Page 20 of Master Daddy

I want to be the man who comes home to Luke every night. The Daddy who builds a life worth staying for.

Kaleb catches me smiling into my beer. “You’re gone for him, aren’t you?”

I don’t deny it this time. “Yeah. I think I might be.”

Connor raises his can. “To new chapters.”

“To settling down,” Kaleb adds.

I tap my can against theirs. “To finding a way forward.”

The sun dips lower, painting the sky in fiery oranges and pinks. We finish our beers, take a few photos, and start the descent as the light begins to fade. My legs are tired, but my spirit feels lighter than it has in years.

Luke doesn’t know it yet, but I’m all in.

I’ve got four weeks to show Luke what kind of Daddy I can be.

And after that? I’ll figure out the rest.

Because a man who can summit this mountain with his brothers can damn well build a future worth fighting for.

* * *

The descent goes faster than the climb, gravity doing half the work while the afterglow of the summit and cold beers keeps our spirits high.

We rib each other the whole way down—Connor complaining that I got a lucky final stride, Kaleb swearing he’ll smoke us both next time. The fading light turns the forest into deep greens and golds, and by the time we reach the trailhead parking lot, the sky is painted in soft purples and oranges. My legs are pleasantly wrecked, my head clear, and my chest feels lighter than it has in months.

We drive straight back into town as early evening settles over Hardrock Park. Streetlights flicker on along the main strip, and the Woody Hollow’s warm glow spills out onto the sidewalk like an old friend waving hello.

“Quick one?” Connor asks as he kills the engine.

“You twisted my arm,” I grunt, a knowing smile soon following.

Inside, the Lantern is its usual lively self: laughter, clinking glasses, the boisterous hum of conversation mixed with classic country on the jukebox.

We claim our regular booth near the back, order a round of beers, and stretch our tired legs under the table. The cold pint feels like heaven after the hike.

We’ve barely taken our first sips when the door swings open and in walk three bundles of pure sunshine and mischief...

Luke, Milo, and Taron.

They spot us immediately. Milo lets out a delighted squeal and practically launches himself at Connor. Taron beelines for Kaleb with a mischievous grin. And Luke… he walks straight toward me, cheeks already pink, that sassy little smile playing on his lips like he knows exactly what he does to me.

“Hey, mountain man,” Luke says, sliding into the booth beside me without waiting for an invitation. His thigh presses against mine under the table. “You smell like fresh air, a little sweat, and backpack of trouble.”

I drape my arm along the back of the booth, letting my fingers brush his shoulder. “And you smell like something a whole heap better than me. But moving on…good day at the store?”

Luke nods, stealing a sip from my beer like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Better after a certain someone snuck in and… took care of me.” His voice drops low enough that only I can hear. The memory of him bent over those cereal boxes, moaning while I rubbed cream into his sore ass, hits me hard. I shift closer, letting him feel the heat rolling off me.

But I can’t allow myself too much time to think…

The six of us fall into easy conversation: Milo recounting road trip highlights, Taron teasing Kaleb about losing the summit sprint, Luke quietly telling me about his cereal aisle adventures while his hand rests lightly on my thigh. Every laugh from him, every brush of his fingers, winds me tighter.

This boy is magnetic. Dangerous. Perfect.

We nurse one beer each, knowing we’ve both got an early gym session tomorrow. The others rib us when we stand to leave after barely an hour.

“Already tapping out?” Kaleb calls.