6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Andy

I stood out in the backyard, throwing the ball for Seph. Now that I knew what the campground was like, I was totally taking her with me the next time I went camping. She would have had a blast.

We'd been out here awhile, and it was getting close to time for Caleb to come pick me up. I was going with him to the Farmers Market today. I'd never been, and I was really looking forward to it. He'd said this wasn't your typical Farmers Market with nothing but vegetables and homemade jams and jellies, but that it was more of a bizarre of sorts with all kinds of home-crafted items. Normally, he and Keith went together, but this week, Keith was busy, so he asked me to go with.

I reared back to give the ball one more throw, just as I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I figured it was Caleb letting me know he was on his way, so I was surprised when I woke up my phone screen and found a text from my old friend Devon instead.

Dev: Hey dude, what's up?

I hadn't heard from him for months, which didn't really surprise me. If I wasn't in New Jersey, I wasn't close enough for him to bum money off of, so there was no reason for him to talk to me. Which was why I didn't respond at all and just stuck the phone back in my pocket. Not all my old friends were like that, but not many of them were worth keeping in touch with.

There was no way they would understand the life I was building here in Vesper. I chuckled to myself at the thought of me telling them that I was heading to the Farmers Market with Caleb. Nope, they wouldn't get it all. Very few of them worked for a living, and the ones who did, only did it to keep their families happy.

I, on the other hand, had a job I loved that made a real difference, and I'd found real friendships here that weren't based on money or social standing. My life here might not be glamorous, but it was good, really good.

My phone buzzed again, and I rolled my eyes, but when I looked, it actually was Caleb this time.

Caleb: Be there in ten .

I grinned at the text. He'd kept it short and sweet, which was unlike Caleb. Hopefully, just because he was in a hurry and not because he was already headed my way. If his Daddy found out he was texting while driving, he would be in serious trouble.

Me: Are you driving?

Not that I would tell on him or anything, but I agreed with Keith about that one. I hadn't been at this job for long, but I'd already worked one too many accidents caused by someone using their phone when they shouldn't.

Right away, my phone rang with a video call.

"Hey, Caleb." I could tell from the angle I was seeing him that he had his phone in its holder in his car.

"I wasn't driving when I sent the text, but I am now. I'd stopped by my dad's house to drop off something Keith needed, and now I'm headed to you."

"Yeah, Robert's house isn't far from mine at all."

I heard a bark in the background, then Caleb said, "Hush, Nix, it won't be long now." He let out a sigh. "I try to take him for rides as often as possible so you would think he'd be used to the car by now."

"Oh, are you taking Nix with us to the Farmers Market?"

"I am. I want to get him used to being around people. That's why I was calling real quick. I thought maybe you could bring Seph and she could teach him how to behave. I mean, they're pack animals, right? So he might learn from her easier than from me."

"What you need is to take him to obedience training."

He let out another sigh. "That's what Keith said. But I've read like five books about it since we got him, and I really thought I could figure it out."

"Well, if five books didn't do the trick, I think you should probably try a class."

"He's just a lot. Don't get me wrong, I love him. I mean, mostly he's all love and licks and cuddles, but—"

"But you can tell he'll be a handful if you don't get a handle on some of his behavior now."

"Exactly."

I smiled at Seph running around the yard, throwing the ball for herself and then chasing it since she gave up on me tossing it for her.

"I get it. Believe me, I do. I had the same thing with Seph. These working breeds take some extra work. They're worth it, though. But yeah, I'll bring her with us."

"Awesome. See you in a few minutes."

I tucked my phone back in my pocket and then cupped my hands around my mouth to call her. "Hey, Seph, want to go for a ride?"

She froze, and her ears popped up. She looked at me like, did you say what I think you said? That dog loved to go in the car.

"Come on, let's go for a ride," I repeated. The ball was totally forgotten, and she bound across the yard towards me. I opened the back door, and she headed straight for the hook where I hung her leash and sat down to patiently wait for me.

It didn't take long to see that bringing Seph with us had been a good call. Nix was a smart dog, and he learned really quickly, which wasn't surprising since he was a Shephard mix. After the first half hour at the market, he behaved much better and seemed to be mimicking her behavior. Not that he was perfect. He was still a puppy, after all, but he did seem to watch Seph.

After he wrapped his leash around Caleb's leg for the hundredth time and almost tripped him, Caleb turned and looked at me. "Why doesn't she wind around you? How do you get her to stay right by your side like that?"

I glanced down and gave Seph a scratch behind the ears. "Like I said, a professional trainer would help."

"Well, if it worked so good for you, maybe I'll give it a try."

I should've told him that Seph had been trained by one of the top dog trainers in New Jersey and that he might not get the same results by going to a local group class. But to tell him about the program Seph went through, I would have to explain how I managed to afford such expensive training, and I wasn't ready to do that yet. I liked knowing that the friends I'd made here liked me for me, not because I had money.

We continued down the rows of vendors, stopping and looking at all the items they had for sale. We stopped at one booth that sold wooden wall decorations that had been made with a scroll saw. I was bored, and I really needed a hobby. One of the guys at the station had suggested woodwork. I had to admit these signs were cool, but after taking a few minutes to really look at them, I didn't think this was the thing for me.

"Do you want to grab some food?" Caleb asked as we reached the end of the row where all the food trucks sat.

"Do you think Nix will be okay if we sit and eat?"

"Trust me, if there's one thing this dog is good at, it's sitting completely still and staring at me while I eat."

"Sounds good to me, then."

He went to the truck that had gourmet grilled cheese, and I went to the one that had a big sign saying it had steak sandwiches and hand-cut fries. Mine took a little longer, but after a few minutes, Seph and I joined him and Nix at a picnic table.

He hadn't been kidding about Nix. The dog was sitting at attention, watching Caleb's every move as he lifted his sandwich to his mouth and then back down the table. Neither of us said anything at first as we tucked into the food, but after a few satisfying bites, Caleb spoke up.

"So Keith tells me they're thinking about adding a second Daddy Night at the club. Did Jesse say anything to you about that?"

"Jesse? No, why would he?"

"Well, I know y'all went camping, and then you stopped and spoke to Jesse when we got to the club first thing last night. I guess I thought maybe you two were close."

"You thought me and Jesse were close?"

He shrugged. "Yeah. Aren't you?"

"Not really. I mean, he's my brother's best friend, and he sees me as Victor's little brother, not as a friend or anything."

"Really?" The disbelief was strong in his tone, but I had no idea why. I'd stopped just short of throwing myself at Jesse on the camping trip, parading around in my boxers, and I never got so much as a hint of attraction. Not that I expected him to jump me with my brother present, but he didn't even notice I was half-naked.

"Yes, really." I reached for my cup and took a big drink of sweet tea.

"Well, that's disappointing. I was kind of hoping maybe there was something there. He was so sweet to me my first time at the club, and you need someone sweet."

I choked a little on the tea I was drinking, and it took me a second to stop coughing. He was lucky I didn't spew it all over him. Although he would've deserved it after saying something like that to me right after I took a drink.

When I got myself back together, I looked at him. "You seriously think I need someone sweet?"

"Sure, why not? What are you looking for, someone who's an asshole?"

"No, not an asshole, but sweet isn't really my thing, either."

"Okay, then, tell me what you are looking for? Describe Andy's perfect Daddy to me, and I'll help you find him."

He was so adorable. He'd had a Daddy of his own, for the first time, I'd like to point out, for a few months, and now he was some kind of Daddy expert.

"Let me ask you a question first." He nodded and took another bite of his sandwich. "What kind of punishments does Keith give you when you don't follow the rules?"

"Why wouldn't I follow the rules?"

"And that right there is why Keith is the perfect Daddy for you." I chuckled. "Keith's a sweet man, and he needs a sweet boy. I'm not sweet, Caleb. I would drive a sweet Daddy insane."

"So you want more of a Daddy Dom then?" he asked, nodding his head. "I can see it."

"Oh, can you? Have you ever met a Daddy Dom?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I met a few of Keith's Daddy friends at the club, but I didn't ask if they were Doms or not. I've read about them in books, though, and it sounds fun. If you're into that kind of thing."

I didn't want him to think I was making fun of him, but I couldn't keep from laughing at the way he said if you're into that kind of thing , making it clear he was not, in fact, into that kind of thing.

"I'm not heavy into domination or submission, but I do like a man who can handle himself"—I shrugged—"and who can handle me."

"Okay. Well, that's a start." Caleb grinned. "We just need to find you a Daddy Dom. I'll ask Keith if he knows any."

"You will do no such thing. Remember, I have to work with him, so I don't need him sticking his nose in my business. Besides, I'm not really looking right now. I'm still getting used to being a firefighter and this place. I mean, seriously, Caleb"—I took another swallow of the delicious sugary drink and then held up my cup—"sweet tea?"

"Yep, sweet tea. Welcome to Texas, my friend."