Page 82 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
“Jesus christ, Evans, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“What?” he asks oblivious, even though he can’t wipe the stupid grin off his face. “It’s not like he isn’t old enough.” He looks back to Christopher, “How old are you anyway? Fifteen?”
Christopher clears his throat. “I just turned sixteen two days ago.”
“What?” I bellow in shock. “What the hell do you mean you turned sixteen two days ago? Does Faith know?” There is no fucking way she does. Why the hell would the kid not say anything?
“No. I didn’t say anything to her because I knew she would make a big deal about it.”
“You think? It’s your birthday, kid, and she’s going to be really upset that she didn’t know about it.”
“Look, it’s not a big deal okay. I haven’t celebrated my birthday since I was ten years old, and even then it was in fucking secret, so just leave it alone.”
Clearly pissed off now, he jumps down from the ring and heads into the locker room. A tense silence settles over the three of us as I think about what he just said. It makes me think about my own childhood. My mom was too fucked up to remember mine, let alone even give a shit, whereas I know his old man did it on purpose, just to be an asshole.
I glance over at Jaxson to see him looking just as pissed off as me, while Sawyer looks at me like I did something wrong.
“What?”
“And you tell me I don’t know how to talk to the kid. At least I didn’t make him storm off.” He grins after he says this then chuckles when I punch his shoulder.
“I still can’t believe you said that shit to him.”
“Whatever. You heard him—he’s sixteen. We had our first fuck by then.”
“So? You do not say that shit to him. We want him to be better than us.”
“What the hell is wrong with us? I think I am pretty fucking cool, and that kid would be lucky to be anything like me. He would definitely be getting laid more that’s for sure.” A second after he says it, he busts out laughing at my expression and knows I’m ready to knock his cocky ass out. “Calm down, man, I’m fucking with you. Jesus. And let’s face it there is nothing wrong with teaching the kid some moves on a chick. It’s better than letting him fuck up and look like an idiot. That shit is awkward at that stage.”
He has a point there. “Well do it with a little more fucking subtlety next time.”
“All right, fine. But just wait, the kid will score and it will all be thanks to me.”
I shake my head and ignore the stupid comment, knowing he is just trying to get a rise out of me. “Are you guys good here, if I leave now and take the kid home?”
There is no point in staying here when he’s pissed off and, if I’m being honest, I’m itching to get home to Faith.
Home… Shit, I really need to figure that out. I haven’t left her house since seeing that asshole in the park. Before I was staying until the restraining order was served but now I’m staying because I can’t be away from her. Even with my dick hard and aching as she sleeps against me, it’s still my favorite place to be…
“Yeah, man, go ahead we’re fine here,” Jaxson replies, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Thanks.”
I jump down then go grab the kid. He’s surprised we aren’t staying for his shift but he doesn’t ask questions and still looks pissed off. Once we get into the truck and head back to the house, I stop letting him sulk. “Listen, I didn’t mean to piss you off back there. I understand your reason for not saying anything, but Faith has been good to you and it’s really going to upset her that she missed your birthday. You and I both know she is going to feel guilty about it, and she deserves more than that.”
“I know,” he grumbles quietly. “I don’t want to hurt her but I know how she will be and I don’t want it to be made into a big deal. She has already done enough.”
“Let her be the one to decide that. Trust me, I get it; I don’t like that shit either. Feel free to tell her that, but she deserves to know. It’s only going to be a matter of time before she finds out anyway.”
“I know. I’ll tell her when we get home.”
“Good, and while you’re at it, ask her to help you with the whole dance thing. I don’t know why you didn’t ask her to begin with.” He looks over at me and gives me a ‘you have got to be shitting me look’ that has my lips lifting slightly. “Okay, I know why you didn’t want to tell her, but she’s going to be the one who can help you with it. And if you like this girl you would be stupid to cancel and not go, otherwise someone else will step in and take her.”
He grunts. “Yeah, probably that douche Ryan, and I already have a hard enough time not punching that asshole out.”
“Well keep it reined in, kid. Remember—pick and choose your battles.”
“I know, I am.”
Our conversation ends as we pull up to the house and I want to punch myself for the way my heart rate spikes in anticipation, along with my dick, at getting to see Red. Jesus I need to be inside of her. I will make that move soon. I have already been putting shit into place, which is turning out to cost me a fucking fortune, but I haven’t forgotten it was her birthday. And after what happened at the piano bar, then everything with the kids, I want to do something for her. It took me forever to think of the perfect gift. Evans suggested the religious shop, but no fucking way was I going in there, even the store makes my goddamn palms sweat.
