Page 18 of Step Daddy

Gareth gave Kit’s arm a squeeze. “Apology accepted.” He almost added something about preferring it when his boys were polite, then remembered he was supposed to be keeping his big mouth shut. “Then let me rephrase. When you were working there…”

Kit laughed. “That job was so boring. So, my senior year I used to go into the Lancaster office a few days a week after school and do whatever extra stuff they needed, like making copies or picking up office supplies, whatever. Then Ted started seriously pressuring me the summer after graduation, telling me I should see about them hiring me for a fulltime file clerk or reception job.

Kit shook his head, snorting. “Yeah. Like that was my dream. Not that I mind working, I wanted a job, but also wanted to go to school. However, the last place I wanted to work after high school was where Ted did.” Kit’s features twisted, as if recalling something horrible. “When he found out I planned to start working toward an English degree, he really lit into me. He had nothing but shitty things to say about it. It was a waste of time, I wouldn’t make any money.”

Gareth arched his eyebrows. “Let me guess. Only sissies get English degrees?”

Kit clucked his tongue and pointed his finger at Gareth. “Bingo.”

“God, I despise that man.”

Kit let out an inelegant snort. “Seriously.”

“What happened with college then?”

“Gah.” Kit covered his face with both hands before letting them flop into his lap. “I went one semester, enough to finish a basic English class, basic math and the History of Western Civilization.” He waggled his eyebrows. “All A’s I might add.”

Gareth grinned. “I didn’t doubt it for a second. What happened after that?”

Kit’s shoulders drooped. “Ted happened after that. Even Mom started in on me. She probably figured he’d make her life even more of a misery than usual if she didn’t push me to work with Ted. I finally gave in, reasoned that once I’d saved up enough money I’d simply take off and do whatever I wanted.” Kit winced. “Ted must’ve planned for that. He started charging me rent now that I was an adult. I’d already been paying for my own food and everything else at that point. Plus phone, car insurance and so on. And I wasn’t exactly getting top dollar wages at that place.”

A sickening feeling hit Gareth in the pit of his stomach. “Shit. He knew all along. He was planning for it.”

Kit frowned. “Huh? Planning what?”

“Who would be more likely to be siphoning off money over a long period of time. The long term, trusted employee making a good salary? Or maybe the low wage, stepson who was barely scraping by?” Gareth gritted his teeth. “I bet the bastard figured it would all catch up to him at some point—perhaps he was already feeling the end was nigh. That would explain why he was so adamant that you work there.” Gareth shook his head. “I’m so sorry, Kit. Ted groomed you to be his fall guy, I’m sure of it.”

Before Kit could lower his head to hide them, tears fell on his cheeks. “I’m such a fucking fool. I can’t believe I let him set me up like that.”

“Hey,” Gareth patted Kit’s hand. “We’re not going to let him get away with this, I swear.” Once again, the urge to pull Kit into his lap was huge, but he batted it away. “He might think he’s smart, but we’ll be smarter.”

“Are you sure?”

Kit’s brow creased and his eyes glimmered in the sunlight. The way his face was turned upward, Gareth could appreciate the full beauty of Kit’s features, the flecks of amber within the green irises and how thick his dark lashes were.

Gareth smiled. “Extra, extra sure. Let’s forget about that asshole for now. Tell me about your major. Why English?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Kit gave a one-shouldered shrug. “I was thinking about being a teacher maybe. I’m not sure. The English part had more to do with…” He blushed. “Do you know what fanfic is?”

“Yeah, I think so.” Gareth drew his eyebrows together. Did he? “Perhaps. Why don’t you fill me in?”

Kit laughed then regaled Gareth with how he’d been writing stories of his own based on his favorite superheroes and fantasy books. He had so many followers on the main site he used, that he’d started thinking maybe he could give writing a try, but also wanted to have a teaching degree to fall back on.

Hearing Kit speak excitedly about something he cared about, along with the accompanying bright smile and boisterous hand gestures, made Gareth’s heart lighten. No matter what, he wouldn’t give up on Kit. If Kit’s parents couldn’t be there to support and guide their son, then Gareth would gladly step in and take the job.

If only he could guide Kit in the way he knew best.

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