Page 71 of Doc

“Anyway, I better go. I’m sure you have more interesting things to do than spending the entire night speaking to your mother.”

Rolling my eyes to Doc, I smile as he grins, clearly enjoying my mother’s dramatics. “You know I like talking to you, Ma. It’s never a bother.”

She sniffs.“Then maybe next week you’ll be the one to call me, hmm?”

Doc laughs and I glare at him, even though I walked right into that trap. “Sure, Ma. I’ll call you soon, okay?”

“You better. Love you, Sory.”

“I love you, too.”

She hangs up and I drop my phone onto the bed next to me. Doc drapes his arms over my shoulders, and I wrap both of mine around his waist.

“I can’t wait to meet your mother,” he says.

I chuckle and bury my face into his abdomen. “Ugh, I love her, but she’sdramatic. And knows exactly how to play me.”

He laughs and moves one hand up to my hair, playing with the strands. “I think good parents are meant to be like that. At least, that’s what I’ve seen with Cristian and Roman over the years.”

I want to ask about his own parents, but something in his voice, the way he gets wistful when talking about the Boss and his son, tells me it’s a sore subject, and I understand that all too well. My mother might be great, but I know all about growing up with a parent who isn’t.

While it doesn’t bother me to talk about my father and the shit he put me through, I’m also not about to discuss it all willy-nilly. So, I won’t ask, but I will wait and listen when Doc’s ready to tell me.

He sighs and tries to move out of my embrace, but I hold tight. “I have something to ask you, but I also have to explain some things.”

“What is it, baby?”

The tension he’s been holding for the last few minutes eases at the endearment, and I clutch him even closer.

“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but the Amatos donate a lot of money to charity; keeping up appearances that they’re nothing more than a wealthy family who cares for certain causes. Roman and Carter even make cookies every year at Christmas and take them down to the soup kitchen. Anyway, one of the charities hosts a dinner every year, and always extends an invite to Cristian… They also send one to me.”

Pulling back, I meet his gaze, brows furrowing in confusion. “To you?”

He takes a shuddering breath and nods. “My full name is Ashby Percival Wescott. I know, it sounds so fucking pretentious, and is one reason why I prefer going by Doc. My family… They’re one of the oldest, wealthiest in the state. And with that comes a lot of expectations, especially from their one and only son.”

“You don’t have to talk about this.”

He tries to smile but it falls flat. “Yes, I do. Because I go to the event every year, and I want you to come as my date, but if you do that, I’ll be subjecting you, not only to some ofthewealthy and elite people in the nearby cities, but my parents as well.”

“I’ll support you and do whatever you want. If you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to. I’m happy to stay home and wait for you.”

He clutches my hair in his fingers, pulling tight. “I don’t want that, though, Daddy. I want to bring you with me. I want to show off how good you’ll look in a tux, and I want my parents to see that I can have everything I always dreamt about, while still being who I am.”

“I’m guessing they don’t approve of you being gay then.”

He shakes his head and lets out a bitter laugh. “That’s putting it nicely. Sure, they like to brag that I am the personal doctorto Cristian, because while there are rumors swirling about the actual type of business he’s in, he still has enough money and clout that people ignore the rumors and suspicions. But that for sure doesn’t mean they think I can be such an important person while having my…tendencies. Never mind, it’s well-known that Cristian is married to a man. It’s different for their child, I suppose.”

I hum in agreement. “My father is a homophobic asshole, in all the ways, and looks down on Cristian for that, but that also means I understand. I’m not out to him. Everyone in my life knows, except my father. So, I mean it when I say that you don’t have to introduce me to them.”

“I want to, Daddy. I want everyone to see you and know you’re mine.” He leans down and presses a kiss to my lips, and I hold him close for a long moment. “Anyway, so you’ll meet my parents, but…that’s not all I want to discuss.”

“Okay, we can talk about whatever you want, baby.”

He gives a wobbly smile, and when he goes to pull out of my arms again, this time I let him. Doc takes a seat next to me on the bed and I wrap an arm around him, encouraging him to lean against me. It should be awkward with our size difference, but we fit as if we were made for one another.

“I want to tell you how I became the Amato Doctor.”

“Only if you want to, though I have to admit, I am curious.” Now that I know where he comes from, it seems a bit strange that a rich kid would end up as a mafia associate.

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