by Megan Slayer
* * * *
The next morning, Colin stood at the island in the middle of the kitchen and drummed his fingers on the faux marble surface. Two months into school and his kid was late…again.
“Come on, Gage. You’re late.” He glanced up the back set of stairs one more time. The light glowed on the wall from the second-story bathroom. “What are you doing up there?”
Gage rounded the corner and bounded down the stairs. “Sorry, Dad.” He kept his head down. “My belly hurts.”
“Really?” Colin stopped Gage on the steps. “I heard about the kid at school. Besides, you’re only a week away from the Halloween parties. You love those parties.”
“Harvest parties. We can’t have Halloween ones. It’s against the law.”
“It’s not against the law.” Probably against something else, but Colin didn’t want to discuss that with Gage. “So, talk. What’s with the kid at school?”
“Uncle Farin blabbed.” Gage ducked under Colin’s arm. “He wasn’t supposed to talk to you. He promised.”
“You do realize your uncle and I talk about everything?” Colin followed his son into the kitchen. “So, spill your guts, kid.”
Gage stared at Colin. He might have been adopted, but from the way the kid glowered at him, he could’ve sworn Gage shared the same gene pool. With the same blond hair, blue eyes and thick lashes, Gage reminded Colin of a mini-version of himself.
Colin squatted in front of his son to put them at eye level. “What did the kid say?”
“That my dad is a fag.” Gage stuck out his bottom lip. “Why would he do that? You’re a dad.”
Colin sighed. “Okay.” He needed to explain the situation for Gage to understand. “Some people say mean things. No matter how hard you try to get away from them, they’ll always be there.” God, did he know that lesson well. He’d tried to shake the memories of the guy from high school who’d insisted on making his life hell.
“What do I do?” Gage rested his hands on his hips. “Uncle Farin said to ignore him.”
“That’s a good idea. Don’t let him know you’re upset. It’s hard because you’re going to be mad, but once he realizes you’re not going to react, the kid should stop,” Colin said. Unless you have a secret crush on the guy being the dick. He shook his head. He wasn’t about to tell his son that little tidbit of information.
“Fine.” Gage picked up his tennis shoes. “But I’m already late. Why don’t you just let me skip today?” He grinned and batted his lashes. “A mental health day, like you say you want to have?”
Kids were such sponges. He’d have to remember to think before he spoke in the future. “No mental health days. Grab your book bag. You have art today, don’t you? You love art.”
Gage yanked his bag from the hook. “I do.” He hurried past Colin and headed out to the garage.
Colin picked up his tablet, wallet and keys. He’d get Gage to school late, but at least he’d conned the kid into going. He locked the back door, then climbed into the car beside his son.
Once the garage door opened, he backed out of the garage and closed the door. Colin eased the rest of the way down the driveway, then turned onto the street. He glanced at his son’s reflection in the rearview mirror.
“I’m going to take you in to school and write the excuse then, okay?” Colin asked. He barreled down the back road to the school complex. The speed limit sign read twenty-five. He snorted. Did anyone actually drive that slow anymore? He checked his speed. Thirty-nine. Fuck. He tapped the brake. He needed to get his head in the game and pay attention. The speed limit was there for a reason, not a suggestion. God. He was a dad and getting his kid to school safely should’ve been utmost in his mind.
Colin let off the gas and continued down the road, but something in the mirror caught his attention. Red and blue lights. What the hell? Realization washed over him as he recognized the reason for the lights. A cop. Fucking balls. He’d been caught speeding. He pulled over to the side of the road and parked.
“What’s wrong, Dad?” Gage asked from the backseat.
“Daddy went too fast on this road and the cop is calling me out. I was wrong. I was speeding.” He sighed and leaned back in his seat. Shit. Of all the times to screw up, he had to do it in front of his kid.
“Sorry, Dad.” Gage curled up in his booster seat.
“Me too, kid. Now you’re super late.” Colin pressed the button to roll down the window, then reached across the dash to the glove box and retrieved his registration.
“Excuse me, sir.” A shadow darkened the window. “License and registration, please?”
Colin slid the card from his wallet. “Here you go.” He refrained from looking at the cop. Not because he disliked cops, but because the shame of his actions washed over him in epic proportions. He’d been speeding, in a school zone more than likely and with his kid in the car.
“Do you know how fast you were going, sir?” the officer asked.
“Probably twenty miles over the limit.” He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.
“Thirty-nine in a twenty. This is a marked school zone. The lights were flashing.”
“I’m sorry, Officer.” Colin opened his eyes. The stress was no excuse to be a jerk. “I was trying to get my son to school and wasn’t paying attention. I accept responsibility for my actions.” And I’ve learned my lesson.
“I see.” The cop paused. “Colin Baker? I knew a guy named Colin Baker when I was in school. We played ball together. Huh. Well, I’m going to give you a ticket. Give me a moment.”
Colin slid his gaze to the officer as the man retreated to the cruiser behind Colin’s car. He didn’t need to read the man’s badge to know his name. He’d recognize that body anywhere—Jordan Hargrove. Why in the name of God did the guy who’d featured prominently in all Colin’s high-school fantasies have to be the guy who was currently writing him up for breaking the speed limit?
The dull ache from the night before developed behind Colin’s eyes. So much for being a good role model for his son. Horrible fucking luck.
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About the Author
Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.
Megan loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website details and author profile page at https://www.pride-publishing.com
