Page 10 of Soothe Me, Daddy
All nine of them arrived at the new venue with little to no fanfare, where Trish, Sierra and Blake pulled Henley onto the dance floor. The rest of them found a small table with a few chairs and perched with drinks as the conversation continued.
Isaac was pushed forward when someone fell onto his back, arms wrapping around his neck and a Henley-scented face rested against Isaac’s cheek.
“Isaac! Come dance with me?”
Isaac smiled and patted Henley’s arms, moving his head to the side as much as he could to gain eye contact. Blown pupils met his, and he shook his head.
“I’m not much of a dancer, Henley. Go enjoy yourself.”
“Oh! Please, Isie! Ooh! Isie is going to be your new nickname.” Henley nodded once, lips pressed together in satisfaction at his pronouncement. “Come on, Isie. Come dance!”
“No, thank you, Henley. Go. Have fun.”
Isaac pulled Henley’s arms away from his neck and gave him a small push in the dance floor’s direction. He might need to grab a couple of glasses of water to help sober some of the team up. They were going to feel awful tomorrow.
Watching as Henley pouted his way back to Trish and Sierra, Isaac couldn’t look away as Henley’s hips began to sway to the rhythm of the beat. Henley’s arms rose above his head, and Isaac saw his eyes were closed, lost to the music.
“He doesn’t care what anyone thinks, does he?” A voice filled with admiration, and if Isaac wasn’t wrong, envy spoke into his ear.
Twisting to face her, Isaac studied her expression. Frankie gazed in Henley’s direction, a crease on her forehead as she followed his movements.
“No. A lot of people should take a leaf out of his book, in my opinion.”
Frankie met his gaze, a small smile taking the place of the uncertainty. “Yeah, we definitely should. I’d love to have his confidence.”
Isaac laughed at that. “Trust me, you could take some of his, and he’d still have more than enough to go around.”
Frankie chuckled, leaning her arms on the round table. “How is he doing?”
“Really well. He has taken to it like a duck to water if I borrow my mum’s phrase.” Isaac squinted in Henley’s direction, noting he had a fan dancing around him.
“You have your hands full with him,” Frankie said, nudging his shoulder with her own.
Snorting, he shook his head. “Only for a few more weeks. Then he’s on his own.” He glanced at Frankie again, noticing the same faraway look on her face. “Is everything alright with you?”
She tilted her head and smiled. “I’m getting there. Maybe I need to rub up against Henley.” She coughed and added, “That came out wrong. I meant maybe some of his confidence would come off on me if I did.”
Grinning, Isaac patted her hand. “Yeah, yeah. That’s what you meant. I believe you. I’m sure Henley wouldn’t be opposed to having you dancing with him. Why not go join in?”
“Nah, I’m not good with rhythm. And he’s coming back anyway.”
“Isie! Come on. Dance with me.” Henley pulled on Isaac’s hand, trying to drag him to the dance floor.
“You don’t want me out there. I’d ruin your…whatever you’ve got going on.” Isaac spread his free hand, warding Henley off.
“But you’re so good to me. You look after me all the time. Please, Isie?” Henley pouted, eyelashes batting at him.
“No,” Isaac said firmly.
Henley sniffed and let go of his hand. “You’re such a mean D…person.”
Isaac quirked his mouth up at the change of wording. He would have loved to know what word Henley was going to use, but seeing his wide eyes and gaping mouth, Henley was shocked by what he’d nearly said.
His expression of horror slowly faded until Henley quietly said, “I think I need some water.”
Standing, Isaac manoeuvred Henley into the seat he’d just vacated. “I’ll get some. Stay there.” He glanced at Frankie. “Talk to him. See if you can get some of the…whatever from him.” Isaac smirked and elbowed his way through to the bar.
He wanted to know what Henley had been about to say, though, he had a feeling he knew what it was. Everything in Henley screamed boy, and everything in Isaac screamed for him to look after Henley. Thinking over Henley’s behaviour during the last four weeks, Isaac could see he shone whenever Isaac gave him something to do or showered praised on him. Henley tried his hardest to do whatever Isaac wanted to the best of his ability.
