Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters #1)(9)
“Fine. I’m on my way to the Macy’s at the mall after I have breakfast.”
“The mall.” Quick cringed.
“I need to pick up a jacket or something to wear tomorrow. Nothing fits me anymore and I don’t want to only wear a collared shirt.”
“You need some help?”
“I can manage, Quick. It’s just a jacket. I was gonna come by last night but got called out to Fulton for a bond. Vaughan had invited me, so I thought I’d swing by.” There was a pause before the background noise died down. “Hey, buddy. How’s it been going with Vaughan?”
Vaughan’s eyes widened. He gestured to his dad, not wanting to talk out loud. Say great, say great. He tried to mouth, but his dad obviously couldn’t read lips.
“He’s fine. Why?”
“Um. Nothing. Nothing at all. He just seems different now.”
Vaughan really started gesturing. “Tell him I’m more mature,” he whispered harshly.
His dad covered the speaker. “I’m not about to pimp you, Vaughan.”
“Dad. Come on,” he begged.
Vaughan watched his dad slap his hand to his forehead, groaning in irritation.
“Quick. Quick are you there?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I heard you, I was just checking the caller ID, thought I heard it beep. But, um. Vaughan—he has changed. He’s the man I raised him to be. Smart, mature as hell. Focused, driven.”
Vaughan gave his dad a thumbs up and a motion that said keep talking, which made Quick roll his eyes even harder.
“That’s cool. I know you and Remy are proud as hell. A lawyer, that’s pretty amazing.”
“Yep. He showed me the pen you gave him. That was awesome, dude. Nice job. He was ecstatic.”
Vaughan frowned at his dad.
Duke laughed and it made Vaughan smile. “I’m glad he liked it. Hey, um. Make sure to tell him he’s invited to Charlie’s retirement party.”
“Sure will.”
“Talk to you later, bud.”
After the line went dead, Vaughan felt an amazing surge of energy.
“Son. I’m gonna ask you this one more time.”
“Don’t Dad. I confessed to you years ago that I had a thing for Duke. Always have. Nothing’s changed.”
“Why don’t you want to wait and see if you meet someone in Atlanta? The market ain’t bad out here. You could meet a nice young lawyer when you start your new job, anything could happen.”
Vaughan just barely refrained from yelling. “I’ve been to the other side of the world and back and I’ve still never met a man like Duke. Key word is ‘man.’ I don’t want some young guy that’s most likely still in the closet or god knows what types of hang-ups and complexes he might have. Still wanting to party and binge drink all night. I don’t have time for that shit.” Vaughan frowned. “You keep saying you support me in this, but you keep trying to get me to change my mind.”
His father stood and walked over to him. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I know. But I won’t be until I have Duke.”
Quick breathed out slowly and nodded his head. “Okay, then.”
Vaughan darted up the stairs.
“Hey. Where you going? I thought you were gonna work out.”
“I need a new jacket for the party tomorrow.”
He heard Quick’s laughter before the reply. “You have more suit jackets than a congressman.”
When Vaughan came back down twenty minutes later in a pair of jeans, an untucked beige collared shirt and a camel colored blazer, his dad whistled at him. “Let me guess. You’re going to Macy’s.”
Vaughan winked, tucking his wallet in his back pocket. “Not usually where I shop, but I’m sure I’ll find something.”
“I’m sure you will,” Quick said softly, still nursing his coffee.
Vaughan went over and looked down at him. He was still a magnificent man. Why he chose to stay home night after night and not date was beyond Vaughan’s understanding. His father was tall, thick upper body and lean hips, built just like him. His hair was a little gray at the temples, but was still long and full. His tattoos were cool as shit and went up both arms. He could surely pull a hottie. What was his deal? “Why don’t me and you go paint the town red tonight, huh? It’s the weekend, let’s let loose.”
His dad looked up at him with an identical charming smile to the one that he saw in the mirror each day. “Really. Just me and you?”
“Just me and you.”
“Sounds good.” His father clapped his big hands together and rubbed them like he was already set to go. “Father and son on the prowl.”
“I’ll be back soon. We’ll start at a happy hour somewhere and see where the night takes us,” he said, almost to the front door.
“You got it.” Was the answer he barely heard when he was already half-way out the door.
Duke hated malls with a passion, but sometimes they were a necessary evil. He went in through the mall entrance and fought the weekend crowds to get to Macy’s. He didn’t shop much, but he heard that Macy’s had a nice selection of men’s business and casualwear. Maybe a bottle of cologne would be a good idea, too. Duke was just able to keep himself from smiling. He felt like he was going on his first date. He remembered fussing over his outfits, pulling everything he had out of the closet. His dad had got tired of him trying stuff on and ended up calling his mom over to help him. They were divorced most of his life, but they had stayed good friends.