Page 31 of B is for Baby Me (Classes in Kink #1)

Chapter thirty

Stop The Clock

JR

“Sleep well, baby boy. I’ll be back in the morning.” Fletcher gives me a soft kiss that lingers.

I’ve hardly had a chance to see the professor all day. I was starting to think he was avoiding me… which is probably just my guilty conscience speaking—I’ve been avoiding everyone . Besides being worried about my father, I’ve been so nervous about talking to my friends that instead I’ve been hiding in a corner. Real brave of me, right? If only the Big Ten teams could see me now.

It’s just that everybody’s been giving me such weird looks, like they don’t even know me or something. I’m the same me that I’ve always been. If anything, they’re looking at the real me. Are my closest friends gonna turn their backs on me now that they know my secret?

And what about my dad? Since I’m out of the closet with my teammates, I’ve gotta come out to my Pops. I know in my heart that he won’t reject me, but is now the right time to talk to him? I don’t wanna do anything that could jeopardize his recovery. He’s still in the ICU, for fuck’s sake.

I return Fletcher’s kiss, snuggling up as close to him as I can. Now that we’re finally alone in my private sleep room, I’m not ready for him to leave quite yet. I know what I have to do in the morning… It’s been weighing on my mind all day.

“You’re coming to the hospital again tomorrow? But what about your classes?” I ask.

“I canceled them,” he tells me. “My students will appreciate a long weekend, I’m sure. We both may be able to return to our classes on Monday, if your father continues to improve.”

“I hope so.” I cuddle even closer as he wraps his arms around me. God, I’m gonna miss this.

“Something on your mind, Ben? Anything you want to talk about?” He rubs a strong hand across my back.

I shake my head. “But could I have another goodnight kiss, Daddy?”

“You can have all the kisses, baby boy.” We spend long minutes kissing and holding each other close. Finally, my dom insists, “You need to rest, Ben. I’ll be back in the morning.”

“I— I’ll miss you, Daddy.” I give him one last kiss.

“Me, too, sweet boy. We’ll talk again tomorrow. Sleep.” Fletcher stands up, running a hand through my hair before leaving.

Despite my dom’s command, I toss and turn all night. The professor will understand, right? It’s for my dad . And it’ll only be for a few years... A couple of seasons in the NFL and I’ll be free to pursue grad school, hopefully. Not that I expect him to hold a spot for me in his master’s program—or in his bed.

Sure, we’ll stay in contact. We’ll continue to be friends... family, even. After everything Fletcher’s done for me and my father, how could it be otherwise? Still, it won’t be the same. God, I’m gonna miss him so much. Maybe we’ll get to see each other every few months, depending on my new team’s training schedule. Maybe I’ll get picked by a team that’s not too far away. He might even visit me wherever I end up, at least until he finds someone new.

Just thinking about Fletcher with another sub makes me want to punch a wall. Fuck, I’m so stupid . He told me from the very beginning that he wasn’t interested in an exclusive romantic relationship. He said we could see other people, just as long as we were open and honest about it. Not that I was ever interested in seeing anyone else—and the thought of anyone touching my dom? Kissing him? It makes me want to scream.

But it’s for my dad . My father gave up everything for me and my mom. His NFL career was just taking off when Mom got sick. The Bennett Brick Wall could have been a household name if he’d kept playing. After Mom died, he might have had a chance to go back to the game if he’d put me in boarding school or gotten me a nanny. Instead, he gave up his dream of football fame and poured all of those hopes into a career for me. Now it’s my turn to give back. It’s the least I can do. Hell, my dad could have died yesterday. Who knows how many more years he’s got? He deserves to have his dream come true. If I can give this to my father, then goddammit, I will—no matter how much it hurts to let Fletcher go.

Sleep finally comes in the early hours of the morning. As the sun peeks through a slit in the curtains, I wake up wishing I could stop the clock. It’s too late now. There aren’t any more timeouts left.

It’s time to talk to my dad.

A few hours later…

“Wow, this room is sweet .“ Dad must have really good health insurance to afford a private suite like this. It makes his ICU room look tiny in comparison.

I rearrange his gifts on a table by the window so my father can see them better. Even though he’d been moved to this section of the hospital only a few hours ago, the space is already filling up with flowers and balloons. A steady stream of visitors started to show up yesterday. It would’ve been hectic if it weren’t for Fletcher directing traffic, limiting the length of visits and turning guests away when my dad needed to rest. Without my dom taking charge, I’m not sure how I would have dealt with the constant flow of people.

“Yeah, this room sure beats ICU,” Dad chuckles in a raspy voice. “Remind me never to have another heart attack.”

“No kidding.” The medical staff have been fantastic—still, I can’t wait to get my father home. “Can I get you anything? Are you hungry?”

“I’m fine. Sit down and stop fussing.” He points to the chair next to his bed. “We need to talk, Junior.”

My father’s right—it’s time to do this. “Sorry that it’s taken me so long, but I’m ready to talk about the NFL draft. It’s gonna be great, no matter which team I end up on. Which one do ya want me to sign with? I’ll follow your advice, whatever you think I should do.”

“I think you should stop trying to please your old man.” A sad smile tilts the corner of his mouth. “It’s time you start living the life you want to live, instead of the one I’ve been forcing on you.”

“What are you talking about, Pops?” I grip his hand. “You’re the best dad—the best parent —in the whole world. You’ve always been there for me... supporting me... giving up your own dreams for me. Now it’s my turn. I’m gonna make you proud of me, mark my words.”

“Oh, Junior. Don’t you know how proud I am of you already?” A tear slips from the corner of his eye.

“Sure I do.” I grab a tissue, blotting away the tear. “But imagine how it’ll be once I’m out there on the field. I might even get picked up by the Packers! Wouldn’t that be something? ‘The Bennett legacy’ —I can hear the sportscasters now.”

My father shakes his head, more tears tracking down his face. “Stop it. I’ve been forcing that dream down your throat since you were twelve. It’s a wonder you don’t hate football—and me, too.”

“Don’t say that,” I choke. “I love you. I always have and I always will. You know that.”

“Yeah, Georgey-boy. I do.” He sighs. “You love your old man so much that you’re willing to give up everything for me. Well, I’m not gonna let you, Son.”

I put my hand on top of his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’s like you’ve always said, Dad—there’ll be time later for grad school. I’ll make a name for myself in the NFL, and then I’ll continue with my studies. It’ll be the best of both worlds.”

He looks me in the eye, another tear leaking out. “Are you gonna give up Fletcher for me, too?”

My gaze drops to my lap. “After a few years, I’ll apply to the professor’s program. It might not be too late.”

“Junior, haven’t you learned anything from your mom? From me?” Dad tilts up my chin with his hand. “Tomorrow’s not guaranteed. You gotta live now— love now .”

“But I do love football, I swear.” It’s true. I love the sport.

“As much as you love science?” He lifts his eyebrows. “As much as you love Fletcher?”

I gaze at him in silence before dropping my eyes again.

“Oh, Georgey-boy… If you could see the way you look at that man.” His voice grows wistful. “It reminds me of how I felt about your mother. God, I was crazy about that woman!”

My gaze slowly lifts toward my father, my role model. “So, you don’t mind that I... um...”

“... are in love with Tom?” Dad snorts, shaking his head. “You think I mind having a doctor in the family, especially now? Your mom would have been over the moon! Not only is her son dating a geneticist—not to mention a college professor—but her boy’s gonna get a PhD himself. Believe me, Sunny would have bragged about you all over Hannah Harbor.”

“But what about you, Dad? You’d be OK with me giving up football and dating a guy?“ That’s too much to ask from any father, right?

“Son, you know I like Tom. Besides, would you really walk away from your one and only just to please your old man?” His smile fades. “Nothing compares to true love, Georgey-boy, and you can’t count on lightning to strike twice. The best thing I ever did—besides convincing your mother to marry me, and becoming your father—was to leave the NFL when she got sick. All that time we got to spend together as a family before she passed... I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Trust me, I never regretted choosing the people I love over football. I don’t want you to have regrets, either.”

I wipe my nose on my sleeve, then grab a tissue. “I’d regret hurting you, Pops. I want you to be happy.” My throat is tight as I blow my nose.

“Nothing makes me happier than seeing you all grown up,” Dad tells me. “I’m so proud of the man that you’ve become. A man who follows his dreams—and his heart.”

“I… um, I’m not sure how Fletcher feels about me, but I love him like crazy.” I peek at my father, my cheeks heating up. “I didn’t know that love could be like this. It’s like I’ve found my home. Fletcher is… he makes me feel safe. He lets me be who I am, both the good and the bad. He celebrates my victories, and he calls out my bullshit… He pushes me, and he helps me relax. I breathe more deeply when we’re together. I dunno, does that even make sense?”

He nods, wiping away another tear as he smiles at me. “You’ve found your place in the world, and it’s by his side.”

Yeah… that’s what it feels like. “But what if Fletcher doesn’t feel the same way? How do I know if he loves me, too?”

“You’re gonna have to ask him,” he says, then snorts a laugh. “You’d rather face Alabama again, wouldn’t you?”

I’d rather face a whole team of linebackers than have that conversation. “Bennett men don’t scare easily… right?”

“I threw up twice before I proposed to your mother,” Dad admits.

I grin, then lean over and kiss him on the cheek. “Are you sure you don’t mind me staying in Hannah Harbor and going to grad school?”

“I’ll kick your ass if you don’t.” He wraps his arms around me, whispering in my ear, “I love you, George Bennett Junior.”

“I love you, too, George Bennett Senior,” I whisper back.

And I do, more than he could ever know.