“Of course, kitten.”
Callum closed his eyes.
“And you can call me anytime. If you want to talk before then, call or text. Day or night, Callum. I mean it.”
He nodded. “I know.”
Callum whimpered and tears slid down his cheeks. Jack frowned and wiped at his own face, the wetness glistening on screen.
“Any rules you want,” Jack promised.
“’Kay. I’m gonna go then,” Callum whispered.
“I understand.”
“Alright.”
“Take care of yourself, kitten.”
Callum slammed the laptop closed. He held his head in his hands, fingers pulling furiously at the roots of his hair while he doubled over in agony and cried.
“I love you, Daddy,” he whispered to no one but himself.
10
Jack
Landon had stayedwith Jack for a week, then Verity had shown up in New York and sent Landon back to California. Jack knew he’d missed Verity, but it had always been a nostalgic kind of thing where the feeling only resonated dully in the back of his mind. Having Verity back in New York with him was invigorating.
Jack was still healing, but getting better every day. Verity had proved to be a useful resource, helping him with basic shit around the house like laundry and cooking. That was how they found themselves sitting on Jack’s couch with BLTs on their laps and a bag of potato chips open between them.
“Tell me about Aaron,” Jack said, not so much asking the question as demanding an answer. Jack hadn’t brought it up before, but he remembered Landon mentioning it while they were in the hospital.
Verity closed their eyes and inhaled a long breath before sitting their sandwich on the table.
“I’d rather not.”
“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours,” Jack bartered with a playful nudge.
“It’s really nothing to tell.”
“Not accurate. Landon already told me about your half-naked gentleman caller, so just spit it out.”
“He infuriates me,” Verity sighed.
“Is he a dom?”
“Very much.”
“That’s not your type anyway so what’s the fuss?”
Verity ran the palm of their hand across the short, spiky hairs on the back of their head and angled a sidelong look at Jack.
“It’s been fine.”
“Have you been subbing?” Jack popped a chip into his mouth.
Verity shook their head. “Not exactly.”
