Page 204 of Daddy's Pride
Chapter Ten
Josiah lounged on the plush window seat, his gaze drifting across the Chicago skyline glowing with the rich hues of sunset. The apartment had never felt more like a home than it did now, with Brody’s presence filling every corner with a warmth that seeped into Josiah’s bones. His life before Brody was a canvas of muted grays, but now, it blazed with color. Brody had been there for two weeks, and Josiah never wanted him to leave.
Physically, he was more relaxed than he ever remembered being. The tension that once knotted his shoulders had unraveled under Brody’s firm yet gentle touch. Emotionally, it was as though the fog he’d been wandering through had finally lifted. Brody’s guidance was his newfound clarity.
His Daddy had been right. Josiah was his baby boy. It had taken him no time to accept it because it was true. From the moment they’d met, Brody had been his Daddy, and Josiah had loved being his Daddy’s baby boy. They just hadn’t realized it or labeled it until now. Somehow, those jagged puzzle pieces he’d never managed to fit together had slotted into the most perfect picture ever. His Daddy completed him, and that feeling was mutual.
The chime of his phone sliced through the tranquility. “Hey, D,” Josiah greeted his friend.
Brody was out for some errands, and Josiah had texted Denali to ask if he had time to call so they could catch up in private. Not that Josiah had secrets from his Daddy, but the man didn’t need to hear him gushing over him, now did he?
“Josiah!” Denali’s voice buzzed with energy. “You sound so much better.”
Josiah chuckled. “I’ve literally said one word.”
“Two, technically, but it doesn’t matter. I can hear it in your voice. You’re happy.”
“Happier than I’ve ever been. This is it, D. This is what I’ve been looking for the whole time. A Daddy.”
“Not just any Daddy. Your Daddy.”
“Yeah.” Josiah was pretty sure the smile on his face was downright goofy, but he didn’t care. “My Daddy.”
“Sounds to me like you’ve found something special,” Denali said softly, as if understanding the depth of Josiah’s struggle to articulate his feelings.
“More than special, D. It’s like we fit together perfectly.”
“Then I’m truly happy for you. You deserve this,” Denali replied, his tone as warm as the golden sunlight bathing the room.
“He’s so perfect for me it’s almost scary. He sees me. Truly sees me.”
“Aw… that’s so amazing to hear. You two had such a special connection from the start. That’s why I was so shocked when he…”
Josiah hadn’t told his best friend why Brody had walked away. He’d never kept a secret from Denali, but he would now. Not only had he promised his Daddy he wouldn’t tell a soul, but it would also endanger everyone involved if he did. “I know. But he explained it to me, and he had a good reason, D, I swear.”
“I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
“He won’t.”
“Have you talked about the future?”
“Yeah, we did. I told him I could work from anywhere. So can he, but he likes his house… and I wouldn’t mind living in New York and being closer to you.”
“God, Josiah, I would love to have you here. I’m close with Kenn, who’s so much like you and me, and you’d fit right in with us. You’d have a family here with us.”
So would Brody. He’d mentioned never being close with his parents and older brother, especially after coming out as gay, so breaking all ties with them had not been hard. But how amazing would it be for Brody to have friends in Milan and Asher? He deserved that. “He has to go back to New York in three days. The thought of being alone again is…” Josiah’s throat tightened. “I know we’re moving fast, but?—”
“Once Milan, Asher, and I got together, we never spent a day apart again. If you know, you know.”
“I do know. My lease is ending in two months, and I don’t want to renew it. I want to be with my Daddy.”
“Oh, honey…” Denali’s sounded choked up. “It means so much to me that you’re this happy, so in love. I’ve wanted this for you for so long.”
“Thank you. Same.” He let out a little giggle. “I just didn’t know I was looking for a Daddy.”
The unmistakable scratch of a key being inserted into a lock distracted him. “Daddy’s back. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Love you.”