Anyone who doesn’t like it, they’re free to fuck right off. People have a right to be whoever they want to be, and unless they’re a raging asshole or a complete fuckwit, I’m not going to judge them. No one left, but I keep my eye on those who don’t like it.
By the time I was running the place, Jesse had gotten a business degree in college and opened his own financial consultancy agency. Over the years, it’s grown bigger both in size and reputation, and now he is CEO of a highly sought-after finance company.
Jesse was as shocked as I was finding out about Oscar, but he stepped up, knowing I couldn’t take care of my son the way a normal father does. They’re like two peas in a pod. Sometimes I watch them and think my son loves Jesse more than me, and guilt wracks me.
Jesse will never let Oscar forget I’m his dad.
“I have an appointment. It’ll only take a couple of hours. I can be back around lunchtime.”
My gut plummets. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s routine.” He watches my jaw clench and rolls his eyes. “I’d say if something was wrong.”
“I haven’t forgotten the time you thought you were going fucking blind and didn’t tell me shit.”
He turns off the burner and moves the pan to the counter, saying nothing as he grabs a bowl and scoops some of the stew into it. Anyone witnessing this would think he was my fucking husband. I’m too hungry to care. I’m also not letting this drop.
“You don’t go to the clinic unless there is a problem.”
“Christ, Noah. I’m fine.” Jesse never calls me by my road name. We’ve known each other too long for that. It also sounds weird as shit whenever he calls me Nero.
My eyes narrow. “Are you overdoing it? Getting too tired?”
“This isn’t about Oscar,” he snaps. “Keeping active is one thing that is good for me.” He shoves the bowl across the counter at me, together with a wedge of sourdough bread. “I don’t want to discuss it.”
If anyone in the club could see me now, they wouldn’t recognize me. The worry is written all over my face when normally I control my emotions. People think I’m an unfeeling bastard.
“Are you taking your insulin properly?”
“Of course I am.”
“So what the fuck is up?”
“Will you give it a damn rest? And stop cussing at me.”
Losing Jesse is not up for debate. Yes, I agree he takes care of himself. There has never been any worry, not really. The whole going blind thing was blurry vision that was corrected with dosage changes of his medication.
“I’m going home.”
He heads around the counter but stops in front of me. “I don’t want to talk about the symptoms I’m experiencing right now because it’s personal and you won’t want to hear it.”
Everything there is to know about diabetes is imprinted on my brain. All the complications, all the issues he lives with. I can’t help it, my eyes drop to his crotch. Not in a pervy way, but if he doesn’t want to discuss it, then it’s got to be something to do with that.
Without warning, Jesse punches me. He has a mean right hook and catches my jaw. I snarl at him, but don’t hit him back. It wasn’t even hard, he’s making a point. This is the way we are with each other. Anyone else tried that, they’d be on the ground in a heartbeat.
Truth is, I don’t need to hear about his sex drive. It would make both of us uncomfortable. I can understand why it’s bothering him. No guy wants their dick to stop working. Even if I don’t like the dickhead he’s been dating lately. Somehow, I know that prick would up and walk out on him if shit got bad. Jesse deserves better.
One of my men, Ghost ran a full background check on the guy for me when they first started dating, which came back clean. I still don’t trust him, he has a shitty job and rides on Jesse’s success more than I like.
Jesse tells me he’ll be here around midday, to eat the damn food, and focus on Oscar. Can’t argue with that.
I watch him leave then stare at the food he made me, suddenly not all that hungry anymore, but I eat it anyway because he’s right, I need to be on top of things tomorrow. Knowing my son, he’ll be awake before six AM.
After clearing up, I head upstairs and go check on Oscar. I’m grateful to Sheridan for bringing him into my life. The love I have for this tiny person goes beyond anything else I’ve ever experienced.
I hate that I’m keeping him a secret, but it’s for his own good. No one will ever harm my boy. I’d rain down hell on anyone who even tried. Careful not to disturb him, I go to my room, holding the baby monitor so I can keep an eye on him.
I need a shower and about nine hours of sleep. I won’t get either, but what’s new? This is my life.
