Page 3 of Father Figure

“No,” I laughed, “I wasn’t going there. Brian and I… He’s a great dad and a great man, but he was never?—”

“The one?” Sampson supplied.

“Yeah, he wasn’t the one. But Nicky,” I dropped the dish in the rack and dried my hands on the towel. “I couldn’t walk away from him. He was such a cute kid,” I recalled, grinning. “With his mop of dark hair and big, round eyes, holding his fishing pole upside down. God, the way he wormed himself into my heart right from the beginning. Yeah, I couldn’t walk away from Nicky. He’s such a good kid. Not really a kid anymore, though,” I realized with a heavy sigh.

“Is he dating anyone?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Has he said anything about who he’s interested in?” Sam pinned me with an inquisitive look. “About his sexuality?”

My head snapped up, and I dropped the dishrag on the counter. “Do you think he’s gay?”

“Come on,” Sam laughed. “You don’t think so?”

“I don’t know. I never really thought about it.” Is Nicky gay? Would it matter if he was?

Yeah, it would definitely matter. Thinking of him with a girl felt…safe? But thinking of him with a guy, a bigger stronger man that could maybe prey on him, or do the things to his tiny body that I do with my partners? Fuck no! The idea kicked my protective instinct into overdrive.

“Don’t give me that bullshit. You’ve known that kid as long as I have. He’s always been a little?—”

“A little what?” I asked, my tone sharpening.

“A little soft. Don’t get pissy with me. I know you’ve seen it.”

“What do you mean by soft?” Now I just sounded defensive.

“Oh, come on, Cass. The kid can’t wipe his own ass without your help. It was always Cass this, Cass that.”

My anger cooled. Sam was right; Nicky had always looked up to me and relied on me way too much. And I never complained because… I loved it. I loved how he made me feel needed and appreciated. I loved being a part of his life.

“Brian had to work, and if I wasn’t busy, there was no reason I shouldn’t have helped out.”

“Please, you went to every parent-teacher meeting, every soccer game?—”

I couldn’t help but laugh, recalling how badly he sucked at soccer. Nicky was more interested in picking the dandelions from the field than playing the game.

“Anyway, I think I’ve made my point,” he finished, looking superior.

“I’m not making any assumptions about his sexuality. I’ll wait until he confides in me.” I realized he was staring at me, and when I looked up, his expression had changed. It was softer now, more genuine.

“I’m glad you had him. Sometimes, and I’m not saying that I wish I lived a different life, but sometimes, it can get lonely being out on the water. Maybe it would be nice to feel like someone’s waiting for you at home, like Nicky.”

Yeah, it's a nice feeling.

CHAPTER TWO

Cass stood on the deck of his boat, coiling rope around his arm into a perfect circle. He looked like he was the God of summer standing there, with the sun beating down on his shoulders, highlighting the blond in his hair. The wind had tossed his wavy locks into a carefree mess and his tank top exposed the flex of his biceps as he coiled the rope.

Cassidy Hart was a damn fine specimen of a man.

Like, Baywatch hot, if that was still on TV.

“Permission to board, sir.”

He looked up, and as soon as he saw me, he radiated warmth and joy, reminding me why he was one of my favorite people.

“Come aboard, sailor.”

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