Chapter Sixteen
Zeph
I looked forward to every evening spent with Brock. The few we didn’t were so flat, I couldn’t believe I ever thought I was happy before meeting my sweet boy. From the night we had our play session at his place and then made love until dawn, it was a rare night I slept without him in my arms.
So different from my last relationship. Brock didn’t lean on me for financial support or even an unfair share of household chores.
No matter whose place we were hanging out in, unless we were having a little playtime, we cooked together, cleaned up together, and did any chores that came along that needed doing. When he could spare the time from work.
One day, at the grocery store, when I was comparing red and yellow peppers, deciding which I’d like to put in the fajitas we were planning, my sweet boy kissed me on the cheek and said, “You really do love all the errands and household stuff, don’t you?”
“With you.” The words tumbled out before I could consider what I wanted to say. “Everything we do together makes me happy. Otherwise, I’m really not that into dishes and bedmaking.”
He took a step back. “I was teasing but that is truly the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“It is?” I said a whole lot of nice things to my boy. As little, as big, at Chained, at home… Never sparing compliments on his mind, body, all parts of him. “Why?”
“Because sex is always more fun with someone, and being a little on my own…well, it was just enough to keep me functioning. So, it’s understood that we’d like those things together.
But cleaning the bathroom? Raking leaves?
” He considered a moment. “Folding fitted sheets? If being with me makes you enjoy those sorts of things? You must really love me.”
“I do love you. Do you love me back?”
“More than glitter.”
We kissed then stood there, looking into one another’s eyes, until the produce guy nudged my shoulder and said, “Come on, guys, you’re blocking the aisle.”
“He could have said get a room.” Brock giggled as I dumped both peppers into the cart and moved on to the meat section. “Skirt steak doesn’t look great.”
“We could do chicken?” Either would work. “It’s pretty good for fajitas.”
Continuing through the store, we purchased the things we both liked for the rest of the weekend.
For once, he had the whole thing off and we were spending it doing all those little household things that I was liking so much.
A lot of time, I did what we needed because he was working so hard, but as I’d mentioned, it was only fun when we did them together.
I still wished he could find a way to work fewer hours because it was not good for him, but we had discussed it, and in fact were on the same page. He promised, and I believed him, that he was trying to adjust things at work to have more balance, but his boss did not care to listen to his concerns.
And having a daddy or just partner march down there and have a fit about his bad behavior seemed less than helpful.
So, I determined to enjoy what time we had together while he made his way toward a healthier business life.
And to offer whatever help I could in that and other ways.
We carried our groceries to my car and put them in the trunk before climbing in.
Pulling out of the parking lot, I asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to go to Chained tomorrow afternoon?
Ms. Lily has a special event going, I understand. ”
“No, I—what is it?”
I chuckled, stopping for a pedestrian at the corner. “Ah-ha. You do want to go.” And I’d be glad. He just hadn’t had the energy for going out lately. “It’s something to do with glitter, I think.” Glancing over, I saw his eyes widen.
“Are you kidding? I’m amazed you are even telling me.”
“Right? Why don’t we stop in for a while at least. Then I can spend the rest of our Sunday combing glitter out of your hair.”
“And vacuuming the car.” He smiled but leaned back in the seat. “I’d like to, but it sounds… Let’s just stay home the rest of the weekend.”
“All right.” I’d been holding back as much as possible, but this really worried me.
We had a free evening, and we could go to Chained tonight and see friends, play a while in the little room…
or go to the event tomorrow. His idea of the most fun ever.
And he was saying no. Still, I couldn’t drive and watch his reactions to our conversation, so I waited until we got to my place and were sitting outside, grilling the beef we’d ended up having the butcher cut fresh for us.
It cost the same—why not have good quality?
“Brock, we need to talk about your work.”
He sighed. “I know. It’s ridiculous, and I approached my boss again last week, explaining that if nothing changed, I couldn’t stay.”
“Good. You’re getting bags under your eyes, and it’s not just the hours but also the stress. They keep putting more and more responsibility on your shoulders.”
“I did get a raise.” But his voice held little joy.
“The least they could give you and hope to keep you, but it’s not about money. You know that.”
“I do. I have been putting my resume out there, and I’ve gone on a few interviews, done some online.”
“You have?” He hadn’t said a word about it. “I had no idea.”
“I didn’t want to tell you until I had something positive to share.”
And it had been one more source of stress.
“Nothing good, huh?”
He shook his head, standing to tend the meat on the grill. “I have had a few offers, but they weren’t anything I wanted. Either the pay was laughable, or the work didn’t sound good. If I am changing, I want it to be to something I like. I’m being very picky.”
“Then maybe consider quitting entirely and taking a break?” I winced at his expression. When I said it, I knew it was not going to be a win, but I had to try. “That way you can focus on the hunt and get a little rest in.”
At first, he’d looked shocked and maybe a little angry, but it quickly abated, replaced with a soft smile.
Setting the barbecue fork down, he came to sit on my lap.
“You really are worried. But it will be okay, Daddy. I know my limits. Without you and our little times, I’d have melted down a long time ago. ”
“Maybe I should hold out, then.”
Linking his arms around my neck, he buried his face in my throat. “Silly, Daddy. You can’t do that. But I appreciate how concerned you are, and I promise if there’s no good news of any kind in a month or so, I will consider your suggestion. Okay?”
“Deal.” I kissed the top of his head then stood, taking him with me and standing him on his feet. “And as much as I’d like to make out with you, our dinner is burning.”
After dinner, we cleaned up—together—and wandered back outside to enjoy the cool evening air.
We’d had the conversation, cleared the air, and I thought reached a resolution.
If I had my way, I’d have him quit and just relax for a while, but that suggestion hadn’t gone well, so best I let it go for the month we’d discussed.
Again, so different than my last relationship.
That guy would have jumped on the opportunity to do nothing all day.
Learning what it meant to be a daddy had a lot of bumps and twists. When to help, when to support, when to let someone handle things themselves. I was trying my best.
Glancing to the next chair, I saw Brock’s head sinking toward his chest. Poor guy was exhausted. “Sweet boy, I think we need to make it an early night.”
“Wh-what? No, I’m fine. What were you saying?”
I stood up and held out a hand. “I was saying I’m tired, and would you mind if we went to bed early?”
“Oh, no. Sure.” He took my hand and let me help him up. “I didn’t realize you were sleepy.”
Because he was asleep.
“Sorry to be such a drag on Saturday night.”
He kissed me on the cheek. “It’s okay. I’m kind of tired too, after all. Let’s go.”
Even when he was big, my boy was still adorable. In the bedroom, I was undressed and heading for the bathroom when I noticed him standing by the bed, not moving.
“Okay, my sweet boy, Daddy’s going to get you all ready for bed.”
His eyes were half closed, his shoulders slumped, and I knew right then we couldn’t wait a month to get him out of his situation.
But we could talk about it in the morning.
I guided him in to brush his teeth because no way was he going to thank me if he skipped that.
I washed his face and hands and combed his hair back then led him back to the bedroom.
“Oh no, my phone!” he said. “I need to have it.”
“Tonight? Are you expecting a call?”
“No, but there’s one job that I didn’t hear back from, and it’s the one I want. I know they probably won’t call or text on a Saturday night, but…”
But it was important. “I’ll go get it. Is it in the living room?”
“I’m not sure. But I had it a while ago when we were cooking.”
I unbuttoned his shirt and helped him out of his clothes then pulled the covers back. “You lie down. I’ll bring some water as well.” Brock always liked having water beside the bed in case he got thirsty in the night. “Okay?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Leaving him behind, I trotted off to find his phone. It was outside, right on the table we’d had our drinks on, and I carried it in, stopping to fill our water glasses on the way back. Just as I reached the bedroom door, the phone chimed.
Brock sat up in bed. “I heard that.”
“Me too.”
We looked at each other. “It’s probably nothing,” he said.
“Probably.”
“But I have to check.” He reached out and jerked his hand back. “No, you do it.”
“Let’s do it together.” I sat on the side of the bed and held the phone in front of both of us. “On three.”
“One,” I said.
“Two,” Brock added.
And together, “Three.”
We probably shouldn’t have been so ready to celebrate, but as it happened, my sweet boy turned a blinding smile my way. “Let’s go see Ms. Lily tomorrow.”
“You don’t need to rest?”
“I don’t start my new job for two weeks.”
“You got it! Glitter for everyone!”