Page 75 of More Than a Hero
She tilted her head, smiling as she took a step closer. Without hesitation, she slid her arms around his waist, feeling the steady warmth of him beneath her fingertips.
“That sounds perfect,” she murmured, looking up at him. Then, softer, more certain, she asked, “Will you be able to stay?”
Pete’s hand skimmed up her back, his touch deliberate and reassuring. His lips quirked into a slow, knowing grin.
“For you?” His voice dropped slightly, sending a delicious shiver down her spine. “Always.”
And just like that, the weight of the day melted away, replaced by something infinitely better. It felt like falling with someone who would always catch her.
30
Pete had already spoken with Richard earlier in the day, outlining his plan for tonight’s discussion with the boys. Richard wouldn’t be joining them since his wife had just given birth, but he fully supported what Pete had in mind.
Now, as the boys pushed through the double doors of the YMCA, their usual energy was dampened by curiosity when Pete met them just inside, his expression serious.
“We’re skipping gym tonight,” Pete told them, motioning toward the hallway. “Conference room first.”
Jalen frowned. “What’s up, Mr. Pete?”
“Aren’t we meeting our adopted grandparents tonight?” Darius asked, his brow furrowing.
“This is weird,” Mike mumbled as he fell in line behind the others.
Pete didn’t answer right away, leading them down the familiar corridor. The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead, casting a cool glow against the scuffed linoleum floor. He could feel their unease growing, the shift in routine making them restless.
When they stepped into the conference room where they usually worked through homework, talked about life, and builttheir bond, Pete motioned for them to take a seat. The laughter and chatter were missing now, replaced by the quiet scrape of chairs against the floor as the boys settled around the table. Their expressions had shifted from mild curiosity to concern.
Pete rested his hands on the table and met their eyes. “I talked to some of you at school the other day… the older ones. Now, I want to talk to all of you together.”
He had their rapt attention, so he continued. “You all know that one of the biggest things Mr. Richard and I talk about is making good choices. And I know most of you have heard about what happened recently—the high school kid who got into the wrong car, with the wrong person, at the worst possible time.”
The boys nodded, wide-eyed.
“I heard the car flipped ten times before stopping,” Rasheem said, his voice edged with awe.
Curly scoffed. “Man, I heard drugs went flying out the windows, like a movie or something.”
“They said it was one of the high school kids from our building,” Mike added.
“Somebody on my bus said he escaped,” Darius said.
Kyron rolled his eyes. “If he escaped, how’d they catch him, then?”
The older boys sat in silence as the younger ones slowly grew quiet. Pete raised his hands. “Alright, enough. First lesson, don’t believe everything you hear.” He swept his gaze across the table, making sure they were listening. “Here’s what actually happened. The car ended up on its side, not flipping down the road like some action scene. No one was hurt, and no, drugs weren’t flying everywhere. I know because I was there.”
Silence settled over them as the weight of his words sank in.
“The second lesson? Don’t make situations worse by spreading rumors. Gossip isn’t just harmless talk—it can hurt people. It can ruin lives. It’s one thing to share facts to helpsomeone, but it’s another to spread stories just to sound like you know something.”
Heads bobbed in understanding, their previous excitement tempered by Pete’s serious tone.
“And third,” Pete continued, leaning forward slightly, “we’re not going to talk about the kid who made the bad decision. That’s not what tonight is about. What I want—what I need—is for you to think about your own choices.”
Tony scrunched his nose. “But what kind of choices, Mr. Pete?”
Pete exhaled, his voice softer now. “The older you get, the harder it’ll be to choose the right friends. The more pressure you’ll feel to go along with things that don’t sit right with you. And sometimes, stepping away from danger is going to feel like turning your back on people you care about.” His gaze moved around the table, making sure each of them heard him. “That’s why you need each other. This group… it’s more than a program. It’s a family. You don’t need a gang to have a brotherhood. You have this. You have your teachers. Mr. Richard. Me. And now, you’ve got your adopted grandparents. You’re surrounded by people who care.”
For a long moment, no one spoke. The only sound was the faint hum of the air-conditioning kicking on.
