Page 54 of Controlled Burn

“It smells amazing in here,” Robert said, walking into the kitchen.

“I made one for you to take home with you.” I motioned at the smaller dish that I’d set off to the side.

“You’re the best.” He opened the fridge and grabbed himself a beer.

Normally, I would’ve agreed, but I was pretty sure he’d be singing a different tune before the night was over.

“So you and Del are going to take a trip this week?”

“Yeah, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get off since it’s the 4th of July week, and you know that’s always all hands on deck, but he surprised me by saying it was about time I used some of my vacation days.”

“I’m with him. I don’t remember the last time you took any time off.”

“I haven’t really had any reason to since Caleb moved here, and when he was a kid, I used them for the holidays with him mostly.”

“Well, I think it’s awesome that you’re going to her nephew’s wedding with her. I don’t know when I’ve seen you this happy. It’s a good look, my friend.”

“Yeah, looks like we’re both growing up.” He laughed and shook his head. “So, what did you want to tell me about this boy?”

And just in time, I heard the front door open. “Keith, I’m here,” Caleb called out just like Robert had earlier.

I took a deep breath and braced myself as I saw the expression on Robert’s face morph from confusion to disbelief.

“I’ll be right back,” I said to Robert and hurried to the door to collect Caleb. I brushed a quick kiss across his lips and then reached for his hand, twining our fingers together.

“He beat me here, of course,” Caleb grumbled.

“He did. He’s in the kitchen. It’ll be okay. Let’s go talk to him.”

He looked at me and slowly released a breath. “Okay.”

We both turned to see Robert standing in the kitchen door, looking at us. His eyes went from my face to Caleb’s, down to our joined hands, then back up to my face.

I’d seen Robert pissed. Hell, I’d even seen him so angry I thought we were going to have to hold him back to keep him off an asshole at a bar one night, but I’d never seen him like this. All I can think of to describe it is stone-cold fury.

“This is a joke, right? Because I know you aren’t fucking around with my son,” he ground out.

I took a deep breath and made myself keep my mouth shut. What I wanted to say was that I guessed that all depended on what he meant by fucking around with. But there was nothing to be gained by poking the bear, and make no mistake, Robert was one pissed-off grizzly at the moment. But I loved the man like a brother, and not only had I expected his ire, I deserved it. I’d crossed a line, and I knew it.

I gave Caleb’s hand a squeeze and then let it go. “That’s what we wanted to talk to you about.”

He narrowed his eyes, still looking only at me. “This is Rabbit?”

Caleb cut his eyes to me.

“He saw the text I sent you letting you know I was okay after the fire,” I explained.

He paused, and I knew he was running over the text in memory to make sure he hadn’t said anything too revealing, and when he realized he hadn’t, he gave a little nod.

“Nah. Uh uh. No fucking way,” Robert ground out. Then he glanced over at Caleb. “Look, I don’t know what he told you or what he promised you, but this isn’t good for you, Cay.”

“I’m not a child, Dad. I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions, so whether or not Keith is good for me is up to me to decide. Besides, he’s your best friend, Dad. You know he’s a good man.”

“You’re right. I know him better than just about anyone else, and he is a good man, but he isn’t good relationship material. I don’t want you to get hurt, and if you get involved with him, that’s exactly what will happen.”

I winced inside hearing him say that, but he wasn’t wrong. I hadn’t been a good partner to any of the boys I’d played with for the last ten years. Not since the day Jonathan packed his bags and walked out the door. This thing with Caleb was different, but Robert didn’t know that, and that would take time.

“Maybe so.” Caleb shrugged. “But again, I’m an adult. Keith has told me all about his history, so I understand why you think that, but this is my choice to make, not yours. I’m not a kid, and I’m not stupid. I know what I’m doing.”