Page 16 of Wrecked for the Holidays

“Hospital bureaucracy is a pain in the ass.”

“It really, really is, Papa.”

“Do you want to eat first or get comfy to talk?”

“Can we eat first? Breakfast was a long time ago.”

Jakob pushed himself off the couch and headed into the kitchen. Breakfast had been more than twelve hours ago, and that was too damn long. He wanted a conversation about what this thing between us was, but if it wound up with me as his Papa, then I was damn sure going to lay down some rules.

“You didn’t have time for lunch?”

Jakob sat at the kitchen table while I dished up our dinner.

“I didn’t notice the time, and every time I thought about it later, I got distracted again.”

“I know your job is important, but you’ve got to eat. It’s not good for you.”

“Didyouskip lunch today, Papa?”

I turned and gave him a stern look, but Reed just laughed. “I’m not going to answer that, brat.”

“Ha! That must mean you did.” Jakob’s infectious smile coaxed a smile out of me.

“Fine. I skipped lunch, but we’re not skipping dinner.” Because Jakob liked the little plates, I put his roasted chicken and salad on the divided one while I used a regular one. “What would you like to drink?”

“Can I have some chocolate milk?”

“Sippy cup?”

“Yes, please.”

With a nod of agreement, I mixed his drink and brought everything to the table. On my way over, I noticed his socks. They were baby blue and covered with teddy bears. It was enough to remind me how little time Jakob had so far gotten to explore being a little. I couldn’t imagine his living situation with his parents allowed him to explore at home, and I doubted he was even aware the local kink club had a playroom for littles.

“Get some food in you, and then we’ll talk about all the things.” I tried to keep my voice even, but if his smirk was anything to go by, I failed. “By the way, how’s your hand?”

Jakob extended it over to me so I could inspect it. While I checked the flexibility of his fingers, he said, “It hardly even hurts. More like an annoying ache, and I took something for it this morning and again this afternoon. I probably won’t even need to take anything tomorrow.”

I laid his hand back down on the table but left mine carefully covering it.

“You know you don’t get extra points for toughing it out, right?”

“Yeah, I know.” Despite his statement that his hand wasn’t hurting, Jakob still tried eating with his nondominant hand. Clearly, it still hurt at least a little.

“Here, let me help.” I took the fork from his hand, and he relinquished it without an argument. “Did you get a chance to talk to the insurance company?” Jakob’s long sigh told me no. “What happened?”

“They called and left a message, but I didn’t know what to do, so I just ignored it.” The dejection and embarrassment in his voice were unfair to himself.

“Hey, you don’t know what you don’t know. I’m on the overnight shift, so I can give you a ride to work in the morning and then come backhere for a nap. If you pop down at the end of your day, I’ll call the insurance company with you.”

“You don’t mind if someone sees us?”

“Why the hell would I mind? They might wonder why such a pretty boy is with the old guy.”

“Papa, you’re not old…barely middle-aged.” Jakob straight up guffawed at his joke, and damned if I didn’t fall a little harder for him.

His eyes twinkled and the warmth of his laughter could melt an iceberg. Maybe there was something to that Christmas list of his. Whether he stayed my boy or not, I wanted to cross off every damn thing I could on that list with him. And then make a new one.

“Oof, that one stings, love.” Jakob’s unrepentant grin never wavered. “Even though you’re a cheeky monkey, we need to have the conversation we started yesterday.”

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