He shook his head.
“I’ll call a deputy to come get me. Thanks for the ice cream.”
He smiled gently.
“No problem. If you need anything, Callen, ever, here,” he said, pulling one of his business cards from behind his badge. “I won’t tell Ethan if you call. If you need something or just to check on him, reach out to me. He plans on giving this space, and that’s probably for the best, but I’ll answer and let you know if he’s okay or not.”
Callen didn’t understand why.
“Why are you being kind? You heard me in the shower, and I’m nothing to you.”
He was honest.
“One, I trust Ethan never to cheat on me. That’s not his vibe, and second, I know that he loves you. He might need space, and you need it too, but deep down, he loves you, so that means I love you too.”
Callen had tears.
Few people had ever loved him.
Gene wasn’t done.
“He wouldn’t have run back here to you if he didn’t. One day, this will blow over, and you’ll have your brother back. My suggestion is to live life, don’t fuck Kaya Cheek, and wear a goddamn condom, my dude, with every person you sleep with going forward.”
He snorted.
“Yes, Dad.”
He put his hand on top of Callen’s head.
“He’s finding himself. I promise to get him to that point, and the day we get married, you’ll be there. I promise that too. I’ll make sure you’re there.”
Callen wiped his eyes.
“Can I really call you? You won’t tell him?”
Gene shook his head.
“I won’t, unless he asks. Then, I can’t lie. Rule twenty-four is don’t lie to your partner. It gets your ass kicked.”
He was confused.
“Rule twenty-four?”
He just smiled.
“Call me when you need to know he’s okay. I’ll call you back if I can’t answer. Oh, and Callen?”
He waited.
“What?”
Gene was honest.
“I meant what I said. I’d kill anyone who hurt you, too. Ethan loves you, and when I marry him, that means you’re my brother too.”
With that, Gene walked out, leaving Callen there.
And the man did one thing.
