“Very nice to meet you, sir.”
Clay crossed his arms over his chest and scowled as we stood there at the edge of the foyer and the living room. “Before we go on, I have some questions. Who exactly are you, how do you know Gilly, and why are you involved with this?”
“Uncle.”
He put his hand on my shoulder. “No, Gilly. I need to know. What exactly are your intentions?” His face said that if Nate’s answers didn’t satisfy him, he would kick him out without another word. “What’s in this for you?”
“In it for me?” Nate smiled brightly. “It would make Gilly happy, and that’s all I’m interested in. We’ve been dating for a few months now, and I’m invested in Gilly and our relationship, nothing more.”
“Hmpf. Who are you?” My uncle opened his mouth to say more, but I’d had enough.
“Uncle Clay, stop. Nate has his own business and his own money. He’s telling the truth. I asked for his advice on this because he’s successful. He owns Marshall Contract and Build. They’ve built damn near half the buildings in town, and he’s never asked me for anything.”
“I, uh, know of that company. You really own it?” He was starting to soften. If he wasn’t so harsh and this wasn’t so close to me, it would probably be funny.
Daddy Nate pulled his wallet out and showed him his driver’s license, his business card, and some other small card that I thought was his contractor’s license, but I wasn’t sure.
Uncle Clay looked at all of it and his scowl softened. “Gilly, are you sure he’s not pushing you to do this?”
I exhaled loudly. “No, Uncle. I want this. I’ve worked hard for it. Hell, I’m practically running the business now anyway, and if I can help you retire so you can travel or whatever it is that you want to do, then that’s even better. I’m thinking of my future, both our futures, really.”
“I’m concerned about your motives and whether you can actually afford it.” He glared at Nate. “I love my nephew and won’t see anyone taking advantage of him. But I told you I’d look at this proposal, so you might as well show me.” He turned and led us into the living room. We sat down and walked through the whole thing, and I didn’t need Daddy Nate to step in at all. Apparently, I knew the business and the offer inside and out, too.
Afterward, Uncle Clay pursed his lips. “I have to say this looks solid. Now, I need to do my homework on it. I'll think about it and let you know, Gilly.” He still didn’t look so happy.
This was worse than I’d thought. When he said he would listen to the proposal, he seemed willing and ready. Now it felt like I’d only managed to upset him, though I had no idea how or why. I would rather cut off my arm than have him upset with me. Bythe time we got in the car and Nate buckled my seatbelt, I was in tears.
“Gilly…” Daddy kissed my forehead. “Shh, it’s not that bad, despite how it feels right now.”
“I-It is.” Great. Now I was cry-talking. I hated that shit.
“I’m sorry. If I knew he’d react like that I wouldn’t have come. I only wanted to support you.”
“No, I asked you to. I had no idea, but why did he act like that? I felt like he didn’t trust me anymore.” I couldn’t wrap my mind around it.
“Oh, honey. He might have thought I was trying to do a hostile takeover or something. My company is very successful, but that’s not what we do. He may not know that.”
My brain was still trying to process what had happened when Daddy Nate pulled out a tissue from his glove compartment. “Here, baby. Don’t worry. Daddy knows what you need right now.”
I stayed quiet during the drive back to his place, not knowing even what to say. I kept running over everything in my head, but my brain felt frozen, and I couldn’t figure out where it all went wrong. Was Daddy right that Uncle Clay thought he was up to no good? If he thought that, what could I do about it? I barely even noticed when we pulled into the driveway until he turned off the car.
“Come on, baby.” He led me upstairs and stripped us both down, then crawled in bed, pulling me to him. “Use your Daddy-binky. It’ll make you feel better.”
At first, I was resistant and had no clue why. Maybe I’d been too fully into adult headspace, but I listened, and the instant I latched on, my mind settled. Daddy rubbed my shoulders and cooed at me softly as I nursed, and my eyes grew heavy.
I didn’t want Uncle Clay to be mad at me. I felt awful that he was, but with Daddy holding and comforting me, I quickly fell asleep. Never even got to the second nipple.
22
NATE
I got to the gym and headed to the locker room where Eric said he’d meet me. I didn’t so much feel like working out as needing an ear to bend. I considered Eric a close friend who would listen and wouldn’t judge. He would understand and maybe offer advice. I’d already changed into shorts and tank top by the time he walked in.
“Hey, Nate. Sorry I’m a little late. Got held up.”
“No problem.”
“You can start while I change, if you want. No need to wait.”
