Page 70 of Galen's Redemption
“I was asking if you wanted to go for chili tonight.”
“Sure. I’d like that.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up at seven. See you then.” Robert disconnected.
Galen slipped his phone back into his pocket, then picked Mouse up again and set her back on his chest. “So what do you think, Mouse? Am I being stupid? Shouldn’t we have done… I don’t know,somethingby now?”
Mouse squeaked and moved up higher, rubbing her face against Galen’s. He chuckled, then held her aloft and planted a kiss on her tiny pink nose.
“What did I do before I got you?”
You lived a lonely, loveless life.
God, wasn’t that the truth? Funny how meeting one man had Galen looking back and wondering why he’d waited to come out. He should have had the same kind of balls Lincoln did and toldtheir father to shove it. So why did thinking about it still make Galen’s chest ache? It’d been months, and by now he should be moving on. Right?
He’d spoken with Olivia, who told him that his father had tried to block her paths too. She said she found a job that paid a lot less and had shitty insurance, but still gave her and Aiden money to live on. Galen wished he could offer her help, buthe had nothing himself. Mouse’s bills were being paid by Robert, and the food he ate was being paid for by Andy, as was their apartment.
“What do I do, Mouse?” Galen remembered his father talking about the indigent people and how they were a drain on society. Was he any different? “Robert says he forgives me, but what if I can’t forgive myself? I was horrible to people my whole life. I thoughtmy social standing made me better than them, and I used it like a hammer to beat people down. Now? I regret every damn thing I’ve ever done.”
He took his phone out again. As he scrolled through the contacts, he saw Lincoln’s number, and he ached to call him. To apologize to him and Noel for being the piece of shit he had been. He wanted to say he’d learned his lesson, and would they please forgivehim. Instead, he put the phone down on the couch.
“I can’t go to them until I’ve made things right.” He hugged Mouse, which caused her to chirp. “You understand, don’t you?”
Galen swore to himself that no matter what it took, he would redeem himself. Not just for Lincoln and Noel, but for himself.
And for Robert.
ROBERT STOPPEDat the mirror and checked his hair again. He really neededa haircut, but…. Oh, the hell with it.
“Hey, Brady?”
“Yeah, Robert?”
“I was wondering if you were willing to do me a favor?”
Brady came rushing around the corner, his face flushed. “Sure. What do you need?”
Robert went into the cabinet and took out the clippers he used to trim the residents’ hair. He held them out to Brady, who narrowed his gaze as he reached for them. “Can you cut my hair?”
Brady’s cheeks went pale. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t want to mess anything up.”
“It’ll be fine. The blade will cut close to the scalp, so there’s not a lot you can miss.” Robert raised his eyebrows. “I trust you.”
When Brady straightened his spine, Robert knew he’d said the right thing. Noel hadn’t been wrong. Robert had been giving Brady more responsibilities, and he more thanmet any expectations. Funny how falling in love gave Robert a reason to loosen the reins a bit.
“Okay. I’ll do it. Just…. Please don’t be mad if I screw up.”
“You won’t, I’m sure. And if something happens? Well, we’ll just say I’m having a bad hair day and let it go at that.”
The nervous laugh let Robert know that Brady was going to do what he asked, but he wasn’t fully invested in the task.Still, it would bolster his confidence, so that was an additional bonus.
He led Brady into the bathroom, pulled a chair from the corner, and sat in front of the mirror. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Brady’s hand shook as he lifted the clippers. When he touched them to Robert’s head, he jerked his hand back. “Maybe someone else should do this. I don’t think I can.”
Robert turned and met Brady’s gaze.“Why are you so scared? What’s the worst that could happen?”
Brady snorted. “I could slip and slice off an ear or something.”
