Page 28 of Love Me, Daddy
“Yes, thank you, Daddy. Sorry. I didn’t mean to sleep.”
“It’s okay, Nate. You needed the rest.” Loren stood, coming towards him and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Are you hungry?”
“A little.”
“Okay.” He returned to the table, picking up some paper and placing it in Nathan’s hands. “Sit and read this while I make us a snack.” He veered Nathan towards a chair next to where he’d been sitting.
Frowning, Nathan studied the paper. It was an offer of an apprenticeship working for March Accountants. Nathan couldn’t believe it. “What…?” He glanced over at Loren, who peered over his shoulder with a smile.
“You don’t have to accept it, but I spoke to an acquaintance of mine. They have been searching for people to learn accounting from the beginning in the hopes those employees will stay with the company afterwards. They are a good company.”
Nathan read over the offer again. He’d get minimal pay, naturally, but he would be taught everything there was to know about accounting. His breathing increased as he bit his lip, withholding the grin wanting to escape. “Why do they want me?”
“I put in a good word. I explained you didn’t have any qualifications, but I would vouch for you.” Loren shrugged as if it was no big deal.
“Why?” Nathan didn’t understand why Loren would vouch for him when Loren had no idea what Nathan was capable of.
Loren turned and rested back against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. “Because I know you’ll work hard. And I believe if you begin to struggle, you will ask for help.” He paused. “Am I wrong?”
“No!” Nathan shook his head vehemently. “I will work hard. I…Wow. Thank you.”
Loren nodded in acknowledgement of the thanks. “Do you want to know the best part? Or at least, I think it’s the best part.”
“What?”
“I’m the one training you.”
The wealth of emotion was too much for Nathan to hold in at that point, and he burst into tears. He felt Loren’s arms come around him, then he was lifted from the chair and settled into Loren’s lap. He gripped the shirt below him, pressing his face into Loren’s neck as the tears escaped. All he’d ever wanted was the opportunity to try and become something. Nathan had applied for hundreds of jobs over the last eleven years to no avail because they didn’t want to take a chance on someone who was homeless. He was overwhelmed by the changes happening so quickly from a chance meeting in a dark alley.
He knew he would never be able to repay Loren for what he had given Nathan: a chance at a better life with someone who cared enough to help him.
Nathan took a cleansing breath, exhaling roughly but less shaky than the earlier one. Pulling back from Loren, he cupped his Daddy’s jaw. “Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
“You are welcome, Nathan.”
Nathan became aware of the sting in his ass the longer he sat on Loren’s lap. Wriggling to get more comfortable, he felt a chuckle run through Loren’s chest.
“Are you uncomfortable, by any chance?”
“Yes, Daddy,” Nathan whispered.
“Okay, let’s stand. I can finish getting your snack ready.”
Nathan followed him into the kitchen and washed his hands, ready to eat.
“Here we are.” Loren passed a plate to him filled with melon slices, orange segments, apple slices and a little pot of yoghurt in the middle. “This should fill you up until lunchtime.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” Nathan rested back, making sure his lower back touched the edge of the counter but not his ass, and proceeded to eat. Out the corner of his eye, he could see Loren watching him over a cup of coffee. He wasn’t sure what the perusal was about, but he enjoyed being the focus of his attention.
When Nathan had cleared the plate, Loren took it from his hands, rinsed it off and stacked it in the dishwasher. Loren stood in front of Nathan, lifting his chin.
“Are you okay with everything that has happened over the last few days? It’s a lot to take in, I know. But I need to know if you’re okay with it all.”
Nathan rested his palms against Loren’s chest, running them up and down the fabric as he watched. He thought through everything that had happened since the incident in the alley. “I am fine with it.” He met Loren’s troubled gaze. “It’s a bit of an adjustment after eleven years, but I am coping. You are being amazingly patient with me, and I love it.”I love you.Nathan dropped his gaze, biting his lip to stop the words from escaping. They weren’t there yet, but Nathan realised how true his feelings were.
Loren was a good man and an amazing Daddy. He took care of Nathan, always making sure he had what he needed and helped him to figure out what he wanted for the rest of his life. And trying to make it happen.
Nathan’s body filled with emotion, and he felt light as air. Nobody had ever made him feel like this.
