Nick’s eyes watered from the effort it took to hold back the hysterical laughter that was busting to get out. He couldn’t wait to relay this conversation to Sam. “Listen, buddy, I told you the truth because you asked me an honest question, and I always want to tell you the truth, but you shouldn’t talk about this at school with the other guys, okay?”

“But I know something they don’t know now.”

“True, but a grown-up guy keeps stuff like this to himself. And I think you’re a pretty grown-up guy.”

“You do? Really?”

“I wouldn’t have told you if I didn’t think you were grown-up enough to handle it.”

Scotty glowed with pleasure at the compliment, which made Nick glow on the inside.

“So why did you pick me up? Is something wrong?”

“Not with anyone in our family.”

“Then who?”

“Let’s get some ice cream at the Senate Dining Room and talk about it.”

“Okay.”

Always intuitive, Scotty was subdued as they arrived at the Capitol and were escorted by their agents to the dining room, which was largely deserted in the middle of the afternoon. After they ordered ice cream sundaes, Scotty remained unusually quiet. “Is there something wrong with the adoption?”

The question hit Nick’s heart like an arrow. Was Scotty worried about that? “No, buddy. There’s nothing to worry about there. The social workers are recommending approval, and we’re just waiting on a court date to make it official. Anytime now.” Because of who he was, Nick had been assured the date would be sooner rather than later. It was the first time he’d deliberately used his status and clout to get what he wanted, and he was perfectly fine with using it for this very good cause. “Have you been worried about it?”

Scotty shrugged. “Not really.”

Nick waited for the boy to look up at him and saw the truth in his expression.

“Kind of.”

He reached for Scotty’s hand and held on tight. “There’s nothing to worry about. I promise. If there was, I’d tell you.”

“You would? Because I was thinking you wouldn’t tell me cuz you wouldn’t want me to worry.”

“I don’t want you to worry, but I promise right here and right now that I’ll always tell you the truth about important stuff like this—and when you ask me about stuff like...”

“Blow jobs?” Scotty asked with the irascible grin that was much more in keeping with what Nick had come to expect from him.

“That too,” Nick said with a grimace that made Scotty laugh.

Fortunately, their ice cream arrived and he was saved from having to revisit that unsettling topic.

“So what’s going on?” Scotty asked between huge mouthfuls of ice cream and hot fudge and whipped cream.