Page 70 of Heal
"I'll be in touch one way or the other. I still want to work on the fundraiser too, and I won't forget the kids." Parson took several steps back. "I'll see myself out."
Beau watched as Parson turned and ran up the stairs, leaving him alone in the basement. Emotionally drained, physically tired, and scared to death that he'd never hold Parson again, Beau sank down on the couch, reminding himself what was important. With or without Parson in his life, he now had a family. He'd focus on them and hope that Parson came back into their lives.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Parson stared at the large house as he passed through the security gates. He waved at the guard, glad that he no longer lived here and didn't have to deal with all the security. His parents never minded having security around all the time, but as a child, Parson always felt as if there was someone watching everything he did. It drove him crazy.
It was possible to be rich and famous and not have security around all the time. Beau had gates around his house, and he'd seen the security cameras all over the place, but there wasn't the sense of being watched with every move you made.
Thinking about Beau caused his chest to tighten. It had been over a week since he'd walked out on him. A long week of overthinking and nearly picking up the phone every night as he sat home alone.
He missed him.
Still, he couldn't seem to get over what Beau had told him. He didn't know what to feel. One part of him wanted to cheer on the team for what they did, the other half wanted to be horrified and disgusted by it. The thought of what they did to people turned his stomach, yet if anyone deserved it, men like Albert did.
He'd thought long and hard about things over the last week, wondering if there was another way. Beau was right, the court system was a joke when it came to pedophiles. They didn't do more than slap them on the hand, maybe give them a few years in prison, then set them free with hardly any follow-up. Sure, they had to register as sex offenders, but very few people looked at that list, and the state didn't have the resources to watch every sex offender in the area. There were thousands. Parson had looked just the other night. In his neighborhood alone, there were twelve within a ten-block radius. It was scary to think of all the kids out playing and not knowing that danger lurked inside several of the houses.
He missed Beau and the truth was, it wasn't what he did that bothered him as much as the danger that came from doing it. If anything went wrong and the team was caught, he would lose Beau. His biggest fear was falling in love with Beau, then losing him. He tried to imagine living together, maybe even being married, and having that call come in that Beau was needed. He wouldn't be able to relax until Beau was back home. He'd worry the whole time that something had gone wrong.
Even if Beau was just taking care of medical issues, he was part of the team. He knew what was going on. He was as guilty as the others.
Parson got out of his car and walked up the steps, not bothering to knock on the front door. Security would have warned his parents he'd arrived. He walked in, heading straight to the small room off the kitchen. It was about the only room other than their bedroom his parents used.
He'd tried to talk them into selling the place since it was bigger than they needed, but his father didn't want to give up the appearance that went along with his fame. It was stupid when they were seldom home anyway.
"Parson, is that you?" his mother called.
"Hi, Mom." Parson stepped into the room, going around the small table so he could lean down and give her a kiss. "How are you?"
"I'm good. I've missed you. You need to come to visit more often," she said.
"I will. It's just been a busy month." Parson turned to his dad who sat across from his mother. "Hi."
His father nodded at him. "Busy running around with Beau Maddington?"
Parson smiled. "Not as much as you'd think. Work's kept me busy. I was wondering if you'd seen the pictures."
His mother waved her hand in front of her face as if she was hot. "That was some kiss." Her eyes glimmered teasingly.
"Yeah, it was," Parson admitted with a grin as he sat down.
"I haven't seen anything new since the hospital photos." She raised a brow.
"Hospital photos?" Parson was confused. "The only ones I know of are from the restaurant."
"Oh, these showed up about a week ago. You are in the hospital, standing at the elevator. It looks like someone took them with a cell phone and sold them to the website," his mother told him. "I really should tell Sara to call you when she spots things about you online."
Parson made a face. He had no idea anyone was watching them at the hospital. It kind of pissed him off as it was a secured area and that meant it was probably one of the workers there who took the pictures. "Don't. I really don't care what the media says about me."
His father frowned. "They don't even know who you are. You keep leading such a quiet life that they are calling you the 'mystery man'. My son should be known, not some mystery to society."
"Dad, I don't want to be famous. I'm happy with my life."
"Well, dating Beau Maddington is going to get you seen. At least we know he's not with you for your money. That man could buy and sell you ten times over." His father sat back farther in his chair.
"Beau isn't about the money either. Unfortunately, he can't escape it the way I have." Parson was glad Beau wasn't snotty like both their fathers. It was one of the things that made him so attractive.
"So tell me about him. Is it serious?" His mother stared at him.
