“It is?”
“Sure.” Jacob shrugged. “You’re a curious boy, after all.”
James laughed.
Damn, Jacob loved it when he could do that for the boy. “Feeding you settled something inside me. I like knowing that I could provide that for you. Watching you play is…soothing. I know you’re safe. Happy. Not a care in the world. That makes me happy.”
“Okay.” James looked thoughtful.
“Now it’s time to sleep,” Jacob said sternly.
“Yes, Daddy,” James said with a wink.
“Brat,” Jacob replied but smiled. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
Jacob strolled to the door and turned off the light. “Door open or closed?”
“Open, please,” James replied softly.
“I’ll also leave the bathroom door open in case you need to go in the middle of the night,” Jacob told him.
“Thanks,” James said. “Night.”
“Sleep tight, sweet boy.” Jacob turned and went to his own room. He would shower and get ready for bed himself. Each step that took him farther from his boy made his heart ache. And James was his boy, whether Jacob had wanted to admit it or not. James was totally going to break Jacob’s heart. At least Jacob was going into it with his eyes wide open.
Chapter Ten
James
Strolling into the firehouse for his shift, James felt better than he had in his entire life. He always carried a mountain of worry. What if something happened and he messed up? Would they kick him to the curb, taking James’s dream of being a full-time firefighter with them? Would the money in his savings account be enough to live off on while putting Scott through college? Was Scott happy? Was Michael happy?
So much worry always ate at him.
Not that morning.
True to his word, Jacob had woken James with plenty of time to play and eat breakfast before he had to return to his apartment to shower and dress for his shift. And even though Jacob had made James pick up the mess of the playroom before he left, James still loved every minute of the morning.
He took the steps up to the second floor where their living space, kitchen, sleeping areas, and shower rooms were located.
Cal and Brad were both stretched out in recliners in front of the big screen television with a hockey game playing.
“How’s it going?” James asked, coming up beside Cal. He nodded toward Brad as he caught the other guy’s gaze. James was still uncomfortable, not knowing what had happened between him and Luca.
Cal stretched his arms over his head. “Good. Got the stuff to make lasagna tonight. I know it’s one of your favorites.”
“My best friend!” James declared. He patted Cal’s cheek hard. “Where’s Josh?”
“Working out,” Brad said with a grunt. “Been kind of fidgety.”
“I’ll check on him,” James promised. Fidgety was not a word that he’d normally associate with Josh. He left the guys to their hockey game as one of the teams scored, making them both shout at the television.
Walking down the hall toward the back, James peeked into the first room. Cal’s stuff was on one of the beds. The other was empty so James claimed it for himself. He set his backpack on the mattress before opening the locker beside the door. James stuffed his jacket and helmet inside then slammed it closed.
He went in search of Josh, finding the man in their gym located across from the shower room.
“Hey,” James greeted, leaning against the doorway.
