Page 101 of Forfeits

“Oh good. It’s been a fun evening,” Robin said, still maintaining a sweet outer demeanor.

“I’m so sorry, Robin.”

“Did you have fun?”

“I did. Thank you for watching Lucy.”

“Actually, she was great,” he said, his voice losing a bit of the edge. “If you can convince Annie and Brian that I’m not a sex worker—”

Gasps from off the phone.

“Then I’ll be happy to hang out with her again. Ta-ta.”

We disconnected, and I let my head fall back against the seat.

“Everything…okay?” Aiden asked. I wasn’t sure how much of that he’d heard.

“Annie and Brian are there.”

“Shit. Lucy’s okay?”

“She’s fine. She’s in bed,” I said, my voice dull as I processed everything. “They don’t approve of Robin.”

“Robin is amazing.”

“I know.”

“Are you…going to be all right?” Aiden asked, glancing at me with concern as he drove. “You’re dropping, aren’t you?”

“Like a fucking stone.”

“Shit,” he said. “Should I pull over? You can have a moment to get it together…”

“No,” I said, shaking my head and putting a hand to my forehead. “I’m fine. I’m okay.”

“Fletcher, you need something to drink and a snack. We should have stayed at Molly’s for a bit. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m fine,” I said. “Jesus, Aiden, you don’t need to baby me.” My voice sounded sharp.

“I’m not trying to baby you. I’m trying to be a good Dom,” Aiden explained.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes, and listened to the engine and the tires and the ambient sounds of the car.

“You are a good Dom. You’re a great Dom. I loved everything about tonight.”

“You don’t know how wonderful it is to hear that.”

“Except for the past ten minutes.”

“Understandable.”

We drove in silence until we got to my place. As he turned into the driveway, Aiden asked, “Would you prefer if I just dropped you off?”

“No. You might as well come in.” I hadn’t meant that to sound as dismissive as it did. “I’m sorry. I mean, would you come in? I may need your support.”

“Fletcher, of course. You will always have that.”

I grinned wryly. “Even if we break up?”

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