“Of course I’m serious about you. Why wouldn’t I be—” He looked down when Nate brought up his hand and pressed it, along with the business card to his chest.
“So, that job of yours?” Nate said. “I’d love to hear more about it.”
Jared’s eyes widened. “Where did you get that?”
“It doesn’t matter where I got it. I just need for you to explain to me what this is.” He held up the card. “What is it you do, Jared?”
“It’s sorta complicated.”
Nate shook his head. “It doesn’t have to be. I called the number on the back. A boyfriend hire service I think whoever answered said.”
“That would be Rowan.”
“I don’t think that really matters right now. Is this place a… Are you a…”
“Am I what?”
“Are you an escort?” Nate rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, I’m not judging you, I mean, I’m sure it’s a great job and as long as you’re being safe when you’re with people then you’re an adult so… It’s just… Luka. I have to think about Luka and what’s best for him. I know it should be about me and you, and maybe if it was just us I could handle what you do, but it’s not. Luka is a thing and always will be. I mean, you’re a student and I guess the money must be good.” He met Jared’s eyes. “You weren’t made to do it, were you? You haven’t got piles of debts have you?”
Jared shook his head. “Nobody’s making me do anything.”
“Right. So, you really are…”
“Wait. That’s not what I meant. I’m not an escort.” Nate leaned back when Jared gripped his shoulders. “I’m what we call a boyfriend. One you can hire. A companion available for weddings, parties, events. They can hire me for a day or a week or whatever, within reason.”
“So, not an escort?”
“No. No, definitely not. I’m not saying others might not have, you know, and I’m certainly not saying I haven’t been propositioned, but that is not the role I’m hired to do. I’m simply there to help people. Be it for support maybe while attending a wedding, or so someone can show an ex how they’ve moved on, or just simply being a friend and spending time with them. I guess being a psychology student I found the people who used such a service interesting.”
“Okay.”
“Okay? Okay, what?”
“Just, okay. I don’t know what else to say.”
Jared gripped him more tightly. “Then what do you need to hear? I meant what I said. I am serious about us and I didn’t mean to lie, well, I didn’t lie-lie. I didn’t think it mattered, not in the beginning.”
“Are you sure about that? Isn’t it that you didn’t say anything because of Luka?”
“I don’t—”
“Dear Mr. or Mrs. Bryant and Waites.” Nate sighed. “From the look on your face, I’m guessing you’ve heard the rest. It’s where he was when you found him, wasn’t it?”
Jared admitted, “Yes. He came to the offices.”
“We must have seemed pathetic to you.”
“Why? He just wanted you to be happy and he thought this was a way you could be.”
“Is that why you stuck around?”
“No,” Jared said, and Nate believed him.
“I don’t imagine his pocket money comes anywhere close to what it would cost to really hire you.”
“He sure tried.” Jared stepped back and pulled some money from his pants’ pocket. “Each time I saw him, he pushed these at me. I was keeping hold of them until I could give them back to him. Because I swear, although in the beginning I wanted to help a kid desperate to make his dad happy, being near you, hanging out with you, and Luka, in the end I kind of forgot about all that. I wanted to know you because you’re you and the more I did the more of you I wanted to see.”
“I think you saw plenty last week.” Nate lowered his head, embarrassed.
“So, what happens now?”
“I wonder,” Nate said. His feelings for Jared were real, and from what he could tell, Jared’s were too. Those hadn’t changed in the last few hours, and he didn’t see why they should. His real issue was with Luka. He’d made his own son worry about him. He’d have to have a serious conversation with him tomorrow. Maybe even have Jared there. They could both talk to him, explain he didn’t need to worry, and Jared didn’t need to have loose change thrust at him every time Luka saw him.
“I’ll tell you on one condition.” Nate decided.
“Anything.” There was an unexpected thrill to seeing Jared act so desperately.
“Kiss me.” He moved closer. He smoothed Jared’s collar.
“Is that it?” Jared swallowed hard.
“What? Were you expecting me to punish you? I’m not really into that.”
Jared smiled. “Am I forgiven?”
Nate tilted his head, kissed Jared’s cheek. “Nothing to forgive. But no more weird secrets with my son.”
“So just normal ones?”
Nate sighed and pinched Jared’s nipple through his shirt.
“Ow, ow. I give up.”
“Well, what are you waiting for? Kiss me.”
And Jared did. The kiss was firm, full of desire and relief.
What both felt for the other, was real. Nate was sure of that.
I want us both to fall completely.
Chapter Fifteen
The chat with Luka went well. Considering.
Nate organized a movie night with popcorn, and before they started eating he told Jared and Luka to sit on the sofa and took his place on the stool facing them.
It felt to Jared a bit like an interrogation, and it was clear that Luka had decided something was up.
“What did we do?” he asked, then leaned into Jared. “Dad only ever sits there when I’m in trouble.”
“You’re not in trouble,” Nate started with a patient tone.
“Feels like it,” Luka muttered.
“Agreed,” Jared said out of the corner of his mouth, and Nate’s lips twitched with the hint of a smile.
“Well, I wanted to talk to you both about Bryant & Waites.”
“Uh oh,” Luka said.
“Uh oh,” Jared repeated.
“Luka, I know you think I’ve been lonely, and you’re right, I have been. Only buying me a date
