They got talking about his recovery, and Lucas started running him through a series of exercises. He knew Lucas hadaccess to his last X-rays and scans and everything, and his doctors sent notes over so he knew exactly where Caleb was in healing.
He let himself sink into physical stuff, letting his parents go; that was the only way to deal with it. If he thought about it too much, it would just make him sick to his stomach and crazy with rage. How dare they show up as if they had a right to him after all these years? Thank God for Hawk running interference. Caleb would make it up to him in the best way later.
“I think you should probably leave,”Hawk told Caleb's parents.
He honestly couldn't believe they had shown up after Caleb had asked them not to.
Caleb had opened up to him quite a bit over the last couple of weeks about his relationship with his family and how they had pretty much sent him off to compete in the snowboarding world at the age of fifteen without any support at all and without any care for what was going on with his body.
“Caleb needs us,” Mrs. Lancaster said, with the conviction of somebody who was completely delusional.
“Does he, though?” Hawk spread his hands, trying not to loom because using his size against people like Caleb’s parents was not exactly a socially acceptable thing to do. “Looks to me like he didn’t want you here.”
She firmed her lips and her eyes flashed with something ugly. “Caleb doesn’t know what he wants. He’s been doing that sports thing since he was so young, and now it’s time for him to come back and have a life. Meet a nice girl. Settle down.”
A bark of laughter flew from his mouth, and it sounded kind of like a duck quacking. Hawk winced because that was an awful sound, but he couldn’t help it. “I think that bird had probably flown out the window at this point, ma’am. He has a nice boy though. My name is Hawk Montineau. I’m a sports guy too, so maybe you won’t approve, but I don’t think Caleb really cares. I certainly don’t. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Her face pinched into a sour expression, and she opened her mouth as if she was going to lay into him, but Caleb’s dad stepped up and put a hand around her upper arm. “I think it’s time we go home, Lori.”
Caleb’s mom whipped around to look at her husband. “What?”
“I said, let’s go home. Caleb doesn’t want us here, and he’s obviously in good hands.” The man looked Hawk up and down. “I appreciate you taking care of him. Come on now, Lori, let’s go.”
She protested but he tugged her along, eventually leaving the office. Hawk heard her protesting most of the way down the hall, but as soon as the door closed behind them, his shoulders relaxed.
“Wow.” Angel, the receptionist, arched a dark eyebrow at him, her expression shocked, “It’s hard to believe those two are related to Caleb.”
“Yeah, it totally is, but it went better than I expected. I didn’t think his dad would step in like that.”
“Yeah, that was a relief. You don’t think they’re going to be lying in wait for you when he gets out, do you?”
“I’ll go check here in a few minutes to make sure they’ve left.” He wasn’t going to make Caleb walk out into the hall or even the parking lot and face his parents again.
“Good deal. Do you want a cup of coffee or something?We even have some doughnuts back in the break room. Some caffeine and sugar would probably do you some good.”
Hawk blew out of breath and smiled at her. “I think that sounds great. I would love a doughnut.”
“How do you take your coffee?”
He raised an eyebrow. “How bad is it?”
“Eh, it’s marginal.”
“Some cream or creamer then would be great.” He paced around the office to get rid of some of his nervous energy, but he felt good. He had helped Caleb out with his folks and defended him in the only way he could. It felt like it was real, like that was actually his job, and that he and Caleb were a unit together, which was new and kind of wonderful.
And when Caleb got out of physical therapy, Hawk would take him home and spend a bunch of time making sure he knew Hawk was there for him, and that he never had to deal with his parents again if he didn’t want to.
Right now he would have a bad cup of doctor’s office coffee and maybe call his mom. He needed a dose of the right kind of parenting, stat.
Twenty-Four
Caleb lay in bed with Hawk, tracing patterns on his chest. They were back at the condo and, he had to admit, the view there made a lot of things worth it. Even if the pizza wasn’t as good as it was in Idaho Springs.
Hawk seemed to be dozing, his chest rising and falling evenly. They’d gone to bed when they got home, letting Caleb rest after physio, letting him get over his folks just… showing up. Like they would actually help by being there. As if they had a right to after everything.
Jesus.
“Mmm.” Hawk reached up to grab his hand, yawning. “You’re getting all tense again.”