Page 51 of The Long Game

Everyone smiled at the healthy, robust, notoriously chatty seven-year-old boy, and Jack knew the adults, at least, were recalling the pale, silent, four-year-old he’d been when Rupert and Callum had brought him home.

“How did they do that?” Jack asked. “Do you remember?”

“Papa Cal carried me everywhere, but I don’t think that would work with Colton.”

They all laughed while Rupert and Callum shared bittersweet smiles. Oliver ditched his book, flung himself over the back of the couch, and ran to Rupert’s side. Rupert pulled Oliver onto his lap.

“The best I can suggest is that you figure out what’s holding Colton back, then clear that out of his way if you can,” Callum said. “Make sure he understands you’re going to support him, no matter what.”

It was good advice, of course. Jack just wished that it would be half as easy as Callum made it sound. As much as he wanted to be someone Colton looked to for advice and strength, he had no ideahow.

Grady rubbedhis thumb over Jack’s knuckles, soothing himself and, hopefully, Jack. Callum and Rupert offered good advice, but Grady couldn’t stop thinking that, in the end, it wouldn’t work. That Colton would leave.

“What if we can’t convince him?” he asked, voicing his fears. “What happens then?”

“I wish I could tell you. The good news is that there aren’t many obstacles the two of you can’t handle,” Callum said with a confidence Grady was certain he, at least, hadn’t earned. “The boys are right. Acceptance and safety can go a long way. Patience, too.” He winked at Barnaby. “If you start there, then maybe he’ll give you enough time to help him with whatever he’s struggling with.”

Grady hoped desperately that Callum was right.

“And we’ll help, of course. All of us.” Rupert indicated his entire family. Everyone nodded, including Barnaby and Travis. “We could have Colton stay here if he needs more time and you think that might keep him from bolting.”

Grady was grateful for the offer, but he didn’t like the glances Christian exchanged with his parents.

“Bolting?” Grady repeated, chest so tight it was hard to draw a breath. “Has he said something about that?”

Christian shrugged. “Not exactly. It’s just a feeling I had last time I talked to him. That’s why I talked to my dads.”

Jack dug his phone out of his pocket and Grady leaned in so he could see what Jack typed.

Jack: Good morning! Hope you have a fun day!

Fortunately, Colton must have had his phone in hand.

Colton: You know, just hanging out with famous hockey players and their super-hot Olympic figure-skating husbands later.

Grady chuckled and Jack grinned.

“What’s up?” Travis asked.

“Just checking in with Colton,” Jack said as he typed his response.

Jack: They’re too old for you. And too married.

Colton: Jealous, Daddy?

Jack sounded like he had a hairball.

Grady snickered. “Yousoasked for that.” When he glanced up, everyone was watching them likeHockey Night in Canada. For a hundredth of a second, he considered letting go of Jack’s hand.

Nope.

Jack waved his phone in the air. “Colton is still local.”

Everyone looked relieved.

“That’s good,” Travis said. “How can we help make sure he stays that way?”

“I wish I knew,” Grady said. “I don’t know how to convince him to trust us.”

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