“No wonder you need help relaxing,” I say.
“You’re very good at that, Daddy,” he says through a strangled laugh.
“From what I can see, you’re an amazing father,” I tell him. “And you obviously love Lexi with all your heart. No one’s perfect, sweet boy. Your brother might be great at playing with her, but he could never replace you. I bet anything that Lexi’s biggest hero is you. Not Blake. Not Archie.You.”
Corey presses against me, sobbing harder.
“Let it all out, sweet boy,” I whisper. “Cry as long as you need to. I promise I will hold you for as long as it takes.” I mean it. Every word.
It’s almost as if I’m a cartoon character with a lightbulb above my head, the realisation hits me so quickly. I’m reeling as it dawns on me that I do want to be more to Corey than the man he comes to for a quick, stress-relieving fuck. I want to hold him and take care of him. I want to know everything there is to know about him. I want to help carry his burdens in the hopes I can lighten them. I want to see him smile. I don’t know if Corey wants those things too, but the only way to find out is to put my heart on the line and ask him.
14
Corey
“Your shirt’s all damp,” I say, sniffing and sitting up.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been crying. Long enough to make my back stiff from being bent over. Long enough to feel like a complete and utter idiot. I came here for sex. Instead, I ended up pouring my heart out and crying like a baby. For all Spence said he wanted me to talk, I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if he shows me out the door and blocks my number.
“I can change it,” he says. “It’s just a shirt. How are you feeling?”
“Drained,” I admit.
He stands and grabs a box of tissues from the dresser, but instead of handing them to me, he pulls one out of the box and gently wipes the tears from my cheeks. I blink at him.
“Why so confused, sweet boy?”
“I thought you’d be telling me to leave.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Why?”
“I made a fool of myself.”
“No, you didn’t. Do you feel better after letting some of that out?”
I nod. Idofeel better, which is weird. It’s not like I haven’t said all of that before, but somehow, this was different. Knowing Spence was there, taking care of me, helped lighten the load on my shoulders. Spence tosses the used tissue into a bin and then passes me a fresh one.
“For your nose.”
“I must look a real state.” I blow my nose, which is the least sexy thing I’ve ever done in front of someone I’m sleeping with.
Spence strokes my cheek with his thumb. “You look beautiful.”
“Red eyes, puffy cheeks, and a snotty nose is beautiful?”
He laughs. “Why don’t you go and wash your face?”
“Good idea.”
He follows me to the hall and shows me where the main bathroom is.
“There’s also an en suite in my bedroom if you’d prefer?”
“The main bathroom is fine.”
I turn the light on and close the door behind me. I run the taps and splash water over my face. It helps to alleviate the puffiness in my cheeks. I grab a towel to dry my skin, frowning as I notice two child-sized toothbrushes and a half-used tube of tutti-fruity toothpaste.
When I go back to the living area, Spence has changed into a clean shirt.
