Chapter 42

Shawn

B y the next day, Daniel was still pretty out of it. I left him in bed, curled up with the dang cat. He looked so content there that I didn’t want to bother him. I left him a note under his phone that I’d let my dad know he needed another day. He might’ve been mad at me for speaking on his behalf, but I had noticed how he told his mother that he trusted me to take care of him.

When I entered, I found Margaret’s empty. The chairs were flipped on top of the tables and the blinds were drawn down over the windows. It was still on the early side, and the opening crew wouldn’t be in for a bit. It gave me more time to talk to my dad without interruption.

He was in his office when I made my way to the back of the restaurant, and he wasn’t alone. A woman I’d never seen before sat in a chair across from him. She wore a black suit dress and stood the second I walked through the door.

“Good morning. My name is Deborah Hutch. I’m the lawyer who’s here to help with the case of Daniel Morgan. Are you him?”

I looked between my father and the woman. Maybe I should have called ahead.

Before I could speak, my father interrupted me. “Deb, this is my son, Shawn. I think the last time you saw him, he was a lot smaller.”

She smiled at me and nodded. “It has been a long time. And your father is right. I think the last time I saw you, you were maybe fifteen?”

Shit, I recognized the woman now. She’d almost destroyed my parents’ marriage at one point. Mom had been suspicious that my dad had been having an affair. He swore up and down that nothing unprofessional was happening between them, and the fact he was still working with her must have meant something.

“Daniel wasn’t feeling well this morning. He needs another day at home.”

Dad paused halfway around his desk. “The boy is staying with you?”

My shoulders tensed at the question. “Just yesterday, you asked if I was in love with him. Is it a bad thing if I have him staying with me?”

Dad stood silent for a moment before he shook his head. “No. It’s not a bad thing. I’m glad he has someone to look after him while he’s going through all of this. Would it be all right if I sent Deborah over there to talk to him?”

I looked at the lawyer again. Daniel had been so wrung out last night after talking to his parents, and I didn’t know if this would add to his stress or not.

“Carter, I think I better come back later. If he isn’t feeling well, I won’t be able to get the information from him I need.”

My eyes bounced between the two of them. There was a level of familiarity there. No one ever addressed my dad by his first name. Not even my mom. It was always honey, sweetie, and darling…

Once Deborah had left, I stared down at my dad. “Is something—”

“Stop.” He held up his hand. “I thought you’d recognize her eventually. And no. Nothing ever has and nothing ever will happen with me and my lawyer. We went through a rough patch ten years ago and I can’t blame you for being suspicious, but we are nothing but friends and colleagues. She has kept our businesses out of trouble several times.”

Trouble? When had they been in trouble? It was a worry for another time. I was more thankful Dad had been so quick to set things up for Daniel.

“Now, tell me, is he really not feeling well?”

I shifted under Dad’s scrutiny. “We had a long night. He told his parents everything for the first time. I tried to wake him up this morning, but it was like trying to wake the dead. Instead of continuing to bother him...”

“You let him rest. I raised you right with one thing.” Dad smiled as he finally came around his desk and clapped me on the shoulder. This finally felt like we were getting somewhere. Like maybe he was proud of me for a change and not waiting for me to fuck everything up. I still had to tell him I didn’t want the restaurant, but now the idea of telling him didn’t cause my heart to race. Maybe we could reach an understanding and he’d let me set out on my own dreams.

The rest of the staff started filing in around ten to prepare for the lunch rush. The tables were set, and it was like a new life was breathed into the place. It was typical for the start of another day, but I was facing the prospect of another shift behind the bar without Daniel.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. When I pulled it out, there was a message from Daniel. There was a picture of him sprawled across my pillows with the cat curled up next to him.

Daniel: You didn’t wake me up.

I grinned as I typed out my reply.

Me: I tried. You refused to get up.

All I got in return was an emoji sticking its tongue out. At least he hadn’t seemed all that upset about it. I pocketed my phone and went back to wiping the bar top when Chase slid next to me.

“Is he okay?”

I stopped to stare at him for a moment, then went back to wiping the counters. “He’s fine.”

Chase didn’t like that I’d basically brushed him off. “Look, I get that I sort of went protective gorilla on your ass... but you need to understand where I was coming from.”

My hands paused as I looked up at the other man. “I do understand. And we’re working on things. He needs help that you and I can’t give him.”

It took a moment, but Chase nodded in understanding before he leaned against the bar and let me get back to getting ready for the day. “You’ll keep your word, won’t you? You’re not going to hurt him?”

It took everything in me to keep cleaning. It felt wrong to say it to Chase and to my father first because, if anyone deserved to hear it before someone else, it was Daniel. “I don’t hurt the people that I love.”

A reassuring hand landed on my shoulder. When I looked up, Chase gave me a warm smile. “I’m glad to hear that. Now’s the part when I tell you that you’re stuck with me behind the bar tonight.”

Such a hardship. If there was anyone that was going to help me, I’d want it to be him.

The night flew by, going more smoothly than I’d anticipated. At least I’d had proper help. When we closed for the night, it didn’t take long to count down tills and get ready to leave. I was throwing on my jacket when Chase approached slowly.

“Is it—is it okay if I come by?” He shifted from side to side as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. My goal hadn’t been to hide Daniel away from his friends, and it would probably do him some good to see a familiar face.

“Yeah. Totally cool.”

Chase smiled. “Awesome. I asked Nate not to come get me. It was a little bold considering I hadn’t asked yet—”

I held up my hand to cut off his rambling.

“You’re good. Let’s go.”

I led Chase to my car, and the ride to the apartment was silent. It didn’t make me uncomfortable like it would have in the past. Would Chase approve of the way I’d been taking care of his friend? He’d been ready to rip me apart back at the cabin for even touching him.

The apartment was quiet when we got inside. A dim light illuminated the hallway, letting me know that the bedroom light was on. I flicked on the living room light and motioned for Chase to make himself at home on the couch.

Daniel was sitting up in bed when I entered the room. He had Nacho in his lap, but he was still in nothing but his underwear.

“Hey, you.”

Daniel grinned. He held the kitten to his chest as he approached me in the doorway and placed a soft kiss against my lips. “Hey back at you.”

A throat clearing down the hallway had us jumping back from one another. I scratched at the back of my neck as I looked between Chase and Daniel. “We, uh—we have a guest?”

Daniel chuckled, not caring about his state of undress as he made his way down the hall to his friend.

“Holy shit, am I seeing this right? Daniel Morgan is willingly holding a cat?”

“Weird, right?”

The two stood there fussing over the kitten while I watched. We all moved to the living room and sat on the couch, Daniel tucking his legs beneath him as he handed the kitten off to his friend.

“Does this mean that I don’t need to lock up poor Oreo any time you come over?”

Daniel laughed. “I don’t know, dude. Something about this little guy. He’s different.”

Our eyes met across the room. Almost like he was talking about both me and Nacho at the same time.