Here Comes Trouble (Nothing Special #3)(64)

Green stood there with his mouth open. He couldn’t recall it. But if Ruxs said he’d said it, then he must have. And if Ruxs heard it then that meant —.

“Did you not mean to say that?” Curtis soft voice was just loud enough for him to make out what he’d said.

Green closed his door, and walked down to the end of the hall where Curtis stood in his doorway. He rubbed tiredly at his eyes, wincing when he brushed across the bruise underneath his left eye. His hair was matted to one side of his head and his new robe hung off one of his shoulders.

“I said it. I meant it.” Green pulled Curtis’ robe up on him and held him by his shoulders. “I may have said it in the midst of an argument but it doesn’t mean it was a mistake. I’m sorry if it upset you. I know you probably don’t want to overanalyze our relationship right now, but I’ve always felt closer to you than the other guys do. I don’t know why. It’s just there.”

Curtis gave him a shy smile and it almost stopped his heart. “I know. I think I felt you and Ruxs were more like dads and the other guys are like really cool older brothers.”

Green smiled back at him. He was glad he hadn’t offended or upset Curtis by blurting that out when he did.

“So. Do I have to go back to the foster home in a couple days?” Curtis said shakily.

“No. Absolutely not. The judge will sign the temporary order for you to be in my custody first thing in the morning. The papers are already on his desk for when he gets in tomorrow.” Green said with confidence, eager to put Curtis’ mind at ease.

Curtis threw his arms around Green’s shoulders. “Thank you so much.”

Green held him back. “I’d do anything for you, you know that.”

“Yeah I do.” Curtis sighed, chewing nervously at his bottom lip. “Is it um. Um. Can I. Can I c-call you Dad?”

Green held his chest and chuckled heartily. Curtis looked a little taken aback before Green explained his amusement. “I’m laughing because I was trying to think of a way to ask you to call me Dad.”

Curtis looked relieved too. Green cupped the side of Curtis face and brought him in for another hug. They held each other for a long while before a deep voice broke into their bonding.

“I wouldn’t mind either… being called Dad. Just in case either of you were wondering,” Ruxs said softly, leaning against Green’s bedroom door watching them.

Curtis ran down to Ruxs and tackled him with a playful hug like they usually exchanged. “I wouldn’t mind two dads.” Curtis laughed as Ruxs ruffled his hair.

“How are you feeling, Curtis? You must be starving,” Green said, his fatherly role already like second nature. He’d practically been doing it for the past three years.

“No. I ate a small plate while you were napping, then your mom made me go back to sleep before she left.” Curtis laughed. “Besides, I think I just want to hang out in my cool new room.” He beamed.

He ran back into his room and jumped on the bed like a wild man. Ruxs and Green laughed. Thank god their Curtis was still here. Those boys at the group home hadn’t broken his beautiful spirit permanently.

“I was hoping you’d like it,” Green said, looking around at the newly decorated room. He hadn’t noticed the eclectic area rug or the new desk in the far corner. It made sense. Curtis was an honor student; he’d need a quiet place to study. The room looked amazing. His mom and friends had done a lot in such a short amount of time.

“Hey,” Ruxs said, pushing Green out the way to get to Curtis new entertainment system. “Is that the new Playstation 4?”

“Yep.” Curtis grinned slyly, still jumping on his queen-sized bed. “I got Call of Duty Warfare and GTA5. Furi bought it for me,” Curtis boasted.

“Let’s put this one downstairs in the entertainment room,” Ruxs said, eyeing the game system enviously.

“Um. Let me think about that,” Curtis said sarcastically. First he did a back flip on the bed, then looked at Ruxs. “Nope.”

Ruxs reached over, grabbed Curtis’ feet and yanked, making him crash down to the plush mattress, cracking up in a fit of laughter. “You little spoiled twerp.” Ruxs chased Curtis around his room trying to take the game controller.

Oh boy. Green’s smile faded as he watched Curtis wrestle the new controller from his other dad. He had to get this under control. He wanted Curtis to be happy and comfortable in his new home, but he also needed him to grieve properly. He had his mom’s funeral in two days; he didn’t want Curtis avoiding his feelings with video games, shiny new electronics, and a considerable amount of extra money in his bank account. Thanks to Day.

“Curtis you want to talk for a little while, son?” Curtis stopped laughing and came over to him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked nervously.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Green turned to face him. “I just thought maybe you’d want to talk you know… about your mom. We haven’t had the chance to yet.”

Ruxs came and stood beside him. “I’m sorry, buddy. Your dad’s right, you can talk to us, it’ll be good for you.”

Green smiled the way Ruxs worded that. He didn’t think he’d ever tire of hearing himself referred to as a dad.

Curtis shrugged. “Naw. Vicki said everything has been handled.”