Page 43 of Cedarwood Manny

Chapter Seven

Adrien stepped onto the back porch. No matter how many times he watched Nathan and Kyle together, he’d never tire of it. His heart lightened each time Kyle laughed and Nathan smiled. He hadn’t seen Kyle so carefree and like himself. He laughed more too and clowned around again. He hugged Nathan often and had grown closer to Adrien. The changes were great, but felt right. Adrien nodded. He had the life he craved now.

He sipped his coffee and his thoughts turned to his relationship with Nathan. He’d slept with Nathan four times and stayed in Nathan’s room every night. He left before Kyle woke, despite not wanting to go. He wondered if he’d gone too fast by wanting Kyle and Nathan to get along and for Kyle to come around concerning him and Nathan being a couple, but his son seemed to take the situation in stride.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. Adrien put his coffee cup on the railing and answered the call. “Hello?”

“Dr. Ellet?”

He didn’t recognize the voice on the other end of the line and knew he hadn’t given his phone number to patients. The only people who called him doctor were patients…or those who didn’t know him. “I am. How may I help you?”

“I’m told you’re in search of a manny,” the man said. “Are you?”

“No, I’m not.” He tensed. His heart pounded and fear gripped him.What an odd question.“Who are you?”

“A friend.”

“I see.” He wasn’t sure what to think or say. Talking to this man wasn’t making him comfortable. He wiped his free hand on his trouser leg. When had his hands grown so clammy? He had to keep calm. If he showed fear, then this person would use it against him. “Thank you,friend, but I’m not looking for a manny.”

“Do you love Nathan?”

Christ.The guy was determined. He refused to give in and held on to the porch railing. The more the man talked, the more Adrien recognized him. “Rhett?” Maybe it wasn’t Nathan’s ex-boyfriend on the other end of the call, but he sounded like Rhett. Besides, no one else would’ve asked him such a question. “If I’m not mistaken, you sound like the man I met at the Diner. Did we see each other a while back? Like two weeks ago?”

“No.” The man hesitated. “Maybe. How do you remember me?”

He’d been right. Now how did he handle the problem? “Rhett, don’t do this.”

“Do what?”

“You’re not this kind of guy.” He turned away from his son and manny to prevent them from seeing him shaking.Have I got through to Rhett and calmed him down?

“How do you know? I might be an asshole.”

‘Asshole’ seemed like the right word, but he wasn’t about to argue. There had to be something great about Rhett or Nathan wouldn’t have dated him. “You’re upset, but you’re not evil. You want Nathan back and you’re trying everything to make that happen.”

“I am.” Rhett sighed. “How’d you know?”

“Because I’ve been in your shoes. I’ve had love I thought was my future and when it ended, I wanted that love back.” He continued to tremble, but the more he talked, the more his fear diminished.

Rhett didn’t speak.

He had to stay positive and keep Rhett talking. The silence could be a horrible thing. “You’ll find someone. I know it. You’re handsome, funny and a catch.”

Nathan and Kyle passed Adrien and went into the house. Adrien followed them and nodded to Nathan. He placed his hand over the phone. “You might want to talk to him.”

Nathan frowned and accepted the phone. “Who?”

“Rhett. He needs talking down from the edge. You’re the only one who can. I’ve tried, but I don’t think I’m getting through to him.” He gazed past Nathan into the living room and spotted Kyle. “I’ll watch Kyle.”

Nathan nodded. “I’ll take care of this. Sorry.” He pressed the phone to his ear, then strode out to the porch.

Adrien guided Kyle into bathroom. “Time to wash up for supper.” He helped Kyle with the soap dispenser. “Did you have fun today?” He needed normalcy and something to do with his hands to hide the shaking. “What did you and Nathan do after school?”

“Nate, Dad. We played cars and he readThe Polar Bearto me.” Kyle splashed in the water, but managed to wash his hands. “Can we keep Nate?”

“Keep? What do you mean?” He finger-combed Kyle’s hair and watched his reflection in the mirror. “He’s not a pet.”

“We didn’t keep Kelsi,” Kyle said. “She left.”

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