Page 40 of The Long Game

“You do?”

Jack winked and dug his phone out of his pocket, hitting a name on his speed dial and setting it to speaker as they climbed into his truck.

Callum answered immediately. “Jack! How are you?”

“Fine, thanks, but I need a favor.”

“Of course. Anything.”

“Could you send me the contact information for the battalion of lawyers you and Rupert keep on retainer? The ones that helped with the kids.”

There was a slight pause on the line. “Oh. Well, of course. Are you…uh…thinking to adopt?” Callum asked cautiously.

Jack shook his head at his ridiculous friend. “No, it’s for Grady.”

Callum muttered something that sounded like, “Shocker.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Sorry. Yes, I can get that to you. We don’tactuallykeep them on retainer,” Callum noted dryly, “though it feels that way sometimes. I’ll text you as soon as we hang up.”

Jack thanked Callum, ended the call, and dropped his phone into the cup holder. He was very conscious of Grady watching him as he started the drive across town. He wanted to reach out and squeeze Grady’s hand, both to reassure him and to make the damn man stop staring like that.

“I can vouch for this firm,” he said, casting Grady a quick glance. “They handled Christian’s and Eleanor’s custodyarrangements. You may have met some of them when you helped with Christian’s bio dad.”

“Okay,” Grady said slowly.

“I can back off if you want me to. I know this isn’t my business, so—”

“No, I really appreciate your help. I…” Grady trailed off, searching Jack’s face, thoughtful and confused and so, so earnest. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jack.”

Jack’s stomach lurched with something like happy panic, if that was even a thing. “I like to help.”

“You’re a good friend.” The warmth in Grady’s voice made Jack feel squirmy again.

“Great. That’s…thanks. Can we stop talking about it, though?”

Grady grinned, sudden and bright.

The happy panic surged again.

8

After spending so much of the past two days with Jack, it felt weird to go their separate ways—a clear sign Grady needed to put the brakes on his imagination, not to mention the hand-holding and the bed-sharing.

Sitting at his desk at work, he distracted himself by digging into two things: his family and John Babcock.

The news wasn’t great on either front, but it wasn’t terrible either. The RCMP in and around Calgary was still loaded with various McDonnoughs and other families from their community, but they weren’t using their considerable resources to search for Colton. At least, not through official channels. John Babcock was harder to get a handle on, but Grady managed to find his parole officer and reached out. Hopefully he’d hear back soon.

By the end of his shift, all Grady wanted was to grab a bite to eat and crawl into bed.

With Jack.

Fortunately, Jack had to work that night, saving Grady from making any regrettable choices. He texted Colton, asking what he wanted to do the next day, and was surprised by the answer.

Colton:Chinese food and the ocean.

Grady:Simultaneously?

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