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“Then, should we go there?” I kissed the side of his head.
“Yes, but you need to drive separately. Just in case. I’ll take an Uber.” Royce stood and started gathering his things. “I can’t thank you all enough.”
“No need,” Ward said as Jax wrapped Royce up in a big hug.
“Always, buddy.” Jax rubbed Royce’s back. They had been best friends for a very long time. Royce called him a pup-brother, which he explained was a stronger bond than simply friends.
I didn’t like him going over separately. I wanted to hold his hand and tell him it would be okay during the ride, but if he felt more comfortable with that situation, I had to agree.
At Todd’s, I knocked on the door, and the kid opened it. “Hey, Sunshine!” I greeted him, using his pup-name. That never failed to get a smile from the normally moody young man.
“Hey, Quinn. Come on in. Royce isn’t here yet, but he called.”
“Not here?” I almost panicked. But sucked it down. It was ridiculous. If he didn’t show up in a few minutes, I’d call him.
But there was no need. Royce walked up behind me before Todd even had a chance to shut the door. He hugged his friend, then we moved to the small living room. “I’m gonna be here more now, man. So, if it’s okay with you, I’ll pay you half the rent.”
Todd nodded. “Yeah. That’ll help for sure. You already have a key.”
“Be right back.” Royce went into one of the rooms and came back a minute later. He handed Todd an envelope. “Gotta pay you cash.”
“You have cash?” I asked.
An evil grin crossed Royce’s face. He looked a lot more like his normal, fun-loving self. “Oh yeah. I’ve been stashing it here since I got the original paperwork. It’s my backup plan. Or at least part of it. I have a ton of sneaky ways to get around my father and his stupid rules. Fuck. I’ve been doing it since I was sixteen, really.” He dropped onto the couch beside me. “I thought I was over all that. My father, I swear.” He dropped his face into his hands.
Todd grunted. “I think the word you’re looking for is douche, man.”
“Too right.” Royce leaned against me. “My dad is going to have a car for me in the next day or two.”
“Where’s yours?” Todd asked.
“He took the keys, and he’s selling it.” Royce’s eyes welled up with tears again. I pulled him into my chest, but he pushed back. I knew how much he loved that fancy car. “It’s okay. I’m done crying. This is all temporary. Right?” He pleaded with me to have his answers with simply a look. His gray-blue eyes held a world of devastation, and from the core of my soul, I needed to make that change.
I didn’t have his answers, but I was sure of Drew and his firm. “Right, babe. This is temporary. With Drew on the case, we’ll fix everything. I promise. I wish you would have told me about this sooner, though. Fuck. I guarantee a competent lawyer would have helped.”
“Oh, I doubt that. You don’t know my father. I’m sure he paid off my lawyer and the judge. Hell, we didn’t even have one of those negotiator things. You know?”
“A Mediator?” I asked.
“Yeah. That was totally skipped. My father. Ugh! Our family has been in law for a long time here. He has generational wealth. And he knows everyone. He told them all about me. How I’m into the pet play, but he made it sound twisted. Everything it’s not. And apparently, buying a sportscar is completely irresponsible. No matter that I have funds and investments of my own and a great job with one of the best consulting firms in the world.” He tugged at that ear. “No. The only thing that mattered was that I’m a deviant. And I can’t be trusted.”
“That is so much bullshit.” Todd’s eyes were wide, making him look very young. He was, in fact, the youngest of their group and still finishing his master’s degree. He was also the one who didn’t come from money and had to scratch and save his entire life. I was proud of the way Royce and Jax helped him without making him feel bad or less than over it.
“No matter. The new car will be bugged, I’m sure. Or at least he’ll be able to track it with GPS. So I need to make sure it’s where it’s supposed to be. Doesn’t mean I have to be where the car is. Right? So, I might have you help me get around, Todd. And other stuff. Maybe.”
“I’m happy to pitch in, Royce. You know that.” Todd clapped him on the shoulder. “Let me know whatever you need. If I can’t do it myself, I know people who’ll help.”
“Perfect, dude.” Royce stood and gave him another hug.
“Okay. I have to crash now. Early class.” He patted Royce’s back, then left us.
“I’m hungry. Want to order something?” Royce winked at me.
“You know I do, pup.”
Thirty minutes later, we sat at the coffee table, sharing Chinese takeout. It felt like any other date, except the sadness in the air. “You okay, pup?”
“Yes. No. This is all crap. I feel so trapped. And Christmas is right around the damn corner. It’s not going to be the same this year.”
