Page 80 of His Boys to Protect

Ward and Dakota got out of the truck, and Charlie sat forward in his seat, watching them head into the store. The moment they disappeared from sight, Charlie started rocking.

“They'll be back soon,” Skylar said, reaching around the seat to give Charlie's shoulder a squeeze.

“Hhnn.”

Skylar was silent for a long moment before he asked, “You really like Ward, huh?”

Charlie stopped. There was something weird in his Sky's voice. He scowled and shook his head. The confusion over that was too much on top of everything else. He was hungry! And he wanted Ward to come back. Those two things were loud enough.

“I'm glad you like him,” Skylar murmured, then fell silent for the rest of the time they waited.

Charlie picked up rocking again and didn't stop until he saw Ward.

Chapter 30

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WARD

WARD GOT ambushed the moment they stepped inside the store.

“So,” Dakota began in a sly tone, “you and Charlie and Sky, huh?”

Ward felt himself blushing. “Uh…”Shit. This was Charlie's big brother. His protector. Ward had a feeling he was in for the classicwhat-are-your-intentionsconversation. He rubbed the back of his neck and tried to find something to say.

“I'll be honest,” Dakota went on before Ward could reply, “I wasn't keen on Sky at first. I mean, I was fine with him when they were kids, but once they started fucking? We all knew what Sky did for a living. He outright admitted it to us after Charlie decided they needed to be more than just friends. I hated the idea of my baby brother sleeping with a guy who sold himself. Although, Sky was man enough to tell us because he wanted to protect Charlie. I totally had to give him props for that.”

Ward tensed. “You know why–” he began.

“Yeah, I know why he does it,” Dakota said, his voice taking on a tone of genuine concern. “And I accept it now. I didn't back then. I mean, he has a point. He does make more moneydoing what he does than he would at a normal nine-to-five. And his health insurance sucks, so he really is going to have to pay for most of the surgery himself. Truthfully, it wasn't until Ryder came into our lives that I really began to understand it. He's trans, too. You knew that, right?”

Ward barely got a chance to nod in response before Dakota continued.

“Ry's pretty comfortable in his body,” Dakota went on, “but he still has the occasional day when the dysphoria hits him hard. He still has to go to the gynecologist every year for an exam, and that appointment absolutelywreckshim.” Dakota paused, grabbing a bottle of mustard and dropping it into the basket on his arm. “Seeing that, it made me finally appreciate what Skylar feels. How desperate he is to finish his surgeries so he can be comfortable in his own body. So, yeah. I still don't like it, but I accept it. And, really, when it comes right down to it, Charlie trusts him. He loves him. There are so few people about whom I can say that, and that trust matters more than anything.” Dakota paused again and gave Ward a direct look. “He trusts you, too.”

Ward couldn't help smiling at that.

“Come on,” Dakota said. “Let's get his soup.”

Ward followed, feeling dizzy with relief. Dakota hadn't outright said it, but after that speech, Ward felt the boy's acceptance. Biting back a grin, he trailed after Dakota until they found the soup aisle, then waited as the boy scanned the shelves.

“Ah. Here it is.” Dakota snatched up a can and held it out for Ward to see. “This is hungry soup. It has to be this flavor. And not the low sodium or low fat version, either. He'll know the difference.”

“Got it.”

Dakota dropped the can into the basket, muttering something about getting Charlie a snack for the ride home. Theystopped in the produce section and grabbed a bunch of bananas, then headed for the checkout lines.

Back outside, Ward immediately looked for his truck. He spotted Charlie in the front seat, bouncing with excitement as they approached. Ward couldn't help grinning. Charlie was probably only eager for his soup, but Ward couldn't help thinking the boy was also happy to see him. And as he got closer, he saw the same look on Skylar's face.Geez. He just couldn't get enough of these boys.

They got into the truck, and Dakota immediately pulled out the can of soup, showing it to Charlie.

Charlie snatched it out of his hands and hugged it to his chest.Hungry soup! Hungry soup!He bounced and squeaked, looking adorably excited.

Ward's heart clenched, seeing the boy so happy over something so incredibly simple. It was beautiful to behold.

It took a moment for Dakota to get the can back from Charlie, and he handed his brother a banana instead. “Eat that on the way home. Just to hold you over until we get there.”

“Smart,” Skylar whispered.

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