Rafa

‘Everything good?’ Kyle says to me as we watch Aaron leave The Fluffy Diaper. ‘The boy left in a hurry.’

‘Yeah, I think he needs a moment to himself,’ I reply. ‘I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. But this is a big deal for him. I mean, the whole relationship thing. He’s been hurt in the past.’

‘Haven’t we all,’ Kyle says, a knowing look in his eyes.

‘Yup,’ I reply, knowing the feeling of a relationship crashing and burning all too well. ‘But I’m not going to put any pressure on my baby boy. He can have as much time as he needs to work things out. And when he’s ready, I’ll be there for him.’

‘You’re a good guy,’ Kyle says. ‘But how will you cope without a butt to spank, or… ram your cock in?’

‘Come on man, take it easy,’ I laugh. ‘I’m not some sex-crazed monster. Okay, well maybe I am a little bit. But with Aaron, it’s different. It’s so much more than that. And that’s why I’m more than happy for him to move things at his pace.’

‘You’re a better man than me, brother,’ Kyle says, sipping on his Americano.

‘Pffft, we already knew that!’ I laugh, appreciating Kyle’s generosity but also not wanting to miss a moment to razz him a little bit either.

‘So what’s the situation with Aaron’s business deal? That Debussy thing,’ Kyle says. ‘It sounds like when I’ve been waiting for a new contract from the network and it just keeps getting delayed. You can’t let these things rumble on for too long, that’s when people get doubts in their minds.’

I nod.

Kyle’s right.

The Frank Debussy deal is clearly playing on my boy’s mind, and I have a feeling that it contributed a big part of Aaron leaving early – and to his wanting to cool things down with me too.

‘Debussy hasn’t signed the final contract. It’s as simple as that,’ I say. ‘The boy needs to make his play. Take a riskier shot. Put Debussy under pressure.’

‘Easier said than done when you’re a boy,’ Kyle says. ‘That kind of move is easier for us, we need to remember that.’

‘For sure,’ reply. ‘But Aaron’s an older boy. He’s got a track record. He’s got experience of success. I know he can do it, he just needs to believe it himself.’

‘Hell yeah,’ Kyle says. ‘And you’re his Daddy. You need to help him see that. How? Well that’s for you to work out!’

‘Thanks, that’s a great help,’ I say, rolling my eyes.

But Kyle’s right.

My buddy might not have provided me any kind of solution, but when Kyle said that it’s up to me to figure it out, he was totally correct.

If I really am Aaron’s Forever Daddy, then I should be there to guide him through this. I may not be a businessman, but I’ve got experience of pressurized environments…

I’ve won the biggest tennis tournaments in the world.

I’ve played in front of celebrities and royalty.

I’ve been watched by tens of millions of people around the globe.

And now I need to apply my skillset to help my darling boy seal the deal that can take his career to the next level.

But Kyle might have another plan and it’s one that involves drinks…

‘Come on, bro,’ Kyle says, a look of mischief in his eyes. ‘Now your boy’s gone home and you’ve decided to give him some space… why don’t we hit Icepop Club and sink some cold ones?’

It’s tempting.

Very tempting.

‘Hell, why not?’ I say, Kyle barely waiting for me to finish my sentence before he’s arranging an Uber to take us across town. ‘But I’m not staying out late, right?’