Post naked-gate, Zephyr hadn’t been able to reach Malia. And shit wasn’t going much better at Tanashi.

Zephyr was starting to think he'd made a mistake. It didn't matter what he did or how well he performed, Hokuto Tanashi gave him absolutely nothing. Hiro was ever watchful. But every time the older Tanashi laced into him, he said nothing.

The ass-handing of the day was because of what he’d spent on the hotel.

“You spent company funds on how many rooms?”

Zephyr raised a brow. “Three. The company handbook states if we are out doing Tanashi business, we’re to stay in a hotel if the return time back to the office is later than six.”

“Don’t you think I know what the handbook says?” The ass-handing was made worse by the fact that Hokuto’s voice was nearly whisper quiet.

“Of course sir.”

“You should have gotten one suite.”

“One of the students with me was female. I’m not sure that would have been proper.” Hell. He probably should have taken the ass-handing in silence. But too late now.

Hokuto narrowed his gaze. “Then next time pick a cheaper hotel.”

There were handbook guides for that too, but Zephyr wasn’t telling the old man that. He’d learned his lesson.

“Now on to the shoddy work you’ve turned in.”

Oh boy. It was going to be one of those days. This last month since he’d started, he was starting to get the impression that the older Tanashi was regretting bringing him on. Nothing made the old man happy.

In a word, he was difficult. Which was fine. Zephyr didn't need pats on the back. But he didn't need torpedoing of his efforts either.

He'd been working on performance reports for over a week now. He made a point to research how he liked to see his reports and his numbers, down to what order he liked to see his charts and graphs in.

But that morning when he presented to him, Tanashi had been pissed. "What gives you the right to think you draw conclusions? Have you been in business as long as I have?”

Zephyr swallowed, but he wasn’t backing down from this. His work was solid. “No sir, but the numbers don't lie. Several of the product lines are underperforming."

The asshole could be cold or whatever. Zephyr didn't give two shits. But his work wouldn’t be called into question. And wasn't that why he was hired? Apparently Tanashi didn't agree. “I will draw conclusions myself. After all, my name is on the building.”

Zephyr knew the rules. Mouth shut. Listen. But fuck that noise. “All due respect, Breitling has been underperforming for years. Why hold on to it?”

Hiro lifted his head then and studied him. Zephyr couldn’t be sure, but he was almost certain the guy smiled.

The same could not be said for the old man who wore the same austere glare he always wore.

“Maybe when your name is on a building you can make the call.”

Fantastic. It was going to be that kind of day. After this weekend, it looked like his week was not going to be an improvement.

* * *

After a day as shitty as he’d had, all Zephyr was looking forward to was crashing, but he had a hang session with Trevor. The lazy part of him wanted to skip it, but no way was he going to let himself get away with that.

He’d made a promise, so he was going to do it.

Funny thing was the moment he picked up the kid, his shitty day fell away.

When they grabbed a bite at the O, Trevor watched him.

“You sound like you’re from New York. Why are you here in Pittsburgh instead?”

Oh, they were going there already, were they? Zephyr ran a hand through his hair as he snatched up one of Trevor’s French fries. “Let’s just say I needed a change of scenery.”

The kid raised a brow. “You know, just because I’m ten doesn’t mean I don’t see bullshit from a mile away.”

Zephyr chuckled. “First of all, don’t say bullshit. I can’t have everyone thinking I’m corrupting you. Secondly, it’s not bullshit; it is true. I needed a change of scenery.”

Trevor nodded sagely. “Girl thing, huh?”

You could say that. “Kinda.” He wasn’t going to get into it with the kid, but he would give him the truth. “I screwed up. Pretty bad, actually. Then I was given a second chance. So I took it. Came here. Trying to get my act together. And I shouldn’t bullshit anyway. My shrink wouldn’t be happy about it.”

Trevor’s brows lifted. “You see a shrink?”

Zephyr nodded. “Sometimes. Some bad stuff happened. I was all in my head about it and, you know, she helped me. That’s essentially what they’re there for, someone to talk to. Sometimes you just need that.”

Trevor studied him for a minute. “Yeah, I get that. My parents took me to one when they adopted me. I guess I was having a hard time adjusting too.”

Zephyr gave him a smile. “See? Sometimes we all just need some help.” He just wished he could take his own advice. He hated that he was so fucked in the head. Before this last year, everything had been golden: great school, great friends, great family. And then you helped that girl. Life to shit.

The shit of it was he wouldn’t change any of that. He would still probably help her, still get too entangled, too close. That was just who he was.

“So what did the shrink say about the reason you went to see her?”

When Zephyr picked Trevor up, he’d figured they go grab some burgers. Ice cream, play a little hoop—he hadn’t anticipated some deep discussions. “That I needed to cut myself some slack.” Like that was ever going to happen.

Trevor leaned forward as if Zephyr was about to give him all the secrets of the girl-getting universe.

“When I met her, she had a boyfriend.”

Trevor shook his head. “I’m guessing you're not going to do that?”

Zephyr slid him a glance. “You’re probably too smart for your own good.”

Trevor grinned. “Yeah, well, I am pretty smart.”

Zephyr laughed and started cleaning up their napkins. “Yeah you are. Come on, we’ll head on by Forbes Street Basketball courts and see if anyone else is playing. We can work on your jump shot.”

“Please, my jump shot is solid.”

“Is it? How come you didn’t join the basketball team at the Rec Center? You were watching them like you wanted to play.”

“I know what you’re doing.” Trevor slid him a side long glance. “I don’t want to play basketball for them.”

Zephyr nodded. “Yeah, I get it. I saw some of them play. I’d bet money you’re probably better. Which leads me to my question: why aren’t you playing for them?”

Trevor stood and took out his tray to the trash. “I don’t know. I guess I’m not that interested.”

“Oh yeah? Now who’s bullshitting?”

Trevor shrugged. “Basketball was something my dad, you know, he used to show me. So it just feels weird not doing it at all.”

Zephyr nodded. “I understand that. I have a feeling though, your dad, he’d want you to do this thing that you love. So you know, it never does hurt to try something.” Zephyr led the way to where they’d parked his car. He would normally suggest that they walk, but it would likely be dark when they were done and the neighborhood wasn’t terrific, so he’d prefer to have the car close. But as they rounded the corner to the street, something had Zephyr turning around.

More shadows? Was he losing it? Someone had been there. He didn’t want to spook the kid though. When they reached his car, he opened the back door for Trevor to slide in and put a seatbelt on. “Come on. Let’s see that jump shot. Sound good?” He fought to keep his mind focused. He had to get the kid the hell out of here. The first time, he could chalk it up to something being off. Not anymore.

Someone was definitely following him.