"Just yourself and your guy, if he wants." There's a beat of silence before he talks again. "How is everything going with that?"
"Amazing." I say the word without hesitation. "Remi, I swear, I know it hasn't been that long, but he's perfect."
"I'm glad you found someone," he says. I can hear the sincerity in his voice. "I'll let you get back to work, but let me know when you can about next weekend."
"Will do," I say. I'm picking Orion up today from his place. We're spending the weekend together. I'm hoping that we can go shopping for some more things and maybe try the club if he's up to doing something in public. After our impromptu wrestling and then the shower, we didn't get the chance to go through the boxes. I went through the boxes yesterday and put everything away. The room is still empty and I did go ahead and order the bunk bed set. It has two beds, queen size, and a bookshelf built into one side. I put in for express shipping, so I'm hoping it comes in today or tomorrow. Not that he'd be using it to sleep in, but maybe a nap or something.
With Orion on my brain, I pull up our text chain and send him a new one.
Garrett
Thinking about you, honey. Can't wait to see you later.
I know he's busy at work so I don't wait for a response. I try to focus back on my work, making the schedules for another couple days. We already have people that have signed up for our individual services and once I confirm schedules with two of our CPA's, I can call and make the appointments with those individuals.
By the time five o'clock hits, I'm walking out the door with the rest of the team. We make small talk about our weekend plans, which I definitely fib a bit, while we wait for the elevator. Most of us are parked in the underground garage, but a few part ways on the ground floor to head to the parking garage next door.
I get home and take Riley for a walk around the neighborhood. It isn't terribly cold and a jacket suffices. Riley is wearing his little booties so the salt that I'm sure is still on the road won't hurt his paw pads. I wave to a couple of neighbors, some just getting home from work, one couple retired and always sitting on their porch.
Orion texts me just as I'm reaching home again. He has just clocked out from work.
Orion
I'm so ready to see you tonight. It's been a long two days.
Chapter Fourteen
Sleepingwithoutclotheshasbecome our thing. At least, I think it has. It's only happened twice, but one more time and it's considered a habit, right? I wake still curled up next to my Daddy. My hand is laying on his hip, my wrist resting over top of his groin. I shift, lifting my hand to his chest and stretching my body out.
"Good morning, honey." I feel Daddy's deep voice rumble through his chest more than hear the words. I tilt my head back and smile at him.
"Morning," I reply. "What time is it?"
"Don't worry about that," he says. "We don't have anywhere to be at any particular time today."
"We're going shopping today!" I'm excited for the planned shopping trip today. I was hesitant at first, because as much as I've enjoyed the things that Garrett has done for me so far, I know he's spending a lot of money. Not to mention that the bunk beds— actual bunk beds that I've always dreamed of having— are supposed to be delivered today and put together. I know that Garrett has the money and he's not thinking twice about the things he buys. It makes it hard for me to wrap my head around, when I'm counting pennies to make sure I can afford to keep the lights on in my apartment.
I don't know what it is about Garrett that has me opening up more than I ever have with anyone. Not since I moved out. We talked last night over a bottle of wine. We talked until three in the morning, about life and how we both felt with the way things were progressing. It was a check-in of sorts, I guess. A needed one.
I opened up with him, giving him more about living on my own for the last several years. I don't know if it was the wine or just me finally feeling like I had someone that wasn't going to leave me, but I told him about everything. How it was growing up, how I was never given the chance to just be a kid. The way my parents would yell at me, like it was my fault when teachers or someone asked to have a meeting. I never regretted my siblings or wished they weren't around. It was after my second glass of wine that I told him about my fears that I’ll go to the bus stop one morning and they won’t be there anymore. He listened, offering a soothing hand or comforting words when he could tell I needed it most. Telling someone all my feelings and not having them thrown back in my face was validating.
Garrett took me to bed after that and held me close while I cried. I cried about everything, how for the first time in my nearly twenty-three years that I feel safe. All the worries about my younger siblings, how they're going to turn out and how I miss them. I cried about how I've been barely surviving, moving from place to place, never having anything I can call my own. I'm pretty sure, toward the end, that I cried about how I shouldn't let Garrett know all of that.
I fell asleep to Garrett reassuring me against every one of my fears.
I am a great big brother.
I did what I needed to do for myself.
I deserve to be spoiled.
I'm sure that Garrett said something while I was lost in thought, but he brings me back to the present with a searing kiss. His weight is on top of me and it grounds me. Another way that he's the perfect Daddy for me. His beard brushes against my bare skin and I close my eyes, savoring the moment. I decided over the week to shave my beard. It was growing a bit thicker than I like it and I had just enough to buy a beard trimmer.
"Honey." Garrett whispers against my lips. I can feel his breath against my skin as he moves down to kiss my neck, then my shoulder, my chest. The blanket is pushed off the bed and there's a bark that stops both of us from moving forward. I let out a small giggle when Riley's head pops up over the edge and stares at us. "Nope. Can't do it. Can't fuck with my dog watching."
I laugh out loud at this. Garrett moves to stand up and Riley trots happily behind him. When they are out of sight, I head into the bathroom. I didn't take a shower after work last night and I'm not about to have sex with Garrett without cleaning up a bit. If that’s what his plan is. He did just say the magic F word.
I'm coming out of the bathroom when Garrett walks back into the room. I smile when he wraps his arms around me, spinning me in a full circle. "Where were we?" he asks as he drops me onto the bed.
