Page 33 of Rowan's Renewal
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I smile when I fish it out, finding a text from Vince.
Vince:
Have fun with your Boy tonight, man.
And that was yet another surprise I discovered this week. Vince is also a Daddy, and his best friend, Anson, who works as a pediatrician in the same hospital as us, is a Little. I came across this discovery by complete accident, overhearing a conversation in the ED’s staff change room. They were talking about visiting The Grove, a local kink club, and had no idea I had just stepped out of the shower. As soon as Vince teased Anson about behaving lest Anson’s Daddy find out and punish him, I cleared my throat and made myself known, before telling them that I am also in the lifestyle.
Vince had snorted and shaken his head, muttering ‘What are the chances?’, while Anson’s eyes lit up and he pestered me about my relationship status. That led to me unloading on them about the magical week spent on vacation, and about how much I missed Rowan already. It was such a relief to find people who understand, and by the end of our ten-minute conversation in the change room, I felt like I suddenly had two close friends in the city.
I tap out my reply to Vince’s text, daring to imagine a time where Rowan might feel comfortable making friends with them, too. From what I have gathered from conversations over the past week, Anson is a little Little who enjoys ABDL play withhis Daddy, and Vince’s boyfriend, Bear, is a lifestyle Little who spends most of his time in a younger headspace, too. Perhaps finding friends like them might help Rowan to feel less lonely and self-conscious about his medical situation. Or, at least, it might be nice for him to see other Daddies and their Littles in action.
Me:
It's amazing seeing him again. I’ve missed him.
Vince:
LOL. That’s an understatement. You’ve been a grumpy ass for the past few days, Park.
Me:
I have not.
Vince:
Grumpy for you, I mean. Still nicer than Dr Malone on a good day.
I chuckle to myself, thinking about our cantankerous colleague, who should have retired at least five years ago, and reply.
Me:
That’s not exactly a difficult benchmark.
Vince:
All I’m saying is you probably should have tried to see him at least three days ago. I thought you were going to slap Benji with your clipboard today.
Me:
Benji needs a proper paddling and we both know it.
The orderly in question is the walking, talking textbook definition of ‘brat’ if ever I saw one. Whether he’s in the lifestyle or not makes no difference. And, okay, maybe I have been in a mood if my patience has run so thin that his usually humorous bratting got under my skin today.
Vince:
Is that what you would have told HR?
I chuckle again.
Me:
Yep. They’d probably agree with me.
I think half the hospital would. Don’t get me wrong, Benji is a nice guy, if a bit brazen. But he has a habit of rubbing people the wrong way sometimes.
Vince:
I’m just glad you didn’t let your intrusive thoughts win and that you’ve got your Boy to make it all better.
