by E M Lindsey
“I trust you,” Niko told him, and the absolute truth in his tone almost floored Sam. He had to take a breath before pushing away from the table, but eventually he was composed. He appreciated that for the rest of the drive, Niko didn’t say a word. He just sat with him, and let his presence be the only kind of comfort Sam could take.
Chapter Nine
Niko was only half surprised to see Sage walk into the bar. He spotted him right away, making his way through the small crowd, and he let out an audible sigh as he slid into the booth and laid his head back against the cushion.
“Hey, man,” Niko offered. “Long day?”
Sage nodded, his eyes closed. “You have no fucking idea.” Sitting back up, he reached for the pitcher of beer and poured half a pint into the empty glass in front of him. “You got an okay relationship with your parents?”
Niko looked surprised at the random question. “Uh? Well, my dad’s dead, but we were pretty close when I was growing up, and my mom and I get along alright. Why?”
Sage drank the entire half pint, then refilled it and drank it again. Swiping his hand over his mouth, he sat back and sighed. “My dad’s a bastard. I mean, the worst kind of piece of shit you’ll ever meet. Beat on me and Derek pretty good when we were kids—Derek more than me. We bailed when we were fifteen and I swore I’d never look back. But my brother,” he stopped, letting out a small groan and rubbing at his left temple. “A few years ago, this hospital in New York calls him and tells him my dad’s being transferred to hospice care. Dying of liver failure, and good fucking riddance, right? Except my brother’s such a fucking martyr, he decides to take on the burden of caring for this old fuck until he dies.”
Niko winced, wondering if that was the pain he’d seen in Derek’s eyes. “Shit.”
Sage let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah. And he doesn’t really talk about it much, and he respected my decision not to talk to the old man again. After my fiancé died, I wasn’t in a place where I could take on that kind of thing. I just assumed he was dealing with medication schedules and surgeries and whatever the hell else a power of attorney needs to manage.”
“I’m gonna guess it was more than that,” Niko offered.
Sage laughed, the sound almost broken. “My dad called a while back when I was over at Derek’s, and I intercepted the call. I was just trying to do my brother a favor—he’s been real fucked up about some stuff lately and I just wanted to help. I figured I’d shoot the shit with the nurse, okay some new treatment, whatever needed to be done. Except it wasn’t the nurse, it was the old man, and he was just going to town. Calling Derek a useless homo, telling him my mom should have ended the pregnancy to save him the trouble of having a son like him. On and on, that fucker rambled for fifteen minutes before a nurse intervened. And it sounded like some practiced speech, you know? Like she just said the same shit every night after she let that son of a bitch verbally abuse my brother for however long my father was awake.”
“God,” Niko breathed.
“Derek brushed it off, too, telling me he could handle it, saying it wasn’t forever. But that old man almost killed him when we were kids. If we hadn’t gotten out when we did,” his voice broke and he stopped, clearing his throat. “And to let it keep going after finally getting out?” Sage scrubbed a hand down his face again. “I know what he’s doing. He’s hoping that old man is going to have some deathbed change of heart and apologize for what a waste of space he’s been. And my brother’s going to have to live with the heartbreak when it doesn’t happen.”
Niko winced, shifting a little closer to his friend. “Can I help at all?”
Sage looked at him, then gave him a genuine smile as he shook his head. “Honestly, I just needed to vent. It’s been festering inside of me and I feel like I’m going to lose my mind if I don’t tell someone, but I can’t tell the guys at the shop about it. Most of them will go crazy trying to coddle Derek, and then he’ll hate me for it. And Sam wouldn’t, but that dude has a mountain of bullshit falling on him right now.”
“Yeah,” Niko said very softly. “I uh…I caught some of it.”
Sage’s brows rose up. “When was that?”
“After his yoga thing in the park. My friend Kristen and I went, but she had to take off after, so Sam and I went to get brunch. He got a call right at the end that uh…well I don’t know exactly what went down.” Niko rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. “I walked away so I didn’t catch much of it, but it didn’t sound good. And I think it was a custody thing about his daughter.”
Sage bit his lip, then let out a long breath through his nose. “We’ve been trying to find a way to get the guy a really good lawyer. All his savings have been going into these bullshit classes they’re making him take, and with Maisy, he can’t work as much as we can so he’s struggling. I looked into it last week, but I didn’t realize those family attorneys were so damn expensive.”
Niko’s brow furrowed. “Don’t some of them do pro-bono work for cases like his?”
Sage shrugged. “I guess, but no one really seemed keen on taking his case since it’s got the complication of his disability and the fact that his job isn’t considered respectable or whatever. The lawyers we found who probably could win this for him are so far out of our price range, it’s not even funny.”
Niko burned with desire to offer the cash—straight up, he didn’t care how much. He could spare it, even with him sinking capital into the restaurant. But he also had a feeling Sam would resent him for it, even if it did help him keep his daughter. Niko was starting to get to know these guys, but he wasn’t family. “Well, I want to help,” he finally said. “Anonymous donation or whatever, if you guys take up a pool.”
“I think we might end up going that way,” Sage told him with a shrug. He stared at his pint glass, then sighed. “You wanna get some coffee instead of more beer? I really don’t feel like fighting off a hangover tomorrow morning.”
Niko dug into his pocket to pull out cash for a tip and slapped it under the mostly empty pitcher. “I could definitely go for a tea.” He slipped out of the booth and followed Sage out, keeping pace in a comfortable silence as they headed up the block to the little strip mall where the tattoo shop sat.
Not for the first time, Niko appreciated how small their town was, how he didn’t have to rely on his car, how everything felt like it was always within reach. He and Sage kept close, their elbows occasionally brushing, and it felt nice. Niko had always found Sage good looking—and maybe under different circumstances they could have been compatible in other ways—but he liked this. He liked whatever platonic thing was between them now.
Niko reached for the door as they got to the café and held it open. Sage breezed past him, and there was a sudden tension in him which Niko couldn’t help but notice. The place was almost empty, save for a couple at the window bar with their laptops open, and a small girl at one of the tables who was scowling down at what looked like homework.
When they walked in, she looked up and her eyes went wide and bright. “Sage!”
Niko looked over to see Sage soften from head to toe, and he crouched down as she hurried across the floor to throw her arms around his neck. “Hey, kiddo.”
“Did you come to finish my math for me?” she demanded.
“Molly, please,” called a voice from the back. Niko looked up to see a rather attractive man poke his head through the swinging kitchen doors. He was taller than Niko by maybe an inch or two, his skin a light brown, dark hair worn in a well-styled pompadour. Niko could immediately see the resemblance between the two, and figured she was probably his daughter. “He’s not here to do your homework.”
“I’m not,” Sage told her as he lowered her to the ground, “but I can help if you’re having trouble.”
She pulled a face, her nose scrunching up as she crossed her arms. “I just don’t get it. Everyone else gets it, but I don’t.” The guy behind the counter gave Sage a defeated look.
“All week,” he muttered.
Sage let out a sigh and tugged on Molly’s braid before pointing her to the table. When she ran off, he turned to Niko. “Sorry, I kind of tutor her sometimes.”
Niko raised a brow. “Are you apologizing because you’re adorable with kids?”
Sage ducked his head a little and shrugged. “Most of the guys think it’s weird that I’m into teaching math to elementary school kids, but it’s just something I’m good at it, and it makes me feel like I’m doing something helpful.”
Niko frowned. “Have you thought about making a career out of it? I mean, don’t get me wrong, your work is amazing, and I know you love the shop, but I’ve been in there once or twice and I’ve never seen you look like this.”
It was then Sage glanced back at the counter where the guy had fired up the espresso machine, and he flushed. Niko got it a little better after that.
“Oh. Right.” Niko gave him a knowing smirk. “So, does he pay you in dick to tutor his kid?”
Sage’s eyes went wide, and his mouth opened and closed a few times before he managed to answer. “Oh my god, no. First of all, that’s his sister. His parents died like three months ago and he got custody of her.”
Niko felt like an ass. Again. Because apparently, he was fucking cursed to live with his foot in his mouth. “Shit. Sorry.”
Sage looked slightly amused after that. “It’s fine. But we’re not…it’s…Will and I aren’t a thing. I just help his sister out, and he most definitely doesn’t like me romantically.”
“Right,” Niko said flatly, wondering how someone as smart as Sage could be so oblivious. “Do you want me to get your drink?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, giving it a little wave.
At that, Sage blushed harder if it was at all possible, and he shuffled his feet. “He’s already getting me something. But he’ll make yours and throw it on my tab. Whatever you want. It’s cool.”
Niko looked up at Will and realized if the guy could set him on fire with his glare, Niko would be nothing but a pile of ash by now. He almost laughed, but decided to put an end to the poor man’s suffering. He broke off from Sage and approached the counter, not missing the way Will’s jaw went tight.
“Hey man. I love your place.”
Will nodded. “Thanks.” The word was clipped, and Niko was impressed with his ability to say fuck you in such a polite way.
He barely restrained another laugh, knowing it wouldn’t help his case any. “I almost suggested coming by here after my date the other night, but gelato was calling my name. I think Derek would have liked it more than the ice cream, though. He didn’t really seem like a sweets guy.”
At that, Will froze, then blinked slowly. “Derek? Sage’s brother?”
“Yeah. Sage set the two of us up. He and I are gym buddies, and he thought Derek and I would be a good match.” He offered a banal smile, and it brightened just a bit when he saw the tension drain out of Will’s shoulders.
Will cleared his throat and looked a little contrite about his previous attitude. “What can I get you?”
“Just a tea,” Niko said, pointing to the herbal blend.
Will nodded and turned to the espresso machine, pouring steaming hot water from the tap and throwing in one of the tea bags. He handed both drinks over, then glanced toward the table where Sage was leaning over the girl’s shoulder and explaining something in a quiet murmur. Will’s face was soft and almost longing, and Niko kind of got it.
He had the same feeling inside him when he watched Sam with his daughter. “He’s cute with her,” Niko offered.
Will blinked like he was startled, then shrugged and began furiously wiping at a stain on the top of the counter. “Yeah. I mean, it’s hard. I have no idea what the fuck I’m doing, and after our parents…” He trailed off with a shrug. “She’s been having a hard time getting her focus back. New school and everything, and her teacher thinks her grieving is interfering with her work.”
Niko bit his lip, glancing over at her, and he sympathized. He wasn’t as young when his dad died, but all the same, it had been a blow. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose both parents, to be shuffled off with a sibling, everything changing. “She looks like she’s doing okay.”
Will pulled a face and shrugged. “If I can just get her to eighteen without fucking her up too badly, I’ll call it a win.
To be honest, Sage was a god-send.” He glanced down at his hands, then cleared his throat and said, “Sorry for being a dick earlier.”
Niko couldn’t help his laugh. “It’s fine. I get it. But Sage and I are just friends. Hell, I didn’t even mesh well with his brother, and they’re like night and day. I don’t think I’m meant for that family.”
Will looked up with a slight frown. “I’ve only met Derek like twice, but he seems like a good dude.”
“A very good dude,” Niko said. “But he’s got heart-eyes for the guy who runs the florist shop, and I may be slightly cursed when it comes to love. I’m good though.” He sipped the tea and smiled. “Thanks for this. I’ll catch you around?”
“Bring your next date in. You can get the family discount,” Will offered with a much friendlier smile.
Niko chuckled and nodded. “Incentive, I like it.” He watched Will turn away from the counter and walk into the back, coming out only a second later with fresh bread trays. His mind began to stir—thinking of his own place. Thinking maybe he could patronize local businesses for breads and desserts. Maybe he could really feel like he was part of the town instead of some interloper who decided to hunker down and lick his wounds.
As he watched Sage with the little girl, watched Will go about his closing routine, watched locals weave in and out for their last caffeine fix of the night, he let himself bask in the warmth of it. It wasn’t home yet, but it was getting there.
Chapter Ten
Things were fine until they weren’t, which was the story of Sam’s life. The day after Derek and Sage had to take off for their father’s funeral was the day Beth called him to let him know that Maisy’s grandparents wanted to make contact. Since he was still Maisy’s legal guardian, he had to approve it, and he quickly made the request that they come to her since flying was no picnic for him. The last thing he wanted to do was look weak in front of Maisy’s paternal family and give them more reason to try and take her from him. Being where he was comfortable would give him strength, and he meant to use everything he could to his advantage.
“They’ll be there on the seventeenth,” Beth told him when she finalized the plans. “We’ll do a supervised visit at the counselor’s office to give her a chance to get to know them. Then, if that goes well, you two can meet them somewhere outside of the office. Maybe the park. And if her therapist gives the okay, we’ll consider a visit with just them.”
Sam nearly choked on his own tongue. “I’m sorry, you want me to leave her alone with strangers she’s never met?”
“They’re her family,” Beth pointed out.
Sam laughed bitterly. “Right, like being family has ever stopped someone from taking off with a kid, or beating them, or abandoning them.” He tried not to let his own personal issues creep in, but it was hard to push them down. “I don’t feel good about this.”
“We’re simply trying to establish a rapport between her and her biological family, Sam,” Beth said, her voice annoyed and condescending.
“You’re trying to build a case against me,” he corrected, not hiding the anger in his tone, “and I don’t know why you expect me to make it easy on you. I’m saying absolutely not to an unsupervised visit with them in such a short period of time, and unless you want to get a court order to force me, your hands are tied.”
She was quiet a long while, then sighed. “I’m not trying to make this hard on you. We can be on the same team, here.”
“Right,” he said, squeezing his eyes shut. “If that’s all?”
“I’ll be in touch,” Beth said curtly, then hung up the phone.
Sam felt sud
denly gutted that Derek wasn’t there. He would have been the first person he would have turned to after a call like this, but Sam couldn’t do that to the guy. Derek had just lost his father—and the fact that the man had been an abusive piece of shit only meant his emotions would be running wild and intense. Sam couldn’t bring himself to add to it.
After a beat, he lifted his phone and called up Kat who answered on the first ring. “Hey, sweetheart,” he said in a quiet tone, “is there any chance you can get May for me at five? I just got a call and uh…I need to blow off some steam.”
Kat was quiet a moment, then said, “Do you need to talk about it?”
“No. Not right now,” he confessed.
She sighed. “Alright, honey. I’ll get her, but under one condition.”
“Anything,” he promised.
“Movie at home with us tonight when you’re done.”
Sam wanted to refuse, not really in the mood for Tony and Kat’s style of mothering, but at the same time, maybe being alone was the worst thing he could do to himself. He dragged a hand down his face, releasing a heavy breath. “Yeah, okay. You’ve got a deal.”
“Good. Mat and James will be there too. James invited Wyatt to tag along, so the focus won’t all be on you. And I’m making my chocolate chip popcorn.”
Sam pulled a face, never a fan of mixing salty and sweet, but apart from that, it sounded like exactly what he needed. “Thanks, Kat. I’ll talk to you soon.” He hung up, stared at the screen, then dialed once more. It took three rings for Niko to answer, but when he did, Sam felt some tension leave his shoulders. “You busy right now?”
“Hello to you too,” Niko said, a smile in his voice. “And no. Just finishing up a couple of accounts before I take off. Why?”
“Because my day went to shit. Two of my clients cancelled on me today, then a phone call that…” He stopped, not wanting to say it aloud, like maybe if he did, it would make it too real. “It was bad. And I need to find a way to blow off some steam.”
