Page 78 of Wrestling with Daddy

“Okay, I…” He had to tread lightly. Or, as lightly as he knew how. “I didn’t think that would be a touchy subject with, you know, the event. Are you all participating in the contests and stuff, too?”

“That’s up to each individual so long as they don’t do it while they’re on the clock,” Shane whisper-hissed. “Now, I seriously have to get to work. Go to Lee if you have more questions.”

“You’re definitely too grouchy for a puppy,” Nathan whispered under his breath.

“I’m not a damn puppy,” Shane growled, his back to Nathan.

To be fair, he hadn’t realized he was still within earshot.

Oh, well.

That was useless.

Not something he could really use to write anything about, was it?

* * *

“Nathan, meet Lee.”

Damn.

Nathan could see the growly event manager watching him like a hawk as Ken introduced him to the owner.

Lee was as imposing as he’d imagined, all stern angles and looks that could wither anyone if he tried hard enough.

“Nice to meet you, Nathan,” Lee spoke first.

His tone was gentler than he would’ve assumed.

“Same.” Nathan cleared his throat. He didn’t need to catch Ken’s raised eyebrow to know that wasn’t the best response. “I mean, nice to meet you, too.”

They were soon joined by Lee’s boy, Ash, who was more enthusiastic about the introductions than anyone else he’d met so far.

It was too early for it as well, but Ken had encouraged him to experience all the event activities, and the “Early Bird” brunch was the first of many.

He’d been definitely sold on it when Daddy let him know he’d be working remotely today so he could join him. He’d leave for the pupnic later, working from Nathan’s suite, but he could have him for the entire day.

That was nice—especially because the first thought that had crossed his mind when he’d woken up was that he only had two days left with Daddy.

Nathan frowned to himself. He was aware of how melodramatic it sounded. He knew that they weren’t breaking up—or whatever—come Sunday, but Nathan would be traveling to Sacramento.

In an ideal world, Daddy would be visiting every weekend, and that would be… enough, Nathan guessed. But what if they punished him more in the firm? What if he was sent to the East Coast over and over?

“You’re coming to the pupnic, right?” Ash addressed him directly after the café servers had brought a plate of waffles and pancakes to their table.

Ash sat in front of him, Ken and Lee to his sides. He grabbed a pancake as he spoke, drowning it in syrup before taking a rather huge bite. Nathan was half impressed and half shocked.

“Yeah. I just have to grab everything from my room.”

“No worries. There’s no high protocol or punishments to worry about there,” Ash said with a wink.

Nathan chuckled but he couldn’t help dart a look in Ken’s direction, gauge his reaction to Ash’s taunt.

“Don’t look at me,” Daddy teased. Of course, he’d noticed and wasn’t going to let it slide. It took effort not to roll his eyes. “Ash came up with the rule.”

“I wonder why,” Lee grumbled. “We’ll still be close by if anything happens, though, and I know some handlersarejoining.”

“Right.”