the kitchen and sat back down.

Patrick raised an eyebrow and Gabriel knew with the TV, if he kept his voice down, the boys wouldn’t hear. “Two things,” he said. “Two urgent things. I need to know if someone else can get his things from his mom’s. Rowan doesn’t want to go near the place. Maybe if I get Rowan to ask his dad this afternoon? They texted this morning, but he promised to call.”

Patrick nodded. “And the second?”

“I think he needs a new doctor.”

“You mean a therapist? I agree.”

Gabriel shook his head. “Not just. I mean, yes, he urgently needs someone to talk to, but I think he needs to see a medical one more urgently than I thought. I don’t think he’s drinking enough water at all, and…” Gabriel glanced at the kitchen door. They could both hear Charlie giggling. “This isn’t breaking a confidence, because he hasn’t told me, but the pads he wears are completely the wrong size and from what I’ve seen, nearly unnecessary. I know I’m not a doctor and I don’t know his history, but you heard how controlling his mom is. I think he needs to see someone without her doing the talking. Someone fresh.”

Patrick nodded and reached for his phone. “He isn’t registered with a family doctor, according to Charlie, or if he is, Rowan doesn’t know who.”

“And he needs some supplies. He’s got two left.”

“I can get him some recommendations and make sure he’s seen urgently. Have you heard from the police?”

Gabriel shook his head. “No, but that’s his dad’s purview. If Rowan wants me in his corner, I’m there.”

Patrick drained his coffee. “And what about you?”

Gabriel took the question seriously. He knew ignoring his own needs long term wasn’t the way to happiness, or even peace, except he honestly didn’t know what those needs were anymore. “I honestly don’t know. All I know is that right at this moment, I believe I’m the best thing for Rowan…” Gabriel met Patrick’s gaze. “And he’s the best thing for me.”

Patrick dipped his head in acknowledgement. “I don’t think you could be more honest than that.”

Patrick and Charlie left soon after and even though he knew Charlie had been a good distraction for Rowan, Rowan was really overstimulated. The boy practically vibrated, so Gabriel decided to bring things down.

Rowan spoke to his dad, and Gabriel, even though he was very happy to give Rowan privacy, had been asked by both of them to join in on the call. It wasn’t fantastic news. His mom was charged with child endangerment, but it was down to whether the cops could prove a felony or not, which was doubtful. It meant the difference between a fine and actual imprisonment.

Rowan hadn’t spoken much after that, and while he was present, Gabriel had carried much of the conversation. They’d arranged to meet for dinner during the week. His mom had a bail hearing and was likely to be released, but she didn’t know where Rowan was. His dad had confided that to Gabriel after Rowan had excused himself to go to the bathroom, and he was glad.

When it didn’t look like Rowan was returning, Philip Wilson ended the call after stressing he could collect his son at any point. It made Gabriel feel like a senior with his prom date, almost.

When he’d hung up, he went in search of Rowan. Not that it was hard. Rowan had finished his shower and was just sitting on the bed.

“Are you hungry?”

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