Page 11 of Jalen & Colby

Jalen

Isit silly that I’m proud of Andreas? It’s probably totally silly. But, girl, I can’t help it!

Even though it surprised me, it’s easy to see how clueless this guy is about being a deliciously hot Daddy, let alone that what he’s been doing is sugar Daddying 101. He was so cute the way he stared at me when I explained it all at dinner.

But now it’s like this lightbulb has gone off for him, I swear. I get why he kept looking at me when he suggested us staying over so he could take us shopping. It’s as if he was checking in to see if he was doing it right. I feel like I’ve given him an assignment and he’s determined to get an A-plus.

I would have hesitated if Colby hadn’t been on board, but my little baby also surprised me by taking a chance to have some frigging fun. Good. He deserves someone like Andreas.

I know at some point, I’m going to need to step aside and give them both some room, but Colby isn’t quite ready for that yet. He needs a little more handholding. Hell! So does Andreas. But that’s cool. I can be their Yoda for a while and guide them through this whole thing.

Secretly, I was hoping Andreas might want to hang out with us again. I hadn’t expected him to offer a sleepover, but now that the shock has worn off, I am ALL IN. His place isn’t that far away from the Thai restaurant, but he still orders us an Uber anyway, probably because by the time we make it outside, Colby is swaying on his feet. My little sweetie isn’t used to so much excitement, and he’s all tuckered out.

When the car arrives, Andreas sits in the front and makes small talk with the driver. I bundle Colby into the back with me and sit him in the middle seat so we can snuggle. He rests his head on my chest, and I feel his warm breath ghosting over my skin.

I try to ignore the way it makes my insides clench. It’s nothing new, after all. So I do what I usually do and act like it’s nothing. It’s easy to slip my hand against his and rest my cheek on top of his soft hair. For now, he’s still mine to love and protect, even though I’m not very good at it.

If I have to let my baby boy go, it’ll hurt less if it’s to someone like Andreas. That’s maybe a ridiculous idea, seeing as we all just met, but I can already tell he’s kind, generous, and attentive. Colby needs a Daddy like that.

My needs are secondary. Besides, I know I’m a glitter-coated handful. It’s probably going to take me a lot longer to find a guy willing to put up with my shrieking tantrums when I can’t find my favorite lip gloss or the other half of a pair of shoes. Those kinds of dramas happen all the time with me. I’m so disorganized. I’m going to need an extremely patient Daddy, and I know they don’t grow on trees.

Anyway, I’m racing ahead of myself, as always. Andreas didn’t even realize he was being a sugar Daddy until I pointed it out. Now he appears to just be trying it on for size, and that’s, like, totally fine. In fact, I’m here to be his biggest cheerleader—little skirt, pom-poms and all. I meant what I said at dinner. He might have had a preconception that it’s some kind of seedy thing, but I truly believe that it can be a very wholesome and fulfilling kink.

I mean, all you have to do is just look at the way he’s beaming as he rushes around the car to open the door for us when we arrive in front of his apartment building. He’s absolutely loving spoiling the two little lost lambs he’s stumbled upon. And I very much like being spoiled.

But I love seeing Colby happy even more.

Not for the first time (even that day), I mentally cuss out his awful family. How could they just let him go and forget about him like he’s nothing? He’severything.Bigoted meanies. Well, hopefully, Colby will meet the perfect Daddy and then he’ll be the one forgetting all about his stupid family instead.

“Thank you,” I purr as Andreas gives me his hand to help me out of the Uber. Colby blushes when Andreas does the same for him. Andreas thanks the driver and takes a second on his phone, presumably giving him a rating. Then he uses a key fob to let us inside the building.

It’s so fancy it even has a concierge. Instead of heading straight to the elevators, Andreas takes a detour over to the guy working the night shift behind the desk.

“Hey, Arnold,” he says cheerfully. “I think I just had a bag of groceries delivered?”

The guy smiles and reaches down to his feet. “You certainly did, Mr. Lau. Here you go. Have a nice night.”

“You, too,” Andreas says, giving him that gorgeous smile of his. He holds the bags up as he approaches us, guiding us toward the elevator. “I grabbed you both toothbrushes as well as some nice things for breakfast.”

Okay, even my cold heart melts a little. How can he be so thoughtful?

“Oh, good. Now neither of you will have to deal with my morning breath,” I say instead, making them laugh.

The ride up doesn’t take that long since the building isn’t that tall, but it’s still a hundred times better than our place in every way. I marvel at the plush carpets and fancy light fixtures in the hallway, wondering what Andreas’s apartment is going to look like. Being a graphic designer, he must have great taste.

If he does, I’m going to have to wait a little longer to find out. Or perhaps I never will. His home is disappointingly bare. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fab-you-lous. All open plan with a shiny kitchen and a view from his wrap-around balcony that probably lets you see all the way to Sydney Harbour in the daytime. But there’s just no real evidence of a personality. The only thing I see is what looks like a reasonably big family photo on a side table in the living room. The rest just kind of feels like a display home.

He must sense my surprise, since he rubs the back of his neck and looks around sheepishly. “I’m not used to having guests,” he admits.

“It’s lovely,” Colby says immediately, sounding almost defensive. My heart swells. He’s too cute.

But Andreas shakes his head. “It’s boring,” he says. “I spend too much time at work. Part of my plan for taking this time off was to do some decorating, but you guys beat me to it.”

I realize he doesn’t have any Christmas decorations up, either. He might want to take us shopping for some tomorrow, but I’m going to bully him into getting some for himself as well.

“Oh, honey,” I say with a snap of my fingers. “It just needs a little TLC. Can we check out the balcony?”

I grab Colby’s hand and give Andreas pleading eyes. My intent was to make him laugh and forget about being self-conscious, and I’m thrilled to succeed. Yeah, the apartment is in dire need of a personality, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s utterlystunning.You could decorate our place till the cows come home, and it would still be falling apart.