Page 44 of Carver
He felt so much hope.
“Let’s go to breakfast then. Remember, you don’t have to be around anyone you don’t want to. The minute you’re uncomfortable, we’ll leave.”
Gideon didn’t respond to Carver’s words. If anything, he seemed to stand taller with them. As if he believed he held the power to change how the morning went.
If he only knew how true it was.
Everything Carver did was based around Gideon. Even if the boy never knew, Carver and his men did. They made concessions left and right to keep the president at ease. Granted, most of the Angels suspected the reason for their boss being in the wind more than ever. It was only those close to Carver that knew the truth.
When they reached the main room, several gazes turned their way. The women weren’t out there, likely because they were making plates in the kitchen. Carver took that as a victory.
As his eyes met those of his men, he saw confusion on their faces. Whether it was from the way Gideon held his hand or because the boy was out of the room for the first time since that first day, Carver wasn’t sure.
Thankfully, his men turned away when they saw his glare. They knew him well enough to understand what he was saying without him having to spell it out.
Hex popped up before they could reach the office area, which was where Carver intended to take Gideon. The need to return to their bubble was overwhelming. It wasn’t his sweet boy who was bothered this time.
No, it was Carver who felt like clawing his skin off. He wanted to be alone with Gideon. Wanted all those nosy eyes to leave them be.
“Where are you two headed? And why didn’t I get an invite?” Hex prodded.
Carver shook his head at the other man. Gideon didn’t respond, which was normal. His gaze stayed on Hex though, and the Angels in the room noticed. Carver wondered if they understood how big of a deal it was for Gideon to make that type of eye contact with someone.
“He wanted to join me down here for breakfast today. I figured with the women working in the kitchen, I could take him to my office.”
“Need me to grab some plates?”
Carver smiled. “That would be great, Hex. Appreciate it.”
“Anything for boss and little boss.”
Gideon flushed at the title. Carver found it adorable, as did some of the men if their sappy looks were anything to go by. They were all ignored in favor of reaching their destination. The longer they were out in the open, the greater the possibility something could go wrong.
As Hex left them, Carver continued them on the path to his office. Inside the space, he pointed to the chair behind his desk for Gideon to sit in. The boy stared at him curiously, as if he were unsure.
“I promise it’s ok. It’s normally my seat, but I figure you don’t want to be by the door in case anyone pops in. They’re known to do that around here, especially when they know I’m inside my office. It’s like they live to annoy me.”
Gideon sank into Carver’s desk chair after that. He must have heard the sincerity in Carver’s tone. That or he also didn’t like the idea of people barging in.
Before the silence between them could become unbearable, Hex returned with two plates loaded down with food. “Here we go. Two breakfast platters with a bit of everything.”
“There’s no way he’ll be able to eat all this, but thanks for looking out. Do you mind also watching the door while we eat? I’d rather not have any surprise company.”
Hex saluted the pair and then winked. “Can do!”
After he left, Carver settled one plate atop his desk. It balanced precariously against the piles he’d let build up since Gideon’s arrival.
Carver moved one of the visitor chairs closer to his desk, then took his own plate up. “Time to dig in, sweet boy. I’m sure you’re starved.”
Gideon tilted his head. Carver knew he wanted to relay something, though he wasn’t sure what it could be. They’d made it all the way downstairs. Had reached the office without incident. Hex had brought them their food. There shouldn’t have been anything amiss.
But then Gideon looked from his food to Carver and back. It was as if the light in his mind finally came on.
“You want me to feed you?”
It wasn’t anything Carver wasn’t used to. Some days, Gideon ate just fine on his own. Others he needed the help to guide him. Carver figured today was of the former variety since the boy had managed the trip out of the bedroom.
When Gideon gave him a slow nod, Carver almost forgot the question. He’d been too deep in his inner turmoil over how he’d misread the situation.