Page 34 of Master Daddy

“I get it,” Connor begins. “When Milo first told me about some guy from his past who kept trying to slide back in, I wanted to put my fist through a wall. Jealousy hits different when it’s your Little.”

“Yeah, well, I let it rule me last night,” I admit. “He kept reassuring me he has no feelings for him. That he was toxic. But the second he said his name, all I could picture was them sitting together, old spark coming back. Luke remembering why he stayed with him in the first place.”

Kaleb shakes his head. “You gotta be there for Luke, brother. Support him. Not let your emotions run wild and push him away. He’s trusting you with this. If you go full caveman, he might start hiding shit from you just to keep the peace.”

“I know,” I say, staring out the window at the quiet main strip. “You’re right. Both of you. A little jealousy is normal. But I can’t let it turn me into an asshole. He deserves better than that.”

Connor reaches over and claps me on the shoulder. “Exactly. Boys need support and care, especially when old ghosts show up. Handle your feelings, but don’t let them handle you. Be the steady Daddy he can lean on.”

I nod, some of the tension in my chest easing.

These two have been through it.

They get it.

“There’s just… something about this Patrick guy,” I say. “I’ve never met him, but I know he’s a piece of shit. The way Luke talks about him… how Patrick made him doubt his own abilities, controlled him. Makes me want to drive to the city and have a conversation he won’t forget.”

Kaleb chuckles darkly. “I feel you. But right now, all you can do is be there for Luke. Listen. Support whatever decision he makes about meeting him. And be ready to pick up the pieces if it goes south. That’s what being his Daddy means.”

We eat in relative silence after that. Steak and eggs for me, pancakes for Kaleb, the works for Connor. The food helps, but the bigger weight is still sitting on me.

“Truth is,” I say finally, pushing my empty plate away, “with me heading back to the rig in a few weeks… I don’t know what the future holds for me and Luke. Four months away. Coming home to what? A boy who has been seeking solace from an ex? Pffft. And even if he wasn’t, how the hell is that fair to Luke? He’s building a life here. I’m just… passing through.”

Connor and Kaleb exchange a look.

“That’s a heavy one,” Connor says. “But you’ve got time. Don’t make decisions out of fear. Talk to him. Figure it out together.”

Kaleb drains his coffee and grins. “And in the meantime, you need to get out of your own head. The three of us should hit the Hardrock Healing Club. Sauna, cold plunge, sweat that jealousy and worry right out of you.”

I let out a wry chuckle, the first real one all morning.

“Hell, why not?” I laugh. “What’s the worst that could happen? I freeze my balls off and still feel like shit?”

“Exactly,” Kaleb says, slapping the table. “Let’s do it. The three Daddies together. Kicking ass, sweating bullets, and freezing are damn dicks off too. Taron’s got the boys today anyway.”

I nod, tossing some bills on the table.

As we head out, some of the tension has lifted. Not gone, but manageable.

I still need to fix things with Luke—apologize properly, be the man he deserves. But for now, sweating it out with my brothers sounds like the right next step.

The clock is ticking on my time here.

I just hope as far as Luke is concerned I haven’t already fucked things up beyond repair…

Chapter 11

Luke

The Hardrock Healing Club feels like the perfect escape this morning.

After a restless night replaying Mason’s stiff goodnight kiss and the way he didn’t look back, I text Taron and Milo…

LUKE: Change of plans… emergency Little reset at the wellness club? Sauna + plunge?

They both reply in seconds with a flood of heart emojis and “YES!!!”

So here we are, the three of us piling out of Milo’s car in the parking lot, gym bags swinging and swimsuits already on under our clothes.