Page 19 of The Puck Daddy

He turns to me, face softening. “He didn’t believe me. Jared didn’t think I was actually meeting with you, and he wanted to call you and ask. I told him no.”

Rage bubbles inside of me. Fuck that guy. “Is he hurting you, Fe?” I blurt, pleading. “Please, please tell me the truth.”

“Oh my gosh, of course not.” He must hear the desperation in my voice because he throws his arms around my waist. “Is that what you thought?”

My body begins trembling with a mixture of relief, fear, and helplessness clashing together.

“I promise you, no matter what, Adrian. I would tell you if one of my boyfriends is ever abusive toward me. I swear it.”

After a long moment of still clutching my brother, his words hit me. A relieved chuckle escapes my throat. “Oneof your boyfriends? So, Jared isn’tthe one? Please tell me he isn’t the one.”

“He isn’tthe one,” Felix whispers. “He isn’t the Daddy for me.”

Another long minute passes with Felix and me clinging to each other. I don’t feel like the older brother I try so hard to be, and Felix doesn’t feel like the person I’m protecting. Rather, it feels like we are two children trying to stay afloat.

Finally, Felix pulls away first. He punches me in the arm. “Ouch!” he yelps.

I burst into laughter as he waves his hand back and forth in pain.

“What was that for, brat?” I ask, rubbing the spot he punched.

“That’s for making our meet-up so serious! You owe me a freaking milkshake.”

I grin. “I’m pretty sure they don’t serve milkshakes at the bar.”

“Fine. Then get me one here.” Felix tugs me into the ice cream shop, and I get the impression he planned this. We shuffle inside, and Felix eagerly bounces around, reading all the various flavors and combinations before settling on vanilla. He always does this, claiming he’s so indecisive that vanilla is just the safe bet. I’m pretty sure he’s just waiting for the perfect Daddy to figure him out and order the right flavor for him. Jared always lets him fuss about it before Felix gives up and orders vanilla.

Jared really is all kinds of wrong for my baby brother. Felix deserves only the best.

“Now, tell me about this guy you met,” he says as he sips from his straw. We are only a block away from the bar, and if I’m going to say anything embarrassing, it’s probably best if I get it out now.

Only, I open my mouth and the words that tumble out are none of the things I mean to say. “He’s perfect, Felix. He’s sexy, with this bad-boy style that I had no idea was my thing. He’s kind and smart. He leans forward and really listens when I talk. I’m not entirely sure he’s in the lifestyle, so probably not, but he has this dominant air about him.”

“Why am I just hearing about him?”

“We officially met at the bar the other night. And I just found out he’s in my finance class.”

“The one with Professor Higgens?”

I nod.

“Oh my gosh, this is just like my rom-coms. What was your meet-cute like? Did he approach you and offer to buy you a drink? Did he ask you to dance? Did he shove away some himbo flirting with you?” Felix bounces on his toes, and I laugh.

My cheeks heat as I remember the amount of shock I experienced seeing him out on the patio. I can’t believe I kneeled in front of him and poked his fucking cheek. What a weirdo.

“Oh my god! You’re blushing!” Felix squeals before sipping his milkshake.

“Um, he works at the bar.” Opting for the less embarrassing answer.

Felix stops abruptly, causing me to slam into him from behind. “Oh my goodness! This is so exciting. So, we’re stalking him.”

My heart begins to pound wildly in my chest, and my cheeks grow hotter. I glance around, afraid that Theo will pop out of nowhere.

“No!” I hiss. “We aren’t stalking him.”

“Then what are we doing here, at his place of employment?” Felix’s voice is pure sass.

“We aren’t stalking him,” I repeat.

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