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“What a slimy piece of shit,” Lincoln spat.
Carson couldn’t have agreed more. “Was that Caden that called?”
Lincoln nodded as he continued to stare with a narrow gaze at the screen. “Someone had the press conference on a laptop at the shop. The conference was a follow-up to the senator announcing his presidential run. They asked about his family.” Lincoln finally turned his head in Carson’s direction.
“Sam?”
“Caden said he locked himself in the office. Claimed he had work to do but he’d never leave Caden and Adam in the front by themselves on a Monday.”
Fuck. Carson wanted to go to his boy.
“Coffee run!” Nash stepped up to the door and jiggled his keys. “Can’t seem to get the Keurig in the breakroom to work.” He winked. “Anyone want to ride along?”
“Shit, yeah.” Lincoln stomped toward the door.
Carson should really rein his men in, but hell, he didn’t want to. “I’ll follow you there.”
Nash nodded before he followed Lincoln down the hall. They were all protective over the boys of the coffeehouse and Carson knew how upset Sam would be. Even though no one other than their small circle knew about Sam’s connection to the senator, the senator was targeting the majority of the residents who called Rocky Lake home.
He watched a few more minutes of Senator Stewart spewing hate before he clicked the television back off and grabbed his keys off his desk.
In less than ten minutes Carson pulled up in front of the coffee shop located in the middle of downtown. For several years Rocky Lake had been a small tourist town that was welcoming to the members of the LBGTQ+ family. The town had grown until it began to resemble one of the bigger cities in the state but kept the small-town charm.
The first time that Carson had driven down the main road leading to downtown, his heart had been bruised and he’d been hurting. The feeling of home had shocked Carson so when he’d been offered the job there in the city he’d accepted.
Now he couldn’t imagine how different his life would be if he’d had stayed in the city that had broken him. He wouldn’t have met the sweet boy that needed him at that moment.
Climbing out of his SUV, Carson could see how crowded the little shop was. He entered the shop to find Caden busy steaming milk and a long line of cups growing at his side. Adam was busy taking orders, handing out pastries, and working the register. Lincoln called out names from the cups Caden passed over as Nash walked out of the kitchen with a tray of muffins.
Carson grinned. His boy was hurting, and their friends were stepping in to give Sam the break he needed. As he strolled from the door, Adam glanced up and relief washed over his face. He nodded then pointed toward the back.
He hadn’t been behind the counter or in the kitchen, but Carson didn’t waste time. Moving through the crowd, Carson could tell that the customers might have been in a hurry, but it didn’t appear that anyone was upset with how long it took to get their drinks.
Carson entered the kitchen and peered around until he spotted the small hall to the left. He headed in that direction and passed a bathroom, a supply closet, and finally came to a closed door.
He tapped at the door even though he wanted to bust in and take his boy into his arms.
“I’ll be right out,” Sam called.
“Open the door, baby,” Carson called out firmly.
Something crashed. The door opened a crack and Sam peered out. “Carson?”
His boy looked wrecked. “Can I come in?”
“I…” Sam looked over his shoulder. “I…”
“Baby boy, let me in.”
Sam nodded but Carson had to gently push the door open. He slipped through and closed and locked the door behind him. It was obvious from the redness in his eyes and cheeks that Sam had been crying.
“Come here.” Carson didn’t give Sam time to move and instead grasped Sam’s shoulders and pulled him close.
Sam’s breath shuddered.
Carson guided Sam over to the desk chair. He sat pulling Sam onto his knees. The laptop was open and the press conference that Carson had seen was paused on the screen. Carson slammed the top of the laptop closed before wrapping both arms around Sam and hugging tight.
He didn’t speak as he held and rocked his baby boy.
