High Balls by Tara Lain

Author:Tara Lain [Lain, Tara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-63533-475-3
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2017-10-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

SNAKE SAT at his desk, Saturday morning sun shining in the side window, and hammered on the keyboard. His fingers faltered and he stared into space.

Damn! His deadlines crept up like a line of assassins, and he couldn’t get his brain unfried. No call last night. No date. No—nothing.

Come on. Work. His fingers started their rat-a-tat again, then stalled. Teddy sure sounded discouraging on that last call. He’s rethinking—me. The thought made his stomach turn. I don’t want to care so much. It’s his decision. He dropped his head onto the edge of the desk. I do care—so much.

His cell buzzed and traveled a few inches across his slick desktop. Teddy! He grabbed it. No. He didn’t recognize the number.

“Hello?”

“Uncle Snake?” Andy’s voice was breathy, soft and upset.

“Andy, what’s wrong?”

“I gotta leave here.”

“The picnic?”

“Yeah. It’s-it’s awful.”

“Did you call your dad?”

“I tried to text him but he didn’t answer. He’s working.”

“Where are you? Do you know?” Damn. Damn.

“Top of the World Park.”

“Are your grandparents there?”

“Y-yes.”

“Do they know you’re calling me?”

“No. But I gotta leave, Snake. I gotta.” He started to cry.

“It’s okay. Don’t cry. I’m coming.” How in hell could he do this? “I’m going to bring a car, okay? Tell your grandparents that your dad’s friend is coming to get you.” He glanced at his clock on the desk. Only a little after noon. “Tell them your dad needs you home and he sent me to get you, okay? It’ll only take me about fifteen minutes to get there.”

“Hurry, please.”

“I will. Don’t worry. Look calm so they don’t get upset. Can you do that?”

“Yes. I’ll try.”

“Okay, Andy. I’m coming right now.”

“Th-thank you.”

He hated to hang up. The kid sounded frantic and actually scared. He texted Theodore. Andy called. Couldn’t reach you. Very upset. I’m going to get him. Will try to avoid shitstorm. He’s saying you need him at home. Think fast.

He ran to the back garage where he kept his little-used car, maneuvered out of the narrow space, backed to the road, and stomped the accelerator. What the fuck kind of grandparents did this kid have?

He made it to the park in ten minutes. As he pulled up, he saw tons of people with their hands in the air walking around—staggering might be a better description—and bumping into each other. What the fuck? He opened the car door, and the sound of voices raised surrounded him.

“Praise the Lord.”

“Thank you, Jesus.”

And a whole bunch of weird words he didn’t get at all.

He looked at the crowd. All of a sudden, Andy burst out of a cluster of people and ran toward him. An older man separated himself from the group and followed behind with a terrifying scowl. Thank God I wore long sleeves.

Andy hit him like a missile, wrapping his arms around Snake’s hips. He reached down and picked the kid up, getting an equally tight hold on his neck. Andy whispered, “Go. Can we just go?”

“No. It’s okay.” He tightened his hold on Andy and plastered a pleasant smile on his face as the man approached.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.