Page 69 of Shades of Henry
Lance was going to kill him. “Two and a half? What is that even—”
“His son, his old business partner, and his business partner’s son, whom he accidentally overdosed on pills. The kid took them himself, but Sampson was in the room. Anyway, Sampson is up for murder, but there’s no evidence Frasier was in on any of that. She may be arrested—that’s not my problem. I would at least like to see her get her license revoked because she shouldn’t—”
“She shouldn’t get away with this,” Lance said, coming out of his confusion to go with outrage again.
“No, she should not.”
Lance narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
“Why does this make you so mad?” Henry asked patiently.
“Because it’s dangerous,” Lance said.
“It really isn’t.”
“You don’t know that. Because it’s dangerous and it’s… it’s unnecessary. You’re not getting paid—” God, all of Henry’s desire to be useful, and so much of it had seemed to be connected to his need to provide. This didn’t do any of that, and Lance was confused.
“It’s important, Galahad. Do you think I’m excited about you working thirty-six-hour shifts? Do you think I don’t worry about you running into a tree or something on the way home? What about the fact that you’re probably living on caffeine and anxiety, even though I tried to feed you fruit and egg white for breakfast? Do you think I don’t worry? But this is important. It’s a loose end I can tie up, and it’s the start of a job I think I might really love. Jackson told me he’s got contacts at the hospital who can get me in if it’s dangerous for you, but—”
“No, no,” Lance muttered. “No. You pulled out the real name and food, which means this is important to you. And I’m sorry I’m such a whiny baby. I….”
Henry gave him a fond smile. “You’re a very by-the-book guy, Galahad. I get it.”
Lance could hear his own eyeballs click this time. “Stop with the Galahad—”
“Nope. I’m the only one who gets to call you that. Galahad. Not Gally. Just Galahad. My own knight in shining armor.” He squeezed Lance’s knee. “I love that. You want to jump in and protect me. It’s sort of awesome.”
“Yeah, but apparently, I’m shitty at the job.” Gah! Traffic on Folsom Boulevard—never Lance’s favorite.
“Who says? Look at me. I’m a student. I’m a… a helper at a law firm. I’m a babysitter of adult children. I mean, a few months ago, I was just some helpless Army grunt—”
“Sergeant,” Lance retorted.
“How did you know—”
“You told me, and I looked it up to see what it meant. You passed up promotions so you and your douchefucking ex could be lower ranking, but you should have been a sergeant for the last two years.”
“Whatever. I’m over it—”
“You shouldn’t be,” Lance said. “I’m going to be bitter for you.”
“Don’t be,” Henry said and his voice dropped, became low and intimate. “Because… because as corny and dumb as it sounds, maybe this was the path I was supposed to be on. You ever think of that?”
Lance’s jaw eased up just a little. “Mm… maybe.”
“Mm-hmm? And maybe this will be… well, different, but maybe life this way will be a little more fun.”
“I’m fun?” Lance asked, not above fishing for a compliment.
“You’re a whole amusement park.” Henry’s voice shifted again. “Or I assume you are. I’d really like some more time to find out.”
Lance wouldreallylike some private time with him too. It was starting to drive Lance a bit mad. “I know! It’s not fair!”
“How did you hook up before I arrived?” Henry asked, and Lance realized the answer was a little embarrassing.
“Same way everybody else did. Found a spare bed and went to town.”
Henry made a happy little hum in the back of his throat.
