Page 29 of Doubling Down

“Good,” Eric grunted out. He walked them both to the living room before finally releasing them. “There’s my girl!” He bent, scooping Annabelle up. He held her high before nuzzling her belly, making her giggle.

It did his heart good to see someone other than himself doting on his baby girl. It also made Eric even more attractive. Tough men with soft hearts were sexy as hell. Eric cuddled Annabelle to his chest.

“I heard we were having a veg session?” Eric asked.

Was Eric really going to watch trash TV with them?

“Yep!” Brandon walked over and stole Annabelle from him. “Go change. Did you eat?”

“I—”

“Eat anything other than fast food?” Brandon interrupted.

Eric sighed.

“Ezra made salmon and rice,” Brandon said. “We saved you a plate.”

“Yes!” Eric pumped his fist.

Ezra laughed. “I’ll get it and a beer for you.”

“I’m changing.” Eric strolled out of the living room.

He couldn’t help but watch Eric go. That ass. Ezra was nearly obsessed with that ass.

“You’re drooling,” Brandon sing-songed as Ezra passed.

“Am not.” Ezra would not wipe his mouth. Not until he was in the kitchen anyway.

Brandon settled on the couch with Annabelle, offering her a sippy cup of flavored water. Continuing to the kitchen, Ezra walked to the oven where he’d placed a plate to keep warm. Eric’s kitchen was magic to cook in. The large gleaming countertops, new industrial appliances, and more food than Ezra bought in a month. He could get used to preparing meals in a space like that. Even though Ezra knew he shouldn’t get too used to it. He didn’t live there. He and Annabelle would have to leave in a few short days and Ezra couldn’t afford to buy a house in a neighborhood like this. Not quite yet.

At least he knew what kind of home to strive for in the future. Everything about the house was perfect. It wasn’t his and Ezra needed to remember that. He grabbed a beer from the fridge before picking up a hand towel. Going to the oven, he opened the door and pulled out the plate. He used his hip to close the door before powering off the oven for the night.

With his offerings for Eric, Ezra headed back to the living room.

He returned at the same time Eric strolled into the living room wearing a thin gray pair of sweatpants and white T-shirt. Ezra about dropped the plate and beer bottle. Holy. Hot. Daddy!

“Is that for me?” Eric strode forward, relieving Ezra of both the plate and beer. “Thanks so much.”

The brush of his lips over Ezra’s forehead was barely there but Ezra still felt the electric tingle down his spine. He hurried to the corner of the couch he’d claimed earlier as his own. He dropped down, yanking the soft fleece blanket over his lap. Seeing Eric in those sweatpants and feeling the soft touch of his lips. Yep, Ezra had a hard dick that he needed to hide. How embarrassing.

It was even worse when Eric sat close enough to Ezra that they could touch if one of them moved a couple inches.

Brandon grinned and winked as Ezra caught his eye. At least Eric was bent over the plate, stuffing his face. Brandon had complained earlier about Eric’s eating habits and by the way he was inhaling the food, Ezra didn’t think Brandon hadn’t been wrong.

Brandon picked up the remote. “Everyone ready?”

Eric grunted with his mouth full.

Ezra nodded.

The show they planned to view was already q’d up. Brandon hit Play and lay back with Annabelle still on his chest. Ezra watched Eric from the corner of his eye to see his reaction to what he and Brandon had picked.

He was shocked when Eric’s attention went to the screen.

Brandon had assured Ezra that Eric wouldn’t mind their choice, but Ezra had his doubts. Except Eric didn’t appear upset.

It was so easy to get caught up in the ridiculous and hilarious reality show. Ezra could stop worrying about anything as men and women argued, stabbed each other in the back, not literally. Some of the betrayals were truly epic.

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