“It’s fine. I have things I need to get done today, too.” I wasn’t prepared for the crestfallen
expression on Corey’s face. I rushed to his side and began gently massaging his neck. “Hey, what’s
with the frown?”
Corey shook his head, refusing to meet my eyes.
“Nope, don’t you hide from me. You were so good about saying what was on your mind last night,
you can tell me now.”
“It’s stupid,” he mumbled, allowing his head to drop to my shoulder.
“Let me be the judge of that,” I insisted.
Because we really were short on time, I ushered him back to the bedroom. I sat on the end of the
bed while he started pulling out clothes. The pile he tossed next to me kept growing, making me
wonder if he’d empty the entire dresser before telling me what I’d done to upset him.
“Corey, come here.” I kept my voice low, needing him to understand it wasn’t a request. His
shoulders slumped forward as he turned. I reached for his hands when he stood between my legs.
“Talk to me. You’re obviously upset about something, and I can’t fix it unless I know what I said.”
“It’s stupid,” he repeated. I glared at him, giving his hands a quick squeeze. “Sorry, but it is. How
am I supposed to explain to you that even though I’m not ready for big steps, or even small ones like
introducing you to Willow, I kind of like the idea of you still being here when I leave for work. Or
that imagining you kissing me goodbye before you spend the day watching TV on my couch makes me
feel a little bit less alone, because I know you’re waiting for me. I don’t even expect you to stay here
until I get home because I know I’m going to yours between jobs, and I want that, but I don’t want to
watch you leaving when I do. Like I said, it’s stupid.”
“If I hear you say that word one more time, I’m going to put you over my lap and spank your ass
until you’re not able to sit the rest of the day,” I warned him. To accentuate the point, I gave him one
sharp crack on the hip. Then, to show him how proud I was of him for explaining what was going
through his head, I slid my hands around the backs of his thighs and drew him closer, resting my head
against his stomach. “Believe it or not, you’re not the only one in this relationship who goes through
bouts of insecurity. If it makes it easier for you, I’ll hang around for a bit.”
“You don’t have to,” he hedged.
“If it’ll make you feel better, I think I do. It’s in the Daddy code,” I teased. “Any time I am able to
do something to help my boy, it’s my solemn duty to do so. And really, how much of a hardship is it
