Page 39 of The Long Game

Grady ignored it, too. “So, what do you think? Would you be interested?” he asked Colton.

Colton lost his smile. “Oh…can I think about it?”

Jack’s heart fell, but Grady’s smile never wavered. “Of course,” he said. “If you have questions, or want to hang out before you decide, we can do that.”

For some reason, Colton looked at Jack for confirmation.

“That’s a great idea,” Jack said, not sure what role he was meant to play here. “You should spend some time getting to know each other. And you can ask me anything, Colton. Actually, here.” Jack pulled a cheap pre-paid cellphone from his pocket. “I picked this up for you this morning. Grady’s and my numbers are programmed in already.”

It was hard to tell who looked more surprised, Grady or Colton.

“Jack,” Grady said. “That’s…thank you.”

Jack shrugged, tamping down the urge to squirm when Grady looked at him like that.

Colton looked between them, rolled his eyes, then plucked the phone out of Jack’s hand. “Thanks,Daddy.”

Grady choked on a snort of laughter.

Jack glared at Colton. “Donotcall me that.”

“Whatever you say, Da—”

Jack put a hand over Colton’s mouth and looked at Grady. “Please help me.”

Grady grinned, his eyes twinkling.

It was almost worth it.Almost.

Jack took his hand away only after Colton, voice muffled, swore he’d behave. Jack didn’t believe it for a second, but they managed to agree to a plan for the next day before Colton could say anything else that made Jack want to run screaming.

Jack suggested they go out for brunch or lunch right then, but Colton declined, saying he had other plans for the day. He was starting to look drawn and, not for the first time, Jack noted that Colton was terribly thin. He should have brought food along with the phone, damn it. Protein bars or something.

They said goodbye—for now—and Jack led Grady back to the front of the building. His friend looked a little wild around the eyes.

“What if he won’t come live with me?” Grady asked once they were in the truck.

“Then we’ll figure out another way to help him,” Jack said.

“Fuck, what if hedoescome live with me?”

Jack chuckled, until he saw Grady was dead serious. His generally unflappable friend was very much…flapped. “What are you worried about?”

Grady looked at Jack like he was crazy.

Jack let out a huff of laugher. “Okay, fair enough. What inparticularare you worried about at this moment?”

“Finding a place with a second bedroom, for starters,” Grady said.

“I can help with that. I know some people.”

“You know this whole town,” Grady said, amusement replacing some of the anxiety. “I also have to tackle the legal ramifications. I need to find a good lawyer so I can figure out how best to protect Colton.”

“What, like taking custody?”

“No,” Grady said, then reconsidered. “Well, yes, actually. Shit. Of course that would make sense. But if I do that, the family will definitely find out where he is. Hell, whereIam.”

Jack nodded. “Okay, let’s figure out the options before we panic. I have a pretty good idea how to help with the lawyer thing.”

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