“I love you so much,” Enzo murmured, his voice thick. “Be good today, little man.”
“You be good, big man,” Laz replied, his voice muffled as he hugged Enzo back.
Enzo chuckled at that and released him. We both watched as Laz raced down the hall to his bedroom before he disappeared inside.
“It may not have been ideal, but I can’t imagine life without him,” Enzo said softly.
“I know,” I said, wincing at the ugly memory in my head. I hated that I was raped, but having Laz had changed my life for the better. He made my life matter. Made it worth living.
I knew I would endure the pain and torture again just to keep him.
“I’ll see you for dinner,” Enzo said as we left his room.
I nodded. “Be safe.”
“Always.” He left me there, and I watched him head down the stairs. I didn’t move for a minute, but eventually left to go to Laz’s room to find him with both snow boots on.
“Hey, good job,” I said. “I was coming to help you.”
“It’s OK, Daddy. I got it. I’m going to be a big man like you someday.”
I chuckled at that. “You’ll be a better man than me, Laz, I can promise you that.”
“You’re the best man,” he said, looking up at me with his big green eyes.
My throat tightened at his words.
“You think so?”
He nodded. “And you buy me ice cream. And toys. And watch movies with me. And get me colors. And we eat nuggets. Can we have nuggets today?”
I laughed a little more, grateful today was a day he was talkative. He wasn’t always so vocal. “Yeah, we can get nuggets, but we’re having a real dinner tonight.”
“Nuggets aren’t real?”
“They’re real tasty,” I said, smiling at him while he danced around with his boots on.
“They are tasty.” He rubbed his little tummy. “I need more in here.”
“Come on, silly man. Let’s get you refueled.” I led him out of his room, but stopped when I heard Cole throwing up.
Laz wrinkled his nose. “That’s gross.”
“Go wait for me downstairs,” I said. I didn’t need to tell him twice. He raced away, making airplane noises with his arms outstretched.
I shook my head and went into Cole’s room to find him in his bathroom, hugging the toilet naked.
“Hey, man.” I kneeled beside him and ran my fingers through his soft, messy blond hair.
“I fucked up,” he mumbled before he threw up again. I watched as he fumbled with the handle before flushing the toilet.
I got up, retrieved a cup of water from his sink, and handed it to him as I kneeled next to him again.
He took the drink and rinsed his mouth before spitting it into the toilet. Then he drank the remainder and went to his ass.
I said nothing. I simply stayed next to him, waiting for him to speak on his own.
“I kissed some chick last night at the club,” he mumbled. “Enzo told me to let Rosalie go, so I tried. I didn’t want you to know that I would have let her suck me off. That I put her on her knees for me before Enzo stopped me from getting off.”
