“Your son is a cutie.” The young woman winked at Shawn and bumped his fist. “I couldn’t say no to him. A server will be out with your food soon, and he’ll take care of your tab. Ya’ll have a good night.”
Garrick watched Shawn suck his lower lip between his teeth, and his heart dropped like a fifty-pound dumbbell straight into his stomach.
“You okay?” Garrick asked, his voice low. He kept a steady eye on Shawn, searching for a second quiver in his lip or a tear he might try to hide. “With what that girl just said, knowing what your mom talked to you about earlier?”
Shawn suddenly focused intently on his Transformer, and his little eyebrows pulled together. “You don’t love my mom the way dads are supposed to love moms, and Mommy said she doesn’t like you like that way either, so you won’t live in our house.” He chewed some more on his lip but eventually looked up at Garrick again. “But she said you still like me the way other dads like their kids, only you’re not my dad so I call you Garrick.”
“That’s true.” Garrick treaded carefully for Shawn’s sake, but the truth was, he thought it might crush him more than the freaking kid if he got shot down. “Are you okay with that?”
“I might feel better if you let me eat my strawberry cake first.”
All the tension drained out of Garrick into a puddle on the floor, and he fell back against his chair. “Nice try, Shawnee. I don’t think so.”
“Maaannn.” Shawn pulled the most petulant face. “That sucks.”
Resilient. Garrick had to laugh. Grace definitely knows her children well.
A young man carrying a large paper bag and two pizza boxes stopped at their table. “Okay, guys.” He put everything down. “Here we go.”
He handed the bill to Garrick, and Garrick pulled the appropriate amount from his wallet and handed the money to the guy, adding, “Keep the change.”
Garrick assessed the overlarge bag with their desserts and garlic bread as well as the extra large pizza boxes. “All right, how are we going to do this?” He’d never really wondered how a parent held onto children and packages and navigated public spaces with large vehicles pulling in and out and driving around at the same time.
“I can carry the bag,” Shawn said.
“Shawn, the thing is half as big as you are,” Garrick told him. “You’re not quite tall enough to keep it off the ground. And it’s dark out; there’s no way I’m letting you walk outside without holding my hand.” The pizza boxes were much too large for the kid to handle too. “Here’s what we’re going to do.” Garrick lifted Shawn into his arms and situated him on his hip. “Hold on tight, please.” The boy squeezed his legs around Garrick’s stomach and his arms around his neck. “That’s plenty. Thank you.”
Garrick then maneuvered the pizza boxes onto his free hand and finally grabbed the bag’s handle while using that arm to anchor Shawn to him. “Ready?” The boy nodded, and Garrick started to wind his way through the tables to some strange looks coming at him from left and right. “I suppose I could have just asked for help, huh?” he asked with a laugh. “That’s probably what your mom does.”
“Nah.” Shawn pounded Garrick’s shoulder with his hand, giggling. “This is more fun.”
“For you, sure.” Garrick looked at the boy sideways and raised one eyebrow in an extremely exaggerated manner. “I’m the one doing all the heavy lifting. It’s like a ride at Disneyland for y...” Garrick skidded to a halt.
Straight ahead, Devlin entered the restaurant. And the guy wasn’t alone. He had a wildly attractive younger man at his side. Garrick couldn’t process any more than that because right then Devlin laughed at something the guy said, and it crushed Garrick’s soul.
“Garrick, look at Devlin!” Shawn shouted right into Garrick’s ear.
Clearly having heard Shawn say his name, Devlin snapped his attention up to them, locking on Garrick.
“Hey,” Shawn nudged Garrick, “who’s that other man?”
“I don’t know.” The ringing echoing in Garrick’s head from the volume of Shawn’s voice couldn’t compete with the slamming in his heart and the difficulty he suddenly had breathing. He knew he shouldn’t stare, but he couldn’t blink or turn his head. Devlin didn’t either.
He’s on a date. He went out on his date. He’s fucking spending the evening with another man.
“Devlin! Devlin!” Shawn let go of Garrick’s neck for a second and waved wildly.
Devlin whispered something to his partner for the evening; the guy nodded and took a step to the side while Devlin approached. Devlin slipped his hands into his pockets, and smiled at the boy. “Hi, Shawn. It’s good to see you again.”
The kid bounced against Garrick’s side. “I talked to my mom!”
If Garrick had a free hand, he would have rubbed his ear. “Take it down a couple of notches, kiddo. All right?”
“Sorry.” Shawn dropped his voice to a whisper. “I talked to my mom. She said since you know Garrick, it would be okay to go see the fire trucks with you as long as he’s there too.”
“Right,” Devlin murmured. He lifted his gaze to Garrick’s, glanced back and forth between him and Shawn, and Garrick watched his lips pale and his throat convulse.
Oh no. No no no no no. It’s not what you think.
Garrick went to grab Devlin but remembered he had too much going on to make it happen. “Wait,” he said instead.
Devlin shook his head. “It’s all right. I understand.” Garrick could hear the strain in Devlin’s voice. Then Devlin put his full attention on Shawn, and covered everything with a smile. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to the chief yet, Shawn, but I’ll be sure to get in touch with him very soon. Sound good?”
Shawn beamed. “Cool.”
“Cool.” Devlin’s smile back looked forced.
Sick to his stomach, Garrick felt gagged and tied. “Cool,” he said dully, all polish gone from both
