Page 5 of Lost Boy

Byron pulled open the door to the coffee shop allowing the lady trying to exit to go first before he walked in. He ignored the way she ran her gaze up and down his body. Byron was gay, one hundred percent homosexual, and she was not his type. He liked his boys older, sweet, and kinky. Like Mitch. Not that he knew all of Mitch’s kinks, but he had a gut feeling they’d line up with his.

Speaking of the boy, Mitch was sitting in a corner table with his laptop open. Byron had known he’d be there. Jace had casually texted him that he was on his way to pick up Avery and might grab something to eat with Mitch since Mitch had been hanging with Avery for the last bit of his shift.

Avery waved from the counter but didn’t call attention to him. Byron was thankful. He could watch his boy a little longer.

Byron stepped up to the counter.

“Hey,” Avery greeted quietly. Not that Byron thought Mitch even knew what was going on around him as Mitch squinted as his screen.

“Hey, Avery. What are you doing working on a Saturday?”

Avery shrugged. “Jace had to go into his office for a couple of hours to finish things up since we leave tomorrow for our trip. He said I could help out here for a few hours.”

Ah, yes, Jace was taking Avery on a surprise trip. Avery knew that Jace was taking him somewhere but had no idea Jace had gotten them exclusive full access tickets to the San Diego zoo. Avery was going to lose his mind. The boy loved animals.

Avery narrowed his eyes. “You know where he’s taking me,” he accused.

Byron merely grinned in response.

“So unfair.” Avery crossed his arms over his chest.

“Do I need to tell your Daddy about that pout?”

Avery immediately dropped his arms and shook his head.

“Good.” He looked over at Mitch. “How long has he been here?”

“Umm.” Avery furrowed his eyebrows as he thought. “I don’t know. A couple of hours? He’s had four coffees.”

“Four coffees? In a couple of hours?” That was way too much caffeine.

Avery bobbed his head.

Byron pulled out his wallet. “Can I get two bottles of water please.”

The look of relief that flashed over Avery’s sweet face was comforting. “Sure.”

Once he’d handed over the money Byron picked up the bottles of water before strolling in Mitch’s direction. When Byron reached the table, he placed the bottle of water next to Mitch’s elbow.

“I told you I don’t need any water, Avery. I’m fine.”

So Avery had tried to give Mitch water. What a good boy. Instead of replying Byron sat in the chair across from him.

Frowning Mitch looked up.

The way Mitch’s eyes widened was comical.

“Hello boy.”

Mitch’s mouth opened and closed several times before he glanced over his shoulder to where Avery was wiping down the counter while biting his lip. When Mitch turned back to Byron his eyes were narrowed. “Avery tattled?”

“Hey! I did not! Jace did!” Avery burst in his own defense before immediately blushing. “I mean…”

Mitch waved his hand in Avery’s direction, his attention remaining on Byron. “I’m fine,” he snapped. “I had a bad night and I didn’t want to go home yet. I don’t need you to come to babysit me! I can work from here just as well as from home. There’s nothing wrong with hanging out in a coffee shop. People do it all the time. Jace needs to leave me alone and worry about his own boy. I don’t need someone checking up on me!”

Byron allowed Mitch to finish before he picked up his water bottle. Byron cracked the lid and took a long drink. “All I said was hello.”

Mitch flushed. “Oh. Uh, hi.”

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