Jared Read online

  “Eight. Why?” Nate glanced along the bar as the group of women, who’d been there all afternoon, burst into laughter.

  “I thought if you were free… maybe we could…”

  Ah. Of course. Nate shook his head. “I—”

  “Come on. It’s been months. We had fun, right? That last time?” he pressed.

  Fun, huh? Nate guessed he would call it that, in as much as him and the man at the bar had hooked up a couple of times, all no strings sex, when Nate had had an itch in need of scratching, when he was lonely for something being a dad, a bar owner couldn’t fill.

  Nate dismissed the offer with a smile. “Michael, I’m sorry.” He made a point to use the man’s name. “But not tonight.”

  “Why?” Michael downed the shot and pushed the empty glass back toward Nate. “Is it your kid?”

  Nate pursed his lips. That wasn’t really any of his business. “Another?” he asked, ignoring the question.

  “Don’t be so cold.” Michael chuckled. “He started middle school this year, didn’t he? Luka?”

  Nate raised an eyebrow.

  “Too creepy? I sound creepy, don’t I?”

  “Maybe a little,” Nate said. “More surprised you remember pillow talk from months ago.” He wasn’t in the habit of talking about Luka to customers.

  “What can I say? Memory of an elephant.” He smiled. “And that’s not all.”

  Nate laughed. The mood between them lightening. “In your dreams.” He straightened and exhaled. “Thank you, but I’m sorry. As you said, Luka’s in middle school now. With that and this place, I’ve a lot going on.” Sex had fallen so far down his list of priorities it had almost dropped off completely.

  “Then, another time?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe.” Luka was his priority.

  Two things were a must where Luka was concerned. Either Nate’s shift at the bar started once he had welcomed Luka home from school or ended, and he was home in time to see his son to bed.

  “Excuse me,” he said when his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. “Abi, can you watch the bar?” He waved to catch her attention and when she nodded, he slipped into the back room.

  “Lee, everything okay?” He glanced at his wristwatch; it was almost five.

  “Hi. Yeah. I think.” Lee’s tone was hesitant. “Is Luka with you?”

  As soon as the question was asked it was as if the air had been knocked from him. A knot tightened in his stomach. “You know he isn’t.” They had settled into a routine; she knew his schedule at the bar.

  Lee fell silent.

  “Lee? You’re kind of scaring me right now.”

  “Damn it. I knew I should have asked you.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Luka told me he was going to a friend’s house after school.”

  “Okay.” This wasn’t the first time Luka had gone to play with friends. “Who? What friend?”

  “Erm, Keegan.”

  Nate pushed the office door shut. “Keegan. Yeah, I know Keegan. He should be on the list of contacts I gave you of his friends.”

  “Yeah I have his parents’ phone number here. But I didn’t think anything of it at the time. I mean this kid Keegan was standing right there, face of an angel as he told me Luka was going to go play at his house until dinner time.” Lee cleared her throat. “But then, I phoned to ask what time they were bringing him home so I could fix him a meal, ’cause Luka hadn’t really said and was in a rush and excited to go hang out with his friend and…”

  “And?”

  “And they said… They said he hadn’t been there. Turns out he’d bribed Keegan with some comic book to get him to say he was going home with him.”

  Nate pressed his palm to his forehead.

  Luka was a good kid. Too good sometimes. Why would he lie?

  “Did Keegan say anything else? Like where Luka was actually going? Who he might have gone to see?”

  “No. Just that there was something important he had to do.”

  “No, no, no.” What should he do? Police? Was that the right thing to do?

  “I’m sure he’s fine. You just need to stay calm.”

  “Calm?” Seriously? She was telling him to calm down. “Calm,” he repeated.

  Luka’s my world. The reason I get up in the morning.

  If anything… anything had happened to him…

  “He said he’d see me later, that they were playing until dinner time. Wherever he was going, he planned on coming home to eat. What do you want me to do? Should I go look for him?”

  Nate crossed the room to pick up his jacket and wallet. “No, you should wait there in case he comes back.”

  “And you?”

  “I’ll get a cab, head to the school and I guess home from there. If he’s still not turned up after that, then I’ll call the police.” He paused at the office door. His hand trembled as he reached for the handle.

  “Nate?” He’d fallen silent.

  He cleared his throat. “I’m fine. I’ll call you when I know anything.”

  “Same,” Lee said. “He’ll be fine.”

  “Yeah. Of course he will.” He hung up, immediately regretting how abrupt it had been. This wasn’t Lee’s fault. There was no reason for her not to have believed Luka. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary him playing at a friend’s house after school.

  What was so different this time?

  He filled his lungs and pulled the door open. He raised his hand when Michael was about to say something. He wasn’t in the mood for anymore flirtatious banter with a customer. “Abi,” he said. “I’m really sorry to have to do this, but I need to go.”

  “Problem?” she asked.

  “I hope not. Will you be okay for a while? I’ll call Gregg, see if he can come in earlier, or maybe—”

  “I’ll be fine.” She gave him a firm look. “So, whatever it is just go. Go on.” She shooed him.

  “Are you sure?” He switched his weight to his other foot.

  Abi didn’t say anything, just pointed to the door.

  “Thanks.” He walked around the bar, Michael stopping him, catching hold of his wrist.

  “Are you okay?”

  Nate nodded. “I have to go. Enjoy your night.” He twisted his arm free and jogged for the exit.

  The cool early evening air hit him in the face as he stepped outside. He hadn’t realized how suffocating the bar had become during Lee’s phone call. The walls had closed in and smothered him. He breathed in deeply, pulled on his jacket, and headed for the main street for a cab.

  Damn it, Luka, where are you?

  Nate wasn’t sure he’d ever experienced a sensation such as he did when he spotted Luka on the sidewalk, his anger swept to relief, to a blinding fear over the fact his son was with a fully-grown man. An adult he didn’t recognize. He felt sick, a bitter taste rising in his throat. Nate leaned forward. “Can you stop here, please?” He kept his eyes on Luka as they passed him.

  The driver grunted, acknowledged Nate’s request and pulled up a short way ahead of Luka and whomever he was walking with.

  “Thanks.” Nate glanced at the fare, grabbed enough bills from his wallet to cover the ride. “Keep the change.” He handed over the money and was out of the cab quickly. He needed to get to his son.

  “Luka,” he yelled and slammed the door shut. He rushed toward Luka, who froze in surprise.

  “Dad.”

  All Nate had wanted to do was wrap Luka in a hug, tell him how worried he’d been, and how much he loved his idiot of a son. But he was blinkered by a feeling of horror. Who was this person standing next to his child?

  “Luka.” He grabbed Luka by the arm, pulled him away and put himself between his son and the stranger. “What the hell are you doing with my boy?”

  The slim man in jeans and a hoodie took a step back. “Easy. This… We were just—”

  “Just, what?” He tightened his grip on the thick sleeve of Luka’s jacket. He never wanted to let go.

 
“Dad.” He could hear Luka’s voice, yet all he could do was focus on the man who had been with him.

  “Well?” Nate narrowed his eyes. The man seemed to be younger than him, still in his twenties, and was confused.

  “Erm.”

  “Dad.” Luka was tugging on his back. “This is Jared.”

  “Jared?” Who the hell was Jared? He turned to the man. “Jared. So you spend your day picking up kids? I’m calling the cops!” He pulled out his cell as Jared backed away.

  “What? No. Luka was sitting on the steps outside my office, and we were worried, so I was walking him home, I swear that’s all.”

  “Jared’s not a bad man,” Luka said. He leaned out from behind Nate. “You’re not a bad man are you?” he asked more seriously.

  “No!” Jared said, then held his hands out in front of him, and then as calm as he could, he added, “No, I’m not. I swear.”

  Nate swallowed, the tightness in his chest easing a little. “Okay. Jared? I don’t even know what’s happening anymore.”

  Jared shook his head as if saying, don’t ask me. “So, you’re Luka’s dad?”

  “Yes. Nate.”

  “Hi. I’m Jared. But you know that. Your son was,” he pursed his lips, “near my work. Alone. I only wanted to see he got home safely. Nothing else. No bad intentions. I promise.” There was a brightness in his eyes that left Nate wanting to believe him.

  “Thank you, I guess. Sorry I overreacted.”

  Jared lowered his hands.

  “But you…” Nate turned around and looked down at Luka. “Do you have any idea how worried I was? And Auntie Lee? What were you thinking? Lying? No lies, we don’t lie, ever.”

  Luka’s bottom lip trembled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

  Nate held Luka’s face, tugged the beanie he was wearing down over his ears. His cheeks flushed pink from the cool air and felt chilled against Nate’s warm palms. “What would I do if something happened to you? Hey?” He pulled Luka to him, appreciated the solid feel of him in his arms. “Promise me you won’t do anything like this ever again.”

  There was a small hic as Luka nodded against him.

  “What were you doing that was so important that you thought you had to lie about it?” He rested his hand on the top of Luka’s head, encouraging Luka to lean back.

  Luka’s eyes were wet, his nose red. “It’s your birthday soon. I wanted to get you something.”

  “What? You didn’t have to lie so you could do that.”

  “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.”

  “Sure, but you didn’t have to tell me, did you? There’s Lee, and your grandpa. Pops would have taken you to buy something if you’d asked him.”

  Luka pouted. “I wanted to get it myself. Only from me. I saved up.”

  Nate let out a sigh and the stormy sea of his emotions was finally at peace. “You’re an idiot.” He smiled and pressed a kiss to Luka’s forehead. “I don’t care what you give me for my birthday. As long as you’re there to spend it with me I’ll be the happiest dad in the world.” He tapped his finger to Luka’s nose. “Got it?”

  Luka nodded. “Okay.”

  “So, we all good now?” Jared said from behind them.

  Nate glanced over his shoulder. Jared had his hands crammed into his jacket pockets, and he shifted awkwardly from foot to foot. “I’m sorry. We both are. Aren’t we?” He nudged Luka’s shoulder.

  Luka chewed on his lip then said, “Sorry I bothered you. Thank you for walking me home.”

  “No worries,” Jared said. “But you know, you shouldn’t go worrying your dad like that, okay?” Jared hunched his shoulders up toward his ears. “I’m sorry things got weird.” He looked at Nate and smiled. “I understand it must have been scary seeing a stranger with your kid.”

  “‘Scary’ is one word for it.” He bit his lip. “Is there anything I can do to thank you for looking after him?”

  “For me?” Jared shook his head. “Knowing he’s back where he belongs is plenty.” He turned his attention to Luka. “Anyway, pleasure meeting you, Luka. No more sneaking off places without telling somebody first.”

  “So, I can go if I tell someone?”

  Jared opened his mouth. “That’s not…” He held his hand over his stomach. “You know what, I’ll let your dad handle this one.” He stepped back. “I’m going to go. Leave you two to figure things out.”

  “Wait, let me give you some money or something.”

  “No, I don’t need that.”

  “Dad?” Nate crouched next to Luka after his insistent tug. “What about dinner?”

  “What about it?”

  “We could get him dinner.”

  Nate glanced up at Jared, who was slowly backing away as if he wanted to escape the madness, and who could blame him. He couldn’t know that the thought of losing the only bright light in Nate’s life had caused him to lose his shit.

  “Look, no pressure, but there’s a diner right there. Let me buy you a burger at least.” Not that he should be treating Luka to his favorite junk food after what had happened. He’d give burgers to his son every day if Luka promised never to disappear again. His heart was still racing, and he swore it was adrenaline that was making him shaky.

  “Yay burgers!” Luka said, pulling him back to the present, refocusing on Jared who was scratching the back of his neck and looking adorably confused.

  Wait, where did that come from?

  “I have to study,” Jared began.

  Maybe Jared was younger than he seemed if he was studying. “Everyone needs to eat.”

  “I’m so hungry,” Luka pointed out and rubbed his belly to underline the fact.

  Nate took hold of Luka’s hand and stood. “So, will you join us?”

  Jared’s gaze drifted downward to where Nate held onto Luka. “Are you sure?”

  Luka stared up at Jared. “Please, Jared?” He sounded as if he was going to cry, and his dark eyes were bright. Nate gave his hand a squeeze.

  Jared’s eyes widened at Luka’s plea and then he glanced at the sidewalk, thinking it over. “Okay. Fine.”

  “Really?” Luka sounded excited.

  “Yeah.” Jared stepped toward them. “Burgers sounds great.”

  “I need to text everyone that Luka is okay.” He sent out a quick group text, receiving immediate replies of thank god, and a crying face emoji from Lee, followed by an instruction to kiss Luka silly. He settled for patting Luka on the head. “You worried your Auntie Lee, and you owe her an apology.”

  “Yes, Dad.”

  “Okay. Burgers.” They could eat, say thank you, and then head home.

  After all, accounts didn’t do themselves.

  Chapter Three

  Jared had no idea what’d made him say yes, although it probably had a lot to do with the way Luka looked up at him, dark eyes bright with emotion. He was a sucker for kids, and just as susceptible when it came to tears, as proven by many situations where he’d ended up messing up.

  It wasn’t his fault that he had a soft heart, but he knew it would be the ruin of him one day, and he tried not to want to help everyone in need, but it was hard.

  They crossed the street to the upmarket diner, all wooden tables and paper napkins, a perfect place for a real burger, and secretly one of Jared's favorite places to eat after he'd completed a successful job for Bryant & Waites. Well, any booking for them, as they'd not all ended well.

  "This table okay?" Luka's dad—Nate—asked and gestured to the window with a view, out of the hustle and bustle of tourist traffic. They were lucky, given a review that’d appeared in a Best Burgers in Manhattan blog post on the Food Network website. It was a popular place, and every time Jared had been there, it had been heaving with guests. Maybe they'd missed the early dinner rush and were early for the late dinner rush, but the table was free, and they grabbed it.

  Nate sat next to the window, Luka next to him, and Jared opposite. This way, Jared could pretend to study the menu while observ
ing the two of them, their interactions incredibly sweet. From a psychological perspective, there was an imbalance to a typical family dynamic. Yes, Nate was the dad, but Luka seemed protective of him, fussing over a missing napkin and leaning super close so he could get a hug. Luka was definitely in trouble, contrite, but Nate had slewed from fear to love and panic to anger in quick flashes of bright color, and was now onto gratitude that Luka was okay, tinged with frustration that it’d happened in the first place. Luka loved his dad, that much was sure, and he respected him. That wasn't just a clinical observation. Luka listened as his dad explained to him for the fourth time why it was a heartbreaking and worrying thing Luka had done, all while hugging him and telling him that he loved him.

  Not to mention that Luka had tried his hardest to buy a friend for his dad.

  Did Nate need a friend? He seemed to have received a lot of texts from people happy that Luka was okay, and he was easy on the eyes with his thoughtful dark gaze, plump kissable lips, and his soft brown hair. I bet he has loads of friends.

  "What is it you do, Jared?" Nate asked. "I heard you say studying?"

  Jared couldn't help but noticed the wide-eyed stare that Luka was giving him.

  "I'm doing my master's in psychology and just finished up a short family services work placement. That's where I'm heading hopefully, working with families, one day."

  "How much longer do you have left?"

  "I started late, didn't get to college until I was twenty-three, so I don't know, maybe when I'm thirty, which is two years away still." Jared laughed at his words, although the worry that poked inside wasn't something he could ignore.

  The waitress arrived to take orders. The Tennessee Burger was a popular choice, with all three of them ordering the smoky barbecue goodness, albeit kid-size for Luka.

  "You didn't need to do this," Jared said when the waitress left after filling their water glasses.

  "And you didn't need to help my son, but you did. Where did you come across him?"

  "He was—"

  "You can't tell him," Luka interrupted. "It will spoil his birthday surprise." He added the last part before Nate could stop him, and Jared hid a smile. He wasn't going to spill the details. After all, none of it mattered now, given Luka was safely back with his dad, and they could chalk up the entire incident to a funny thing that’d happened.