Chapter Two #2
All the cracked pieces inside him put themselves back together.
He was over wallowing. One of Nicky’s greatest traits was the way that he could bounce back from the trials of life.
Nothing could hold him down for long. Nicky had built his company from the ground up.
He was out and proud gay, never backing down when someone had a problem with his sexuality.
He’d completed the campaign for Freddie and the beer company.
The advertising campaign was going to launch that business into a whole new customer base.
It would be amazing. And now it was time to play. He’d damn well earned this.
Drawing back, Nicky made an exaggerated chomping motion. “I’m a shark!”
“You are the best shark in the whole ocean,” Jude said as he set Nicky back beside Liam.
Liam’s arm came around him like they were stuck to each other’s sides.
“I don’t know,” Law said as he stepped forward while rubbing his chin. “He doesn’t look much like a shark.”
Nicky made another chomping motion at Law. “Shark!”
“I otter! I otter!” Liam chanted.
Law shook his head slowly. “I don’t think so. You look like silly boys to me.”
Liam whined but Nicky picked up his jammies. “Shark!”
“Otter!” Liam shouted as he waved his own pj set.
They loved matching each other during playdates, which was why Nicky kept things in the playroom for his visits.
It had become cumbersome to always remember to bring something.
They didn’t always regress but had been happening more once Jude had entered the picture.
“Okay, okay.” Jude grabbed Nicky’s shark pjs and handed them to Law before picking up the otter set. “Let’s get our shark and otter dressed.”
“Yay!” Nicky and Liam clapped.
Jude began to wrestle Liam into his jammies as Law knelt in front of Nicky.
“Can I help you?” Law asked.
“Chomp! Chomp!” Nicky replied.
Law chuckled. “Okay, sharkie. I’m going to take that as a yes.” He reached for the cute little red bow tie that Nicky wore. Bow ties were awesome and could fancy up even jeans and a long-sleeve collared shirt like Nicky had picked to wear for the night.
Nicky was such a good boy. Not like Liam who was squirming all over the bed, laughing as Jude chased him across the mattress.
He waited patiently as Law got him undressed down to his undershirt. He lifted his arms and finally that was removed as well. His shoes and socks were next, then Law helped him stand from the bed.
Nicky nibbled on his bottom lip as Law hesitated. Was this too much for Law? Nicky wasn’t asking for a diaper or anything. He couldn’t wear his jeans with his sharkie jammies though.
He was used to Jude helping him change, so he hadn’t thought anything of Law stepping into that role. Law might not be his Uncle Law, but Nicky trusted him. He gave a nod when Law’s gaze met his, hoping that Law understood he was okay with what was happening.
“Good boy,” Law said quietly.
Nicky was relieved. He didn’t want to be pulled out of his little space. It might be something that he’d spend hours thinking about later, but little Nicky was safe there. Law was a safe person to be with.
Law didn’t make a big deal of undoing his belt or getting Nicky’s tight black jeans down. Nicky had worn his tiny red briefs under his jeans, to match his bow tie of course, and should probably be embarrassed. Nah! Little Nicky didn’t care. Jude wasn’t even looking at him.
He kicked the dumb big boy clothes away as Law grabbed the soft shark cotton lounge pants. Nicky had to hold on to Law’s shoulder as he stepped into the pants. Next was the thin comfortable T-shirt with the fin on the back.
“That’s adorable,” Law said as he flicked the fin.
“Chomp! Chomp!” Nicky said with a bounce.
“How about we chomp on some food?” Jude suggested, holding a wiggling Liam.
Nicky nodded. He was hungry now. And Liam had been talking about that new restaurant for weeks.
“Do sharks walk on land?” Law asked.
“No!” Liam answered for him. “You carry him, Uncle Law!”
Law turned to him. “Only if our sharkie says it’s okay.”
He loved being called by the pet name that Nicky had bestowed on his own stuffie.
“Nicky?” Jude asked.
Was it okay with him? Nicky wanted to shout yes. Instead, he nodded shyly.
“Up you go, sharkie!” He easily picked up Nicky.
Not that Nicky was really worried. He was just a little guy. Law was big and strong like Daddy Jude. Maybe even stronger since Law was a badass bodyguard and had to work out so the bad guys didn’t get his clients.
“No chomping on the human though,” Law teased.
Nicky giggled. He wouldn’t chomp on Law unless it was something that the man wanted.
Now, when he was big Nicky, he might want to get his mouth on certain parts of Law.
That was something to think about later too.
Like Law seeing him in his tiny little red briefs.
Although they had both pretended that wasn’t a big deal.
Jude led the way out of the playroom.
Liam caught Nicky’s gaze over his shoulder and grinned before giving Nicky a thumbs-up.
Nicky rolled his eyes back at his bestie. When had Liam turned into such a brat? Nicky would be getting that title back.
“You know that I can see you, little Liam, right?” Law asked with a laugh.
Liam’s eyes widened before he quickly ducked and hid his face in Jude’s neck.
“You better be good, boy.” Jude patted Liam’s bottom. “You would hate to have to go to bed early without getting playtime with Nicky.”
“Sorry, Daddy,” Liam said sweetly.
Nicky snorted. Yeah, he was sorry that he got busted by Law. Patting the top of Law’s head in appreciation, Nicky rewarded the older man. Good Law.
Law laughed. “I guess that’s better than being bitten.”
He was glad that Law understood.
* * * * *
Law
Placing Nicky down in the chair across from Liam, Law couldn’t resist ruffling the cute boy’s long hair.
Nicky scowled while batting his hand away. “Need haircut,” he whined.
“Uh-huh,” Liam said as he reached for a breadstick from the serving dish in the middle of the table. “Long.”
“Too long.” Nicky reached for a breadstick too.
He chuckled. That should keep the screaming and teasing down to a minimum for a few minutes.
Well, hopefully. Having Liam so wound up wasn’t something that Law was used to.
Liam was usually a very well-behaved little.
Since Law enjoyed a little more brattiness from his own boy, it was fun to see this side of Liam.
He strolled into the kitchen where they’d placed the majority of the food on the counter.
Jude turned to him as Law entered the kitchen.
“They found the breadsticks,” Law told him.
“That should keep them busy as we make up their plates,” Jude said.
“My thoughts exactly,” Law shared.
“I just want to make sure you’re good with everything tonight,” Jude said quietly as he started to plate the food. “This isn’t what you signed up for.”
“It’s better,” Law confessed. He missed having his own boy. Before reconnecting with Jude, all Law had wanted was to settle down. Opening another division of his company took up time, but Law realized he shouldn’t have stopped his search. Not when his life was only half fulfilled.
Their gazes met and Law nodded.
“Are you sure?” Jude asked.
Law knew that his friend was merely being protective of Nicky as he was Liam’s best friend, but Law was still annoyed by the question. “I know what I want. I’ve been looking to settle down for a while now.”
“You say that, but last time we spoke about your interest in Nicky, you didn’t pursue it,” Jude pointed out.
“When you warned me away?” Law snapped.
“I wasn’t warning you away,” Jude replied calmly. “I asked you to make sure that you knew what you wanted. You’re my best friend. Nicky is Liam’s. Things could get messy between the four of us if things don’t work out with you two.”
“Things would be messy if you and Liam don’t work out,” Law shot back.
Jude dropped the serving spoon. Anger sparked in his eyes. “That’s fucked up.”
Law shrugged. “Is it? You’re assuming a lot.
Nicky might regress and be a little, but he’s also a grown-ass man who knows what he wants.
He runs a successful company. From what I see, he has a rather good life.
Settled. In my opinion he’s in a much better mindset than Liam, who had just moved to town.
Or you, which I won’t even mention why.”
Jude grinned.
It was so unexpected that Law took a step back warily. He hadn’t meant to lose his temper. Law had been working hard to forgive Jude for his ten-year-long existence from his life. There was still a little bitterness inside him apparently.
“About damn time,” Jude said.
“What?” Law was confused. “What are you talking about?”
Jude grabbed him to yank him into a hug.
He pounded on Law’s back. “You’ve been the best friend that I could ever ask for.
What I did was wrong. I should have never cut you or the other guys off.
You’ve been so understanding and calm about it.
I wondered what it would take for you to finally say your piece so we can truly move on. ”
Law swallowed around the lump in his throat. He should have known that Jude could see through his bullshit. “I’m still angry,” he admitted.
Jude squeezed him tight before drawing away. “I know.”
“I don’t want to be. I love being in your life again. I love Liam. I don’t want you to push me away again.”
“I won’t.” Jude placed his hand over his heart. “Not only wouldn’t Liam let me but I’m not the same person I was ten years ago.”
“I know.”
“I’m beginning to heal.” Jude glanced away before he straightened and looked Law in the eyes. “I’m seeing a therapist.”
That wasn’t something that Law had known.
“I owe it to Liam to be healed from the trauma of losing Sam.”
“Liam knows?” Law questioned.
“It was his idea.” Jude snorted. “Actually, it’s a condition he put in place before we move in together.”