Page 4 of In Daddy's Care

“I’m not.” Shane hated how blunt and bitter he sounded, but he was those things. “She has kids who needed her. As much as everyone has tried to convince me this is mental and she can’t help it, fuck that. People don’t get a free pass when they fuck their kids the way she did us. I gave up my life because she refused to live hers.” Shane forced himself to stop before he said all the things. Maybe he had money, but he had nothing else. He never would because his mom had given up, leaving him to clean up the mess. Shane would never forgive her.

“Every time we talk, it doubles my good opinion of you. I know you think you did what you had to do, but no. You had options that included involving the state and whatnot. But you didn’t choose those things, because you knew you could give Izzie more. Maybe you didn’t know how you’d do it at first, but you still knew it. Now look at Izzie. Happy and getting married. She sounds well adjusted. You gave her that.”

A warmth spread through Shane’s chest. No one had thanked him or praised him for the choices he had made. Shane wasn’tsure he deserved those things, but still. Soren made him feel seen. When they were together, there was nowhere else he would rather be.

Chapter Three

Soren was a littleashamed to admit he actively tried not to be alone with Shane for the rest of the trip. Not only did he feel too much, but Soren also never wanted Kyson to think Shane was the reason he was there. He accepted the invitation to help his best friend. That one night at a pizza shop had Soren feeling entirely too close to Shane. He knew how easy it would be for him to follow Shane around and make a fool of himself.

Of course, heading to the wedding was a whole other matter. Soren had to focus on Shane. Not that it was hard, but still. “You haven’t said how you feel about the guy your sister is marrying.”

Shane focused on him with laughing eyes. “Actually, she’s marrying a woman, and she’s great. She’s a sideline reporter for the Los Angeles Apollos. They met when Izzie lived in Virginia for a while. Anna was in the military and Izzie owned asecondhand store. When Anna got offered a sports reporter gig in New Orleans, Izzie closed up shop and went with her. After a while, Anna actively sought a job in L.A. to move Izzie closer to me. I love her for that alone.”

“Izzie lives in L.A.? I guess I just assumed, since the wedding is in Pennsylvania, she would still live there.”

Shane turned left, turning onto the road where the hotel was located. Soren could see it in the distance. It was nice. “My aunt is here, so this was easier for the older folks to come to the wedding. Anna’s family is from Texas and are a military bunch. They enjoy the travel.” Shane shrugged. “I don’t mind the travel either. It’s not often I go places without Banks.” He shot a quick look Soren’s way. “Not that I don’t love Banks and Kyson.”

Soren didn’t hesitate to reassure him. “No. I get it. No matter how much you love them, they’re your job. Even at home, you’re at work. So, the only time you feel like you’ve had a day off is by going out of town on vacation. I’m the same, working from home. You’d be surprised how many solo cruises and what not I’ve taken. I’d go insane if I waited for anyone to do things with me. Working from home or not, I’m burned out.” Soren had no clue why he constantly confessed things to Shane. Maybe Shane was just a listener. Soren didn’t have a lot of that in his life.

“Banks pretty much lets me take off wherever I want. Anytime you want a travel partner, just hit me up. I don’t really enjoy solo travel.”

Soren’s chest warmed. If nothing else ever came of them, Soren felt like he had made a friend. That meant everything to him. “Okay. I’ll do that. Fair warning, though, I wake myself up all the time talking in my sleep. So I might keep you awake with tales of all the pirate ass I’m kicking in my sleep.”

A bark of laughter cut through the air.

Soren’s face hurt from smiling. Even the horror of insinuating they would share a room didn’t cut through his happiness. He didn’t think Shane took anything he said seriously. Soren was invisible like that.

Shane watched Soren drag a car-shaped suitcase while wearing a kid’s car-themed backpack through the posh hotel. He couldn’t stop staring or smiling. If anyone looked twice or judged, Shane didn’t notice, and Soren seemed unbothered. He was incredibly unique. Shane felt good in Soren’s company. Everyone and everything else disappeared when he was around. Soren might claim his Little status wasn’t like anyone else’s, but that suitcase, backpack, and no fucks of judgment demeanor said differently.

A loud squeal rent the air.

Shane’s head snapped around at the sound. He spotted Izzie skipping his way. Her bright purple hair bounced with each hop. A smile stretched his lips. “Hey.”

When she reached his side, she launched herself at him. Shane didn’t hesitate to squeeze her against his chest, leaving her feet dangling a foot off the floor. While they might live in the same town, they honestly didn’t get to see each other that often. Shane also understood Izzie was on top of the world, finally marrying Anna.

“You made it.”

Shane set her back on her feet. “Of course. I always show up, don’t I?”

“I know.” She punched his arm. “I’m just glad you’re here.” Her gaze moved toward Soren, who had also frozen at Izzie’s screech. “Oh, my goodness. This must be Soren.” She moved to greet Soren while Anna thanked him for coming. Shane only half listened. He was too worried about how Izzie would react to meeting Soren.

Soren’s gaze moved between Izzie and Anna. “Oh, holy wow. You’re both so gorgeous. I’ve never felt so short and fat in my life.”

Izzie immediately hugged him, squeezing him like a teddy bear. “That’s so sweet.” Her gaze moved Shane’s way. “Can we keep him?”

Shane couldn’t stop smiling. He got it. Soren sounded so sincere, as if truly blown away by their beauty. For Anna, that was normal. Not only were female sideline reporters expected to be perfection, but Anna also did that job in L.A., where people were already flawless. Anna was the picture shown under beautiful in the dictionary. Thankfully, she was just as gorgeous on the inside. But Izzie, while also pretty, had struggled with her weight her entire life. They were a big-boned bunch. She was curvy and Anna loved it. So Izzie had embraced it. It was obvious Soren’s words touched her.

Soren motioned toward Izzie’s bright hair. “I love this. I tried to go pink once, but it lasted like five minutes. The first time I washed my hair, it was straight down the drain. Not that it mattered. No one ever sees me anyhow.” Every word Soren spoke was bright and cheerful, and they made Shane angrier by the second. The entire interaction made Shane realize something important he had missed before then. Soren always did this. He always poked fun at himself to make other people feel better about themselves while laughing the entire time. Shane hated it.

Thankfully, Izzie was just as kind. “I think you’re more of a dark purple guy too. When we get home from our honeymoon, we should make plans. I can do your hair any color you want. It’s been so long since I’ve been a natural color, I couldn’t tell you what my real hair color is any longer.”

They kept chatting while Shane tried desperately to think of a way to lift Soren up the way Soren did for everyone else.

“Save a dance for me.”

Shane came back to himself when Anna’s request for Soren cut through his spiraling mood. “Soren taught me how to dance for the wedding. He’s amazing. Not just at ballroom either. He also does hip hop.”

Soren’s face turned cherry red. “It’s not that special, really. Please don’t ask me to demonstrate. I’d hate to fall on my face and make a liar of Shane.”

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