Page 54 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

For that moment.

It was time for answers.

Monday.He would push for answers on Monday. Sunday was his day off, and he’d enjoy it in bed with his boy.

* * *

While the sun had been out for a good bit, it was still early in Brody-land when Noah snuck from the bed and quietly packed his duffel. There wasn’t much he needed to add—he’d kept it nearly ready to go since his last contemplation, just in case. Once full, he rose, tossing it over one shoulder. He paused at the end of the bed and eyed Brody.

And what could’ve been.

Paperwork.The fucking job threw a wrench into their short little affair. He didn’t have a birth certificate, nor did he have his social security card. Either way, had he had those things, it would’ve only shown his lies.

He’d had little idea about what was required for a job. His parents had never let him work. School, homework, church, and bible study were the only things they deemed important of his time. Summers were spent volunteering his time with their church, including the one after he’d graduated in June. Later that summer, he’d learned they’d never sent in the financial aid paperwork for him to go to college in the fall.

With Abbie Lee’s family controlling pretty much everything in the small Tennessee county they lived in—her father the federal judge, one brother the mayor, and the other the sheriff—he’d had no means to fight. He’d rebelled, which had only made things worse.

The only chance he’d had was escape.

That escape was two-fold. It allowed him a chance at being who he really was.

Brody had shown him a little taste of that, and for that, he’d always be grateful. It took everything in him to walk toward the front door.

Once downstairs, he looked at the scrap of paper in his hands. He’d searched once more for his mother’s phone number, using Brody’s laptop, and scribbled down her number. Hopefully it was current. After descending the stairs, he crept out of the back door and came face to face with Carter, the bar’s manager.

The man was on his cell phone, with his back to Noah. “Lex… will you answer your damned phone? You can’t keep ignoring me. I recognize that the other night was…” He paused, sighing. “Surprising. For both of us.”

Lex? And Carter?Noah’s eyes widened.

Noah realized he shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but he needed to leave and Carter was in his way. He coughed, trying to make his presence known.

Carter whipped around and the next words seemed to disappear from his lips. A hint of pink spread across the man’s face. He lowered his phone and apparently ended the call. “Heeyyy…Chris. How are ya?”

“Good,” he murmured. “I was headed out.” He frowned. “You’re here early.”

Carter nodded. “Inventory.”

“Ah,” Noah said before taking a few steps toward the road. He glanced at the paper in his hand before spinning to Carter. He’d had the number for days… and had been too chicken shit to call. It was now or never—there was no point in walking miles in the wrong direction. “Hey? Can I borrow your phone for a minute? I need to make a quick call.”

“Sure.” Carter walked over and handed the cell over.

Noah typed the number in and lifted the phone to his ear, his stomach tightening. His mouth grew dry as his heartbeat sped. Turning his back on Carter, he closed his eyes and almost hoped no one answered.

There was a click. “Hello?”

Noah opened his mouth but nothing came out. He stared at the gravel at his feet, stunned into silence.

“Hello?”

“Is… is this… Stacey Roark?”

“Yes. Who’s speaking?”

“Mom?”Noah asked, his mouth feeling like it was full of marbles.

“Noah? Is that you, sweetheart?”

Sweetheart?A glimmer of hope flickered but he tried to keep it from spreading. “Yeah. It’s me.”

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