by Jo Davis
Shane just wanted them all to go away. The next big story couldn’t happen soon enough, as long as nobody was left grieving like he and Drew were.
Once they were safely in Shane’s truck, pulling out of the underground parking garage, he glanced at Drew. “What do you say we go get something to eat?”
A shrug.
Shane tried again. “Where do you like to go?”
“Dad and I never went out to eat much.” The boy wiped his reddened eyes and turned his gaze out the window. “Always said wading through the fans made it too much trouble to go out.”
“I know.” That struck him as sad, but he didn’t say so. “Well, I do like to go out, so I hope that’s okay with you.”
Another shrug. “That works.”
He bit back a sigh. At least he’d gotten an actual answer with the shoulder movement this time. “Where to? You pick.”
The boy gave it some thought. “I like those restaurants along Second Avenue, by the river. Dad never wanted to go down there because it’s so touristy.”
“Okay. Second Avenue it is. How about the spaghetti place? Or there’s a brewery that has good pub-style food.”
“Spaghetti,” he said without hesitation.
Shane smiled. Maybe they could do this. They would be okay. “You got it.”
Parking was a bit of a pain, but he managed to find a spot in a prepaid lot not far down the street from the restaurant. To coax a smile from Drew, he’d park in Alaska.
After a short wait, they got seated. Shane was relieved to see that nobody seemed to recognize them. If anyone did, they were left alone.
The waitress came and took their drink order. That simple question gave him pause. Typically, he’d order a beer, but for some reason that didn’t seem right today. Drew was his responsibility from now on, and he had to set a good example. No alcohol if he was going to drive with his godson in the car afterward, period. He ordered tea, and Drew gave him a funny look as the waitress moved off.
“Tea? Dude, I’ve never seen you touch a glass of tea.”
“Well, I’m thirsty.”
The kid rolled his eyes. “You are so full of crap. When you’re thirsty, you always drink water. You’re trying to be a parent now, right? Jesus, get over yourself.”
Shane blinked at him. “What?”
“You want a beer, have a beer. Who fuckin’ cares?”
“Language.” That earned him a snort. “And I care, very much. You’re not just visiting me, you’re my kid now.”
“Don’t remind me,” he shot back sarcastically.
That stung. “The point is, it’s been a long, rough day for us both, and I don’t feel right about being this wiped out, having a beer at lunch, and then getting behind the wheel. The brew can wait until I get home.”
“Fine, whatever.”
“And it would be nice if you could learn some new vocabulary words besides those two.”
“Christ, you sound like Dad.”
I’m not your dad, as you’ve pointed out before, hovered on his tongue. But he squashed the urge to kamikaze their lunch outing by uttering it. Just barely.
“Then I’m doing my job,” he said instead.
Suddenly serious, Drew leaned forward, elbows on the table. “What if I just want you to be Shane?”
He had no ready response for that one. Giving it some thought, he said, “I want to be, but I’m more than just your friend now. Give me a chance and we’ll figure it out together.”
“Then let me breathe, dude. Don’t ride my ass like a virgin nun and we’re good.”
In spite of himself, Shane laughed out loud. “I’ll try. That’s all I can promise.”
“Fair enough.” He paused. “So, I was named after you? Dad never told me.”
“I thought you knew.”
“Nope. I didn’t even know your middle name is Andrew.”
“Guess it just never came up.”
“’S pretty cool.”
Pride surged in Shane’s chest. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
Still no smile, but that was okay. Baby steps. They spent a few moments looking over the menu. The waitress came back and they ordered, then Drew changed the subject.
“So, what’s the deal with Daisy Duke?”
Shane almost choked on his tea. “Do not, under any circumstances, call her that within a mile of her earshot. She hates that nickname. I’m surprised you even know about that old TV show.”
“Are you serious? The Dukes of Hazzard is a classic, man.” He shook his head. “Is Daisy her real name?”
“It is, and she’s pretty sensitive about it.”
“Gotcha. I can keep my mouth shut when I want. Honest.” But there was a gleam in his eyes that indicated trouble on the horizon.
“It’s your hide if you mess up around her.”
“I have been warned. Is it serious between you guys?”
“That’s a none-ya.” At the boy’s puzzled look, he clarified, “None-ya biz-ness.”
“Ha! It is serious! Is she good in the sack?”
Shane’s eyes widened. Now, here was a subject he’d completely forgotten he’d have to tackle with a young man of almost seventeen—that of women. And sex. Jesus Christ!
“That is really none of your business,” he said firmly. “Ask me anything you want about women, men, and sex, but under no circumstances will I discuss me and Daisy in that regard, as a source of amusement. I’ll only talk about us in the most general of terms, as it affects my relationship with you.”
“Don’t get all bent out of shape,” Drew muttered. “I was just curious. Lately, Dad had loads of women in and out of the house, all the time. It’s no skin off my nose what you do. Just let me know when you need to scratch that itch, and I’ll make myself scarce.”
Brad had behaved that way around Drew? Shane stared at the kid, stunned at the blasé way he’d revealed that tidbit. He didn’t want to make the boy feel bad about Brad’s habits, but he had to let Drew know where he stood on the matter.
“I will not have loads of women traipsing in and out of the house. For one thing, I don’t date that much, and for another, yes, I’m serious about Daisy. Or I want to be, if she’ll eventually take me back.”
“Ahh. You messed up, huh?”
“Big time. Now I’ve got to crawl on my belly for a while.”
“Sounds like you’re totally gone over her.”
“That’s about right.” No point in denying it.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Shoot.”
“When do you know . . . you know . . . when it’s right to be with a girl?”
Kill me now. Did you not discuss anything meaningful with your son, Brad?
He cleared his throat. “You mean to, uh, have sex?”
The boy nodded earnestly. “Exactly! I mean, I want to, but I don’t want to do it with just anybody. That doesn’t seem right, unless you’re a lot older. Like you and Dad.”
Thank God! “You’re absolutely right to wait. And it’s never a great idea to just go around doing it with whoever. Having sex, even once you find a girlfriend you love and are convinced you can’t live without, is a huge step. You can only have one first time, and you both deserve for it to be special.”
Like a long, long time from now. When you’re in college and I don’t have to know about it.
“I know you’re right. It’s just that it’s all I can freakin’ think about sometimes.”
This is my punishment for being a free and easy bachelor for so long. Cosmic justice.
“We’re guys. That’s the way we’re wired.”
“So, I guess it’s best just to keep taking things into my own hands, so to speak.”
“Um, well, it’s safer that way.”
The boy definitely didn’t have much of a filter. He was a lot like his father in that respect. Shane about fell to his knees in thanks when the food arrived and the conversation turned to another subject. Specifically, Drew’s future car.
“You don’t have to get me a car, you know. I can just drive Dad’s Mustang Boss 302.”
Give me patience. “Forget it. That’s way too much muscle for a novice driver to handle.”
“Dude, what century are you from?” The boy gave him an incredulous look. “Come on, man! The cars are mine anyway, so why should you buy me a different one?”
“Because the first thing you’ll do is go out and wrap it around a tree.”
Congratulations, Shane. You’ve become your father.
“Jesus, I thought you were cool.” This, stated with such disappointment.
“I’m smart, and that’s better than cool.”
“Whatever.”
When Drew arrived at his fallback word, Shane figured the in-depth part of the conversation was over. Which was more than okay, since he needed time to recover from talking about sex and how much his teenager wanted to do it.
Lord help them both. They were going to need all they could get.
• • •
Monday arrived all too soon, and with trepidation, Shane watched as Drew slung his backpack over one broad shoulder.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go to the school with you just this once, get you settled in and meet your teachers?”
“Sure, if you want to ruin my social life.” He snorted.
Shane sighed. “Well, have a good day, then. I love you, kiddo.”
“Yeah.” Relenting some, the boy gave him a one-armed hug before heading out the door. “See ya.”
Worried about any last lurking reporters, Shane went out onto the front porch and watched Drew walk down the drive to wait at the end. Five minutes later, a Sugarland ISD school bus pulled up, and the boy hopped on and disappeared.
As it rumbled away, he couldn’t help but feel a tug in his chest. That odd sensation lasted all the way to work, into the building, and was still hanging on as he sat at his desk.
“Hey, cuz!” Chris called out. “Welcome back!”
This attracted the attention of the rest of the gang, who swarmed his desk, doling out backslaps and shaking his hand. You’d think he’d been gone for a month instead of a week.
“Thanks, guys. It’s great to be back, though I’m not looking forward to reducing the pile on my desk.” There was a round of agreement on the general shittiness of being absent and having to deal with the load.
“How’s Drew?” Austin asked, joining the group. His captain hadn’t attended the funeral, but had called several times to check on them.
“As good as can be expected, I guess. I sent him off to the high school this morning, and I have to admit, it was kind of weird watching him go. I can’t help but worry, you know?”
That met with a bunch of sympathy as well. The consensus was that he’d better get used to worrying. That’s what parents do.
“The thing is, since the reading of the will, he seems to be doing fine, considering. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“He’s a sixteen-year-old boy, so it comes with the territory,” Austin said. “But he’ll adjust fine. You’re gonna be a great dad.”
“Thanks, Cap,” he said, touched.
“Okay, get your lazy asses to work.” The captain ambled off, presumably to his office.
When the crowd parted and he saw Daisy approaching, a little smile on her gorgeous face, Shane’s heart gave a little jolt. “Like the others said, welcome back.”
“Thanks. I missed being here among the action. And I’m ready to resume my life.”
“Sounds promising.”
“I certainly hope so.” He leaned forward, speaking for her ears only. “Still on for Saturday night? Drew is staying with Shea and Tommy.”
She arched a fine blond brow. “Is he, now? A girl might think you’re awfully sure of yourself, detective.”
“I’m not—just hopeful.” He gave her his sweetest look, which earned a laugh.
“Hold that thought.” She patted his cheek. “Until Saturday.”
“Can’t wait.”
“I hope you love a challenge, because this time? I don’t plan to make it so easy for you.”
With that, she turned and walked off. He ogled her high, round ass until she was out the door. Hearing a snicker, he looked around to see Taylor smirking at him.
“Shut up, asshole.”
“Hey, I didn’t say a word!”
Shane reached for a file, hardly able to keep the smile off his face. She planned to give him a challenge, did she? Well, he was up for one.
Game on.
5
Drew walked into third-period English and took his seat just before the tardy bell rang. He typically didn’t stress about being Mr. Punctual, but he didn’t want to stand out too much. Not before he’d scoped out this place.
So far, he wasn’t impressed. The building had to be fifty years old, and it reeked of the musty smell of dirty socks. It was clean enough, but it was shabby, in need of new paint and carpet. And a lot of the teachers were so freakin’ old, they must’ve worked there since the dawn of man.
The worst thing of all was the kids here sucked. They were loud and rude, shoving each other, insults flying on a regular basis. Okay, not all of them, but plenty. The ones that weren’t assholes just kept their heads down and tried to present a smaller target.
Fuck that. Drew Cooper wasn’t about to play anybody’s bitch.
But the whispers were getting to him, and it was early yet. By third period, word had gotten around. Didn’t matter that the teachers must’ve decided not to make a big deal of Drew’s arrival—everybody knew who his dad was and what had happened. He hated feeling like a circus freak.
Even at his old school, he was just one of a crowd of rich kids. Everyone had idolized his dad, even though most of them were the children of sports figures, politicians, scientists, and famous musicians. He wasn’t stupid—he knew the real world wasn’t made of the elite. But it was what he knew. He wanted to jump on a bus and get the hell away from here.
“Hey, Cooper.”
Two desks over to his right, a boy with shaggy brown hair was sneering at him. Tall, built. Drew pegged him as a jock. The Big Man on Campus, from his football-field-sized attitude.
“That’s me.” He kept his tone uninterested in whatever the jock might be about to say. But that didn’t stop the jerk.
“You’re not such a big shot now, are ya?” A few of his buddies snickered. “You like slummin’ with the rest of us?”
The taunt wasn’t too far off the mark, so he said nothing.
“You’re livin’ with some cop now, right? What’s up with that? You his little butt buddy or something?”
“Why, you want to watch?” he shot back.
The jock’s face reddened as his friends laughed. It obviously pissed him off that he’d lost the advantage. “Figures that Brad Cooper’s son would be a faggot. Hey, did he drop dead when he found out his kid is a little homo? Is that what happened?”
He sucked in a breath. Guilt stabbed him in the gut, made him sick. No one knew it was Drew’s fault his dad was dead. But he never forgot for a minute.
Rage boiled, slow and dangerous. It shocked him how much he wanted to physically hurt this prick. “Why don’t you drop your pants and bend over for your friends so they can see who’s queer?”
Now his buddies cracked up. The jock bolted to his feet, ready to lunge for Drew, but the teacher’s sharp reprimand halted him.
“Alan, sit down and stop making a nuisance of yourself.” The teacher glared until Alan did as he was told, then pointed to the board. “Open your literature books to page one thirty-eight.”
Groans sounded all around, but most followed the directions, including Drew, but that didn’t mean he planned to listen. After twenty minutes of lecture, the teacher assigned the class to read the story and answer the questions at the end. Then he parked his skinny ass behind the desk and started grading papers.
“That was pretty impressive, how you smacked Alan down,”
a voice said from his left.
Glancing over, Drew eyed the speaker. His shoulder-length hair was straight and dyed jet-black, to match his death metal T-shirt and skinny jeans. He wore silver studs in both earlobes, and a strip of black leather around his neck with a silver skull dangling from it. His dark eyes stared impassively back at Drew.
“He seems like a real dick,” Drew ventured, testing the water.
“Class A. He’s like a stray dog—feed him scraps and he’ll keep comin’ back.” The kid smiled, and his teeth were straight and white. “But you handled him fine. I’m Ty Eastlake. You?”
Seriously? “You don’t know who I am?”
“Uh, no,” he drawled. “Am I supposed to?”
“I’m Drew Cooper.” Nothing. “Brad Cooper’s son?”
“Who?” Ty’s brows furrowed.
Now, there was a refreshing change. But the explanation still hurt like hell. Always would. Especially when he could’ve prevented it. He swallowed the guilt.
“My dad played for the Titans. He died, like, a week ago.”
“Oh, man. I’m sorry to hear that.” He seemed sincere. “I’m not a sports fan, and I don’t watch the news ’cause it’s all just depressing shit. Ya know?”
“I do know.”
He regarded Drew for a minute, and Drew got the strangest impression that for the first time, someone his own age saw him, not the famous player’s kid. “What do you have seventh period?”
Opening his notebook, he glanced at his schedule. “Physics with Mr. Brenner.”
“Me, too! Hmm. Well, I’m not planning on being a rocket scientist, are you?”
He gave a short laugh. “Hardly.”
“Me neither. I’m in a rock band and we’re gonna be famous, so screw science. What do ya say we meet after sixth and walk to my house? I’ll show you my guitars.”
A slow smile spread across Drew’s face. It felt alien. And damned good.
“I say you’re on.”
• • •
On Saturday afternoon, Daisy changed clothes four times before settling on black capri pants and a black-and-purple patterned blouse. The outfit was nice enough to pass muster in a pricier restaurant, but not too dressy for most casual places. It would have to do, since Shane hadn’t said where they were going.
