A throat cleaning caused Asher to drop his hands from my shoulders, and I wiped away the few tears from my cheeks.
“Noah is to apologize.”
“Not that I think it needs to be said, since I’m not thinking about them.” Noah grumbled but shuffled towards me. He kept his head down while speaking the rest. “Sorry for barging in. Sorry for saying things that may have upset you. And sorry for pushing limits that I didn’t know were there. I’m not going to talk to people about how my lifestyle is the best because not everyone agrees. But they should agree because everyone needs a daddy and an Ashie. Even when I get spankings and when I have to do corner time when I get home.”
“Why apologize for being you?” Noah wasn’t known to keep his thoughts to himself. “No…trouble for being who you are.”
“See, Daddy. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Asher barked out a laugh, pulling Noah into his hold while the other man grumbled in the back about talking better about punishments later.
All my mind wanted to focus on was that fact that I talked with another male in the area.
My face paled, and my heart felt like it was in my chest, eyes wide.
“Koda? What’s wrong?” Asher was back in front of me, hands on my face.
“I…. I…talked….” the rest of my words were lost as I willed anyone in the room to understand.
“Yeah, honey,” Asher soothed. “You can talk. No one here will ever hurt you. I’m proud of you. So much.”
I sniffed, nodding to myself.
It probably wouldn’t happen again, talking in front of a male that I didn’t know, but I knew deep down that I should be happy, thrilled that I did. My emotions on the other hand didn’t agree.
“Do the cookies need to be covered or put somewhere?” Asher asked.
I shook my head. “Frosting.”
“Can that wait? You need a break.”
I shook my head. A break was the last thing I wanted. That meant I’d have to…well leave the kitchen and think.
“They can wait,” Jasper’s voice caused me to jerk and look towards the doorway. “Plus, I think it’s about thirty minutes at the least, he has to wait before putting frosting on.”
I opened and closed my mouth a few times, but nothing came out.
I had other things to do. Like…clean the kitchen from top to bottom. To double check I had everything for the cupcakes. To put the box of cookie cutters away.
“Break time. Just for a bit, okay.” Asher, again, drawing my eyes to his. “You’re getting overwhelmed. Either by us being here, or just in general. Or everything. I know that feeling. And I know my limits.”
Sniffing, I dropped my eyes to the floor.
It was everything. The stress of trying to make the cookies perfect. The stress of not talking or seeing Jasper. The stress of everyone here. The lack of sleep. The lack of eating I’d been doing.
Everything.
“A movie and a snack. Then we’ll let you get back to work, alright.”
A single nod.
Asher pulled an arm free that was wrapped around my torso, leading me from the kitchen. Jasper and the other man moved out of the way, giving more than enough space for me to pass without either of them touching distance.
I sat on the floor, back against the couch. If I sat there, I’d fall asleep, and that wasn’t in the plans for the day.
Asher didn’t say anything, but took a seat on the couch, letting me lean against his leg. One of his hands landed on my head, scratching my scalp.
So much for trying to not take a nap, I thought, my body almost instantly relaxing. But a moment later, my eyes flashed open when Jasper knelt in front of me, invading my small amount of space.
