“You think you can help him because you’re gay?” Carter leaned against the counter. “Any advice would be appreciated.”
“I don’t know him that well. I’ve met him a handful of times, but we need to figure out what’s going on with him. He’s spiraling, and if we don’t do something soon, he could end up in a bad place or worse. Has anything else happened that might have caused him to react this way? He said he didn’t take the jewelry. Is there anything else I need to know?”
“No.” Cass looked away, then down at the floor and TJ knew he wasn’t being told the truth. Now wasn’t the time to find out, though. He needed to be there for Cody, and once Cody had settled, he’d find out what had actually happened. Cody might not be a relative, but TJ’s instincts told him Cody needed support, and he wasn’t getting it from where and who he should.
Cody had hardly any weight on him. He looked dirty and unkempt, hair long, greasy, lanky. Clearly doing drugs and drinking. An intervention of some sort needed to happen before Cody did something he’d regret.
“How long has he been drinking? Taking drugs? Is he sleeping around? He’s showing signs of stress. He’s not taking care of himself. He’s falling apart. What therapy do you have arranged for him?”
“That’s none of your fucking business!” Cass snapped.
Toni leapt to TJ’s defense. “Hey! You asked him here to help with Cody. That means he gets to ask questions you don’t like. If you want to help your son, you’ll answer them.”
“Toni’s right, Cass. Cody needs help.” Carter pushed away from the counter. “Drinking maybe six months that I know of. I don’t know about drugs, though my brother might.”
Cass tensed, his face hardening. “Cody is my son. I’ll deal with whatever problems he has.”
“Cass, don’t,” Carter muttered, sounding weary. “We all know he needs help. Let Cody stay at TJ’s for a few days, then we can talk. Pushing him now when he’s clearly ready to run isn’t going to help anyone, least of all Cody. Something is wrong with him. Something’s happened. It all comes down to him being gay.”
TJ watched Cass work his jaw from side to side, then nod. “Grab some of his stuff, then take him back to your place, but I want to speak to him tomorrow.”
TJ nodded, then left the kitchen, taking the stairs two at a time, then found his way down the hallway to Cody’s bedroom. Stepping inside, TJ stopped. The place was a mess. Food and rubbish littered the floor. A bottle half under the bed. TJ bent down, lifted the covers and saw more, plus condoms and lube.
Sitting back on his heels, he licked his lips and blew out his breath. Fifteen and already having sex, plus drinking and drugs? What the hell was going on?
Searching the room, TJ found a bag and put the essentials in it, including underwear and some sweats and T-shirts. A couple of sweaters, and he had enough. Not that he was sure Cody would wear them. He chose to wear clothes that, if they saw the inside of a washing machine, would disintegrate.
Downstairs, he briefly spoke with Toni. “You need to rest. You’ve just had your daughter.”
“I’m worried about him. He’s changed so much.”
“Give me a couple of days and I’ll see if he will open up and talk to me.” Pausing to say goodbye to everyone else, TJ got in his truck and noticed Cody was asleep. Sighing, he put the truck into drive and left.
***
TJ watched Cody sleep, then went downstairs. Cody had been with him for two days but had said nothing about why he wouldn’t go back home. TJ was at a loss as to what he should do. Cass wanted him returned home and was becoming more insistent, and there wasn’t much TJ could do. Cass was Cody’s father, his legal guardian, and TJ didn’t have a strong enough reason to keep Cody away.
Cody was a minor. At fifteen years of age, he should be with his parents, and his parents had made it clear Cody needed to come home. It was a subject TJ didn’t want to bring up to Cody, but he knew he had no choice.
Hearing steps on the stairs, TJ poured a glass of orange juice for Cody, then placed it on the table. Cody staggered into the kitchen and slumped in the chair, laying his head on the table. “I need a drink.”
“I put some OJ there for you.”
“Not fucking orange juice! I want a real drink!” Cody shouted at him, his lips pulled back. “I need some whiskey or vodka.”
“No.” TJ straightened and stared at Cody. “You’re underage and I won’t let you drink it, and I heard about you going to bars and clubs. That will stop as well.”
Cody smirked. “Got what I wanted.”
“What?” TJ moved over to the table and sat opposite, keeping an eye on Cody. “I’m surprised you were served.”
“I didn’t go to drink. Not then.”
“Then what?” TJ watched Cody, who stared at him. “What?”
“To have someone fuck me.” Cody pushed the glass away, the orange juice sloshing over the side. “I wanted to lose the big V, so I found a man to do it.”
TJ hissed. Cody had hinted at this when they’d been at Cass’, but now he was outright confirming it. “You’re fifteen, Cody. What the fuck were you thinking? I need a name.”
