Page 12 of Lost Little Boy (Pride Camp 2025 #5)

“I was going to say anyone in the DC office. I think it’s great. Nice to meet you, Perry. Glad to have you on board, and thank you, again.” He turned to Wex. “I’m gone for the rest of the day. Meeting your mother for lunch at the club. You’re in charge if anything comes up. I’ll let Barbara know.”

Wex nodded and walked closer. “Let’s go to my office where we can talk. How’s your day going?”

“Okay. I thought we weren’t going to Pride Camp. I don’t want to take up any more of your time. It’s not that—”

“No. I’ve been reading about it, and I want to go. I thinkit will be good for us.” He led me to a pair of chairs in front of a cluttereddesk, turning them to face each other as he handed me a paper bag. I opened itto find my favorite sandwich and a bag of chips.

“Us? Where’s your lunch?” Was there an us ? At least Iknew why he was giving me the camping related gifts if he still wanted to go,but what was up with the RV and the Hot Wheels truck?

“I already ate. I’ll type while you eat.

Sweet boy, Ibelieve there’s a very good possibility of an us, but only if you want there tobe an us.

It’s completely your choice. Let’s fill out the medical papersrequired by the camp, and we’ll discuss things further tonight on the way toAudi Field.

With the traffic congestion around Arlington, we’ll need to leave soonto be in our seats before the game starts. ”

He looked confident in his words, while my stomach was doingsomersaults. “What do you want to talk about?”

Wex grabbed his laptop and balanced it on his thighs beforegrinning at me. “It’s nothing to worry about. We’ll get to it. Now, do you havean emergency contact?”

I shook my head.

“Who’d you list on your employment application?”

I glanced at the floor, my face flaming as I tried to avoid his eyes. “John Castle.”

“Who’s that?”

I swallowed. “I made him up. I gave HR my roommate’s old cell phone number. I don’t have anyone to use as an emergency contact.”

Wex stared at me for a moment and then typed into the laptop. “I’ll go into your personnel file and change the information when I’m done here. You could get fired for false information on an employment application. I assume you have the company insurance.” He glanced at me, so I nodded.

“Who are you listing as my emergency contact?” Seemed as though I should know.

“Me. And I’ll list myself as your emergency contact in your file.

You have my phone number already, and I have yours.

I’d like you to start texting me when you leave work and when you get home.

Same thing when you leave your apartment in the morning and when you get to work.

I want to know where you are, sweet boy, not because I’m some crazy stalker, but because I care about you and want to be sure you’re okay.

If you need anything, you let me know immediately. ”

I was sure my eyes were the size of dinner plates. “Whywould I do that?” I already took up enough of his time. I refused to take upmore.

Wex closed the laptop and stood, grabbing his suitcoat fromthe back of his door.

“Because I want to know that you’re okay.

It’s importantto me that you are healthy and happy, Perry.

Now, time’s gotten away from me.Let’s go.

I’ll take you to your apartment to change, and we’ll talk more on theway to mine.

I need to change and call one of my reps who is in Uganda on abuying trip, so I’ll wait in the car at your apartment. Now, let’s go.”

Why did I follow him to the supply closet to get my backpack and go to his car? It was as though he’d hypnotized me and I didn’t want to upset him.

When we arrived at my apartment building, I hopped out. “You’ll wait here?”

Wex grinned and held out the keys. “I’m not going anywhere, sweet boy. You can take the keys if you don’t trust me.”

I rolled my eyes. I’d never met anyone like him.

After going inside, I ran up the stairs to my floor and let myself into the apartment.

I hurried to the solarium where I slept on the pullout couch and closed the sliding glass door and the blinds.

I hid my new toys behind the couch with the other things Wex had given me and grabbed a change of clothes.

I hurried into the bathroom, not noticing any sounds from my roommates, and I took a fast shower.

I glanced in the mirror and decided I didn’t have time to shave, so I opened my toiletry kit that I kept on a shelf over the toilet, sliding on deodorant and putting a little product in my wild hair. I combed it and dressed as quickly as possible.

I went to my room to hang my towel and washcloth over the closet door to dry, and I put on my socks and sneakers. When I stepped out of my room, I nearly ran down my roommate, Shane.

“Where you off to? Nora and I were going to order Thai food. We figured you’d want in.” He was so smug I wanted to punch him. I was sure I’d break my hand because I had no idea how to hit anyone, but Shane pissed me off.

“No, thank you. I have a date.” I didn’t think it was too far from the truth.

I wasn’t sure what was going on with Wex and me, but I’d never tell Shane Mills or Nora Lake anything about my personal life. I paid my share of the rent, and that was as far as my interaction with them went.

“Oh? Paid or unpaid?” Shane turned to Nora who was sitting in the living room on the couch with a green mask on her face. They both laughed.

“Nobody’s paying anybody for anything. I gotta go.” I walked down the hallway until Shane grabbed the back of my T-shirt.

I turned to see what he wanted. “It’s a shame it’s not paid. Our rent went up a hundred and fifty bucks. You owe fifty more come June first.”

My third of our rent was now eleven hundred dollars, which seemed high, considering the apartment we had and the idea that I slept on the pullout couch in the solarium off the living room. “I’ll have it.”

I rushed down the stairs and out the front door. Wex was standing outside the car, staring at the building. I looked up at the picture window of our apartment to see Nora and Shane staring back at us .

“Can I ask a favor? Will you kiss me?”

Wex didn’t say a word, pulling me into his arms and brushing his lips over mine before sweeping his tongue over the seam. I opened without hesitation, and he kissed the living daylights out of me.

When Wexler Grassley pulled away, he pecked my lips twice before his face lit up in a big smile, surprising me. “I’ve been waiting for that since the day I met you, sweet boy.”

Stunned. I was beyond stunned, but that didn’t stop me from diving in for another kiss. I had no idea what Wex saw in me, but I was going to take the chance to kiss him again if he’d let me.

He did!