couldn’t leave work, so they finally called me.”
Across the room, Dean winced, the expression only half hidden by the stack of papers he’d just pulled off the printer. He didn’t say anything, for which Sam was grateful. The tightness in Bo’s voice announced loud and clear how he felt about Lee being called before him. No one, least of all Bo, needed it spoken out loud.
www.samhainpublishing.com 53
Ally Blue
Bet I’m not even on the contact list at all, Sam thought, not without bitterness. He might not be very skilled at parenting—yet—but he cared about both boys and wanted to be available to help if needed. It stung that after all he and Bo had gone through to be together, their relationship remained unacknowledged by so many people in Sean and Adrian’s lives.
Some days, he felt invisible to the world outside this office, and it hurt.
With a deep sigh, Bo rose to his feet. “Well, I suppose there’s no point in putting off the inevitable. Sam, how soon can you be ready to go?” “Depends. Is it okay if I finish this research tomorrow?”
“Yes, that’ll be fine.”
“Then I can leave right now, if you want.”
Bo nodded. “That would be good.”
Sam bookmarked the web page he’d been reviewing, then shut down the computer.
He pushed out of his chair. “Okay, let’s go.”
“Good luck,” David said, turning back to his work.
Sam let out a wry laugh . “Thanks.”
While Bo went to his office to get Adrian, Dean trailed Sam to the front door. “Don’t worry, Sam. You’ll be fine.”
Arching an eyebrow at Dean, Sam grabbed his jacket and pulled it on. “I hope you’re right. I’m learning this stuff as I go. It’s pretty hard sometimes.” “I bet.” Dean glanced at Bo and Adrian, who had just emerged from Bo’s office.
“See y’all tomorrow.”
Giving Dean’s arm a quick squeeze, Sam followed Bo and Adrian out the front door.
They rode home in an oppressive silence, Sam at the wheel with Bo beside him and Adrian sulking in the backseat. Sam squinted through the windshield at the rain-blurred street. The drizzle had turned into a downpour in the last few minutes, cutting visibility to a few yards and transforming approaching headlights into tiny pixilated suns. It took every ounce of his concentration just to keep the car on the road.
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An Inner Darkness
For once, he was grateful for the intensity of the storms which tended to hit this city.
If it wasn’t for the distraction of driving through the deluge, the tension crackling between Bo and his son would’ve been enough to send Sam around the bend.
Unfortunately—to Sam’s mind, at least—the two-mile trip was a short one, even with the weather slowing them down. Sam pulled into their assigned parking space and killed the engine, part of him wishing he could hide in the car during the coming confrontation between Bo and Adrian.
“There’s a poncho under your seat,” Bo told the boy, his voice cool. “You can wear it.”
“I don’t need a poncho, ” Adrian sneered. “I’m not a baby.” Bo closed his eyes. Sam watched him, worried. Maybe Adrian didn’t realize how close Bo was to exploding, but Sam did. He touched Bo’s knee, silently begging him to stay in control. Yelling at Adrian right now would only make things worse.
Opening his eyes, Bo gave Sam a tiny smile and a nod, then turned to fix Adrian with a stern look. “Fine. Put it over your book bag, though. You might not melt, but your books and papers will.”
Silence. Adrian’s anger filled the air like an electric charge, making Sam’s skin itch.
Seized by a sudden need to escape, he undid his seat belt, opened the car door and stepped out into the storm. The shock of cold felt good. He lifted his face, savoring the sting of the rain on his skin.
A few seconds later, Bo and Adrian climbed out of the car. Adrian’s backpack formed a hump beneath the yellow poncho. The hood didn’t quite cover his murderous
Across the room, Dean winced, the expression only half hidden by the stack of papers he’d just pulled off the printer. He didn’t say anything, for which Sam was grateful. The tightness in Bo’s voice announced loud and clear how he felt about Lee being called before him. No one, least of all Bo, needed it spoken out loud.
www.samhainpublishing.com 53
Ally Blue
Bet I’m not even on the contact list at all, Sam thought, not without bitterness. He might not be very skilled at parenting—yet—but he cared about both boys and wanted to be available to help if needed. It stung that after all he and Bo had gone through to be together, their relationship remained unacknowledged by so many people in Sean and Adrian’s lives.
Some days, he felt invisible to the world outside this office, and it hurt.
With a deep sigh, Bo rose to his feet. “Well, I suppose there’s no point in putting off the inevitable. Sam, how soon can you be ready to go?” “Depends. Is it okay if I finish this research tomorrow?”
“Yes, that’ll be fine.”
“Then I can leave right now, if you want.”
Bo nodded. “That would be good.”
Sam bookmarked the web page he’d been reviewing, then shut down the computer.
He pushed out of his chair. “Okay, let’s go.”
“Good luck,” David said, turning back to his work.
Sam let out a wry laugh . “Thanks.”
While Bo went to his office to get Adrian, Dean trailed Sam to the front door. “Don’t worry, Sam. You’ll be fine.”
Arching an eyebrow at Dean, Sam grabbed his jacket and pulled it on. “I hope you’re right. I’m learning this stuff as I go. It’s pretty hard sometimes.” “I bet.” Dean glanced at Bo and Adrian, who had just emerged from Bo’s office.
“See y’all tomorrow.”
Giving Dean’s arm a quick squeeze, Sam followed Bo and Adrian out the front door.
They rode home in an oppressive silence, Sam at the wheel with Bo beside him and Adrian sulking in the backseat. Sam squinted through the windshield at the rain-blurred street. The drizzle had turned into a downpour in the last few minutes, cutting visibility to a few yards and transforming approaching headlights into tiny pixilated suns. It took every ounce of his concentration just to keep the car on the road.
54
www.samhainpublishing.com
An Inner Darkness
For once, he was grateful for the intensity of the storms which tended to hit this city.
If it wasn’t for the distraction of driving through the deluge, the tension crackling between Bo and his son would’ve been enough to send Sam around the bend.
Unfortunately—to Sam’s mind, at least—the two-mile trip was a short one, even with the weather slowing them down. Sam pulled into their assigned parking space and killed the engine, part of him wishing he could hide in the car during the coming confrontation between Bo and Adrian.
“There’s a poncho under your seat,” Bo told the boy, his voice cool. “You can wear it.”
“I don’t need a poncho, ” Adrian sneered. “I’m not a baby.” Bo closed his eyes. Sam watched him, worried. Maybe Adrian didn’t realize how close Bo was to exploding, but Sam did. He touched Bo’s knee, silently begging him to stay in control. Yelling at Adrian right now would only make things worse.
Opening his eyes, Bo gave Sam a tiny smile and a nod, then turned to fix Adrian with a stern look. “Fine. Put it over your book bag, though. You might not melt, but your books and papers will.”
Silence. Adrian’s anger filled the air like an electric charge, making Sam’s skin itch.
Seized by a sudden need to escape, he undid his seat belt, opened the car door and stepped out into the storm. The shock of cold felt good. He lifted his face, savoring the sting of the rain on his skin.
A few seconds later, Bo and Adrian climbed out of the car. Adrian’s backpack formed a hump beneath the yellow poncho. The hood didn’t quite cover his murderous
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