Obsessed

Chapter 61

The next few days passed in a blur of caffeine, case files, restless nights, and early mornings. Mark barely remembered when he last slept a full eight hours, and Kyle—annoying, sharp-tongued Kyle—never stopped talking.

They were in Mark’s truck, headed toward a small lead about a man who might’ve worked security near the docks warehouse, when Mark’s phone buzzed against the dash. He glanced at the screen and saw Ronnie’s name.

He picked it up immediately, pressing the phone to his ear as a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Hey, babe.”

Her voice came through in a rush. “Hey—Mark, sorry to call, but Theo got into a fight at school. They’re asking for someone to pick him up, and I’m stuck at the courthouse. I’m number six on the docket, and they just called number four.”

Mark smirked, already turning the wheel toward the next exit. Her voice was laced with guilt, and he could practically see her pacing in those heels, biting her lip like she always did when flustered.

“You need me to get him?” he asked.

“I wouldn’t ask if I had another choice. Marvin and Gale are working from home, but they can’t leave the house right now—they said they’ll take him once he’s dropped off.”

Mark glanced at Kyle, who was watching the road ahead like nothing was happening. “I’ll go get him,” he said casually, his tone teasing.

Ronnie exhaled audibly through the phone. “Thank you. Seriously. I’m so sorry.”

Mark shook his head. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You can just… make it up to me later.”

There was a pause. Then a quiet, mischievous giggle. “Anything you want.”

Mark raised an eyebrow, already knowing Kyle could hear everything. “Anything?” he asked, low and teasing.

Ronnie snorted softly. “Don’t push your luck. I have to go—they just called my name. Thank you again. I love you.”

His heart did that small leap it always did when she said that. Still not used to hearing it, still trying to believe it. “I love you too,” he said before the line disconnected.

He let the phone fall into the console tray. A small, stupid smile tugged at his lips.

Kyle, of course, noticed.

“Damn. L-word already? Things must be serious,” he said, smirking as he looked out the window.

The smile vanished from Mark’s face almost instantly. “We need to make a pit stop.”

Kyle blinked. “What?”

“Change of plans.”

They pulled into the school parking lot fifteen minutes later. Mark parked with precision, throwing the truck into park harder than necessary.

Kyle looked around, confused. “Wait—Veronica’s got a kid?”

Mark was already opening the door. “Little brother. She takes care of him.”

Kyle’s brows shot up. “She just keeps getting more and more perfect, doesn’t she?”

Mark’s jaw clenched as he got out without a word.

Inside the school, the front office smelled like disinfectant and old printer ink. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Mark walked to the front desk. A secretary barely glanced up before pointing to the chairs in the corner.

Mark followed the gesture—and there was Theo, curled up in the far chair with a slightly swollen lip and a band-aid stuck haphazardly on his temple. His hair was a mess, and his sweatshirt was stretched out at the collar like someone had grabbed it hard.

Theo looked up and immediately perked. “Mark!”

Mark gave him a once-over and sighed. “You look like hell, buddy.”

Theo grinned, teeth slightly pink from the busted lip. “You should see the other guy.”

Mark raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

The guidance counselor walked over. “Are you Mr. Marshalls? Veronica Summers put you down as an emergency contact.”

“I am. She stuck at court.”

“She let us know. Theo got into a physical altercation today. We’ve called the other child’s parents, and we’ve informed Ms. Summers that a suspension may be on the table.”

Mark looked down at Theo, then back at the woman. “What happened?”

“Theo can explain,” she said curtly before walking back to her desk.

Mark crouched next to Theo. “All right, champ. Talk to me.”

Theo’s feet swung above the floor. “There was this girl in class—Olivia. She was crying ‘cause this jerk kept making fun of her for needing extra time on the test. Nobody was doing anything, and he wouldn’t stop, so I stood up.”

“And what happened?”

“I told him to leave her alone. He laughed. So I punched him in the nose.”

Mark stared at him for a beat. “Jesus, Theo.”

“I think I broke it,” Theo added proudly. “He was bleeding a lot.”

Mark scrubbed a hand down his face, half-sighing, half-smiling. “You know you’re not supposed to hit people, right?”

Theo’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah…”

“But…”

“But he was being mean, and she was scared. And no one was doing anything. He shoved her. So I shoved back.”

Mark exhaled slowly, rubbing his shoulder. “All right. Let’s go. You’re riding with me.”

Theo nodded and grabbed his backpack, which looked like it had been through a war. As they walked toward the doors, Mark threw a glance back at the secretary, giving her a small nod.

Outside, the sky was pale blue and chilly. Kyle was leaning against the truck, arms crossed, sunglasses on.

“Damn,” he said as Theo climbed into the backseat. “Kid’s got guts.”

Mark gave him a warning look before sliding back into the driver’s seat.

Kyle whistled under his breath. “She’s not even his mom, and she’s raising him on her own? She’s something else.”

Mark turned the key in the ignition. “Yeah. She is.”

The truck was quiet for a while. Mark kept his eyes on the road, letting the silence settle, giving Theo time to decompress. He could see the kid in the rearview mirror, legs swinging, eyes on the window. A storm brewing behind those bright blue eyes.

Kyle, on the other hand, couldn’t leave silence alone if his life depended on it.

“So,” Kyle said, twisting in his seat to glance back, “you’re Theo, huh?”

Theo didn’t respond.

“I’m Kyle. I work with Mark.”

Theo blinked slowly, unimpressed. “I know. You talk a lot.”

Mark bit the inside of his cheek.

Kyle laughed, taking the hit in stride. “Fair enough. You always this feisty?”

Theo turned his head, his tone deadpan. “Only when I have to ride in a truck with someone who smells like a walking Hollister ad.”

Mark snorted hard, eyes flicking to the rearview.

Kyle frowned. “Hollister?”

Theo sighed dramatically. “It means you’re wearing too much cologne. You smell like a d-bag.”

Mark covered his mouth with his hand, biting down on his knuckle to keep from laughing outright.

Kyle blinked at him, then looked back at Theo. “Damn, Mark. You sure this isn’t your kid?”

Theo crossed his arms. “I’d be taller.”

“Ouch,” Kyle muttered, turning forward again. “Kid’s a savage.”

Mark cleared his throat, finally managing to speak. “You kind of walked into that one.”

Kyle gestured vaguely. “All I did was say hi!”

“Maybe tone it down on the cologne,” Mark suggested, smirking. “You’ve been gassing up the bullpen all week.”

Theo leaned forward. “Do girls actually like that smell? Because it’s kind of… gross.”

Mark chuckled, pulling onto a quiet suburban street flanked by tall trees and well-kept lawns. “Most don’t. But Kyle’s still figuring that out.”

Kyle raised his hands in defeat. “Okay, okay. I get it. No more cologne.”

“You’ll forget tomorrow,” Theo muttered.

Mark shook his head with a grin as he parked in front of Marvin and Gale’s place.

The house stood with charm and confidence—dark blue siding, black trim, and pride flags fluttering gently near the front porch. The flowerbeds were freshly turned. The curtains in the front window shifted slightly, as if someone had just peeked out.

Mark turned off the ignition. “Come on, tough guy. Let’s get you inside.”

Theo unbuckled, grabbing his backpack. As soon as he stepped out, he paused and looked up at Mark.

“I’m not grounded, right?”

Mark held the door open for him. “I’m not the boss, remember?”

“You kind of are.”

Mark’s expression softened, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he scooped the boy up easily—Theo protesting half-heartedly the whole way—and carried him toward the door.

“I can walk, you know!”

“You’ve had a rough day. Let me be the hero this time.”

Theo gave him a suspicious squint but didn’t fight it.

Mark knocked once before the door swung open. Marvin stood there in a crisp button-up and lounge pants, his reading glasses perched on his nose and a Bluetooth headset in one ear.

“Well,” Marvin said, grinning, “looks like someone had a day.”

“He gave a kid a bloody nose,” Mark said casually.

“Because he was bullying a girl,” Theo added quickly.

Marvin’s smile faltered for a moment, but then he nodded, stepping aside. “Well, in that case—get in here, kid. We’ll have a talk about fighting and feminism.”

Theo gave Mark one last look before slipping inside.

Marvin glanced at Mark. “Thanks for grabbing him.”

“Anytime,” Mark said.

Gale appeared behind Marvin, already holding a cold compress. “Hey Mark! Want to stay for coffee?”

Mark shook his head with a smile. “I’ve got to get back to work before Kyle makes friends with more kids.”

Gale laughed. “Our guest with the scent trail? Poor guy.”

Mark snorted. “You have no idea.”

He gave a small wave and stepped off the porch, heading back to the truck where Kyle was waiting—this time, with the windows down.