“It doesn’t matter. I’m not going.”
I gripped his chin and frowned at him. “That’s not a decision I’m going to leave solely to you. Now answer me, how long is the program?”
“A month and a half.”
I nodded at the information. Six weeks away from each other so he could get the help he needed wasn’t bad. We could both survive the time away from each other if it meant us having a stronger relationship after.
“The time will go by faster than you know it.”
His eyes widened, and he grabbed onto my arm, his eyes filling with tears. “Please don’t send me away.”
“It might be the best thing for you.”
“Daddy, I couldn’t even last a week without you,” he said on a whisper. “Right now being with you is most of my motivation for doing better. I need that until I can find the strength to do it for myself.”
“Ash.”
“I’ll follow your rules. I’ll do everything you say. Just please don’t send me away.”
I slipped my hand from his chin to cradle his cheek in my hand. I needed to do the right thing for him, but I needed to check this place out and see the reputation it had before I committed him to the program. I wasn’t sure he was strong enough to weather a program by himself either. So many alcoholics had to hit rock bottom before they were able to find that help for themselves.
I didn’t want Ash to hit rock bottom. Some people never recovered. Like Mario. His rock bottom had cost him everything. Now he was trapped in the mind and uncooperative body that no longer functioned for a man his age.
“This is what we’ll do,” I said, hoping I was doing right by him. I couldn’t fail another boy. “You’ll start your AA meetings here regularly. It’ll give me a chance to check out this program and see if it’s a better fit for you.”
“But if I do better, I don’t have to go, right?”
Shit. The poor boy had no idea the struggles that were ahead. There were people who were able to quit without even using a program. It would be spectacular if Ash could do the same, but I had to be prepared for the challenges ahead.
“We’ll reassess in a couple of weeks,” I said, sticking to my guns this time. I’d allowed him to get away with too much already, and it was time he understood the severity of my rules.
He let out a sigh and nodded. “Okay, I want you to be my sponsor.”
“I can’t. I’m too emotionally involved with you. You need to be able to talk to someone openly, even if it’s about our relationship and things that may push you to want to seek a bottle.”
“I still think you should be my sponsor, but okay, Daddy. Will you at least help me to choose?”
“If you really need me to help, sure, but I think you’ll be able to find someone at your meeting.” I took his hand. “Come, there’s one thing left for you to do.”
“What?”
Instead of replying, I walked with him through to the kitchen, where I pulled out a chair for him.
“Sit.”
He sat slowly as though he didn’t want to. I grabbed the notepad, which still had the grocery list I hadn’t bothered to get yet. I’d been too worried about him to think about cooking.
I ripped a page from the notepad and brought it over to the table with a pen.
“Do I need to write lines?” he groaned.
“No, that’s too easy.” I cupped his neck and stroked the slender curve. “I want you to write a list of ten things you love about you.”
“What?” He tilted his head back and stared up at me.
I couldn’t resist him any longer. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his briefly, then pulled back before he could participate in the kiss. “You heard me. Ten things you love about you, and when you’re done, then you may come to my bed.”
He glanced down at the blank paper, then returned his gaze to me. “Can’t I write it about you instead? I’d be finished quicker.”
“This is not about me.” I combed my fingers through his tousled hair, trying to fix the mess. “As I said, you come to me, only when you’re finished.”
He caught his bottom lip between his teeth again and nodded. I whispered that he was a good boy. He melted under the compliment, smiling before taking up the pen. I left the kitchen, so I didn’t hover to read what he wrote. I could read it after he was finished.
I didn’t expect the task to take him long. There was so much to love about him despite his messy side. I was waiting for him to finish and climb into bed with me. I’d hold him and cherish him, let him feel worthy enough to want happiness and to actively pursue it. Not the sham he found temporarily in a bottle.
I fell asleep without meaning to. When I woke, I turned over, reaching out for Ashton, but he wasn’t in bed. I raised my head and glanced around the bedroom, which was illuminated by the light from the living room. The space next to me was undisturbed, still waiting for Ashton to join me.
Has he disappeared again?
I vaulted to my feet, the sheet sailing through the air, landing gracefully on the bed. The light was punishing on my pupils, but I ignored it, squinting against the brightness. The apartment was too silent, and a bad feeling settled into my gut, the ache easing only when I entered the kitchen and saw Ashton.
He hadn’t left.
Heart pounding way too hard in my chest, I stood just inside the kitchen and watched him, allowing myself to calm down. Now I understood why I hadn’t sent him away after he’d broken my rule. I didn’t want him gone. I wanted him to stay. Wanted him right here in my tiny space, bumping into me, climbing into my lap, making me laugh, and even making me moody.
Ashton was fast asleep, his head on his arms on the kitchen table. When I was calm enough not to frighten him, I crossed over to him. He was so beautiful, his face relaxed and innocent in his sleep when he was free of worries.
What secrets do you still hide, Pretty Eyes? What torment makes you seek answers in a bottle?
He might not want to tell me now, but eventually, I’d find out. Tonight we’d only started the long process that he’d need for his recovery.
“Ashton,” I murmured to wake him up so I could get him into bed. He didn’t move until I lifted him into my arms. His eyes opened, and he blinked sleepily at me.
“Come on, let’s get you into bed. Why didn’t you come to bed?”
“I couldn’t think of ten things.” His eyes fluttered close.
I glanced over his shoulder, startled to find only the first line filled out.
1.I love the way I’m happy when I’m around you.
Technically, that didn’t even count, since it was about me and not him. The other nine lines only had the first two words I love but were unfinished.
I had my work cut out for me, but as I watched him sleep, I didn’t regret my decision. Whatever it took, Ashton Keyes would come through this, and I’d be right there by his side through it all.
Thanks for reading Spoiled. Book 2 is now up for preorder.
Coming in June
Perfection. The state of being complete and correct in every way.
Callum
I learned the hard way that love doesn't change anyone. Yet, here I am for the long haul with Ashton on his road to recovery. I have to make tough decisions for his own good, but I have to believe in the end we'll be better for it.
Ashton
Local AA or an anonymous rehab center in another state? It's no hairbrainer why I chose the former. I don't think I can make it through recovery without my Daddy's support. But will he continue supporting me when he finds out what drove me to the bottle in the first place? How can anyone forgive me for what I've done when I can't even forgive myself?
Perfection is the second book in the Spoiled Perfection duet. This book cannot be read as a standalone.
Coming Soon
Gianni Holmes writing as G S Holmes
A friends to lovers shifter romance set in an omegaverse.
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So You Loved Spoiled
What Next?
Gianni is a lover of age gap (May/December) romance stories. Check out her list of books below. Also keep a lookout for Gianni’s new pen name G. S Holmes where she will publish Mpreg and other fantasy-oriented books.
Freebies on Prolific Works
Lemonade & Loose Lips (new series for subscribers only)
Mr. Hopper (roleplay)
Of Thunder & Trickery (Loki & Thor fan-fic)
The Pick-Up
Taking Care Series (Daddy Kink)
Take Care of You
Take Care of Me
Take Care of Us
Mother’s Day Special
Father’s Day Special
Till There Was You series (Hurt/Comfort)
Easy Does It Twice
Ollie on the Out
All Hearts on Deck
The Pick-Up (coming soon)
The Runway Project series (May/December)
Unwrapping Ainsley
Where There’s a Will
Fashionably, Frankie (coming soon)
A Marksman Tale
Marking What’s Mine
Marking His Mask
Niccola
Bartering His Body: Prehistoric Man
The Grimm Tales of Smoky Vale
Biker Daddy
Fable’s Foes
More About Gianni Holmes
Gianni Holmes is a high school Spanish teacher by day and a naughty but nice writer by night. She loves to watch romantic comedies especially old sitcoms such as Everybody Loves Raymond and The Andy Griffith Show. She spends much of her time writing or impersonating her characters. Apart from her love of superheroes, she also enjoys cartoons and watches them regularly. She is a single mother who lives with her five-year-old daughter in the Caribbean. Her mission is to write heat with heart, spinning compelling stories that will leave readers wanting more.
Visit her at
www.gianniholmesauthor.com
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