Page 66 of Controlled Burn

“Or I could just go to your house.”

Chapter 24

Keith

It was almost six by the time Caleb made it home. I was sitting in my recliner reading a book when he walked in. I’d left the garage door open for him so he could park his car in the garage and come in the side door. I watched as he put his keys in the bowl on the side table where I put mine and hung his messenger bag on one of the hooks, where I hung my jackets when it was cold out.

He looked up and caught me watching him and smiled. “I started to call out Daddy, I’m home, but I thought it might be a little too soon for that.”

Truth was, it was a little soon for a whole lot of things I was feeling and wanted to say, but I kept that to myself and just opened up my arms. He came straight to me and let me wrap him up in a hug.

“I’m just glad you’re here, Rabbit. I didn’t start dinner yet. The guys all get together at The Spotted Dog on the weekends, and I wasn’t sure if you’d want to go or not.”

“Will all the guys you work with be there?” he asked.

“A lot of them. Not everyone goes every weekend. It all depends.”

“Do you want to go? With me, I mean. Do you want us to go together?”

“At some point, yes. But it doesn’t have to be tonight if you aren’t ready. It’s a lot like meeting your partner’s family, I guess, because that’s the way I think of the people at the Sixty-nine, my family.”

“My dad says the same thing.” He took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. “I’ve probably already met most of them, if not all, either through my dad or at the library.” He got that adorable look that told me that brain of his was churning. “And he’s out of town with his new lady friend, so we know he won’t be there. Maybe this is the best time for us to go. If you want to, I mean.”

“It could be fun. But I’m warning you upfront, we like to give each other shit, and I haven’t ever brought anyone with me to The Spotted Dog before. They’re probably going to have a lot to say about it.”

“As long as you want me there, I don’t care what they say. They’re all just a bunch of overgrown boys, anyway.” He chuckled and shook his head. “I’ve heard plenty of stories about the things y’all get up to at the station, so I’m prepared.”

He thought he was prepared, but I’d seen how crazy these guys could get sometimes, so just to be safe, I planned to send a text message off to Ford warning him to behave. Not that I expected him to listen.

“Okay, then let’s go. Have you been to The Spotted Dog before?”

“I haven’t. Do I need to change?”

“Nope, The Dog is a casual bar and grill, so what you’re wearing is perfect. Let’s go.”

We went out to the garage and just like when he’d come in, I got the same feeling of satisfaction from seeing his little compact sitting next to my car.

“Hey, before I forget—” I opened a drawer under my workbench and pulled out my spare remote. “I’m going to put this in your glove box so you can get in the house.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Baby boy, I’m serious about this thing between us. I wouldn’t have risked your dad’s friendship if I wasn’t, so yeah, I’m sure.”

He launched himself at me and buried his head in my neck. “Thank you, Daddy.”

I hugged him tight before letting him go and opening the door for him. “In you go.”

Once he was buckled in and ready to go, I opened his car door and put the remote inside before getting in my car and heading for the bar.

A few minutes later, I parked the car and turned to look at him. “You ready for this?”

“You make it sound like I should be terrified.” He chuckled. “Trust me, Daddy, I’m good. This isn’t like going into Kirby’s for Daddy Night. Not only do I know these guys, but you’re here with me. I’ll be fine.”

I was hoping the message I sent to Ford would do the trick, but I just kept picturing the deer-in-the-headlights look my sweet boy had that first night at the club, and I didn’t want to be responsible for putting him in a position for him to feel that way. I loved the crew at the Sixty-nine, but they could be a lot, and I had no idea who all would be here tonight.

Once we got out, I took his hand, and he looked up at me. “You keep asking me if I’m ready. How about you? Are you ready? I know you said you haven’t brought anyone with you before.”

“If I wasn’t ready, I wouldn’t have asked you,” I assured him as I opened the door to the bar so he could go inside.

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