Page 112 of All Tied Up

Jamie poked Daddy hard, then looked meaningfully at the phone until Daddy backed down.

“Um, did you want to drive out here tonight?” Daddy finally asked. Jamie could tell that he was reluctant, but none of it was about Neil. It was all about Daddy’s insecurities, and the cure for that would be proving him wrong.

“Sorry. I guess I got a little over-enthusiastic. You probably want to sleep. I just had some ideas that I thought might be able to help…” Neil trailed off, sounding even more pitiful.

Jamie rolled his eyes. Seriously? “What Daddy is trying to say is that we know your ideas are brilliant and we want you to come out here as soon as possible. Tonight. Tomorrow. Next weekend. Whenever you can. If you want to come out now, we’ll stay up.” Jamie wanted to add so much more. That Neil should be with them all the time. That he wanted to give this thing a chance.

But maybe that was better discussed in person. Jamie could make a good guess about what Daddy wanted, but all he had for Neil was hope.

“As long as you’re safe,” Daddy added unnecessarily. “And we’re not interrupting your schedule.”

“I can take the day off tomorrow.” Neil laughed nervously as he added, “I haven’t been able to concentrate anyway. So, uh, if you have some space available I could come out tonight.”

“We do,” Jamie promised. “It’s a really big bed.” And he wanted Neil in it, nestled between them.

“OK. Well, um, I’ll see you in an hour and a half.”

“Perfect. Drive safely. Bye!”

“Bye.”

Daddy turned to Jamie, blinking in the dim light. “He’s coming out here.” He sounded surprised, like it was all just catching up with him.

“He is,” Jamie agreed. It seemed like just making that call had broken through something. He rested his head on Daddy’s chest, breathing in his familiar scent. “I love you, Daddy.”

Daddy nuzzled against his forehead. “I love you, too. And Jamie… thank you. I’ve been horrible to you this week and you’ve been more than I deserve. I’m sorry.”

“This week was scary, Daddy,” he whispered. Not because he feared losing the lodge, but because Daddy had never pulled away from him like that before.

“I’m so, so sorry, my love. If you’ll let me, I’ll be a better Daddy to you.”

Jamie kissed his neck, because this was really where the problem was. It had just taken this situation for him to see it. “You don’t need to be a better Daddy to me. You’ve been an amazing Daddy to me for almost a decade and I want many decades more. Just next time we have a life-changing catastrophe, remember you don’t have to handle it all yourself.”

“I know. I know. I just… No, that’s it. You’re right. You’re my beautiful boy and I love taking care of you, but I hope you know that I value you just as much as a partner.”

“I do know. Thank you for calling Neil.”

Daddy’s arms tightened around him. “Thank you for making me. I just got kind of… stuck. And I owe him an even bigger apology. If he even still wants us.”

Jamie rolled his eyes, even though Daddy couldn’t see it. “He’s driving out here in the middle of the night. I think it’s safe to say he’s interested.” There were still so many things to figure out, but if they all wanted it, surely they could make something work.

“You’re right. He’s going to be here soon.” It was the second time he’d said it, and this time his voice held a quiet reverence.

“He’ll be here soon,” Jamie repeated. “And you’re going to hold me until he comes.”

“I am,” Daddy agreed. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Jamie snuggled himself into Daddy’s chest, exhaustion finally washing over him now that everything was alright. “We’re going to be so tired tomorrow.”

“Yeah, but it’ll be totally worth it.”

18

Neil

Neil tossed things into the suitcase as quickly as he could. Usually he was a meticulous packer, but right now he was ignoring small details like folding and finding matching clothes in favor of speed.

What was he packing for, though?