is when you feel guilty about something, or are getting ready to get all up in my business.”
“Can’t I do something nice for my son on the night before he goes back to school?”
Nick narrowed his eyes as he sat. “I’m on to you, old man. I see everything. You should—oh my god.” He shoved more mashed potatoes in his mouth. “Dis us so gooood.”
Dad sighed. “I can see that, even though I don’t want to. Close your mouth while you chew, kid.” He pulled out his own chair across from Nick, grimacing slightly as he sat. His ribs were still hurting him, though he’d stopped taking the pain medication days before. He hadn’t let Nick take his after getting released from the hospital, reminding Nick that the opioid crisis was a very real problem and he’d be damned if he was going to let Nick sink into addiction.
Nick hadn’t argued in the face of that logic, even if it was a bit overblown. And besides, he hadn’t liked being high in the hospital, even though it’d numbed the pain. According to Nurse Becky, he’d spent a good three hours describing to anyone who would listen the shape of Seth’s butt, and why it should be considered a national treasure. It wasn’t one of his finest moments, even if it was the truth.
Dad sliced up a piece of pot roast before sliding it onto Nick’s plate. Nick grinned at him through a mouthful of bread and gravy.
Dad didn’t seem very impressed.
Nick swallowed before asking, “You have to go in tonight?”
Dad shook his head. “No. Tomorrow morning.”
Nick blinked. “What? But you work nights.”
Dad set down his fork, fixing his gaze on Nick. “There’s been a change. I’ll be working days from now on.”
Huh. That was unexpected. “Why?”
“Maybe because I’m tired of spending so much time away from my son. Before long, you’re going to be going off to college, and I want as much time with you as I can get. Cap allowed me to switch to days.”
Nick was absurdly touched. But since his dad wasn’t a fan of too much emotion, he only said, “Oh. That’s good.”
“Yeah,” Dad said gruffly.
Screw it. They’d earned this. “I would like that. A lot.”
Dad smiled quietly. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. I mean, it’d be nice, you know? Having you around.”
“I thought so too. And as a bonus, it means that you and your boyfriend won’t have a lot of time to rub against each other before I get home.”
Nick choked on pot roast.
Dad took a sip of his water.
After he’d managed not to die, he spat, “Oh my god, why would you say that?”
“Kid, I was a teenage boy once.”
“Yeah, when mastodons roamed the earth.”
Dad snorted. “Keep telling yourself that, Nicky.”
“We don’t—we’re not rubbing on each other. God! I haven’t even seen him since…”
“Since he lit the bridge on fire and then punched Owen Burke in the face?”
Nick slumped in his chair. “So, we’re going to talk about this now, are we? I knew this dinner was a bribe. You’re not subtle, Officer Bell. At all.”
“I’m allowed to be worried, kid. Comes with the whole being-a-dad gig.”
Nick sighed. “I know. And while I appreciate your intrusive concern, you don’t have to worry about me. Or Seth. He’s not going to hurt me.”
“I know that, Nick. Seth Gray would rather cut off his own arm than see any harm come to you. It’s not him that I’m worried about.”
Nick was confused. “Then what’s the problem?”
“He’s an Extraordinary. A powerful one at that. And no matter what he does, it’s going to attract attention.”
“That’s not his fault. He’s not trying—”
Dad held up his hand. “I’m not saying it is. But there are going to be people who won’t like what he is. He’s always going to have a target on his back. Which means the same thing could happen to you.”
Nick didn’t feel very hungry anymore. “So I shouldn’t be his boyfriend? Or what about just his friend? Are you telling me I need to cut him out of my life altogether?”
“Of course not, Nicky. I would never ask that of you. And even if I did, what are the chances you would listen to me?”
“I would try,” Nick admitted. “I’d probably be really pissed off at you for a long time, but then I’d see him in one of his sweater vest combos and decide he’s worth it.”
Dad stared at him.
Nick shrugged. “What? I can’t help it if I think it’s adorable. I mean, he’s got this one