Page 22 of Coffee & Cuffs
Sam was such a strong person and even though Carson could only guess what he’d been through in his young life, Sam made him so proud.
Hot tears dripped from Sam’s eyes before landing against Carson’s neck. Carson didn’t shush his boy and instead let Sam get out all the negative feelings. Carson had always been a firm believer that instead of holding feelings in, a good cry or temper tantrum often helped cleanse a body.
Slipping his hand under Sam’s shirt, he soothed his hand up and down Sam’s back.
The silence in the room was only broken by Sam’s quiet sniffles.
Carson didn’t care how long they had to sit there. His boy deserved the time to collect himself. His boy’s skin was warm and smooth as Carson continued to pet him. As Sam drew back, Carson reached for a Kleenex from a nearby box and wiped his face.
Sam laughed. He took a Kleenex from him and finished cleaning his face. “Thanks. I needed that.”
Carson nodded. “Of course.”
Sam’s gaze went back to the closed computer. “He’s such a horrible man. He actually said we should let Las Vegas burn and cleanse the ground after. There have been four bombs and my father said not to do anything.”
“That will never happen. Las Vegas will survive and your father looks like a fool.”
“How can anyone be so…”
There wasn’t a word to describe Sam’s father. “I know, baby.”
“What if he actually becomes president? He could take so much from us,” Sam said. He curled his hands into Carson’s shirt. “He hates people like us. He hates me.”
“He’s a sad and bitter man. I’ve met plenty of men like him and in the end people always come together. It’s not a perfect world but it is mostly good.”
“I’m scared. And horrified. I came from him. His genes were passed down to me.”
“You couldn’t be more different from your father. You’ve told me stories about your grandmother and that’s whose genes you should think about. She never turned her back on you and if she could see you now, she would be so proud.”
“You think so?”
“I do because I’m proud of you.”
Sam nodded. “I avoided all contact with my family and even though I’ve read some articles here and there I hadn’t heard his voice since the night that I ran away. I wasn’t prepared. I was joking with Adam when all of a sudden I heard him say the word abomination. I swear I thought he was inside the coffee shop and I froze.”
“That’s understandable,” Carson assured him.
“I should be over it though. I got away.”
“You did but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still some lingering feelings. You’re human, baby, and you need to give yourself a break.”
Sam smiled. “What are you doing here anyway? How did you know I needed you.”
“I didn’t but I saw the conference and Nash came up with an excuse that the Keurig wasn’t working.”
Sam snorted. “Just plug it in when you get back.”
Carson frowned. “What?”
Pressing his lips together, Sam tried but couldn’t hold back his laugh.
“Are you kidding me?” Carson growled. He thought back to all the times that Nash or Lincoln had gone on a coffee run.
“What can I say?” Sam teased. “We’re irresistible.”
“Yes, yes you are.”
Sam’s cheeks turned a pretty pink.