Page 8 of Inferno
“No, honestly, I’m fine. I’m used to the bus, and I have a book to read. Plus, I prepaid for my ticket, so it’ll be a waste if I don’t use it.” Henry’s words come out in a jumble as his panic starts to heighten.
The absolute last thing I want to do is watch my boy get on a bus and leave, but I’m not sure I have a fucking choice. I could force him to let me drive him, but he isn’t mine to force, at least not yet.
No. I remind myself sharply.He’s not mine, and I’m not going to make him mine, no matter how much I want to.
Before I can think of another argument, Henry rushes to the counter, pulling a battered-looking wallet from his battered-looking backpack. I don’t bother to tell him I already paid, instead I trail after him, my arms crossed tightly across my chest to stop myself from touching him.
“What do you mean, it’s already been paid? I need to pay for my food,” Henry rasps, his voice taking on a panicked edge.
“I paid for our dinner,” I say.
Jerking, he spins around to look at me. “Let me give you the money for mine.”
“No.”
“No?” His brows draw in, giving him an adorably ruffled expression.
“My treat,” I say, swallowing down the truth. That he’s mine, and that if I had my way, he’d never pay for another thing ever again. That I’ll be the one to take care of him from now on.
Henry’s lips part, but I shake my head, warning him not to bother arguing.
“Bill’s paid,” I tell Danny when he and Parker step up behind us.
“Thanks, Bro, I’ll get it next time,” Danny says, slinging his arm around Parker’s shoulder and pulling her in tight to his side. “I’ll get a ride back with Parks, you cool driving my car home?”
“Sure,” I agree, tipping my head toward the exit and gesturing for Henry to lead the way without saying a word.
His teeth gnaw at his bottom lip as he wraps his arms around his backpack, pinning it to his chest as he shuffles out of the diner and onto the sidewalk.
The moment we’re all outside, Parker slips free of Danny’s hold and pulls Henry in for a hug.
I’ve never seen someone react so viscerally to a hug before, but my boy’s eyes go wide, and it takes longer than it should for him to hug her back, keeping hold of his backpack with one hand while he tentatively slips his other arm around her.
“This has been fun, I’ll see you in the morning,” Parker says.
“Yeah, it has,” Henry agrees. “See you tomorrow.”
“I’ll walk you to the bus stop,” I growl, making sure he knows it’s not up for debate.
“See you later, Bro,” Danny says, flashing me a wide smile, before he turns to my boy. “Nice to meet you, Henry.” Chucklingto himself, he pulls Parker back to his side and turns to head in the direction of the garage where her car is parked.
“You don’t need to walk with me, I’m not a child,” Henry says, slipping his arms through the straps on his backpack and curling his hands around them, his knuckles white.
The urge to take his hand in one of mine is so fucking strong that I have to suck in a sharp breath just to keep control of myself. I must sound frustrated or angry, because Henry cowers, wrapping his arms around himself as he rushes forward, toward where the small-town bus stop is located.
“Why do you live in Bozeman if you work in Rockhead Point?” I growl, like a fucking caveman.
“I’m just a temp.”
“I’ll talk to Bay and Penn about it,” I say, angrily.
“What?” Henry’s feet skid to a stop, and he spins to look at me with wild, terrified eyes.
“I said I’ll talk to them about your job. If they’ve kept you on for months, they must be happy with your work?—”
“What are you talking about?” Henry pants. “We literally just met. How does my job have anything to do with you?”
Well, fuck, he has a point. This is the moment when I either have to tell him he’s mine or keep my mouth shut and mind my own business. My gut is telling me exactly which choice to make, but my brain is reluctant, knowing that I’m dooming either myself or him, depending on what decision I make.
