Page 28 of Nugget

Stryker shuddered. “Fuck!”

* * * * *

Gavin

He could see the signs.

Stryker was going to tell Gavin to fuck off. Or run off.

The boy was playing his part well, but Gavin could see his mind whirling.

It was past time for Gavin to make his confession, but he wanted Stryker back in his cabin first. Not in this probably stolen RV that wasn’t a real home. A home with people who cared about him and a place to learn how to be happy.

Gavin stuffed his hands in the pocket of his faded jeans as Stryker rushed from the door of the RV to his laptop.

Without even sitting, Stryker began to furiously type on his keyboard.

“Come on,” Stryker murmured. “Show me what you've got.”

Gavin had no idea what the rolling screen of letters and numbers meant. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure some of my…projects are still going.”

Projects? Yeah, that sounded suspicious to Gavin. “Work?”

Stryker didn’t even glance his way. “Sure. Let’s call it that.”

Gavin sighed. This was why he worried about Stryker. The boy was into shit that Gavin had no clue about. He couldn’t imagine living with his life on the line all the time. All Gavin had ever wanted was a home and his family back. He had that now. Gavin had only been missing one thing. His special person. A mate. His mate. Gavin’s perfect match.

The boy that was standing in that RV, who had probably already forgotten Gavin was there.

He strolled down the narrow aisle toward the back room. Gavin grabbed the black backpack from the floor. It was empty but not for long. He started to stuff clothes from the end of the bed inside. Gavin jammed anything that might look important to the boy inside.

Not that Stryker seemed to have a whole lot.

Gavin didn’t know what the boy did with the money he’d taken but it wasn’t being spent on anything Gavin could see. Not unless Stryker had really bought the RV instead of stealing it. Maybe Gavin had been wrong after all.

He made a stop in the bathroom then returned to where Stryker was still muttering to himself as he typed.

“Is there anything else you want?”

Stryker turned his head. “Huh?”

Gavin shook the backpack at him. “Did I miss anything?”

“For what?” Stryker straightened. “What are you doing?”

“Grabbing you a few things,” Gavin reminded. “To take back to my place.”

Stryker waved his hand. “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine.”

“Fine,” Gavin repeated. “What’s fine?”

Stryker huffed. “Look, I get it. You want to have the talk. I’ve heard it all before. Just go. I’m fine here. I’ll take off in a few days.”

Gavin had been right. He was surprised and he shouldn’t be pissed. “Grab what you want, Stryker.”

“I have everything I could ever want.” Stryker waved his hand around. “That’s what this is. Just go.”

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