Page 67 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

After.Noah’s face burned. “Once we left the bar, I was going to tell you—but…”

Brody caressed Noah’s cheek. “If only we could go back in time and erase it all.”

“We can’t do that. What’s done is done.”

Brody dropped his hand and closed his eyes a moment. When he reopened them, there was such pain in his expression. “And what’s done is oursecret. Right?”

“It doesn’t have to be.” He’d run and fate had brought him right back to Brody. Wasn’t that a sign? Maybe they were meant to be in one another’s life.

“Yes. It does.”

“I’ll explain what happened to Mom and Geena. I’ll make them understand.”

“I highly doubt that,” Brody muttered. “If they find out, I might never see Parker again.”

Noah hadn’t considered that. He couldn’t be the cause of Parker losing a father. He understood what it felt like to be abandoned by a parent.Abandoned?“Did she really fight for me?”

Brody nodded. “Stacey and Geena drained their savings. Put themselves in some serious debt they’re only now starting to see themselves out of. They gave theireverythingto get you back… and it nearly destroyed Stacey.”

“Destroyed her?”

“She had a mental break. Had to be hospitalized a week or so. She’s worked hard to keep level ever since.” Brody winced. “I probably shouldn’t have told you that.”

Tears welled in Noah’s eyes. “It’s been so long, I barely remember being with her. Just little glimpses of the past. My memory from back then is really, really empty. Like it was wiped clean.” He chuckled mirthlessly. “I remembered Geena, but not her name.” He turned his focus to Brody. “I didn’t remember you at all. Not until you brought up the cards and the trip.”

“I almost didn’t want to let you go that day he picked you up. He was ranting about homosexuality and how he was going to save you. But he was your dad and supposed to take you to Disney. I couldn’t have stopped him, especially with Stace and Geena on their way to Hawaii.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“It felt like it for a lot of years. Had I listened to my gut maybe you would’ve had a better life here with them.”

He caught Brody’s gaze. “Like you said, you couldn’t have stopped him. He’s my father.”

But you’re my daddy.

Silence fell around them, suffocating. He held Brody’s heated stare.

“Stop eyeing me like that,” Brody spat, rising to his feet, albeit a little shakily.

“Like what?”

“You know exactly what I mean,” Brody argued as he headed for the kitchen. He picked at some of the leftovers from his dinner.

“I can’t help how I feel,” Noah said. “I still want you, daddy.”

Brody closed his eyes and swayed slightly on his feet. “Stop!”

“It’s the truth.” Noah rose and closed the gap between them. He wanted back into his daddy’s arms. He wanted to be safe and protected. Noah realized he was being selfish asking for it, but he was scared. He needed Brody.

“You’ll get over it,” Brody said. “I already have.”

“Liar,” Noah declared.

Brody eyed Noah, anger in his gaze. “I seem to recall you reacting badly to that word.”

“Because you were right. Iwaslying. Just like you are now.”

Brody’s face twisted in outrage. “I’m going to bed.” He stalked from the kitchen into the hall leading to his bedroom, leaving Noah on the couch.

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