Page 16 of Healing Daddy

JJ broke first. “Thank you for this.”

“Anything for you.”

They kept holding each other’s stare.

Leary bent and swiped a quick kiss across JJ’s lips. “I have more surgeries, but I’ll get home as quickly as I can. You’ll probably sleep through most of it.”

JJ nodded. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. Leary lifted JJ’s hand and kissed it. He was out again before he even saw Leary leave.

Leary had been scared as hell about doing JJ’s surgery. Once he had stepped into that surgical room, he was in his element.JJ’s surgery had gone exactly as expected. Now he couldn’t get home quickly enough. While he had texted July seemingly every five minutes throughout the day, his heart wasn’t appeased. He stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few various over-the-counter meds, snacks, and flowers for JJ.

As soon as Leary walked through the door of his home, he spotted July passed out on the couch. Leary didn’t even put down the bags he held. He headed straight for the bedroom to ensure July hadn’t left JJ in pain, thirsty, or hungry. Leary breathed a sigh of relief when he found JJ asleep. A big water tumbler sat on the nightstand along with JJ’s meds. Leary quietly added the over-the-counter medicines and the flowers to the bedside table. The table wasn’t big enough for snacks too. He opened the drawer. A box of condoms and lube stared up at him. A smile tugged at his lips. He pushed the items aside and sat the bag of snacks inside the drawer and then didn’t shut it. That way JJ could reach everything. Leary tiptoed out of the room with the rest of the bags. After putting away the items for dinner, he woke up July, thanked him, and then sent him on his way. He locked up and set the alarm before heading for the shower. Once he got clean, he would make dinner and then wake JJ. It shocked Leary that all the loud noises he accidentally made didn’t stir JJ at all. Once that thought was in Leary’s head, he paused to make sure JJ was still breathing before going back to the kitchen.

He kept his mind blank as he ran through heating up the cooked rotisserie he had bought along with some sides. As he pulled the chicken from the oven and set it aside, JJ wandered into the kitchen. He looked rough and still beautiful.

“Hey there. I was just about to wake you so you could eat.”

JJ walked into Leary’s arms.

Leary melted as JJ buried his face against Leary’s neck. He felt warm and perfect in Leary’s hold.

“I feel awful.”

Leary rubbed his back. “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry. Maybe if you eat something, it’ll help.”

JJ kissed his neck. “Maybe when you hold me afterwards, I'll feel better.”

Leary couldn’t stop the love that poured through him. “I’ll make you better.” He didn’t know why he said the words so quietly, but he needed to comfort JJ.

JJ kissed his neck again and then stepped back. “Thank you for the flowers and snacks.”

Leary pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and motioned for JJ to sit. “Of course.” He kissed JJ. “You’re my baby. It’s killing me to see you like this. I need you better.”

JJ’s beautiful gaze followed him around the room as Leary made their plates and drinks. “It’s all for the greater good. I know when I look back on this in a year, it’ll all be worth it. It’s just kind of sucking right now.”

Leary flashed him a smile as he carried their plates to the table. “Yeah. Your life is going to improve.”

JJ nodded. His green gaze still followed Leary. “Even if it doesn’t, my life is already a hundred times better because I have you. I’m sorry for being a burden.”

“You absolutely are not. I want to be the one who takes care of you. It’s important to me to be the one at your side through this. It’s my job. No one else is allowed to take my place. Does that make any sense? I feel like you’re mine to care for. It’s an honor.”

A small smile played on JJ’s lips. “You make sense. If roles were reversed, I’d bite like a guard dog if anyone else turned up to take care of you.”

Leary laughed. God, he just never got enough. He would actually be hurt if JJ turned to anyone else for care. Being here with JJ was his job. No one else was allowed to have this.

He watched JJ try to eat. Every forkful brought to his mouth was painful to watch. The anesthesia wouldn’t be totally out of his system yet. JJ shook.

“I’m sorry. I’m freezing.”

Leary shot to his feet and grabbed a blanket from the linen closet. He wrapped JJ in the material before pulling his chair closer. “Stop apologizing.” He cut JJ’s food into bite-sized pieces and fed him. The first forkful he brought to JJ’s mouth, JJ shot him an annoyed look. After a moment, he got over himself and let Leary have his way. Leary took turns taking a bite of his food and giving JJ a bite of his. This went on until they had theirfill. There was so much pride in Leary’s chest. He could play the daddy too.

Leary’s thoughts stumbled over themselves. Why had he thought that? That line of thinking seemed so random. Leary shook it off. He had to get JJ back into bed. Leary carried their plates to the sink.

He returned to JJ’s side. “Come on, baby. Let’s get you into bed before you pass out.”

JJ nodded, but it looked weak.

Leary was a little worried JJ might actually pass out. He didn’t think he could pick him up if he did.