Page 46 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

“Nope.” Brody lifted his chin arrogantly.

Noah shook his head. “I don’t need your charity.”

“You recently left a bad situation. You need some stuff. Basics. After you get working, you can take care of all the extras you want, okay?”

Noah nodded. He didn’t like it, but at the same time, he appreciated Brody’s consideration. He didn’t deserve it, but he appreciated it nonetheless. “Okay. But not a lot.”

Brody’s lips twitched into a smile. “Okay.”

An hour later, their cart was loaded with two packs of socks, a few t-shirts, a couple pairs of sweatpants, a pack of briefs, two pairs of jeans, a pair of Chucks, and some toiletries. On the way to the registers, Brody paused beside a rack of ladies lingerie. Brightly colored rows of lace panties and bras went on for several feet.

“How about some of these?”

Noah shook his head. He’d tried a pair years before, and they hadn’t been comfortable. He’d worn them, regardless. Luckily, he’d found a site that catered to men. Saved up Christmas and birthday money had paid for that red lace plus shipping and handling. “Those aren’t made for men. There’s no room for a cock and balls.”

“Ahh,” Brody said. “Where did you find yours?”

“I ordered them online. Well, my friend ordered them for me to protect me. I didn’t want anyone finding them.”

“Your ex didn’t like them?” Brody asked.

Guilt slammed into Noah. It was becoming almost impossible to continue the farce. “Nope.”

“He wasn’t aware of what he was missing.”

Noah eyed Brody, feeling like shit.

“Maybe you’ll let me order you a few pair from the site you like.”

“No… you’re already doing too much.”

“Hey, they’re as much for me as you,” Brody said. “I get to enjoy you wearing them.”

Noah forced a smile. “I suppose when you put it that way.”

Brody moved on happily pushing the cart to the register. Noah paused a moment, shoulders tightening up. His stomach knotted, and he wished he had the balls to speak up. When Brody glanced over one shoulder and nearly caught him moping, he flashed another smile and caught up with his daddy.

Once they returned, he and Brody headed for the club to set up the decorations. When they got there, the bouncer, Lex, and a few other employees had already started. Two huge blow-up palm trees stood in the middle of the club and a guy was blowing up a third. Grass skirting was being tacked to the walls by two others. Lex was blowing up beach balls.

Brody quickly introduced him to the lot of them – Carter, the manager, Phoebe, one of the servers, Stef, another server, and Quincey, one of the bartenders. “And you’ve already met Lex.”

Lex eyed Brody and then Noah. “One night, hmm?”

Noah winced slightly. “Plans changed?”

Lex chuckled before muttering something about “little bird.”

“Don’t mind Lex,” Brody said. “He’s a smartass who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“I believe I knowexactlywhat I’m talking about,” Lex replied to Brody, brow raised in defiance.

“Stuff it, Lex.”

Lex sized him up before chuckling under his breath and shaking his head while walking back to the beach balls he’d been blowing up. Noah sensed he was an outsider to a personal conversation that might be about him.

“You guys okay?” Noah whispered.

“Yep,” Brody murmured.

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