Page 188 of Daddy's Pride
“Thing is…” Josiah bit his lip as vulnerability edged into his voice. “I only have a few more days here in New York, and then I have to return home to Chicago.”
“Ah.” Brody leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “Well, the good news is that I’m my own boss and set my own schedule, so I can take some time off whenever I want. I can also work remotely as long as I have a desk and Wi-Fi. We can make the most of your stay, see where things go.”
Relief washed over Josiah like a warm summer rain. “I’m my own boss, too, though it’s hard for me to work elsewhere since I need my sewing machine and everything.”
Brody reached across the table and covered Josiah’s hand with his own. “Let’s focus on now, on us. We’ll figure out the rest later.”
And as simple as that, Josiah’s fears unraveled, soothed by the comforting weight of Brody’s hand atop his. His heart surged with gratitude, not just for the reassurance but also for the recognition in Brody’s eyes—that he, Josiah, was worth rearranging plans for, worth taking chances on.
“So, who was the friend you were with at the club? I’ve seen him before, but since he’s taken, I’ve never played with him.”
“His name is Denali, and we’ve been friends since we were little kids. We grew up in Alaska together as the only two gay kids in a conservative town.”
Brody winced. “That must’ve been rough.”
“It wasn’t easy. Our parents weren’t happy with our lifestyle choices—their words—and we got bullied a lot. But we always had each other.”
“A friendship like that is special.”
“It is. And even though he’s now with Milan and Asher, we’re still close. We talk weekly and text all the time.”
“They’re a threesome, correct?”
Josiah nodded. “Milan is a Dom, and Asher is a switch. Denali is a sub, so he submits to both his men, but Asher also submits to Milan.”
Brody whistled softly. “That’s a complicated dynamic. Beautiful, but not easy to navigate.”
“They make it look easy. And it gives me hope.”
“Hope for what?” Brody leaned forward, his forearms resting on the table.
“That there’s someone who can handle all this.” Josiah gestured to himself with a playful swirl of his hand, his bracelets jangling softly. “Someone who won’t find me too much. Too high maintenance.”
“Josiah,” Brody said, sincerity shining in his eyes, “anyone would be lucky to have you.”
The compliment settled over Josiah like a soft, comforting blanket. His cheeks heated, probably taking on the hue of the rosy glow that filtered through the coffee shop windows. This was the depth of connection he craved, the raw honesty that made everything seem possible. “Thank you.”
“But I’m glad you’ve found your chosen family.”
“I’m lucky to have them.” Josiah made a face. “Even though they’re still very much in love and kiss and fuck all the time.”
Brody laughed. “Ah, yes, that must be uncomfortable to witness. So how did you end up in Chicago and Denali here?”
“He worked as a waiter in the White House for a few years. That’s where he met his boyfriends.”
Something flickered over Brody’s face, but it was gone so quickly that Josiah blinked. Had he just imagined that? He must have.
“The White House?” Brody leaned back in his chair. “That’s not something you hear every day.”
“His uncle worked there too, so he had a recommendation, and he loved it.”
“And you said he met his boyfriends there? Denali mentioned one of them being an NYPD officer and the other a federal agent.”
“Yeah, Milan is a homicide detective, but he lived in the White House at the time. He was the president’s brother-in-law. President Shafer was married to Milan’s sister, First Lady Sarah Shafer… until she was killed, of course. And Asher was a Secret Service agent. He helped with the investigation into the Pride Bombing and everything. He now works for the FBI.” Josiah laughed, the sound light and airy. “They all have some stories to tell. Well, in as far as they can share details anyway. Dinners with them are never dull, I’ll tell you that.”
“Wow, that’s quite the crowd you run with.” Brody wasn’t meeting Josiah’s eyes, and his smile faded.
Unease trickled down Josiah’s spine. Had he said something wrong? “How about you? Do you have family and friends in New York? You’re not from here originally, right?”