Strings Attached

“In your dreams, kid.”

“You can’t really call me that since I’m only two years younger than your boyfriend.”

I groaned. “I liked it better when we didn’t talk about him,” I teased. And he wasn’t my boyfriend, unfortunately. Christ, I felt like a lovesick teenager.

We finished our game, and Ross beat me. We were heading to our cars afterward when he said, “Hey, Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you should tell Zander. I’ve never seen him spend as much time with anyone as he does with you. Hell, he hangs out with you more than he ever did with me.”

I wanted to, but I still wasn’t sure. Plus, he was so damn young. What business did I have requesting strings from someone seventeen years my junior, someone who’d just started his career and was figuring out his life? “Maybe,” I replied. “Until then…”

“My lips are sealed.”

I pulled him in tight for a hug. “I love you, ki—son.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

* * *

Zander and I were in bed together that night, naked and sticky with sweat and cum after he’d fucked me. The lights were off, and he rolled to his side, giving me his back. “Did you talk to Ross today?”

“I did. We went bowling.”

“Did he tell you? That he wants me to go to dinner on his birthday?”

“He did.”

“How do you feel about that? I’m sure it’ll be weird for you, but it’s his birthday and…”

“Shh.” I scooted closer, danced my fingers across his shoulder, then kissed it. “It won’t be weird for me. I was more worried about you.”

“It’ll be strange for sure, but as I said, it’s his day, and we’re…”

“Both important to him,” I finished. “You’re important to him, Zander.”

“I know.”

Did he? The more I got to know him, the more I doubted it. The night we met, Zander came off so confident, so sure of himself. In some ways, I believed he felt that way, but in others, in most, it was all a facade. I thought he felt more alone, was more insecure, than even he realized. “You’re important to me too.” I slid my arm around his waist, tucking myself around him.

“Ew. Stop trying to give me your cooties.”

“You just sucked my dick and then had yours in my ass. I think you already have my cooties and you like them.”

“Maybe a little bit.” He was quiet for a moment and then asked, “So it’s cool? If I go?”

“I would like nothing more than for you to be there.”

Zander rolled over, pushed me to my back, and lay on top of me. “I think I can find things you like more.” He kissed his way down my torso, got me hard again, and sucked a load from my balls.

“That was very good…the best…but I like spending time with you just as much.” I didn’t have to see him to know he rolled his eyes.

“I should go to sleep,” Zander said.

“I forgot you act old and need more rest than me.”

“Ha-ha. Are we really going to start with the old jokes? Because I was worried there for a minute you wouldn’t be able to get it up again.”

“Brat.” I swatted his ass.

“Oh wait!”

“Yes?”

“I forgot to tell you. Ariel asked me for a book. One he wants to read just because.”

I could hear the excitement in his voice, the pure joy, and damned if it didn’t warm my heart. “That’s great. One day he might look back and remember his sixth-grade English teacher and how he fostered his love of learning. You could be his Ms. Ackerman.”

“You remember her name?” he asked. I remembered everything. When I didn’t reply, he whispered a soft, “Good night, Harrison.”

I pulled him tight against me again. “Good night, Zander.”

* * *

We didn’t ride together to the restaurant. He made some excuse, and I went with it. He was the last to arrive, something I thought was done on purpose as well.

“Happy birthday!” He gave Ross a hug.

“Thanks, man.”

Zander turned his attention to Trina next. “Hey. Good to see you again.”

“You too!” She hugged him.

When they pulled apart, his eyes darted toward me, and he gave me a shy smile.

“Mr. Wescott,” I said.

“Harrison.”

“Wow…Trina would kick my ass if I called her Ms. Smithfield. Your game is for shit, Dad.”

Ah, leave it to my son to attempt to break the ice. He wanted to make everyone comfortable, but I wasn’t so sure how that would go. “You leave me and my game alone.”

“Whatever. I would not.” Trina smacked his arm.

“Okay, Ms. Smithfield.”

“Oh, ew. You’re right. Now I feel like one of my moms.”

The four of us laughed, which I had to admit, did help break the tension. “Should we go inside or stand on the sidewalk all night? If I know this one, he hasn’t eaten much today.” I nodded toward Zander.