“It’s been a rough road for you with her, what she experienced growing up, even when you got together, it wasn’t going to be easy,” Hawk remarked. “Still, sucks to hear that it’s not only not easy, but also confusing.”

“Definitely sucks,” Axl agreed. “Though, appreciate you talkin’ it out with me.”

Hawk sat back again and replied, “Anytime.”

Axl stood.

Surprisingly, Hawk didn’t.

“Again, gratitude,” Axl said. “I was at a loss. Now I’m not. It’s important so it’s good to have a path.”

Hawk nodded.

Axl moved to the door.

“Axe?” Hawk called.

He turned to his boss.

And it felt like someone punched him in the sternum when he saw the look on Hawk’s face.

A look he couldn’t quite read.

But he could feel it.

“You know what fucks me?” Hawk asked quietly.

“No,” Axl forced out.

“That you came to me with this.”

And a sock to the gut.

“Sorry, I—”

“No,” Hawk bit off. “That you came to me because you can’t go to your dad. That fucks me, Axl. Because I’m honored you felt safe sitting across from me and talking this through. But you should feel safe with your dad. You do not. And that pisses me right the fuck off.”

Axl said nothing.

He felt a number of things.

But he said nothing.

Hawk did.

“I got two boys,” Hawk told him something he knew. “If I knew Asher or Bruno went to another man for advice on anything, something important like this, or which protein powder worked best, I fuck you not, I’d die a little inside.”

It wasn’t easy, but Axl swallowed.

“What I’m sayin’ is, I get you’re flyin’ blind with this,” Hawk continued. “You don’t have a father who acts as a foundation for you, Hattie doesn’t either, so you gotta search for the path forward rather than knowing it or having your personal path lead to your father’s door for guidance. So I’m glad you took the time to come up here, man. I just caution you to realize you are lacking the same thing Hattie is and don’t get lost in that. You made the right choice today, coming up here. And as shit progresses with Hattie’s dad, remember, that path is always open to you. I don’t have all the answers. What I will always have is the time to listen and work shit through.”

His throat feeling tight, Axl nodded.

Hawk was older, but not old enough to be his father.

But fuck, he was glad he’d found a man like Hawk to be his mentor.

“Right. Later, Axl,” Hawk finished it for both of them.

“Later, Hawk.”

And with them exchanging chin lifts, Axl walked out of Hawk’s office.

Chapter Seventeen

Two Drawers

Axl