19. Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Mosby

When my Bunny hit his knees, I couldn't breathe. What the fuck?

"I'm sorry."

Sorry for what? He'd been perfect. "What the hell? Bunny, no. You don't… Jesus. Baby, no."

I picked him up and took him to the leather sofa in my living room. "Talk to me. What was that about?" His eyes were dead. I couldn't begin to imagine what the hell had happened to flip the switch, but I didn' t like it.

I stared at Tyler, and suddenly, he blurted out, "I don't want you to hate me."

What? "Hate you? Are you kid— I could never hate you, Tyler."

"How can you be so sure?"

My eyes settled on him, and I could see the hurt he'd covered up. "I can see you're a beautiful boy, inside and out. I can see you're scared about something, and I want to know why."

" Why? " His voice was soft and strained.

I stared at my Bunny. My beautiful Bunny. He was stunning but something was haunting him, and I wouldn't stop asking until I knew what it was.

"Yes, why ? Why did you go onto your knees? Did I do something that made you think that was what I wanted from you? Please, please, Bunny, tell me what happened."

"It's just a reflex, Mosby."

"A reflex of what?" I studied him for a moment, arching my eyebrow at him.

"A reflex of things expected from me when I didn't do what I was supposed to do. KC had rules. When I didn't follow them, he would hit me in the face."

My heart broke. Hearing what he'd gone through made me sick. "I'll never hit you like that, and if what we did last night is too much, you tell me, and it never happens again."

Tyler turned his beautiful face to me and exhaled. "You made me feel loved, Daddy. It's a big thing to me, and you showed me more love than I've felt from anyone except my mother. It was so amazing."

I kissed his cheeks and grinned. "I'm always here. Let's get you calmed down. In a little while, you can call your mom and explain all of this to her. It might be a great opportunity, or it might not. That's between you and Marlena. I'm here for you, Bunny. Only you."

My beautiful Tyler looked into my eyes. "Thank you, Daddy."

It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever witnessed. We were moving into a wonderful space together, and I welcomed it.

Marlena spent two weeks in Wyoming while Tyler successfully managed the salon, not that there was much more to do than he'd already been doing. He had been keeping the books for the salon since he'd returned to Foggy Basin, so that was covered.

Edina, Camila, and Alice hadn't given Tyler any problems, pitching in to make things as smooth as possible so he could ease into being in charge. His mother's clients even allowed the other stylists to handle their hair needs under the threat that Marlena wouldn't keep them as clients if they didn't cooperate.

While Marlena was gone, I talked Tyler into opening up to his therapist about what happened to him in prison. She'd put him on an anti-anxiety medication that we had to pick up in Hartsville, so after he cleared the trip with the sheriff, I drove him to the pharmacy, and after, we'd gone for sushi, which was something Tyler had never tried.

Tyler was becoming more relaxed driving the Polaris to the cabin, which made me very happy. I'd also started making more frequent runs to town because I wanted to see my boy as much as possible. He'd cut my hair, taking off four inches that left it long enough to pull back when I was painting, but easier to style if I left it down. My tragic split ends were no more, and he'd shaved my beard. My face had never felt softer in my life. Because of my Bunny, I was a brand-new man.

I stopped at the salon before going to the grocery store. Tyler had spent most nights with me, and I had the feeling his worry about opening the second floor to offer more services was because he was unsure where he'd live .

He told me he didn't want to live with Marlena again, but I figured Marlena wasn't long for Foggy Basin—though I wouldn't say a word to Tyler. I didn't want him living at her house either. By my side was exactly where he belonged.

I entered the salon, the small silver bell over the door tinkling to announce my arrival. Marlena was at the front desk on the phone, and she held up her finger, signaling for me to wait. I stepped over to the window to look outside and give her privacy.

I'd parked in the public lot across Main Street, and as I scanned the area, I saw the sheriff's SUV parked in front of my Bronco. I wondered what the hell he was doing, but I heard Marlena end her call, so I turned and walked back to the desk.

"Good morning, Mosby." She stood and walked around the desk, giving me a nice hug.

"Welcome back. How was Wyoming?"

She giggled. "It was great. I wanted to thank you for talking Tyler into taking better advantage of the therapist the parole board requires. He won't tell me anything about his time in Folsom, and I might be na?ve about a lot of things, but I know something happened to him in there. He wasn't the same when he came home." Her expression changed from a giddy woman in love to a solemn mother worried about her son.

"I'm happy he's making the most of the therapy. I mean, he's required to do it, so he might as well get something out of it. When are you moving?"

Marlena turned to look over her shoulder to where Tyler was happily chatting with a woman while cutting her little boy's hair. He'd told me he had an appointment with German's nephew that morning before he'd left the cabin. He'd been excited, and I was happy for him.

"Has Ty said something? Does he suspect anything about Beau?"

I wanted to yell at her that she was setting Tyler up for heartbreak by not being honest with him, but I held my tongue. I would be there for him and help him process the new information when she finally told him the truth. I wouldn't let him lose all the progress he'd made with his therapy. He deserved a win.

"No, but you can't keep the secret much longer. Tyler deserves to know the truth and decide how he wants to proceed. How did Beau's daughter treat you?"

Marlena exhaled a heavy breath. "Renee wasn't thrilled to meet me, but by the time I was leaving, we'd had a few conversations, and I believe she's at the tolerant stage as far as I'm concerned. She has a little girl, Amber, who's ten. We got along famously."

"What does Renee think about Tyler?" That was my biggest concern.

"Under the circumstances, I can understand she wasn't happy to hear about him at all, much less the fact he's gay. Thankfully, Beau sat down with her and explained our history before I went to visit. I really need to do the same with Ty. He should know Beau was the one to pay his legal bills. He thinks it was me."

"You let Tyler think you paid the legal bills? You know, don't you, that he feels he owes you that money, Marlena? He doesn't do anything for himself because he wants to pay you back for all the money his lawyer cost."

Her face showed surprise. "What? I never said I wanted to be paid back. I said I mortgaged the house because I had no other way to account for the source of the money. See that's why people shouldn't lie."

"Yeah. That's why you shouldn't lie." My voice left no doubt about my feelings on the matter.

"Tonight. Bring him to the house tonight, and I'll make dinner for us. That buggy thing you got him is really cute. He gushes about it. Thank you for treating him so well."

"It's my pleasure. I want to give him everything he's ever wanted. Did Tyler talk to you about the couple who wants to rent the upstairs for a tattoo and piercing salon?"

"He mentioned it, but we didn't discuss it in depth. Did you meet them? Do you think they would be a good fit for this?" She held her hand out toward the rest of the salon.

"I do. Trixie mentioned the new resort at Taylor's Corner, and how they don't have a salon or any facilities for pampering. It might be something to consider." I had no doubt it would be a lucrative endeavor if one had the energy to put into it. I knew my Bunny was the man to make it happen.

"Yeah, I suppose it is." With that, Marlena went to greet a client who'd just come into the salon, and I sat on the sofa to wait for Tyler to have a break.

A man in uniform came into the salon and stood at the front. He was either the sheriff or a deputy. I knew Tyler had gone to check in at the sheriff's office the previous Thursday after we returned from Hartsville, so I hoped the man's impromptu visit wasn't bad news.

Edina walked up to the desk, giving me a wave. "Sheriff West, what can we do for you? Do you have an appointment?"

He grinned. "I do. With Tyler. I'm a little early. "

That was a surprise. Tyler hadn't mentioned he was going to cut the sheriff's hair. Maybe they had a better relationship than I'd imagined?

"Ty's finishing up with a small customer. Can I get you some flavored water or a coffee?" Edina motioned toward the couch where I sat.

"What flavors?" He looked very interested.

Edina smiled. "Tyler implemented a flavor of the day. We always have cucumber and lemon—not together. Today's flavor is fresh pineapple."

"That sounds good. I'll have a glass of that, please."

Edina turned to me. "You want something while you wait, Leslie?"

"I'll have the same. Thanks, Edina."

When she walked away, the sheriff shifted his gaze to me. "Leslie? Is that your Bronco in the parking lot? It's registered to Audrey Mosby Leslie. I remember Miss Audrey from when I was a kid. She made the lightest angel food cake and always donated three to the fall festival. She must be your grandmother."

Obviously, I couldn't lie to the man. "Yes, sir. Nana Audrey was well known for her angel food cake."

He smirked. "My mom and dad used to go ‘round and ‘round over that cake. My father would buy a ticket for the basket raffle, even though my mother would make angel food cake for him all the time. He said they were like lead.

"Anyway, son, do you know people are looking for you? George Willis is convinced you're an axe murderer hiding from the law. Why is there some weird private detective peeking around corners, trying to get a picture of you?"

I couldn't hold the laugh. Natalie was ruthless. "I owe the West Hollywood Gay Men's Chorus a portrait, and I imagine Natalie Wu, my agent, has lined up a hundred more commissions because she's not getting paid if my work doesn't sell."

Sheriff West chuckled. "Ah. You're not an axe murderer then?"

I smirked. "Not yet. I'll get her to call off her dog. While we have a minute, if Tyler wanted to take a trip, say to Montecito, that would be within the parameters of his parole, right?"

"As long as he notifies me he'll be gone and gives me contact information, it should be fine." The sheriff was actually a pretty nice guy. So much for not judging a book by its badge.

"How long could he be gone, Sheriff?"

"Twenty-nine days without needing to notify his parole officer. After that, he'd have to file the relocation paperwork and be approved to move to a new jurisdiction. "

I nodded. "Can he leave the state?"

The sheriff stared at me for a moment. "He's not planning to skip, is he? He'd end up back in Folsom to serve out the rest of his sentence if he did. When I talked to him last Thursday, he told me how excited he was to be managing the salon while his mother was in Wyoming."

"He was. I was just wondering if he'd be able to visit extended family before his parole is up. He's not planning to skip. He's making a life here, and I doubt he'd be happy anywhere else."

"Sheriff West, I see you've met my friend, Leslie. If you'd like to have a seat in my chair, I'll be right with you." Tyler was staring at me with worry.

"It's okay, sweetheart. The jig is up. Natalie has a private investigator looking high and low for me. Anyway, Sheriff, it was nice to speak with you. I appreciate the information."

The sheriff and I shook hands before he went to Tyler's station, which had been cleaned up after Tyler's young client left. Edina carried the sheriff's pineapple water over and spoke to him for a minute while I took Tyler's hand to lead him outside.

"Tomorrow, I'll fly back to LA to meet with my agent. She's sicced a private investigator on me, and I want to make it stop. Tonight, we are going to your mother's house for dinner, and then I'll stay at your place, if you don't mind. I'll run home and pack and be back here by five-thirty. That's when you're done, right?"

"So, everyone can know who you are now?" His face lit up, and his smile was megawatt.

"Yes. Everyone can know who I am, Bunny. But most importantly, I want everyone to know I'm yours and you are mine."

Tyler's face flushed as he stood on his toes to kiss me. It was a fit-for-public kiss, but it held the promise of so much more.

"I'll see you later." I watched that cute ass go inside before I crossed the street to my Bronco.

I wasn't looking forward to the trip to SoCal, but I'd put off my life for a year. It was time to emerge from the abyss and start living again.