Page 17 of Warm and Dry

"Okay."

I put the pan down that I was halfheartedly drying. "Scott?"

"Yes, baby."

I turned, and he opened his arms for me to walk right into. I pressed my face against his neck and breathed him in as his arms closed around me. "This was the best first date I've ever had."

I felt him smile against my hair. "Me too."

"Can we do this again?" I pulled back enough to look at him, biting my lip as I did.

He shook his head like I was being silly and then kissed my forehead. "We will definitely do this again. A lot, I hope."

I smiled and grabbed my jacket off the couch and my keys from the counter. "I'll text you."

"I'll be here."

I got into my car and sat for a second before starting the engine. I didn’t even pull away before I was texting him. I really liked the milk.

His reply came back in about ten seconds. I’m happy to hear that. You’re welcome to more anytime you want it.

I really wanted him to mean that. Have a great day…Daddy.

10

SCOTT

It was early on Wednesday evening when my phone buzzed on the counter with a call from Forest. Every time his name lit up the screen, a flutter of excitement filled me. "Hey, baby."

"Hey." His voice was off, and my hackles were immediately up. I’d heard his upset voice before, but this was…different. "So, don't freak out."

Fucking hell. I put down the wrench and exhaled, bracing myself for the worst. "What’s going on?"

"It’s not a big deal, but I'm at urgent care….and I need a ride home.” He sighed as if it were all a misunderstanding. “I told them I could walk or call a rideshare, but they gave me some painkillers, so I need someone to sign me out.”

"I'm on my way." I was already moving toward the door. “What happened?”

“I took a puck to the hand during practice and two of my fingers are broken. They said it’ll be about an hour before the splint is on, so you don’t have to rush. I just don’t want to call any of the guys because they’re not the most⁠—"

"Forest." I grabbed my keys off the hook and made sure my wallet was in my pocket. "Text me the address."

He went quiet for a second, then whispered, "Okay. Thank you."

The urgent care center he texted was twenty minutes away, but I made it there in fifteen. As soon as I found parking, I jogged inside and spotted him immediately. Forest was sitting in a plastic chair near the window with his right hand wrapped and his long hair loose around his face.

My cock stirred just from seeing him in his practice gear.

He looked up when I walked in, and the relief on his face went straight to my heart. It was almost palpable. "You didn't have to come this fast." That might have been true, but it was more true that he was glad I did.

"I wanted to." I sat down beside him and gave him a kiss on the cheek before I carefully lifted his elbow to get a look at his hand. As he said, two fingers were splinted together, and there was a little swelling visible above the bandage. "How bad is it?"

"Two clean breaks, so they’ll take six to eight weeks to heal." He leaned his head back against the wall and sighed. "I'm out for the rest of the season."

"I'm sorry." I slipped my arm behind his shoulders and pulled him closer to me. “I know that’s disappointing.”

"It is what it is." He shrugged as if it was fine, but I knew he was feeling more emotion than he was willing to show in the middle of a public waiting room. “I’m fine.”

As much as I wanted to find the words that would make him feel better, there just weren’t any. So I gave him another squeeze and kiss to the head then got up and went to find a nurse. Forest was cleared to leave as soon as I signed the waiver that confirmed I would get him home safely and make sure he picked up his prescription. As soon as I had all his care instructions, I turned to Forest and saw he was just staring at me.