17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Andy

On Saturday, shortly after Jesse left for work, I got a call from Caleb. They'd just found out that Keith's brother and his boyfriend were going to be in town, and they'd decided to have a cookout at their house to celebrate Keith's upcoming return to work.

The bad thing was, Jesse and I had spent most of our time in bed, and we'd never made it to the auto dealership. So that meant someone would have to come get me. Luckily, Mika was invited, so I shot him a text and asked him to swing by and get me on his way over there.

I had a little time before he'd be here, and I wanted to take Seph for a walk before he arrived. We hadn't been on one in a few days, and if I was going to abandon her here while I went to a cookout, I thought she deserved a walk first.

"You ready to go, Seph?" I called, holding up her leash, and she came running. Jesse's yard was plenty big enough for her to run around in, but she and I both enjoyed our walks.

I clipped on her leash, and we set out down Jesse's street. The houses weren't fancy, but the area was nice. The house I rented was a brick rancher on a street of identical brick ranchers, but in this neighborhood, each was different. I didn't know much about houses, so I couldn't have told you what styles they were, but I could tell that everyone who lived here took pride in their homes. Many of them had children's toys out in the yard, giving the area a safe, family feel to it.

I wasn't in any hurry, so we took our time with me checking out the neighborhood while Seph took in all the smells. We were almost back to the house when I noticed a figure sitting on the front porch. It was a much older woman wearing a flower-print dress with her hair in a long braid that was draped over her left shoulder. It had to be Jesse's grandmother, but what on earth was she doing here? His truck was gone, so surely she realized he wasn't there.

"So, are you just going to stand there trying to decide what to do, or are you going to come offer an old lady a cup of tea?"

"Umm, I don't know if we have tea," I said hesitantly. "Let me put the dog in the backyard, and I'll check, though."

"She's already met me, and she's a real sweetheart. No reason to put her outside. And I know my grandson has my favorite tea inside. He always does." She stood up from where she'd been sitting on the porch swing. "Now, you must be Andy, and I'm Jesse's grandmother. Most people call me Gigi, but you can call me Hazel if you'd rather."

"Okay, Hazel. When did you meet my dog?"

"The other day when you were on shift at the firehouse." She looked me over and then gave me a grin. "A fireman, and a cute one at that. Looks like my grandson's taste is improving."

I hurried by her and used the key that Jesse had given me to open the front door. I took a step back, holding the door open for her. "Well, Hazel, why don't you come on in, and you can show me where Jesse keeps your tea. I haven't had a good cup of tea in ages."

"Oh, are you a tea drinker?" She reached down and gave Seph a pet on her way by us into the house.

"I used to be. My mom always had a cup of hot tea in the afternoon, and I often joined her."

"I'm sorry about your loss, young man. I remember when Jesse got the call from your brother. That's a sad thing to lose both your parents at once and so young, too."

I never knew what to say when someone offered me sympathy, but with Hazel, it was different. Something about the matter-of-fact way she said it told me her words weren't just perfunctory, that she meant what she said.

"Thank you. I miss them."

"Of course you do, dear. You always will, but that's not a bad thing. It just shows how much they were loved." She went through the living room into the kitchen and opened a cabinet, pulling out a canister. "Here's where Jesse keeps my tea."

"Okay, then let's get the kettle on." I'd noticed the kettle sitting on Jesse's stove that first morning, but I'd thought it was just for show. He hadn't really struck me as a hot tea drinker, but now that I'd met Hazel, it made a lot more sense. I grabbed it and took it to the sink to fill it up.

"So Jesse tells me you had some trouble at your place, and that's why you are staying here?"

I nodded and put the full kettle on the stove. "Yeah, someone set my car on fire."

"That's what he said. Such a horrible thing." She shook her head.

"It was. But anyway, they don't know who did it or why, and Victor's out of town, so Jesse thought it was best if I stayed here."

"Of course he did. Jesse's nothing if not protective." The kettle whistled, and I took it off the stove and poured water into her cup. "So, you're staying here for safety's sake." She winked at me. "Among other things?"

My cheeks heated, and she chuckled.

"That's what I thought. I didn't think my Jesse was blind, and I know he isn't stupid enough to let a catch like you get away."

I wasn't sure what to say to that. Jesse and I hadn't discussed what to tell his family. I didn't want to overstep, but I also didn't want to lie to this woman who meant so much to him. Luckily, Seph saved me by barking at the back door.

"I better let her out. I have a doggie door on my house, so she's used to coming in and out as she pleases."

"You should ask Jesse to add one. I'm sure he'd be happy to do that for you." She pulled the tea bag out of her cup, setting it on the saucer.

"He probably would, but it would take two. One for the back door and one for the screened-in porch." I didn't bother pointing out that I wouldn't be staying. That as soon as they caught the guy who set my car on fire, I'd be headed home. Not that I was in any hurry to leave, but still, it didn't make sense for Jesse to go to all that trouble for a short time.

I opened the back door and let Seph out, and then I came back to join Hazel at the bar. I took a sip of my tea and sighed as the warmth spread all the way through me. It was a light, fruity tea that had hints of lemon and was really quite delicious.

"It's good, isn't it?" she asked, giving me an approving look.

"It really is."

"It's a special blend. Supposed to keep your brain sharp." She tapped the side of her head. But I had a feeling Hazel didn't need any tea to stay sharp. I'd just met her, and I could already tell she didn't miss a thing.

"Well, maybe I should have two cups then," I teased.

"I like you. Do you want to come over for dinner since Jesse works so late?"

"I would love to, but unfortunately, my friend Caleb is having a cookout tonight. I'd love a rain check, though."

"Of course. I'll check back in with you in a day or two. But now, I better get back home. My show will start in a few minutes."

"Oh, what show is that?" I asked.

"Wheel of Fortune. I'm going to miss Pat Sajak for sure, but I like that young man taking over. I used to watch him on that singing show. That's the way it goes, you know. Things are always changing."

An hour later, as Mika and I pulled up in front of Caleb and Keith's house, I was still thinking about what she said. Things were always changing, and sometimes for the better. A year ago at this time, I had no purpose. I was hanging out with a bunch of losers and risking my life taking part in illegal street races just for the thrill of it.

And now here I was, living in Texas with a job I loved, buying a pick-up truck, and going to hang out with people who were truly my friends. Not to mention this thing with Jesse. That was the best change of all.

This had been a last-minute get-together, but I was amazed at how many people were here. I recognized a lot of the cars as being guys from the station, but there were a few cars I'd never seen before.

"Wow, how many people did Caleb say he invited?" I asked.

"He didn't say, but it looks like a bunch."

I'd hoped for a chance to talk with Caleb about what was happening with Jesse, but with all these people around, it didn't look like that was likely to happen. I'd called Mika and told him all about it the second Jesse had left for work last night, but Caleb had still been at work, so he hadn't heard the news yet. Which was fine. We were already planning to have lunch tomorrow, so I'd just talk to him then.

"I'm gonna go find Caleb," Mika said.

"I'll come find you in a few. I want to say hi to the guys first." I nodded over to where my friends from the Sixty-nine were standing around.

I walked over to where Keith stood talking with Ford and Kevin, and they nodded in greeting.

"I'm so excited to be coming back to work soon."

"We're thrilled you're coming back." Kevin lifted his beer bottle and clinked it against Keith's.

"We've missed you, man. Having you around doing light duty wasn't the same as having you there to watch our backs," I chimed in.

"Exactly. What the probie said," Ford said, bumping my hip with his.

I looked around at this group of guys, and yeah, change wasn't always a bad thing at all.

Jesse

It was a busy night at the club, of course, Saturdays always were. I usually stayed until we closed at least on the weekend, but with Andy at home, sitting here watching everyone having fun while Shae, Clay, and Cam worked the bar like a well-oiled machine, it felt like a waste of time. It didn't help that I'd texted Andy twice, and he hadn't replied.

"Hey, boss man," Shae called out. "You're making us all anxious sitting there frowning."

"Then quit looking at me," I grumbled.

"We could. Or you could just go home."

I looked at my watch. It was only eight, but Shae could handle things. I wouldn't make a habit of it, but I didn't see any reason why I couldn't leave tonight.

"Fine, I'm leaving. If you need anything, you know how to reach me."

I tried to call Andy one more time before I left, but he still didn't answer. I drove a little faster than normal on the way to my house, trying not to worry. We didn't know who'd set his car on fire, but I had no reason to think he knew where Andy was now, so there was no need to panic.

I slammed the car into park, hopped out, hurried through the back gate, and breathed a sigh of relief when Seph greeted me, her tail wagging.

"Hey, girl. Where's your human?" I asked, heading through the back door.

"Andy," I called out, but the house was silent. I checked each room, but there was no sign of him anywhere. I looked in all the logical places where someone would have left a note, but I didn't find anything.

Maybe he'd gone to his house to pick up some more clothes or something. He had friends here. He could have asked them for a ride. But that didn't explain why he wasn't answering his phone. What part of come and stay with me for your safety did he not understand? I snatched my keys back up from the counter and turned to go when I heard the front door open.

"Andy?" I called, rushing to the living room just as my grandmother stepped in the room.

"No, it's just me. I came over to check on Seph since Andy isn't here, and I thought you'd be at work all evening."

"You knew he wasn't here?" I asked.

"Of course. He told me this afternoon."

My head was spinning. When did my grandmother even meet Andy, and how on earth did she know where my boy was when I didn't?

None of that was her fault, though, so I took in a deep breath and forced a smile. "So where is he?"

She looked at me, concerned, because of course my phony smile didn't fool her. "He went to his friend Caleb's house for a BBQ."

"Okay, great, thanks, Gigi. I'll put Seph back out." I walked over and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."

I'd gone over to Keith's house for a Super Bowl party last year, so at least I knew where to go. I hopped in my truck and headed in that direction, and a few minutes later, I was parking down the street from Keith's place. There were quite a few cars there, so this wasn't a small affair.

I could hear music and voices coming from the backyard, so I didn't bother with the front door. I went to the side gate and pushed it open.

I glanced around the yard where a party of some kind was in full force. Keith and some of the guys I recognized from the station were standing off to the side drinking beer and watching while Andy, Mika, a tall black man I'd never met, and a woman that I thought I remembered from Keith's Super Bowl party were playing cornhole.

I started towards him, not giving a shit if he was in the middle of a game or not, when Caleb appeared in front of me out of nowhere.

"Jesse, hi. I didn't know you were coming."

I glanced over at him. "Oh, hey, Caleb. Yeah, I'm not here for your party or whatever this is. I'm here for Andy."

"Oh, he didn't tell us you were coming to pick him up. We have plenty of food, though, so you're welcome to stay. We thought you were working, or we would've invited you."

"I was at work, but I got off early." I watched as Andy tossed the bag, and it slid right into the hole. The people around him cheered, and they all high-fived. I was still angry at him, but I couldn't help but smile at him and his friends.

"Well, I'm glad you came. Seriously, we have so much food. I probably overdid it."

"I'm sure it's all great. I should go let Andy know I'm here." I stepped around him and made a beeline for Andy.

Keith and Ford saw me coming. Keith smiled and started to lift his hand in greeting, but something on my face must have told him I wasn't in a socializing mood. He dropped his hand and looked from me to Andy.

The music was loud, but I was still able to hear what he said. "I don't know what you did, boy, but it looks to me like you're in trouble." He motioned towards me, and Andy whipped his head around.

When he saw me headed his way, he smiled, and I could tell he was happy to see me, and I had to remind myself he'd scared me half to death. Just like with Keith earlier, my expression clued him into the fact that I was less than happy.

He dropped the cornhole bag he was about to throw and hurried to me. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?"

I grabbed him and pulled him to me. "It is now. Between the car fire and this, that's twice in one week, slugger. You have to stop scaring me like this."

"I'm sorry, Daddy," he whispered. "I didn't mean to scare you. I thought you were at work. Why didn't you call me?"

I pulled my head back and let out a frustrated breath. "I called you multiple times and texted you, as well."

He looked at me, honest confusion on his face. "My ringer is off, but I would've felt it vibrate." He reached for his back pocket but came away empty-handed. He patted down all of his pockets to no avail. "Shit, I don't know where it is. I had it earlier. I was showing the guys pictures of the truck."

"Guys," he called out. "Has anyone seen my phone?"

"Is this it?" a young woman I didn't recognize asked, holding up a cell phone.

"That's it, Livy, thanks," he called back. "Crap, I must have left it over there on that table right after I got here. I had no idea you'd been calling."

After the way he'd yelled across the yard, everyone was watching us, and what I wanted to say to him didn't need to be said in public. "We'll be right back," I said to Keith. I took his hand and pulled him with me the way I'd come in. Not that I had to pull hard since he didn't resist at all.

As soon as the gate was closed behind us, I turned to look at him. "I'm not going to tell you it's okay because you need to be more careful. Someone set your car on fire, baby boy."

"I know, but I was here with everyone. I was perfectly safe."

"I can see that now. But when I got home and you weren't there and weren't answering your phone, I had no idea if you were okay or if something had happened to you. You didn't even leave a note letting me know where you were. If Gigi hadn't come over to check on Seph, I'd probably be driving around looking for you."

"I would've left a note, but I thought I'd be home way before you got off work."

"Funny thing is, I left early because I wanted to see you, so imagine my surprise when I got home, and you weren't there."

He bit his bottom lip and looked up at me. "It never occurred to me that you'd come home early."

"But I did. And you just earned yourself your very first rule. Care to guess what it is?"

"Keep up with my phone?"

"Okay, two rules. First, you don't go anywhere without letting me know you're going. Not because you're asking permission. You're a grown-ass man. But so I know you're safe. And two, yeah, keep up with your phone."

He looked back over his shoulder at the gate. "Do we need to leave?"

I knew I should've said yes, but he was new at this whole having a Daddy who gave a damn thing, and I hadn't set any rules or boundaries for him, so he didn't actually break any rules.

"That's up to you. Caleb said there's plenty of food, so if you want to stay, I'll grab myself a plate."

"This is Keith's return to work party, so if you don't mind, I'd like to stay for a little while at least."

I leaned down and brushed a kiss across his lips. "Then we don't need to leave."