I laughed, shaky and dazed. “No, Daddy. I wanna keep you around.”
We laid there for a few minutes, our breaths heavy as our heart rates returned to normal. Eventually, Daddy broke the silence. "Time to get up. We need to get you fed, bud."
I reluctantly changed out of my pajamas, already looking forward to putting them back on tonight. They’d need to bewashed though, considering how I came all over myself after Daddy let loose in my throat.
As I pulled on jeans and a flannel—one of the ones Daddy had bought for me—I caught sight of myself in the mirror.
I looked different. Lighter, like Sean had said days ago. The dark circles under my eyes were nowhere to be found. My face wasn't as drawn. Even my posture seemed more relaxed.
This place was healing me.
Daddy was healing me.
Downstairs, we found the kitchen already bustling. Harlan was at the stove, and several of the guys were scattered around, grabbing coffee and breakfast.
"Morning," Elton called out when he saw us. He was leaning against the counter, coffee mug in hand. "Tanner, you got plans today?"
I looked at Simon, uncertain.Did I have plans?
"What did you have in mind?" Daddy asked, his hand settling on the small of my back.
"Could use an extra set of hands in the storage barn. We're reorganizing supplies, and it's a two-person job at minimum." Elton looked at me hopefully. "Unless you're busy?"
"I can help," I said, then glanced at Daddy again. "If that's okay?"
His expression softened. "You don't need my permission to help out, bud. But yeah, that's fine. Just make sure you take breaks and stay warm."
"I will." I felt a flutter of warmth at his concern. It was still new, having someone care about my well-being like this.
After breakfast, I bundled up and followed Elton out to the storage barn. The building was large and drafty, filled with everything from tools to animal feed to equipment that only got used seasonally.
"Basically, we need to sort through all this and figure out what we're keeping, what needs repairs, and what should probably just get tossed," Elton explained as we stood in the doorway surveying the chaos. "Atticus wants it done before Christmas so we can start the new year organized."
"Makes sense." I rolled up my sleeves. "Where do we start?"
We fell into an easy rhythm, working through sections of the barn methodically. Elton was good company—funny without being overbearing, and he didn't pry into my personal life the way I'd worried some people might.
"So you and Simon," he said after about an hour, his tone casual as he lifted a box of old tack. "That's good. He's been alone too long."
"Yeah?" I tried to keep my voice equally casual, even though my heart rate picked up at the mention of Simon.
"Yeah. He's a good man. One of the best." Elton set the box down and turned to face me. "He lost someone, you know. His husband. It was rough on him."
I nodded slowly. "He told me a little bit about it."
"Then you know he doesn't open up easily. The fact that he's opened up to you…" Elton smiled. "That means something."
"It means something to me too," I said quietly.
"Good." He clapped me on the shoulder. "That's all I wanted to hear. Now come on, these boxes aren't going to move themselves."
We worked for a while before Simon appeared in the doorway, his expression stern.
"Break time," he announced, and there was no room for argument in his voice.
I straightened up from where I'd been sorting through a box of tools, wiping sweat from my forehead despite the cold. "We're almost done with this section?—"
"Break. Time." He crossed his arms. "You've been out here for three hours without stopping."
