Page 16 of Shades of Henry
“It’s hard, getting used to a different place,” Henry confessed. The Army was the Army, barracks were barracks, and everywhere else felt like traveling. But to live somewhere, let it thrum through your blood—Sacramento wasn’t the rest of the world.
“It is that,” Galen agreed softly. “Do you have any idea what you want to do yet?”
“Besides strain my brother’s good graces and be at your beck and call? Not a clue. God, I wish I did.”
“Have you looked into online classes?” Galen asked, and when his voice was gentle like that, Henry could see the charm that apparently had John wrapped around his little finger.
“Yessir,” Henry replied crisply. Traffic was starting to pick up, but he made the right turn onto the freeway with relatively few obstacles. “I have. I’ve even applied. I just don’t know what I want to take. I was thinking computers but then, that’s what everybody says.”
“Mm.” Galen appeared to be thinking about this sincerely. “Maybe don’t decide at first. Maybe simply survey classes to start with. Most young people make the mistake of thinking they have to know exactly what they want the minute they hit the boards. School was originally a time to explore so you could figure out what you wanted. Maybe approach it that way.”
Henry let out a breath. “That’s a really nice idea,” he said, almost surprised. “Thank you, Galen. I’ll keep that in mind.” His father’s voice said,“Computers are practical!”and he didn’t want to go that direction, but it was nice to have Galen in his head, for once not being an asshole.
“Well, Henry, you are punctual, you are efficient, and you are, within certain boundaries, as courteous as you can be. These qualities can get you far if you apply them right. You need not be a chauffeur forever.”
It was Henry’s turn to snort.As courteous as you can be?What the hell did that even mean? “But Galen! My life would be empty if I couldn’t lick your loafers.”
Galen tilted his head back and emitted a soft laugh. “And there’s the little asshole I’ve come to expect. Forget everything I just said. I’ve heard fast food is hiring—perhaps you’ll find your vocation there.”
“I’d be sure to deliver the extras to your door,” Henry replied sweetly, “but I understand you people aren’t fond of carbs.” There was no mistaking the “you people” snideness in his tone, but then Henry had done it on purpose. The bitchfest was on.
As nasty as they got to each other—and Henry didn’t flatter himself; he gave as good as he got—he still got out of the car to assist Galen to his feet and set his luggage up for easy transport. Galen watched him impassively until Henry handed him the roll-aboard and his briefcase, the garment bag secured firmly on top of the suitcase.
“Thank you, Henry.”
“You’re welcome, Galen.”
Galen took a deep breath and shook his head. “Henry, I can be a vicious bastard—and you are no sacrificial lamb. But do take my advice about looking into exploring the world. I know youthinkyou’ve seen a lot with the military, but very often, when you’re traveling as a soldier, you only see the world as a bullet. Do you take my meaning?”
Henry grimaced. “I do. Thank you.” He had to admit this, or he really would be as ugly on the inside as the entire car ride would show him to be. “It’s kind of you to take an interest.”
Galen’s mouth twisted, and he winked. “Well, for better or for worse, you are one of the few people who can bitch right back in my face. John’s the other one. We assholes have to stick together.” And with that, Galen seized his luggage and hung his cane from the handle, using the works to balance his way into the arrivals wing so he could check in.
Henry swung back into the car and left for Sacramento, so he could help his brother with child care, and the very odd world he found himself in now.
A WORLDthat felt no less odd that night as he pulled Cotton aside to talk after dinner.
“Take my bed,” Lance offered under the murmur of roommates eating spaghetti and sausage. Henry had instituted an “everybody cooks for one night a week” rule, complete with a chart on the refrigerator. And while that meant they ate chicken on whole wheat with sprouts when Zeppelin cooked, and tofu lettuce wraps when Lance cooked, the result was everybody got at least one home-cooked meal a day. And even when the guys were fasting for a scene, they had company as they nibbled celery and drank seltzer water.
Tonight had been Cotton’s night to cook, which meant everybody else did cleanup, and it was the perfect time to take the kid aside and mess with his head. Of course, that wasn’t what Henrymeantto do, but he had no doubt he was going to fuck this up somehow.
But he couldn’t get over those broken sobs against his chest, and the way Cotton had morphed so seamlessly from despair to sex.
There had to be a different way to approach life, one that didn’t seem to break him quite so much.
“You want to come with?” Henry asked a little desperately, and Lance shook his head.
“Sometimes it’s Mom’s job, sometimes it’s Dad’s,” Lance said primly.
“My dad used a strap,” Henry muttered. “I think we need a better Dad.”
“You’re what we’ve got,” Lance told him, but not before Henry saw the little wrinkle between his eyes that spoke of pity. “Unless you want to turn the job over to Dex and John—”
“I’ve got it.” Galen’s pointed remarks had apparently left little puncture wounds in his psyche. Hecouldpull his weight, dammit, he really could.
So after dinner, he shoulder-bumped Cotton and dragged him to Lance’s bed, grateful for the offer. Lance didn’t have sex outside of scenes—not that Henry could see, anyway. And he hadn’t filmed anything since Henry had arrived, which Henry found… comforting, for reasons he couldn’t name. It would have to happen eventually, he knew. Lance had said something about checking the schedule.
But Henry wasn’t worried about that right now. Right now, he was worried about the kid who was currently taking off his shirt and unbuttoning his jeans, right in front of Lance’s bed.
