Page 11 of Healing Daddy

July:I’m supposed to be working, but I can blow it off. What do you need?

This was a huge thing to ask when July had only met JJ once.

Leary:Do you remember JJ?

July:Yes.

Leary:He’s having surgery in the morning to prep his arm for a bionic hand. Since he doesn’t have any family and his friends are out of town, he doesn’t have anyone to go with him. Do you mind going with him? When they discharge him, you can take him to my house, and I’ll take care of him after my final surgery tomorrow. He really needs this done.

He expected it to take July a while to respond, hunting his mind for a reason to say no. After all, people didn’t even like going with people they cared about to sit in the waiting room all day. July answered almost immediately.

July:Sure. Even that’s better than going to my job. Plus, that’s a valid excuse to miss work, so they can’t get mad.

Relief poured through Leary.

Leary:Thank you so much. I’ll make this up to you, and I’ll even write you a note for work.

July:Yay. I get to sit and play on my phone all day. Just send me an address and let me know what time.

He smiled at July’s enthusiasm. Unfortunately, picking JJ up from the Bosi compound probably wasn’t an option.

Leary:You can just pick him up from my place. He’ll need to be at the Surgi-center by five in the morning.

July:Awwww. You have tea to spill.

Leary:We’ll go to lunch next week. On me.

July:Sounds great. I’ll be there tomorrow with bells on.

Leary hoped July didn’t mean that literally. That was something he would do.

Leary:Hugs. See you then.

July:Hugs back.

JJ:This hesitation means I should probably cancel, huh?

He raced to text JJ back before he canceled the procedure.

Leary:I've got it figured out. You’ll stay the night with me, and then July will pick you up from there in the morning. When you’re discharged, he’ll bring you back to my place. I took off Friday so I can stay home with you for a few days.

The three dots did their thing while Leary held his breath.

JJ:You’re fucking amazing. I can’t imagine July wants to do this, but I’m thankful. Picking me up from your place, huh?

Leary covered his face for a second and let out a hysterical laugh before responding. He fought a blush as he typed.

Leary:You can meet him there, but I thought you might want to stay the night instead.

JJ:In.

It was just one word, and it was enough to set his stomach to fluttering. He was in so much trouble. Leary liked JJ so much. He had never felt this strongly about anyone. JJ knew him and didn’t judge. He had even talked about being Leary’s daddy. While Leary wasn’t looking for that, he felt all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that JJ would consider it. Leary wasn’t that deep into the lifestyle. He had only started going because July had suggested it. Leary existed in bigger circles, considering who his father was. That gave him the connections to land a club membership.

Leary:I’ll be home in about forty-five minutes.

JJ:I’ll be there.

Leary bit his bottom lip to keep from grinning like a fool. He couldn’t wait to set eyes on JJ again. Leary was so far gone. He never wanted JJ to be out of his sight. Leary wanted to crawl beneath JJ’s skin and live there. His focus was all over the place. That thought led to another, and a depressing realization struck. He should let Dr. Highman do JJ’s surgery. Him doing the procedure wasn’t against any rules or laws, especially since he was one of only two surgeons who did these procedures within atwo-hour driving distance. No one would bat an eye if they knew JJ was his boyfriend. When a surgeon was a niche specialist, it wasn’t uncommon for them to end up treating someone they knew. Still, Leary might panic if anything went wrong. Wait. Was JJ his boyfriend? Oh no. New fear unlocked. Maybe they weren’t an actual couple. It was possible that JJ saw other people. He felt sick. JJ had said they were more than friends, but that didn’t necessarily mean they were exclusive. Well, shit. Leary was always his own worst enemy.