Page 34 of Thrust Me Daddy

Chapter 12

Trent

‘I just don’t get this at all,’ I say, shaking my head as I sip my espresso. ‘I mean…why?’

I look across the table and show Ranger my phone screen.

Mikey messaged me on my way over to meet Ranger and Reece atDark Beans. To say that it wasn’t a good message would maybe be understatement of the millennium.

The worst thing about Mikey’s message was that it seemed so final.

I could handle it if Mikey had an issue that was upsetting him and he wanted to talk about it. But the way that he seemed to go from zero to a hundred so quickly really shocked me.

‘I take it you haven’t replied yet?’ Ranger says.

‘No, I just don’t know…’ I say, my words trailing off momentarily. ‘Part of me is pissed off. I mean, we’ve had a busy couple of weeks. It’s no big deal.’

‘Yeah, but you have to remember that Mikey’s a Little,’ Ranger says. ‘He hasn’t got your age and life experience to fall back on.Chances are, he’s probably feeling quite emotional having only recently found you. Right?’

I know that Ranger is talking sense.

To be honest, I kind of suspected that this was coming as I’d sensed Mikey getting more frustrated by our clashing schedules – but what I hadn’t expected was just how far Mikey would take things in his message.

‘You’re right,’ I say, nodding. ‘And when the hell did Mr. PlayDaddy get so wise?’

‘Hey, you know me,’ Ranger says, his charismatic smile lighting up the room. ‘I’m a man of many hidden depths.’

‘Sure, sure,’ I laugh, Ranger’s humor briefly illuminating the situation. ‘Oh, hey, Reece’s here.’

I watch as Reece strides over, full of purpose as ever.

‘Guys, sorry I’m late,’ Reece says, looking as dashing as ever in his fitted pale-blue suit and open collared white shirt.

‘Let me guess, sale at the Armani store?’ Ranger bellows, prompting more laughter from the three of us.

‘No, actually, notthistime,’ Reece replies. ‘I had some business to do over at the Los Torros Tornados training complex. It’s looking good. Those Construction Boys have done another great job so far. I mean, I’m biased of course…’

I attempt a smile but can’t quite force one out.

Even the mention of the Construction Boys is taking me right back into the center of my apparent drama with Mikey.

‘Errr, something I said?’ Reece says, placing his iced flat-white down on the table and taking a seat in one of the high-backed armchairs.

‘Boy trouble,’ Ranger says, arching his eyebrow. ‘If you don’t mind, Trent?’

‘No, be my guest,’ I say, more than happy for Ranger to sum up the situation.

‘Mikey and Trent have been having something of a scheduling conflict,’ Ranger explains to an attentive Reece. ‘So much so that Mikey’s called the whole damn relationship off.’

‘Damn, that sucks, bro,’ Reece says, leaning forward with a contemplative look on his face. ‘But…’

‘Yeah?’ I reply, unsure as to what Reece might be about to say.

‘I know you want to show respect to Mikey’s wishes,’ Reece says in between glugging down half of his iced drink. ‘But since when does a Daddy like you let the boy call all the shots? I mean, Mikey gave youhisside of the argument. Surely you need to putyourside across too?’

I lean back in my chair and take a deep breath.

Reece is talking a lot of sense. He’s right that I truly want to respect Mikey’s feelings and ensure that our relationship is based on mutual respect.

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