Page 19 of Just a Little in Love

“No, Rowan, I mean, did you ask one of your friends from the club, or even from college?”

Rowan bit his lip. He hadn’t asked them.

“Did you choose to come here because you knew you would be safe, but then you were worried about just turning up?” Daddy waited patiently for Rowan to answer.

“Yes,” he admitted.

“So, you trust me?” Daddy pushed a little.

“Yes,” Rowan said, even quieter.

“Then trust me when I say nothing you say, nothing you wear, and nothing I see would ever make me change my mind about being your friend. I want to be someone you can talk to.”

Rowan gazed into Daddy’s brown eyes and took a huge risk. “I don’t wear them because I want to.”

Daddy Gabriel nodded encouragingly.

“I know some littles do, but that’s their thing, not mine.” He could feel the blush start in his neck.

“Good boy for telling me,” Daddy Gabriel praised him, and it gave Rowan some more courage.

“I got cancer—down there,” Rowan waved a hand in the general direction of his groin, “When I was thirteen. It’s rare that young, and I had to have radiotherapy and take lots of hormones. One of the side effects is that sometimes I leak.” His cheeks were on fire.

“Thank you for telling me,” Daddy Gabriel murmured. “Are you okay now, the cancer, I mean?”

“Yes. I just got a checkup, but I might always have that problem. And I’m fat,” Rowan whispered, hanging his head.

Daddy Gabriel seemed to pause before he replied, long enough for Rowan to wish he were somewhere else, anywhere else.

“Rowan, who told you that?”

He was so surprised at the question, Rowan lifted his head. “Told me what?”

“That you’re fat?”

His face heated again. “I didn’t used to be. The hormone therapy did it at first, but then…” He’d just seemed to be in an endless cycle. Always hungry at Mother’s because of her special diet. Father was always trying to get him to eat more, but he heard his Mother’s voice in his head with every bite he ate. Then when he’d started college, it got out of hand. He had to inspect his car every night to make sure he’d gotten rid of the candy wrappers.

“Rowan, have you ever had the chance to talk to someone about how you feel?”

Rowan shook his head, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Look, I’m no therapist, but when I lifted you off the floor, I was surprised at how little you weighed. I honestly think your image of yourself isn’t what other people see, but even if it was, people that only see the outside aren’t worth getting to know.

“I understand your hesitance to speak with a therapist, especially with what you’ve been through, but you do know the club has many professionals that come in? Daddy Patrick would know someone that could be trusted.”

“But Mother—”

Daddy Gabriel rested a hand on Rowan’s leg and it shocked him enough that he didn’t finish the sentence.

“You’re an adult, Rowan. I know your mom loves you, but a little extra support wouldn’t hurt, surely?”

Rowan blinked quickly because suddenly Daddy Gabriel was all blurry

“Maybe you need someone private to talk to?”

Rowan knew Daddy Gabriel was right. He felt better just talking to him.

Daddy Gabriel looked up at the sound of a cell phone and frowned. Rowan didn’t know how late it was, but it had to be after eleven.

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