Page 12 of Love Me, Daddy
Inhaling roughly, it took everything in him to turn around and go back to the kitchen. He’d managed to stay at the café a lot longer than he thought he would, but he was home earlier than he usually as it was only three-thirty. Loren needed to ignore what he’d heard and carry on as normal.
Easier said than done when the man in question entered the room with a deer in headlights expression. Schooling his features, Loren smiled. “I brought Chinese. Hope you like it.”
Nathan swallowed, then nodded.
“I think tonight we should put on a movie and eat Chinese. What do you think?” Loren was trying to keep Nathan here; he knew he was. He also knew Nathan would have to leave at some point, but Loren wasn’t ready for it to be now. He’d figure out some way of keeping Nathan here for another day, at least.
“Sounds good,” came the quiet reply.
“Come, choose what you want, and I’ll get the trays. We can eat in the living room.” Loren indicated the food, turning his back to open the cupboard for the lap trays he often used when he was on his own. When he faced Nathan again, it was to find him hovering over the dishes, not having chosen anything. “Do you not like them?” Loren was worried because Nathan had been on the street that his taste buds had changed.
“I…” Nathan swallowed audibly. “I wasn’t sure what I could have.”
Inwardly, Loren preened at the idea Nathan needed reassurance from him. Outwardly, he smiled. “Whatever you want—” He cut off his final words,sweet boy.
Biting his lip, Nathan took a small sample of each dish, which was not close to enough for him, but Loren would rectify it later. He watched Nathan’s movements to determine which ones he enjoyed best and would fix him another plate. Loren had a strong need to take care of him while he was here.
The thought soured his mood some. He created his plate and directed Nathan to the living room. “What would you like to watch?”
“Anything. I’m not up on new films. You pick.”
Loren didn’t like the reminder Nathan hadn’t had the luxuries he was entitled to. He picked a comedy with some action in it as well.
They settled on the two-seater sofa, close but not close enough according to Loren’s mind. Loren kept his awareness on Nathan throughout the first part of the film, though. After around half an hour, Loren stood, gathering the plates. “I’m going to get a drink. Keep watching, I’ll be back in a few.”
He stalked to the kitchen. First, he made a cup of tea for himself, which he added to the tray with a couple of bottles of water and a glass of milk, then he made Nathan another plate of food. He stood at the island counter, breathing deeply several times, trying to brush away the feeling of rightness permeating the air. It wasn’t an easy situation to be in, and he had no idea how to navigate his way through the maze. He’d love to see where this could go, but how could he bring up the fact he was a Daddy. Nobody outside of the clubs had ever heard about it, except obviously Ben.
Taking a final breath, Loren carted the tray back to the living room, finding Nathan sitting with his legs tucked underneath him.
“Are you cold?” Loren asked, frowning.
“A little.”
Loren placed the tray on the coffee table and grabbed the throw from the armchair. He laid it over Nathan’s legs, and, asking him to lift his arms, tucked it around his torso. Turning back to the table, he reached for the plate of food and passed it over, resting the cup of milk on the small side table next to where Nathan sat.
“What—?” Nathan’s puckered brow expressed his confusion.
“I thought you might be hungry. There’s plenty left.” Loren sat himself back on his side of the sofa, ignoring the scrutiny Nathan gave him and drank his tea. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nathan hesitate then dig into the food. Loren hid his grin in his cup.
By the time the film had finished, Nathan was fast asleep, neck tilted at the most uncomfortable angle. Loren knew what he wanted to do—carry him to bed—but he needed to try and wake him instead.
“Nathan?” Loren shook the boy’s shoulder. All he received was a slight change of position. He hadn’t been joking when he’d told Nathan he slept like the dead; apparently, this wouldn’t be any different. Loren would get his wish after all.
Standing, he gently pulled the throw off, discarding it into his empty seat, and, for a moment, studied the enigma that was Nathan. Smiling gently, he reached down, sliding one hand beneath his knees and the other around his back.
As Loren pulled Nathan against him, Nathan rested his head on his shoulder, making a snuffling noise into his neck. Loren’s heart grew more. Gently shifting Nathan closer, Loren drifted towards the stairs. As light as Nathan was, Loren would have no problem climbing them. He took his time, wanting to keep Nathan in his arms as long as possible. Loren laid Nathan on the soft mattress, lifting the duvet from beneath to cover him. He crouched next to the bed, watching as Nathan shifted, clutching the pillow closer and snuggling down.
Loren stayed there, listening to Nathan’s breathing and reached a hand forward to brush gently at his hair. Pulling back once more, Loren rubbed a hand across his mouth, hiding his frown. He wanted nothing more than to be able to keep Nathan. Not in the kidnapping sense, but to care for him…feed him…love him.
He watched Nathan for a few more breaths, rising with reluctance. Standing in the open doorway, he glanced back, his heart overwhelmed with the emotion rising towards this…boy…after such a short time. Sighing, he closed the door and wandered back to the living room, cleaning up their dishes and taking them to the kitchen. His mouth turned up at the corners when he realised Nathan had cleared his plate the second time and drank all the milk.
Setting the kitchen to rights, the dishwasher rumbling in the background, he grabbed his work bag and settled himself at the table. There was no way he’d be able to sleep right at that moment, and the usual monotony of his job should be able to take his mind off the dilemma he found himself in.
****
Loren entered the house to an eerie silence, his heart hammering once more at the thought Nathan might have left. His bag fell softly to the floor as his shoulders dropped. That morning had started with an apology from Nathan for staying another night when he’d planned on heading out. Loren had reassured him he was welcome to stay as long as he needed to, as Loren had told him previously. Nathan had seemed unsure, and Loren had sweetened the deal by enticing Nathan with a home-cooked meal that night. By the time Loren had left for work—at the library, this time—he’d persuaded Nathan to stay until after they’d eaten at least.
Or so he’d thought.
