Page 32 of A Daddy to Love

That made me smile. I got all of that from the cabinet, then scraped fresh, hot scrambled eggs onto two plates. The toast was already buttered. Next came the bacon. And a container of mixed fruit from the fridge.

Kairo rocked from foot to foot. “I feel like I should do something.”

I handed him the fruit. “Here, put this on the table.”

When we sat, he looked everything over. “Wow, you cooked all that so fast.”

“Breakfast is pretty easy.”

“But I always have to wait longer.” His voice trailed off. “I mean, well, that didn’t come out how I meant.”

“You mean you take longer to cook it?”

He shook his head, shoveling eggs into his mouth. “I don’t cook.”

How did this sweet man get by? Then I glanced again at his shirt and remembered the label on his pants. If he had enough money for those, maybe he got takeout every day.

“That’s okay. I can cook. That’s what daddy’s do.”

“And also, other things.” He smirked as I laughed, forked some eggs onto his toast and took a large bite.

He wasn’t a large man, but boy could he eat.

“Slow down a little. Enjoy.”

He looked up. “I work out four days a week. Not because I like it but on purpose so I can eat whatever I want. Grandfather told me I should always move my body when I think about it. He walked every day up until he got sick.” His head bowed. “I think he saw me lying around playing a lot of video games when I was a teenager and worried I’d get sick like him. He died.”

“He sounds smart. I’m sorry he died.”

He stopped chewing. His breaths deepened. He blinked and spoke softly. “Four years ago. I don’t really remember much the first weeks after. Sorel got me into grief counseling. It helped a lot.” He slipped at his coffee. “Am I talking too much? I do that when I’m nervous.”

“No.” I reached out and patted his hand. “I love hearing you talk.” I meant it, but my shallow male brain kept asking, Who is Sorel?

Being forward was easy. Like a default. Yeah, I could be a dick no matter how popular I was. “Is Sorel a friend of yours?”

Kairo’s head jerked up. “Who? Oh yeah. Yeah. A friend.” He gulped and I instantly knew he was lying.

But why?

“I’m glad he could help you.”

“Yes. He’s been helpful.”

A tinge of envy poked at my heart. “Good.”

I wanted to know more. But I hadn’t earned that position yet. Guys who felt interrogated often ran. Pushing others too much too soon caused shorter relationships.

After breakfast, Kairo helped me clear the table. But it was obvious he didn’t know his way around a kitchen. He couldn’t even find the dishwasher, but when I showed him he eagerly helped me put the dishes in. He asked a lot of questions. Where did this or that go? The weirdest question was if I had different place settings for different times of the day.

Getting to show him around was fun. His little self emerged more and he became the sweet baby I knew he could be.

We went to the living room with our second cups of coffee and sat on the couch where last night’s date had all begun.

He leaned against me, a welcome warmth. “You have today off?” he asked.

“It’s Saturday. My offices are closed. No texts, no emails, no phone calls from my boss asking for a just-finished file.”

He stretched. “Sounds a bit stressful.”