Page 131 of His Boys to Protect

Skylar laughed at that. “He's got one hell of a sweet tooth, actually. But he's picky about ingredients.”

“Hmmm. Maybe we'll have to see if Vaughn's husband can make something he'll eat.” Ward grinned and gave him a kiss, then opened the door again. “I'll be right back.”

Skylar peeked out, watching Ward head for the front of the complex, where a few visitor parking spaces were located. The man turned a corner, vanishing from sight. Skylar held his breath and didn't relax again until Ward reappeared two minutes later.

Ward stepped back inside the apartment, locked the doors, and took off his shoes. He headed for the kitchen, grinning as he reached for the container his brother had left outside. “Let's see what we've got here.” Ward considered the options—there looked to be a variety in there—and bit into one. “Mmmm,that's good. Here. Try one.”

Skylar's stomach growled. He snatched up a cookie and stuffed half of it into his mouth, only to stop and moan. “Holy mother of pearly white marbles,” Skylar blurted out. “That's amazing.”

Ward chuckled. “There's my boy.” He reached out and brushed his fingers down Skylar's cheek after Skylar took another bite. “It's funny. I get nervous when you don't talk like that. Where do you come up with all these, anyway?”

Skylar had to try another cookie before he answered. They were so good! Better than the ones from the store. Not that hecould afford those, though he never argued when Charlie bought them.

He chewed and swallowed, then said, “Charlie used to hate swearing. His brother, Quinn, had a hell of a mouth on him when he was a teenager, and Charlie couldn't stand it. Once he got the idea of'bad words'stuck in his head, it took a really long time for him to let go of that context. He uses curse words himself now, but back then, he hated them. So I used to make up new swears to entertain him. It's kinda become a habit.”

Ward laughed. “I like it. Oh! Speaking of Charlie.” He pulled out his phone. “I almost forgot.” He turned on the camera, then held out his other arm. “I promised to show him that I'd gotten home safe.”

Skylar burrowed into his side, even giving a genuine smile as Ward took a picture of the two of them. Ward sent the picture to Charlie and got almost an immediate response.

Charlie replied with a picture of his own. A selfie taken in his bedroom, though his smile was bittersweet. Skylar imagined the boy must be utterly relieved to be back in his familiar space, yet also missing him and Ward.

Just as he would miss the two of them desperately when the time came for him to go.

“Feels wrong not having Charlie here with us, doesn't it?” Ward murmured as he set his phone aside.

Skylar's heart clenched. “Yeah?”

“I've loved having you boys here,” Ward said with a nod. “I just wish I knew how to make Charlie feel more comfortable.” Ward headed for the bedroom, so Skylar followed. “You know John? My boss?”

“Oh yeah. Adam's husband.”

“He's got a rental house on his property. I've never seen it, but it's out in the country. He was looking for a new tenant recently and asked if I might be interested.” Ward yanked offhis shirt and shrugged. “It's probably taken now, but it got me thinking. Something like that might be good for Charlie. Away from town. Nice and quiet.”

Skylar blinked, feeling the sting of tears in his eyes. “You'd do that? You'd move, just to make him more comfortable?”

“Why not?” Ward paused. “But you probably prefer being in town, huh? Used to living in the big city and all.” Before Skylar could answer, Ward shrugged and went on. “Anyway, we can always talk about it after your surgery. You excited?”

Excited?That was an understatement. Skylar was counting down the days. The kitchen calendar had a big, red circle around the date, and Skylar found himself staring at it, watching the date slowly but surely draw nearer.

It couldn't come soon enough. Everything he'd been working toward over the past ten years—everything he'd had to endure—all so he could afford this procedure? It might all finally be worth it. It was finally going to happen.

But he was also scared. Skylar didn't want to go anywhere near San Francisco again, and San Jose felt dangerously close. But Ward would be there, a big, strong shield against his former life.

That, more than anything, was what had stopped him from simply running off that afternoon while Ward had been away. Skylar's plan had always been to move first and then find a new surgeon later, wanting to be as far away from the city—from his life—as possible before he went under the knife and started over.

But now? He couldn't imagine not having Ward there. And Charlie. Besides, the truth was that moving first would mean having to wait even longer. To find another doctor. Go through all the hoops all over again. Going to San Jose would feel like taking two steps back, but it would really be a giant leap forward. And with Ward and Charlie there to protect him? Even better. Then they could come back here afterwards, and it would all benearly over. He'd be free of his unwanted parts. Almost free of his old life.

He couldn't wait.

Chapter 47

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WARD

WARD WAS exhausted.

Between bottling, gearing up for harvest, and all his other duties, work had been busy. He hadn't even been able to use the weekends to recover since Charlie had developed a routine of alternating weeks for visits. The boy's parents would drive him down one Saturday, and Ward would drive him back home the next. Being stuck on the road all day was not Ward's idea of a good time.

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