Chapter Seventeen

Andrew had a direct line of sight to Robyn because he sat in a chair at the corner of Olivia's desk which Andrew could see from his office. Robyn seemed to like Olivia, probably because she was the closest to his age in the building, so he viewed her as the most entertaining. He was probably right.

Not that Olivia was that close in age or had anything in common with a teenage boy. She stayed on the phone and wrote up her reports the entire time, so it was a lose-lose in terms of entertainment value. For that reason, the poor boy looked bored out of his mind.

There wasn't much Andrew could do until he settled things for the kid. He owed a bunch of favors to several people, but he had control of Robyn's future. He just hoped he could do something about making it positive.

Robyn was scared. He might trust Andrew with the truth and enough to lean on him for emotional support, but he didn't trust Andrew to keep him safe long-term.

Andrew eyed the clock on the wall. It was getting on to evening, or near enough Kyler was probably home from work. Andrew dialed his number using the station's landline.

The second Kyler answered he started talking. No greeting whatsoever. "You better have a good excuse for not calling me today."

"I'm sorry, carino. It's been a busy day. I'll tell you about it later tonight, but I need a favor first."

"What?"

"Will you come to the station?"

"Wait. You're not off work yet?"

"No, not yet."

Kyler didn't speak for several seconds. It was long enough for Andrew to think the call had dropped somehow. When he finally did say something, it was in a low tone. "Something bad happened, didn't it?"

"Si, I'm surprised it's not the talk of the town yet."

"I haven't heard if it is." The background noise through the phone suggested Kyler was already on his way. A door closed. Then a car door and the roar of an engine. "I'll be there in a couple of minutes."

"Thank you. I'll owe you one."

"Do you need anything before I come?"

"Will you bring food? Enough for three-plus you if you'd like to eat." He hadn't eaten since lunch, and he knew Robyn hadn't since they'd been together. He doubted Olivia had either.

"Diner burgers?"

"Perfect. You're perfect."

"They're just burgers, Andy." The exasperation came through in Kyler's tone.

"Get here as quickly as you can. I need a kiss."

Kyler chuckled. "Need it, huh?"

"I need you." More than Andrew thought he'd ever need anyone, but there it lay in the center of his chest, making his heart beat.

When they hung up, Andrew immediately called Jaron.

Jaron knew him better than just about anyone, except for maybe his mother. The familiarity showed after only three sentences. "Hey, I heard. I know you're gonna lose it soon. You need me to come?"

Andrew smiled at Jaron mother-henning him. "So talk of the girl is getting around town already?"

"Not entirely. Travis' mom is friends with Mr. Griffith, who lives on the street where you found her. So I'd say you have until tomorrow morning before everyone starts calling the station asking questions."

"Kyler's coming to the station. He's enough support for now. I need something else from you."

"First, you need to tell me about Kyler. I missed a few things there, didn't I?"

Andrew smiled. "I'm in love with him."

Jaron chuckled. "Wow. Miracles do happen."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm changing the subject." Andrew told him about Robyn. All he had to do was sit back and let Jaron work his magic on the rest of the Heath crew.

The Heath's were a beautiful family who took helping people seriously.

Andrew saw Kyler through the big windows at the front of the station. He must have parked in the lot at the side because he came from that direction.

Grocery and food bags hung from his arms, and his long hair flowed free down his back. Knowing Kyler, he probably stopped at the grocery store for extra stuff.

Andrew made his way across the station, opening the door just as Kyler got there. Andrew took two bags. "Thank you, carino."

"You're welcome." Kyler smiled and then leaned forward as if he were going in for a kiss, but he backed off at the last minute for some reason. "Is it okay to kiss you?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

Kyler shrugged. "You're working and stuff."

Andrew pressed his lips against Kyler's because actions spoke louder than words, although he kept it brief. "Working or not, I'll always want a kiss."

Kyler made his way inside with Andrew close behind him. He put the bags on the front counter. The counter went from one wall to the other, separating civilians from the employees. There was a swinging door in the center that latched from the other side. Most of the time, they kept it unlocked.

"You can go through, carino."

Kyler picked up his bags and walked through the half-door. He smiled at Olivia and then Robyn, whose expression turned from bored to interested in just a few seconds. Between Kyler's long hair and tight jeans, Robyn had pegged him as someone more his age and someone who would chase away the boredom better than Olivia. Kyler also had a way of taking someone's mind off their problems for a little while. Or at least he did for Andrew.

"Hey, I brought everyone dinner, soda, and chocolate cake for dessert." Kyler held up his bags as if he thought Olivia and Robyn needed a visual.

Olivia stood from her desk and led the way toward the back. "Thanks. We can take it back to the break room. Come on, kid."

Robyn seemed to fold in on himself when he stood. Andrew had never seen anyone stand to their full height and shrink at the same time, but Robyn managed to do a fabulous job of both.

They took the bags from Kyler and Andrew, carrying them to the breakroom.

Kyler stopped and turned to meet Andrew's gaze, raising his eyebrows.

Andrew smiled and wrapped his free arm around Kyler's waist, pulling him closer. Andrew whispered in Kyler's ear. "He's a witness. Pointed us toward a suspect. Foley's out searching now. While we were questioning him, his grandmother grew abusive. I've called in a thousand favors, but I got him the help he needs. Mostly, the powers that be are letting him stay with whoever he wants because he's close enough to eighteen not to make a stink about it. Still, the hoops I had to jump through took a while. He trusts me, but he's scared. All he knows is he's going to live with strangers."

"Poor kid."

Andrew nodded. "Will you help him?"

Kyler's eyebrows drew together. "How?"

Andrew kissed Kyler on his temple. "Just make friends. I'll owe you a favor."

Kyler grinned. "So when do I get to collect?"

"Anytime you want." Andrew could handle being Kyler's love slave. "I'll do whatever you say."

Kyler chuckled. "That's a bad thing to agree to."

Andrew wriggled his eyebrows. "Not if it means getting naked with you."

"Whoa, whoa. Who said I'd cash in with sex? You'll give me that anyway. It's too good between us." Kyler pulled out of Andrew's arms and headed to the back room.

"Then what do you want?" Andrew followed behind him. His gaze automatically went to Kyler's ass. His jeans didn't leave much to the imagination, but Andrew still wanted to get Kyler out of them.

"I don't know. I'll think of something."

Robyn and Olivia sat at the large table, which took up most of the room. They stayed close to the door. Both seemed uncomfortable with each other. Robyn wasn't much of a conversationalist. At least not with Olivia. When Olivia saw them, she looked relieved.

Kyler took the chair next to him, taking things out of the bags. He placed two big bottles of sugary soda on the table before everything else. "You take one. I'll take the other, and we'll do a chugging contest. The winner gets the whole cake."

Robyn's eyes widened and hesitantly reached for one of the bottles.

Kyler chuckled. "Kidding, dude. Relax. No way could I down an entire bottle of this stuff. That's like two-liters of diabetes."

Robyn smiled for the first time since Andrew had met him.

Andrew put his bags on the table and sat next to Olivia. They both watched as Kyler took over the entire meal and conversation.

"I'm Kyler. Andy's sorta boyfriend."

"Not sorta anything. We're dating." Andrew interjected. He got the burgers out, which were in individual containers, putting one in front of all of them.

Kyler waved his comment away. "So not the point."

Olivia stood and grabbed drinking glasses, setting them on the table before going to the refrigerator and grabbing a bottle of ketchup.

"I'm just clarifying."

Kyler looked at Robyn and rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I'm Kyler."

"Robyn." Robyn kept his voice barely above a whisper.

Kyler chatted away while Robyn didn't say much, but still managed to hang on Kyler's every word.

Olivia leaned toward him. "Asking him to come was brilliant."

Andrew smiled. He knew Kyler would make Robyn relax, which he needed to do before Jaron got there and smothered the kid. That might scare Robyn anyway, but at least Kyler would be there as a buffer.

They weren't even halfway through their burgers when Andrew heard Jaron yell from the main room. Andrew stood and kissed Kyler on his temple as he passed.

He heard Kyler say, "Hey, man. Relax. That's just Jaron and Travis. Probably Leonard. They're all good people. My best friend, Greg, went to live with them when he was in high school. His parents were abusive. He needed someone. You know what I mean?"

"My grandma…she can be…I get it."

Andrew moved away from the break room door and waved Jaron's crew back, putting a finger to his lips so they could eavesdrop on the conversation. Travis, Leonard, and Greg came along as well.

"Yeah, my aunt wasn't the best either. She didn't hit me, but man did she not give two craps. I wish she would have done something worse so that I could live on the farm too. Greg had a great life after Leonard took over."

"Farm?"

Andrew waved Jaron into the room

When Jaron drew close enough, Andrew hugged him. Travis was next, except their hug was of the one-armed variety. He shook hands with Greg and Leonard because that was more their speed.

"Yep. Horses. Cows. Tractors. You name it. The Heaths have it covered."

"I've heard of the Heaths." Everyone in Pickleville had.

Andrew led them into the break room. Robyn clammed up upon seeing the strangers.

Kyler put his burger down and stood, hugging Greg. "Do you guys want cake? There's enough."

Greg just nodded and sat in the seat Kyler vacated. He took a big bite of Kyler's burger before he could react. When he did, Greg laughed.

"Cake. Not burger, dickhead."

"Greg, stop teasing Kyler. This is a serious matter." Leonard shut everything down in just two sentences. And not just Greg either. Kyler's back straightened as if Leonard was a drill instructor in the military. Leonard sat down in the seat Greg had vacated. He pushed the burger to the spot next to him and then pointed to it. "Kyler, sit down and finish eating."

Kyler sat right away, but he winked at Robyn. "He's about to tell you the story. Greg knows the one."

Greg nodded and grinned. "He met Neil's father, who was the love of his life. He had enough love in his heart for both of them, and he'll have enough love in his heart for you too." Greg stepped behind Leonard, putting a hand on his shoulder. "How'd I do?"

Leonard huffed. "You left off a lot of detail." Leonard met Robyn's gaze. "I tell it better, but he's right. You're gonna be loved. No matter what but you look old enough to make up your mind whether you want us as a family or not. And there's one thing you should know before you decided."

Robyn put his hands on the table, fidgeting with the burger packaging. "What?"

"Blood doesn't mean jack shit to me. When I say I'll have your back, then I will. All you have to do is let me in. You understand what I'm saying, son."

Robyn nodded.

"Okay. So we'll all have cake, and afterward, you'll tell me if you want us for a family or if the chief here has to bust his ass finding another home."

"I'll go with you. Anything's better than my grandma's house." Robyn eyed his burger and then over at Kyler.

Kyler smiled. "Good choice, man."

Leonard turned to Kyler, shaking his head. He had an exasperated smile on his face. "I don't need your help."

"You did too. I smoothed the way." Kyler took a bite and spoke around his food. "Now you have another kid to smother with love. You can thank Andy for that and me for making it easier."

Leonard sighed and then snatched one of Kyler's fries.

Kyler smirked and then met Robyn's gaze. "I see Greg gets his thieving ways honest." He pushed the container, so it in between them, sharing with Leonard and Greg.

Robyn chuckled.