Page 14 of Ethan’s Dazzling Daddies

At his frown, Jacob reached over and picked up the device. When he saw the name on the screen, he shook his head. “We're not answering him.”

Though Ethan had already decided the same thing himself, it was good to hear his Daddy agree. With the phone set to silent, Ethan snuggled closer to his Daddy and settled in to keep watching his show. He didn't think about his old job or his insurance or anything else. He was too content to be upset by those kinds of things.

CHAPTER 6

Every minute Ethan spent at Jacob's place made him more confident Jacob was meant to be his Daddy. The other man knew him inside and out. He also seemed adamant that Ethan rest properly.

On day three, Ethan finally admitted to himself he needed to do something to figure out his insurance situation. Despite his Daddy making it seem like everything would be alright, he knew better.

“I need my phone,” he said to Jacob after breakfast that morning.

Daddy frowned, though he didn't argue. Instead he went to where he'd tucked Ethan's phone away that first night. “May I ask what you plan on doing?”

“I've got to see what comes next.”

At his words, the phone was placed in his hand. Daddy didn’t seem all that happy to do it.

Ethan took the phone and unlocked it. His eyes went wide at the number of notifications he had. Some were from Ash, of course. Multiple calls and voicemails. He ignored them, not wanting to see what the man had to say.

His texts wer also full with several people from the office checking on him. People he didn't think he'd ever given his number to, though they'd probably found it through the directory.

He also found himself staring at an email from HR.

“Crap,” he muttered.

Jacob came to stand beside him. With his Daddy at his back, a hand on Ethan's shoulder in support, Ethan opened the email and began to read. By the time he finished, he was more confused than ever.

“I don't understand,” he said.

“Well, it looks like you got a severance package. A rather generous one, I would say. Your insurance is covered for a full year.” Jacob paused. “Did your boss know the reason you were sticking around?”

Ethan nodded slowly. “He did. He only found out recently, but I wouldn't expect this from him. It doesn't make sense.”

Jacob hummed. “Maybe it does.”

He squeezed Ethan's shoulder and kissed the top of his head before moving back into the kitchen to finish the dishes he'd been working on.

Those words, said so calmly, made Ethan spiral a bit. What did his Daddy mean by that? Did he understand why Ash would do something like this? Was there some detail Ethan was missing that would explain it all? He didn't dare ask. Going deeper into this wormhole was a bad idea.

He replied to the email, thanking them and confirming his address and banking information. On top of the year's worth of insurance, he was receiving six months of pay and a bonus.

Knowing what he made regularly, Ethan couldn't help but question why. No matter how he spun it, it didn't make sense.

Technically he wasn’t supposed to have this type of pay since he’d quit. Severance was for when you were fired, yet somehow Ethan had been given far more than the usual amount and coverage.

When he got a response from HR saying they would take care of everything, he tucked his phone away again. If he kept it in his hand, he would end up texting Ash, and then he would be opening himself up to a conversation he still wasn’t ready to have.

“I know you've taken a few days off, but I think it would do us some good to go to the club today,” Jacob said once he was done cleaning up in the kitchen.

“Sounds good to me,” Ethan agreed. He moved into the kitchen wanting to help put things away.

Daddy waved him off, demanding he sit down. “You've worked hard. You don't need to do anything.”

Ethan threw his hands up. “I haven't been working hard today, or yesterday, or the day before. I need to do something.”

Daddy smiled as he dried his hands. “Yes, which is why we're going to the club. My boy needs to get his restless energy out, and I would like to make sure Noah hasn't burned down my kitchen or killed Dill.”

Ethan giggled. “He's not going to kill him. Noah wouldn't do well in prison.”