Page 14 of Lost Little Boy (Pride Camp 2025 #5)

“We have a two-bedroom unit that will be available the first of July. I was notified yesterday. Currently, a couple lives there—or I think they’re a couple—but they’re moving out because they’re graduating from college and relocating out of the area.

Uh, it’s nine hundred square feet. Two bedrooms and one and a half baths. It has a sunroom, too.”

I was speaking with the leasing agent for Kinwood Run, the apartment complex where Perry lived with two roommates.

During the soccer game I’d found out how much he paid for his part of the rent, and there was no way in hell a nine hundred square feet, two bedroom, one and a half bath with a solarium apartment could cost thirty-three hundred dollars a month— if they were each paying the same amount in rent. Something sounded fishy.

The four apartment buildings in the complex were in need of repairs, and the location wasn’t ideal when it came to ease of transportation around the area.

It wasn’t near enough to the Pentagon for military families with more than one child to live there, and since the apartments were so small, I was guessing most of the units were being rented by students, which explained why a unit was becoming vacant in July.

“What floor is it on? It’s for my mother, and I don’t want her to have to walk up too many steps.” My mother would rather pitch a tent in the woods than live in a walk-up apartment building. To say I’d been born into a family of privilege was an understatement.

“It’s on the second floor, but there’s a freight elevator in the back near the parking area that she would be welcome to use.

We only allow tenants to use it for moving, but I’ll make an exception in your mother’s case.

” He was very accommodating—or so he sounded.

I wondered what happened when it came to honoring his word?

“How much is the rent?” That was the million-dollar question.

“It’s two grand a month. I have a one bedroom coming up in August for eleven hundred. When does she need to move?”

“Her house has sold, and she needs to move by the end of July. Is there any way I can see the two-bedroom place? She has a lot of stuff she’ll need space for.”

Seriously, Perry’s roommates were charging him half the rent and splitting the other half, both of those assholes acting as if he was getting a bargain? I’d like to bitch-slap them both .

“I’ll notify them that you need to come in. Is Friday okay?”

“Afternoon, please.”

“How’s one o’clock?” he asked.

“Perfect. Thank you. I’ll see you then.”

I hung up, seething. How dare those asshole roommates take advantage of Perry. I wasn’t going to say anything to him yet. It was too soon for me to suggest he move in with me, wasn’t it?

Hell, I was currently living in corporate housing and still had an apartment in New York. I needed to figure out what I wanted to do about my job and soon, especially after my meeting with my father earlier in the day. I couldn’t make any promises to Perry until I had my own shit decided.

I went to the sandwich shop across the street, surprised to see Perry sitting alone at a table. It was three in the afternoon, and I’d thought he’d have eaten at his usual one or one-thirty lunchtime.

I walked over to his table and smiled. “Is this taken?” I pointed to the chair across from him.

“You didn’t let me know you were having a late lunch. I’d have come with you.” He hadn’t yet agreed to my requests that he text me in the morning and when he arrived at work, so I didn’t know what time he’d arrived.

Perry looked at me, his face pale. I sat, noticing he had a sandwich in front of him, but he hadn’t taken a bite. “Sweet boy, what’s wrong?”

His eyes were vacant when I moved my head to catch his attention. “Perry, tell me what’s wrong.”

“My roommate Shane called me a while ago and said I had to move out by Friday morning. Nora and he are moving to Atlanta, apparently. The leasing office guy wants to show the apartment on Friday afternoon, and I’m an illegal tenant, which I didn’t know.

I still owe my share of the June rent, which means I won’t have money for a deposit on a place of my own.

” He picked up a napkin and covered his eyes. My heart broke for him.

I put his sandwich and chips back in the bag and stood from the table. “Come on. Let’s go back. You can eat at the table in my office.”

After more coaxing, Perry stood from the table and grabbed his drink before I took his calloused hand in mine to lead him across the street and up the elevator.

When we got off on the executive floor, I waved my badge over the security box and led him to my office.

I closed the door to allow him his privacy, and I put his food on the small table in the corner. “Sit, please.”

Perry pulled out the chair and sat down while I took the other one. The expression on his beautiful face wasn’t what I wanted to see there. It was as though the light had been extinguished in his soul.

“Tell me again what happened.”

Perry took a drink from his straw and glanced at the bag, pushing it toward me. “I’m not hungry. Did you eat yet, Daddy?”

My heart pounded at hearing him call me Daddy, but it might have been a slip of the tongue, so I didn’t point it out. I took the sandwich out of the bag and unwrapped it, taking half and pushing the other half toward him. “Eat, sweet boy.”

“I can’t, Daddy. I’m going to be homeless today. I have to get my stuff or they’ll throw it away.” I saw the tears pool in his brown eyes.

“No, they won’t. Let me handle this, please.”

Perry was crushed, but he finally nodded. I pushed the sandwich toward him again. “Will you please eat and let me handle this for you?”

“It’s not your problem, Wex.” Perry wiped his eyes and opened the sandwich. He took a bite of what appeared to be a turkey and cheese sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and mayo.

“Yes, Perry, it is my problem because I want to take care of you. I want to make your life easier, but I won’t push myself into your life.

I’m asking you to let me help you. I’m not saying you can’t take care of yourself, but I’ve been around the block a time or two, and I might know some tricks to help you out. ” I held my breath.

Perry stared at me before wiping his eyes with his fingertips. “Why do you want to help me?”

I stood from my chair and walked around to him, kneeling and taking both of his hands in mine. “Because I believe we are meant to be together, sweet boy. Let me help you, and I’ll let you help me.”

“Help you with what?” He truly seemed mystified that he had anything to give me.

“You can help me by letting me watch you shine. I want to see you blossom and grow, Perry. Watching you find whatever you’re looking for will make me happier than I’ve been my whole life.” God knew I meant it.

Perry finally put his arms around my neck and held me close. I wrapped him up and held him tight. “Will you let me help you?” I rubbed my hand over his back, hoping to give him some comfort.

“Yes, Daddy.”

“You can come stay with me at the corporate apartment while we figure out what to do about your living situation, okay?” I put my finger under his chin and lifted his head to gaze into those big browns. I kissed his forehead, and he finally smiled.

My heart was happy.