steady hand behind his neck nearly broke his resolve. He balled Matt’s shirt in his fist as he pulled him close, burying his face in Matt’s shoulder, refusing to break free of the awkward embrace sandwiching Matt between him and Julian.
Comforting strokes on his back soothed him. He didn’t like being treated so carefully. But in that moment, he relished it, knowing it was driven by affection and not pity.
The strong hand slid away and Matt slowly retreated. “If you ever need anything,” Matt said as he signed. “We’re here for you. You know that.”
Ben nodded as a second wave of emotions threatened to weaken him. He wasn’t going to cave. He couldn’t. He glanced up at Julian. The stoic man stared at him, not saying or signing a single word. The corner of his mouth twitched, and a hint of a barely there nod ended the unspoken conversation and confirmed Matt’s words. Something to their right drew Matt and Julian’s attention.
“He’s here,” Matt said.
A tap to his shoulder had him turning.
He stared at Calvin, watching a play of emotions pass through that hard expression. The tears welled in Ben’s eyes as a smile lingered on his lips. There were few people in his life who had proven to be genuine friends. Calvin had become one of them.
Ben pulled the phone out of his back pocket. Typing out a quick note, he turned the display toward Calvin. Be good.
“I’ll try.”
He narrowed his eyes and typed out another note. Don’t steal.
Calvin shrugged. “I’ll try,” he said with a smirk.
Ben glanced to his side, spotting Gabriel standing at the threshold. With a hint of a nod, Gabriel walked in and grabbed the duffle from the couch. He slung the bag over his shoulder, smiling as he picked up the plush bull in one hand. Funny how something so small had served as a constant reminder of a man who was larger than life.
Returning his attention to Calvin, he watched as his friend’s gaze slid over to Gabriel, assessing him as he often did. They stared at each other, something silent exchanging between them. Calvin scowled and returned his attention to Ben, gesturing toward Ben’s phone. He typed out a note and handed back the phone.
Ben read the short lines, his eyes welling with another surge of emotion.
I don’t have friends. But you’re one. Don’t be a stranger.
He typed his reply and held up his phone. I promise. He didn’t wait for prompting or permission. Instead, Ben stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Calvin’s neck in a hug before leaving, thankful when strong arms circled him in an embrace.
With a last round of goodbyes, he finally walked over the threshold of the back door with Gabriel, leaving behind Halfway House and taking his first step into his new life.
Thirty minutes later, after a quick stop in the room to drop off his bag, they stood in the security office.
“Can I see some ID, please?” the guard asked from behind the desk while the second guard watched the surveillance feeds. The office was small, streamlined for functionality. A large panel composed of small monitors displayed videos of the different floors. Every few seconds, the screens would change to a different camera view. Elevator banks, hallways, pool area. Everywhere.
He wondered how much snooping the guards did when their curiosity spiked.
Ben reached into his back pocket for his wallet and fished out his license. The guard took the card, glanced at him, then over to Gabriel. “It’s expired.”
Ben chewed his lip as he turned to Gabriel for his reply. “Expired for driving but valid for identification to set up his access,” Gabriel spoke to the guard but signed his words, likely so Ben could follow the conversation.
Gabriel turned to him and signed, “He’s setting up your access. We’ll make an appointment this week to renew your license.”
Ben shrugged. “Maybe later when I need a car. There’s a bus stop not far from here.”
“Nat’s going to want you to come into the bakery super early to help her. You can take my SUV whenever you need it rather than sit at a bus stop that early in the morning.”
“You’d let me drive your truck?”
Gabriel nodded.
“What are you going to drive?”
“I’ve got a bike in storage. If the weather’s bad, I’ll call a ride share.”
A visual of Gabriel wearing skin-tight bike shorts and a helmet, pedaling his bicycle to the shop, popped into his mind.
“What’s got you smiling?” Gabriel signed with a teasing glint in his eye.
“I’m