Book 3: Saving Scars {BoyxBoy}

Chapter 13

"Let's see, Jensen Reid was it?" Anthony was tapping his chin, his head tilted acutely to the side as he hummed out in contemplation, before he shook his head, "Sorry, I've never heard that name before."

Collin let out and exasperated sigh from where he had been leaning with his elbows against the rounded table top, pushing away to slump against the back of his chair. It was around one o'clock, the sun was shining brightly in the clear blue sky, and Collin was sitting with Anthony at an outside table at a local cafe. Shockingly enough, it was Collin who had contacted Anthony. Now that had been an interesting phone call. At first Anthony thought he wanted a blessing to marry Emmet, but after getting cursed at for ten minutes, he realized that's not why Collin had called.

The way Collin had put it, ever since Emmet's old military friends had shown up, he had been extremely suspicious of the name printed on the dog tags they had presented to Emmet. Jensen Reid. He would have as led Emmet straight out, but...he couldn't bring himself to do so for some reason. He wanted to know about Emmet's time in the military, more than anything, but the idea that it could hurt Emmet emotionally, or send him into another panic attack...Collin didn't want to see him like that again. So he decoded the next best thing would be to confide in Emmet's brother. Surely he knew something, right?

Evidently not.

Anthony was rubbing his chin, his expression remaining in that deep-in-thought look as he hummed out again, "To be honest, Emmet never talked about the military when he got back. He still doesn't. Not to me anyways. He was really quiet, and he always looked sad. I think he talked to Uncle Ben, but...not to me," he looked frustrated because of the fact, and he dropped his hands to the table, "Honestly I'm still upset about it. I mean, we used to be so close, we told each other everything. He was the first one I talked to about wanting to get that surgery. After he came home from the military...," he shook his head.

Collin swallowed to wet his dry throat, "Do you think your uncle knows who this Reid guy is?"

Anthony lifted his gaze to Collin, a smile on his lips that looked more forced than anything, "Why, Mr. Ackley, you aren't jealous, are you?"

The blush that raged over Collin's cheeks betrayed the vehement rejection that spouted from his lips, "No! No way! Fuck that! Absolutely not! No way in hell! There's no way on all of hell I would be jealous! Why would I?! I don't care! I don't care at all! Why would I care about that big boulder of a man?! I don't! I was just...I was just curious, because that was the name on those tags Emmet got from his jerk military buddies! That's it! That's all it is!"

Anthony threw his head back in hysterical laughter, "Whatever Cray-Cray. Here, maybe I can help with all of this after all. I mean, I don't know who Jensen Reid is, but I know someone who might," his baby blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he slipped out Jo's red-gold and blue phone, hitting one of the speed dials and pressing the device to his ear. He waited a moment as the other side rang, looking at his nails in fascination before sitting straighter, "Hey DerDer! Its Anthony! Is Isa there?"

Collin involuntarily leaned forward as he heard a muffled voice scream through the phone, "Don't fucking call me that!"

Anthony began giggling like an idiot from the demand, obviously enjoying the reaction he'd gotten, "But it suits you so well! Hey, I was wondering if you had some time off?"

"What for?"

"Cray-Cray and I wanted yo ask you something...kind of important."

"Who the hell-?"

"That Ackley kid."

"Oh, right. Where are you?"

"We're at the cafe a few blocks from the precinct, you can't miss it."