Page 18 of Asher's Answer
Ted’s in his mid-forties and is probably the person I’d call my best friend, aside from Josh. He talked me through all of my concerns when I took on my first Daddy role, and he’s a calming influence in my life. Almost like a big brother; something I never had growing up, what with being the eldest of four. Josh is the third born -we have a sister, Maisy, in between us- and our youngest sibling is Axel, who is in his senior year of high school. I’ve already told Ash all of this, too. But I haven’t told Ash that, yeah, Ted and I seem to share very similar tastes.
Telling him as much now has the desired effect. He laughs and shakes his head, relaxing in his seat. “He’s got zero chance of that.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
We talk through his concerns a little more until he’s as relaxed as I’m going to get him. And, when the doorbell rings and he doesn’t freeze up, I count that as a win.
Chapter Nine – Asher
Charlie’s friends are actually awesome. His best friend, Ted, hasn’t arrived yet, but everyone else has, and so has Josh’s new friend, Matteo. He asks to just be called ‘Matt’, and everyone’s doing just that.
When Josh told me that Matt’s a little like us, I thought he was kidding. If anyone could look more like a Dom, it would be Matt. But, then again, Josh doesn’t exactly fit the sub mold either. And, if I’m being really honest, I’m also not exactly a twink. Of all three of us, though, I’m definitely the closest fit to the stereotype.
Then there’s Emma, Spencer’s little girlfriend. She’s gorgeous. Today, like the rest of us, she’s big, but her hair’s still in long, dark pigtails and her lips are painted bright pink. She’s as bubbly as the brightly colored dress she’s wearing and I’m immediately comfortable talking to her.
The two daddies, Chance and Spencer, aren’t exactly intimidating, though. Chance looks like an ordinary guy in his mid-thirties. He’s got a bit of a dad bod, a scruffy reddish beard and his hair is cropped really short because, according to him, it’s starting to thin. Spencer is tall and lanky, with glasses and wild dark hair. But he has a friendly smile, and the way he looks at Emma makes me feel all fizzy inside because it’s a lot like the way Charlie looks at me.
We’re all lounging around the big outdoor dining table nursing beers -or wine coolers, in Emma and my cases- when the doorbell rings. Charlie checks over his shoulder to make sure I’m still relaxed before he goes to answer it, and I smile widely at him, because that small action means so much to me.
I’m still grinning when he brings Ted through.
And then my stomach drops.
“Holy shit,” I breathe becauseTedis Theodore Masters. The senior partner at the law firm I’ve just started working for. He might be dressed down in jeans and a dark Henley, but it’s still the same man. My boss. My boss’s boss, if I want to get technical. “Shit. Shit. Fuck.”
“Hey,” Josh is closest to me and his hand moves to my back. It’s not quite as good as Charlie’s, but it’s helping to stave off the anxiety attack of my boss discovering my secret life. And, yeah, if I was thinking rationally, I’d realize that I’ve also just discovered his, but being outed as a Daddy is much less disturbing in my books. “Ash,” he says softly, “breathe.”
This doesn’t really help because all it does is bring everyone’s attention my way. Including Charlie’s. How the hell could Charlie not have connected the dots that the law firm I work for is the same one where his best friend is senior partner? Or did he know and just not tell me?
“Baby,” Charlie’s hand has replaced Josh’s and he’s rubbing slow, soothing circles at my back. I can feel how red my face is, but I can’t look up. Not at the people around the table. Not at Charlie. “Baby, talk to me.”
I shake my head. I can’t. I can’t do words right now.
“I think I’m the issue,” Ted’s voice -a voice I’ve heard raised across the office at various people in a way that I’ve always thought felt kind of paternal- offers, and he sounds chagrined and a little apologetic.
Beside me, Charlie sounds confused. “How?” The part of me that worried he’d kept the information from me relaxes a tiny bit.
“Asher’s the firm’s newest admin assistant,” Ted answers easily, and I still can’t look up. “And I imagine it’s jarring to have the boss just saunter in on a gathering like this.”
He doesn’t spell it out. Doesn’t have to. We all know what we are.
“Well. Fuck.” I want to laugh at Charlie’s assessment, but I can’t. Instead, I’m still paralyzed by anxiety.
I feel ridiculous because, honestly, the situation should be comedic. But the part of me that’s terrified of people finding out that I’mabnormalcan’t be reasoned with.
Charlie continues and he’s close enough that I can feel him shaking his head. “I didn’t know. How the hell did I miss that?”
“The firm was bought out recently. It changed names a few months back. You probably didn’t recognize it.” Ted’s voice is getting closer and I squeeze my eyes shut because I don’t want this. I don’t want to have this conversation. Not with my boss’s boss. Not in front of all of Charlie’s friends.
But it’s happening anyway, because on my other side, where Josh was sitting, the tall, imposing figure that is Theodore Masters crouches down. I catch the movement out of the corner of my eye. “It’s alright,” he says in a low, gentle voice. “Why don’t you head inside with your…with Charlie and take a minute to process, okay?”
There are probably all sorts of meaningful glances being exchanged above my head. I’m flooded with embarrassment and hating that I can’t just react to this situation like a normal person. Surely I should just be able to laugh it off and say, ‘Ha, well that was awkward, let’s never speak of this at work’ and let that be that. But I can’t.
A couple of seats away, Emma’s bright voice cuts into the tension, “Daddy, I have to go potty. Can you take me?”
I want to hug her, because it’s obvious that she’s trying to take the attention off me. She was big; there was no other reason for her to ask the question. There’s the scraping of chairs and people are moving around and, in that moment, I feel free to take advantage of the distraction. I launch from my seat and practically race into the house and up the stairs. I know that Charlie’s on my heels, but I don’t wait for him.
I practically fling myself into my kid’s bed, even though I haven’t slept in it in weeks. I try to burrow under the covers, but Charlie’s slipping in beside me before I get the chance.
