28. Henry

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

henry

I shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but I’m worried about Felix. And Evan. And when I saw the good-looking man dressed in an expensive suit asking for Andrew, I knew he was the friend Andrew was talking about.

I told him Andrew was in the meeting room, and he thanked me, his tone professional and stern as he walked there with a calm air about him. Hazel and Felix are busy entertaining one of the new members as Felix gets him signed up. And I’m acting like a total creeper, peeking in the meeting room as Andrew and his friend talk.

Only they don’t seem like friends at all.

The air is filled with tension and anger. Andrew’s jaw is tight, and his body language says he wants to be anywhere but here. “You have to help him.”

“He’s a fifteen-year-old who stabbed his father in the neck. His policeman father,” the other man says carefully, his cool demeanor staying in place.

“His abusive fucking father, who’s been beating the shit out of him since he was a small child. Who’s been beating his mother as well.”

“His mother, who won’t say a word,” the man shoots back, and I watch Andrew’s expression morphing into white-hot hatred.

“Grief does that. You know that, goddammit, Miles.”

The man, Miles apparently, stands up even straighter, adjusting his tie with one hand, his gaze firmly on Andrew. “She’s not talking. Her husband is dead, and the boy had blood all over him. His father’s blood. His prints are on the knife.”

“You have to get him out of this. He’s a kid.”

“He’s fifteen, and he has a record.” My blood runs cold as I listen to them talk about Evan’s fate. There’s no doubt in my mind it was self-defense, but the justice system is fucked up. And I didn’t know Evan’s father was a cop until now. They definitely protect their own.

“I’ll talk to Roman. Maybe he still has a friend on the force. The man had to be fucking dirty if he beat up his own family.”

“Not likely,” Miles says, his face grim. “Men like that know how to hide.”

“So, you admit Evan was protecting himself? That his father is the one to blame?”

Miles steps closer to Andrew, but Andrew takes a quick step back. “It’s not an easy case, especially if the mom won’t speak up.”

“Then make her,” Andrew says, surprising me with his harsh tone.

Miles looks like he wants to reach out to touch Andrew, but he stops, and I wonder exactly what their history is. I wouldn’t call them friends, after seeing them together and listening to the way they talk to each other. Not even close. But I’d lay odds there’s a significant past there. “I’ll do what I can, Andrew. But you know you can’t save them all.”

“You’re a defense attorney, Miles. That was your choice. You’re supposedly the best of the best.” He steps into Miles this time. “Now prove it.”

I see something flash in Miles’s eyes, but he only straightens his suit jacket, his shoulders straight and his chin up, as if picking up the challenge Andrew threw down. He doesn’t say another word, just walks out of the room, giving me a polite nod on his way out, and I stand there, frozen, for a minute.

Andrew looks over at me, and at first, I worry he’s going to be pissed at me for listening in on his conversation. But his gaze softens as he approaches. “He’ll help.”

I don’t pretend I didn’t hear the whole thing. “Are you sure? He seems hesitant.”

He seems to be thinking that over, and I see the anguish in his eyes, a past he more than likely doesn’t talk about. “He will.” But he doesn’t sound positive. “It was self-defense.”

“His father’s a cop,” I say matter-of-factly.

Andrew nods. “Yeah. But Evan has the bruises to prove the abuse, and his mother will talk. She has to.”

“Would yours have?” I ask, knowing his mother’s history. Knowing the shit I grew up with. Maggie too. Parents don’t always protect their kids. That’s a myth. They just don’t.

He swallows hard, the action looking painful. “I don’t know.”

I nod slowly, and he sighs. “You going to stick around for the meeting?”

I shake my head instantly, not even thinking about it. “No. I need to feed Hazel and . . .”

I stop, but Andrew smiles. “Spend time with your man.”

I can’t fight the smile on my face, thinking about Felix. I don’t even try. “Yes. That too. I know with you being a therapist, it’s probably hard to believe, but talking to him, it’s . . .”

“Your own form of therapy,” he fills in, and I nod my head because it is. I feel safe with Felix.

“I know I can tell him anything.”

“We all do what we need to. We’re all just fighting to heal and to make it in this world. Colby and Ben sort of had that. They used each other to vent and didn’t really believe in the group.”

“But now they attend.” I’ve seen them both attending meetings. Not all of them but some.

Andrew shrugs. “Sometimes we all need a little added support, but you find what works for you, Henry. That’s all that matters. And you know we’re here if you need us.”

I nod because I never feel any pressure from this man. He doesn’t tell me what to do, but he does seem to care. “Thank you, Andrew.” I start to head out but stop and turn back around to face him. “Do you have that?”

“Have what?”

“Someone to talk to. It’s not like you don’t have anything that haunts you.”

He gives me a small nod, not offended by my question. “I do. I have Ben and Colby. Roman and Brooks.” He smiles. “And this group.”

“It has to get depressing.” I can’t imagine taking on everyone else’s pain all the time.

“The good, remember?” He takes a deep breath and then releases it. “That keeps me going.”

I nod in understanding and then give him a quick wave before joining Felix and Hazel, taking care of a few things before Ethan takes over, and we head upstairs to feed Hazel. I wish I had a tub for her because she loves swimming, and I’m sure she’d love baths too. But I take a quick shower with her, handing her off to Felix, so I can clean up, then letting him take his turn while I play with Hazel.

It’s seamless. We’ve got this down. And yes, fear still hovers in the back of my mind that I’ll lose this. That soon it will be just me again, trying to figure it all out. But when Hazel is asleep in her crib and Felix and I sit down on the couch, he pulls me in for an intense kiss, and that worry dissipates.

I melt into his kiss, and then we strip out of our clothes, releasing the stress of the day as I slide inside his body. We kiss and touch, getting lost in the moment where nothing else can touch us.

And when we come, I feel nothing but safe in his arms.