4. Ethan

Chapter 4

Ethan

I was putting the final layer of stain across the body of the rocking horse I’d spent the past week building when the phone rang. It was later than usual for my silent call, so I hadn’t been sure it was coming tonight. But since it did, I quickly dropped the rag on the paint tray and reached for my phone. “Hello.”

No one spoke, but I could hear music and background noise.

I looked at the screen and saw a number this time. A local number. “Hello, this is Ethan.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Rosemont.” The voice on the other end of the line was quiet and contrite but definitely familiar.

“Brayden, is that you?”

“Yeah, and sorry for snooping you.”

“Snooping me?” I wasn’t sure but he sounded like he was slurring a bit.

“Swooping.” He giggled. “Spanking.”

“Brayden, are you okay?”

“Pranking. Pranking calling. Not talking. Pre-talking.” He belched and then sighed. “Sorry for not talking on my calls. Oh, and I’m the one who called. Sorry.” There was another voice in the background, and then he whispered a thank-you.

“Where are you right now?”

“Hmm?” He inhaled deeply. “Almost gonna go home. I’m drinking the water the nice man gave me.”

“What man?” Fuck. What the hell had he been given? “Don’t drink anything someone gave you. Where are you?”

“Thirst trap.” He giggled. “Oops, dropped my credit card.” Then there was a crash, and his voice was distant in the background. “And my phone.”

Christ, where was he? “Is thirst trap a bar?”

More rustling and then he was breathing in the receiver again. “No, the bartender. He’s nice to me. Yes, one more, please.”

“Can you send me your location?” I was already locking up my workshop and strutting to my car. The quiet one. My baby didn’t go out this late at night. It was past her bedtime and no good happened to muscle cars after dark. “And don’t drink anything else he gives you.”

“Mr. Rosemont?” He was quiet again but still seemed lucid. That was good.

I put the phone on speaker and then opened his text to see his location. “Yes, Brayden?”

“I’m the one who was quiet-calling you all week.” He went silent for a beat, and I worried he’d fallen asleep. “Wait, did I already tell you that?”

I got into my car and started it up. “Yes, Brayden. You already told me that, and I’m not mad. I kinda suspected it was you.”

“You did?” He yawned. “I’m sleepy now. I’m going home. Good night.”

“No, Brayden!” The line went dead, just as I was pulling out of my driveway. “Fuck!”

The pin was tagged to a bar about a mile from my place. With the luck of the traffic lights on my side, I was able to pull up to the curb just as Brayden wandered out, steady at first before swaying a bit. He turned right and started walking toward the crosswalk.

I pulled up just a few feet ahead of him and rolled down the passenger window. “Brayden. It’s me, Ethan. Let me give you a ride.”

He stopped and leaned down to look inside the window, and then he swayed. “Ethan?”

I killed the engine and jumped out to help him before he face-planted on the street. “Yeah, let’s get you home, sugar.”

Brayden stayed in place until my arms were wrapped around his shoulders and then he fell against me. “You smell good. Like woodshop.”

I chuckled softly as I tugged him toward the car door. “I was working in my shop when you called.”

“Oh.” He dropped into my car as soon as the door was open and reached for the seatbelt. He yanked it hard enough that it locked so he couldn’t pull it around himself, and after a few tries, he let it go and it went flying back into the retractor after the buckle bounced off the B-pillar. “Oops. Dropped it. But I’m fine without a belt. It’s close.”

“I don’t think so, kid.” I gently pulled the belt out and secured it around his waist.

“I’m not a kid anymore, Ethan. I’m a man now.”

“Yeah.” I tried not to inhale near his armpit, but he was a little sweaty and smelled vaguely of mint and rum. Fucking hot. “I’ve noticed.”

I could feel his gaze boring into me as I slowly pulled away and then stood up. “All set?”

He nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

After I closed the door and rounded the front to my side, I discreetly adjusted my dick and then climbed in behind the wheel.

Brayden had his calves tucked under his thighs, and he was twisted in the seat so he faced me. “You’re gonna take me home?”

“Isn’t it a little late to be asking where we’re going?” I started the engine and put it in gear. “Where do you live?”

He sat up and looked out the window, then to the right and the left. “Make a U-turn.”

“A U-turn?” There were no cars coming in either direction, so I just went straight into a turn until I was facing the opposite direction of traffic. “Why were you walking in that direction?”

He just shrugged and relaxed back into the seat. “Dunno.”

“What’s your address, Brayden?”

It took a few tries to get him to focus, but then he rattled off his address, and I put it into my dash-mounted GPS. I had to make another U-turn to head back toward the bar because we’d gone too far in the opposite direction.

He would have never made it home if he were walking on his own. At least this time, he had me to look out for him, even though he probably wouldn’t remember any of it in the morning. But what would happen next time? I didn’t allow myself to even think about it.