Page 17 of Wrestling with Daddy

“First, get some food in you. What’s the last thing you ate?”

“I’m not hungry.”

His stomach rumbled as he said the words, but Nathan ignored it.

“That’s not an answer.”

A soft whine fell out of his lips. Nathan covered his mouth. He didn’t like being reprimanded, but the sound was still… not something he wanted acknowledged anytime soon.

“I had a sandwich. About… eight hours ago?”

Even he winced as he counted the time in his head. He winced again as he imagined the reprimand he was going to get for it. Food had just slipped his mind.

“Do you have food in your fridge, something quick and… nutritious, preferably?”

“You’re not punishing me?” Nathan frowned. That didn’t make sense.

Ken was a Daddy, wasn’t he? And Nathan… he’d done wrong. Shouldn’t he be punished? Daddies were big on meals and water and all those pesky things.

“Of course not.” Ken sighed. “I would never punish a boy when they’re dropping. I just wish I could be there to cuddle you.”

“But you’re not here.”

It was meant as a protest, not another stupid thing to wrangle a sob out of him. Nathan knew he hadn’t covered it well enough.

This was all overwhelming, and he… he wasn’t himself.

Nathan was furious now, scrubbing at his cheeks to get the tears to disappear as he stomped across the apartment to the kitchen.

The only thing he had that didn’t require cooking was one of those premade salads in the fridge.

He didn’t care enough to complain about having to eat a fucking salad at one a.m.

“Where are you, other than not in my city?”

The question shook him, having almost forgotten Ken was still on the other end of the call, that he still had his phone clutched in one hand.

“Sacramento.”

“I’ll be there.”

Nathan gaped. “What do you mean? That’s madness.”

“I know.” There was a pause, a click of a tongue. Was Ken disappointed? “I have to check with my firm before I give you a set date, but you can count on me. And on the fact that I’ll be checking in on you until I get there. You shouldn’t be alone.”

Oh.

“Can you not hang up yet?”

The idea that Ken… a Daddy… would fly, or drive, or whatever, all the miles separating them just for him… Nathan couldn’t handle it, didn’t know what to do with it, which was why he shoved it to the back of his mind.

“I won’t. Promise.”

Ken didn’t say much more while Nathan focused on his salad, stabbing at the greens without much passion.

He guessed it helped, though, things becoming slightly less foggy around him as more food got in his system.

The only problem with that clarity was that it was soon replaced by exhaustion.