Page 60 of Wrestling with Daddy

You never said they had to be easy

Unless you’re trying to say you can’t take hard

Nathan gasped.

The audacity!

Since when were Daddies allowed to say things like that?

It should be illegal.

Nathan shifted on his couch, having to readjust himself before he could type up an answer.

He definitely didn’t feel as witty or sharp around Ken half of the time.

It was bothersome.

He’d have to think about it, figure out a way to compensate.

Nathan

you never called me Nate

It was something he’d realized the other day but forgot to tell him. A new barista at his favorite coffee shop had decided to be cheeky and write down his name as Nate instead of Nathan. At first, it had made him sulk for the rest of the morning. He tried to rub the marker down and gave it the stink eye as if he could compel it to fade with telepathic powers he didn’t have. Then the thought occurred to him that he hadn’t needed to tell Daddy not to shorten his name.

If he allowed himself some magical thinking, it was like Daddy had known.

Daddy

I don’t usually shorten names unless that’s how someone’s introduced themselves. Does that make me old?

Nathan

that’s one way of wasting a question. I’m a bit disappointed, Daddy

Daddy

Keep it up, brat

Next question

Have you been behaving well today?

Nathan

seriously?

Daddy

Look who’s wasting questions now

Nathan

that’s not fair

It wasn’t.

Letting his head fall against the couch, Nathan thought about it. Had he been good? He’d only snoozed his alarm once that morning. He hadn’t sent his editor anything new, but he had worked on that research, and he wasn’t behind on deadlines. Oh, he’d grabbed lunch from a deli outside his place!