Nicky began to regulate his breathing. In through his nose and out through his mouth. He listened to Daddy Jude because Daddy Jude was smart and he cared what happened to Nicky.
“You are doing so good, Nicky. Don’t stop,” Jude told him.
He was doing good! Nicky had finally put his foot down, thanks to Liam’s urging, and was back home where he was supposed to be. He could handle this too. It was just a stupid tire.
“Hey, Uncle Law! Daddy needs to know where you are.” Liam must be on Jude’s phone. “Daddy! He said he’s just passing Fourth and Wells.”
“Okay, Nicky. I have your location pulled up. Are you in front of the bookshop?”
He had to squint to see. There might still be tears on his lashes but Nicky found it easier to breathe, so that was something. “Yes.” Yes, he was. It was good that his friends could see where he was, right? Well, Nicky was going to think of it as a good thing.
“Good, Nicky, you just keep breathing for me. Okay, Liam, tell Law to turn on Ninth going west. Nicky is parked in front of the bookshop I took you to last week.”
It was much easier to let Jude take control. Jude might not be his Daddy but they were friends, and Jude wouldn’t allow anything bad to happen to him. Nicky could just let go of the situation. That was exactly what Nicky needed now.
“He’s pulling up behind Nicky now, Daddy,” Liam said as headlights flashed in his rearview mirror.
“Nicky, I’m going to have Law pick you up. He’ll bring you to us and we’ll figure everything out. You remember Law, right?” Jude asked.
The sexy bodyguard? Otherwise known as the sexy owner of an executive protection company, if someone wanted to use the proper name. Nicky didn’t care what people called Law. He was Nicky’s secret obsession. Not even Liam knew about the fantasies that Nicky had about Law.
He must have been quiet for too long, trying to figure out if this was another way fate was fucking with him or if this was a good thing.
“Nicky?” Jude called his name over the line. “We can come ourselves.”
“No, it’s okay!” Nicky said. It really was even if he was absolutely horrified by his breakdown. Law would probably think that Nicky was a drama queen and not want anything to do with him ever again. But Law could also get Nicky to his best friend’s side. It was fine. Nicky’s crush would still be a secret.
“Are you sure?” Jude questioned. “If you’re not comfortable, we can be on the way right now. “
“Yes, I’m sure. I remember Law,” Nicky replied. Like he could forget. It was just his luck the sexy man was the one to come to his rescue when Nicky’s eyes were red, he had snot filling his nose, and probably looked like total shit. Not that Law had ever given Nicky an inclination that he might be interested. Law was even harder to get to know than Jude was.
“Nicky?” Liam was back on the line. “Is it okay? Law won’t get out of his car unless you tell me that it’s okay. If you need me, bestie, I will totally be there.”
“Hey.” Nicky was already feeling better. Having Liam and Jude back close to him was what Nicky really needed to help settle him. The trip had just thrown him off course, everything had gone wrong, and Nicky was basically trying to remember why he loved what he did. His best friend was the grounding source that Nicky needed. “I’m okay. I just need to see you, I think. I need a hug.”
“Daddy is talking to Uncle Law. He’ll make everything better until I can hug you. I’ll hug you all night long!” Liam told him.
Nicky gave a watery laugh. “I love you.”
“I love you too!” Liam replied instantly. “You know I do! Do you want to spend the night? We can cuddle in my bed.”
“What’s your Daddy going to think about that?” Nicky had to ask.
Liam snorted. “You act like my Daddy ever tells me no.”
“Boy.” Jude’s growl was easily heard over the line. “What are you saying?”
“Daddy!” Liam said sweetly. “My bestie is sad. We need a slumber party!”
A slumber party sounded like heaven to him. “I don’t have any clothes with me,” Nicky said. It was a poor excuse and he knew it. Nicky wasn’t even trying to get out of the slumber party. His little side pushed closer to the front. It had been so long since he’d played with his bestie.
“I have clothes,” Liam offered. “Slumber party!”
Being away from his nursery, his little stuff, and Liam had been harder than Nicky wanted to admit. Even though he’d triedto find some small bit of little Nicky while he was gone, it had been a complete failure. Being the boss with no real support had been hard. He only found peace when he was in his own house or with his bestie. “Can we really have a slumber party?” he asked softly.
“Yes.” Liam’s voice was steady, firm, without even the hint of his little side. “With or without Daddy. You just tell me what you need, and it will happen.”
How did he get so lucky? Even after Liam had found Jude, he never made Nicky feel like an imposition. Liam might have met the Daddy of his dreams, but he had never been too busy for Nicky. Hell, even Jude was like a pseudo-Daddy when Nicky needed it. And right now, he just needed to not be him. Grown-up him.
