Chapter Twenty-One

Brad held Kendrick with both hands around his waist as he sat on Brad's lap. He leaned in and threw a chip into the center of the table before peeking at his cards again. A relationship with Kendrick was never boring, but one of the most surprising things was he was very good at poker.

Brad kissed Kendrick on the back of his neck before whispering, "Who taught you how to play, baby?"

Kendrick turned until he sat sideways. "My grandma. She said it was all in the face." Kendrick pointed to his own face, moving his finger in a circle, and exaggerated his serious expression.

Brad chuckled. "Good to know." Kendrick having a poker face wasn't an actual thing. Everything he felt was there for all to see. As far as Brad could tell what Kendrick excelled at was knowing when to keep going and when to fold. It built the pot a little at a time until he had the biggest pile.

Kendrick and Brad sat at a table with Jaron, Kyler, Travis, and Jackson. They had three other tables occupied with games. Music played in the background and pizza boxes lay along the bar top. A cooler filled with pop bottles and ice sat against the stools.

Kendrick threw two chips into the center of the table again. "I call."

Travis threw his cards down a little too aggressively, making Kendrick press into Brad.

"I'm right here, baby."

Kendrick smiled and nodded before focusing on the game again. He turned his cards over, showing his hand. "Full house."

"Well, shit." Kyler turned his hand over, only having a pair. "You're the luckiest person ever, man."

"Luck. Skill. Whatever." Kendrick moved on his lap, leaning on the table as he gathered his chips. The position put Kendrick's ass in Brad's face.

Brad couldn't help touching, running a hand over his jean-covered cheeks.

Jaron and Kyler, who sat next to each other, both snorted out a laugh, but it was Jaron who asked, "See something you like, Brad?"

Brad chuckled. "Oh, yeah."

Kendrick turned, meeting his gaze with a grin. "I gotta secret for you after I get my money. Hold on." Every chip went onto the stack nice and neat, and when Kendrick finished, he turned sideways again, wrapping his arm around Brad's shoulders and pressing their cheeks together before whispering, "There is a strategically placed box in the back room that is just the right height if I lay down on it."

"Is that so?" Brad ran his hand up Kendrick's back.

"And I may have put lube and a condom back there too."

"Then what are we doing sitting here?" Brad picked Kendrick up by the waist.

Kendrick giggled and stood. He searched the room until he saw Caden. Kendrick waved him over.

Caden came over, dragging Robyn behind him. "What?"

"Play for me until I come back." Kendrick gave Caden a pointed look. "Don't lose all my money."

Travis and Jackson both chuckled. Jaron raised his eyebrows at Kendrick's bossy tone. It probably was a surprise to anyone who hadn't been around Kendrick a lot.

Caden batted his eyelashes and spoke in a slightly raised voice. "But I'm making out with Robyn."

Kendrick rolled his eyes. "Name your price."

There were no two people better at handling each other than Caden and Kendrick.

And then Caden grew serious, which meant shit was about it hit the fan. With Luis still in the hospital, Brad didn't know how much more he could take. Caden darted his gaze to Brad. "I need to talk to you, Brad." He focused on Kendrick when he spoke next. "You can be there when I do."

"Shit, Caden. What did you do?" Brad tried to see if Robyn could give him answers, but Robyn seemed as confused as Brad.

"It's nothing bad, I swear. Can we please go somewhere private so I can tell you? Come with us." Caden refused to meet Robyn's gaze, even though Caden directed his last sentence toward him.

"You gonna play, Kendrick?" Travis asked.

Royce came through the front door which seemed like perfect timing, scanning the room before stepping inside.

Kendrick waved him over and when he got to them, he said, "Play for me. Please."

Royce nodded. "Fine."

"Hi, by the way."

"Hey." Royce focused on Brad. "He's letting me see him now. Thought you should know."

"He told me." Brad knew Luis's absence from Royce's life hadn't been easy for either of them. He could see something romantic happening between them. "I'm glad you two are talking."

Royce sat down without another word, so Brad guessed the conversation was over.

Kendrick took them around the bar and into the back room. He held Brad's hand.

"So I signed up for the Navy. I…um…leave next week." Caden could have said Robyn was pregnant and male pregnancy actually existed and Brad would have been less stunned.

"Caden." Brad let go of Kendrick's hand so he could pull Caden into a hug.

"They'll pay for my college. And I know you're worried about me getting hurt, but it's not frontline combat stuff. And they're paying me a bonus." The next thing Caden said, he whispered, "please say you aren't mad."

Brad kept his hand on the back of Caden's neck, pressing their foreheads together. "Of course, I'm not mad. Just a little shocked is all. I'm proud of you, brother. Luis will be too. But I can put you through college if that's what this is about."

"I would help with college expenses too." When Kendrick made the offer, Brad's heart swelled.

"I want this." Caden seemed determined.

"Please, Caden. Please, let him put you through college." Robyn tugged on Caden's hand and was on the verge of tears.

"Caden is coming back." Kendrick wrapped an arm around Robyn's shoulders, pulling him away from Caden, letting Caden and Brad have their moment. When the tears fell, they weren't hysterical but a silent mourning of someone who hadn't even left yet. "You're going to be just fine. You have to let him go, honey. But it's only for a little while."

Robyn nodded, but when he spoke there was a bite to his words, and he directed them at Caden. "What if you don't come back? Did you ever think about that?"

"Yeah, Robby. I did." Caden put his hands in his pockets and averted his gaze.

Brad didn't want to think about it. He cupped Caden's cheeks and kissed him on the forehead. "I love you, kid."

"So you're supportive?"

"Very. Always. No matter what you decide." Brad let Caden go, darting his gaze to Robyn, who pulled out of Kendrick's side hug and leaned against the opposite wall with his chin on his chest. "Kendrick and I will let you two talk in private."

Caden nodded.

Brad took Kendrick's hand and pulled him down the hall toward the front of the bar, but stopped halfway there. "I'm glad you're here."

So many changes happening in Brad's life, and they all seemed to come at him all at once. The best change was his relationship with Kendrick.

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Continue your journey in small town Pickleville with Volume Two. Click Here to continue your visit in the small town of Pickleville.