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Ethan understood.
“So I’m guessing that he also doesn’t realize that you tend to be protective of your man. God knew you hovered over me all of the time.”
“Because people shot at you. All of the time.”
He leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, not caring who saw him.
“Spoiler, Mr. Cantrell, but I liked you hovering.”
Gene’s heart skipped.
There was that scent again, and it hit him in the memories. There was Native in a forest, and he loved it.
“I missed being around you for all those years,” he admitted. “When I left…”
Ethan picked up his hand and squeezed it.
“I know, Gene. I know. You don’t have to explain why you needed to go. I was intense, so was our job, and the child cases…”
Gene had one big regret in life.
It was leaving Ethan behind. Yes, he found his way, but honestly, Gene never did. It was weird because one day, he just woke up, and was compelled to go.
Because there was no choice, he regrouped.
“I watched Preston die here, Ethan. I stood facing him and watched as that bullet went through his head, and I wore his brains. That was because I was a cop. If Thomas goes back…”
Oh, boy.
He was calling him by his full name.
“Are you asking my opinion on the situation, or just want me to listen so you can vent.”
“I guess, both.”
This put him in a difficult position.
Only, he and Gene had a history.
“I know you’ll be honest, and if I’m overreacting, and need to stay with him, you’ll tell me.”
Here went everything.
“I don’t think he’ll make it as a cop. The only reason he was able to be the cop he was, for all of those years, was revenge. He wanted to find out who killed his friend. It wasn’t about justice, or doing the job. Tommy is betting it all on that one thing he did. He hasn’t proved to anyone, or himself, that he will be ready for what this city has to throw at him.”
That’s what Gene thought.
“He thinks I’m overprotective and I can’t get past that to see him.”
“He’s not wrong.”
Gene sighed.
“Wait. Let me explain,” he offered. “That’s who you are, Gene. With me, I’m quiet and moody at times. My spouses know that. They accept that and work with it, and not against it. When I was moody, cranky, or quiet, what did you do?”
He thought about it.
“I accepted it.”
