Naughty Hand by Nora Phoenix

Author:Nora Phoenix
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2019-12-08T05:00:00+00:00

9

“Daddy, we have a bit of a problem,” Cornell said, holding up his iPad for Rhys to see. “They’re predicting a big snowstorm.”

Rhys frowned as he looked at the weather map. “Holy crap, sixteen inches? That’s insane.”

Cornell nodded. “Yeah, but it’s not just that. It’s expected to hit Christmas Eve, so people are advised to stay inside after six PM.”

Anxiety roared up inside him at the idea of having to drive through a snowstorm. He’d never liked it, but after losing Jonas, the thought alone was terrifying.

Rhys leaned back, meeting Cornell’s eyes. “That means either we’d have to cancel the dinner with my mother, or we’d be stuck at her place. We’re not driving through that, sweetheart. No way.”

Cornell breathed out in relief. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Come here,” Rhys said, and Cornell put the iPad to the side and curled up against Rhys. Rhys held him close, and his heartbeat beat a steady rhythm in Cornell’s ear, calming him. “Sweetheart, I would never take that risk. I wouldn’t have done it before, but especially after what you went through, I would never put you through that.”

“It’s terrifying,” Cornell whispered, his throat raw. “I think I’d have a full-blown panic attack.”

“And no one would fault you for that. But I also don’t want to spend a few days stuck at my mom’s.”

Cornell agreed wholeheartedly with that. The relationship between them and Cassie had improved—the therapist Cassie had found had encouraged her to start adopting a different perspective—but the peace was fragile. Being forced together like that would not be conducive.

Still, he didn’t want to make Rhys feel like he had no choice. “She’d be disappointed if we canceled.”

Rhys shrugged. “She’ll have to get over it. It’s not like we don’t want to come, but I’m not risking our safety that way. If she can’t understand that, that’s on her.”

Cornell snuggled closer to Rhys, who laced his fingers through Cornell’s hair and stroked his head. It made him feel so safe, so loved. The flannel Christmas-themed pajamas he’d ordered for his Daddy were soft and warm against his cheek—and they matched his own. They were red, with little snowflakes and snowmen on them, and he loved them. Cheesy? Hell yes. But he didn’t care. He’d take cheesy any day if it made him feel like this.

“What about Brendan and Rhys?” he asked after a while.

“I’ll call Brendan. They’ll have the same problem, and even though Brendan is close with his parents, I doubt he wants to spend three days with them. From what I understand, their house is pretty small.”

“You want to invite them here,” Cornell said, understanding where Rhys was going.

“Yeah. We have the space, and since Brendan is off from work anyway, it would be fun to spend a few days together. If you’re okay with that?”

“Absolutely. I like Brendan, and it’s hard not to love Raf.” Cornell’s heart warmed as he thought of the adorable boy who did everything with all his heart.

“I bought great presents for him,” Rhys said. “He’s gonna go nuts when he sees them.

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