Texas Fall by RJ Scott Read Free Book Online

used the eyes and the
daddy word,” Jack whispered.
    “She knows how to
manipulate us both.”
    “I’ll call Mary-Ann’s dad,
make sure it’s all sorted out on their end.”
    “You have his number? You
friends with him now?” Mary-Ann’s dad was a Hollywood A-lister, and people
would probably kill for his number.
    “Remember? We shared the
hell of Bring Your Daddy to School day. We’re like blood brothers or something.”
    Riley made coffee, rooted
out the latest cookie supply, and took everything into the good room. He
stopped at the threshold and looked in on the one room in the house they tried
to keep tidy and pretty much kid-free. The TV was tiny compared to what it
could be, but they never really watched TV; there was no flashy sound system,
no cinema screen, no expensive leather sofas, no chrome or black. This was
their sitting room, their kids were asleep upstairs, and he loved Jack.
    Jack came to a halt behind
him. “What’s wrong?” he asked. He sounded curious more than worried. Riley
didn’t really have an answer for him. How did he sum up that his life was
perfect, that he loved where he was and who he was, and that he’d never been
happier in just a few words?
    “I love you,” Riley said. He
couldn’t help how serious he sounded when he said it. There was just so much
information he wanted to convey in the three little words.
    Jack took the coffee from
Riley, levered the box of cookies from under his arm, and pulled him into a
close hug. Riley inhaled the scent of his husband and buried his face in Jack’s
neck. The gentle scrape of stubble against Riley’s skin was directly hardwired
to his libido.
    “And you know I love you,”
Jack whispered. “You’ll always know, because I’ll show you every day.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    Liam was in the backseat
of the Land Rover with Marcus. They’d held hands all the way from the ranch,
and the touch of his boyfriend was reassuring. With the other hand, he stroked
the leather of the interior and contemplated just how new this SUV was. He desperately
wanted to talk about everything, but at the same time, how could he? Especially
in the car with Jack driving and Robbie sitting next to him.
    How could they possibly
understand why he felt so negative about the whole thing when they were being
so supportive of him? They wanted justice for Liam—a guilty verdict against
Hank Castille for what he had done not only to Liam but also to at least three
other boys—and possibly financial reward for what he had been through. That was
the point of this whole journey, the point of the whole legal system. Hank had
money; he would use it to buy his way out of this and be forced to give some of
his money to Liam and the others. Like shifting a balance sheet would somehow
make this all okay.
    Liam would feel like
justice had been served then.
    Right?
    Liam looked out the window
and watched the world pass by. I-35 was long and straight and boring, and
heading in this direction was making him more and more anxious with each mile
marker they passed. He’d vowed to never go back, but leaving had neither solved
the issue nor healed the festering sore that was inside his head.
    “Stopping for coffee and
something to eat,” Jack announced as he signaled, then pulled off into the
parking lot of a random McDonald’s in the middle of nowhere.
    Robbie muttered his
approval, and Marcus squeezed Liam’s hand; then, before he could even think
about saying he wanted to stay in the car, Marcus was tugging him out. He
followed, and Marcus held his hand again. Not even self-preservation made Liam pull
away. After all, they were with Jack and Robbie who looked all kind of in
charge and in control. No one would fuck with Liam and Marcus for holding
hands.
    Sitting at the table
closest to the window, they devoured the burgers and fries. Or rather, Jack and
Robbie did. Marcus seemed hungry, but he was openly checking on Liam every so
often, which slowed him down, and Liam wasn’t