"I think... I think I was so in love with the idea of saving myself that I didn't realize I was letting myself drown. "

"And now?"

"And now you're my lifeboat."


It was only meant to be a favour. Only meant to be for a few weeks. 

Yet when Stryker Odello finds himself a Daddy for a scarred little boy, he finds the darkness that swamped his life cracking and splits of light shining through.

High functioning alcoholic at best, meeting the needs of the little proved more challenging than he first anticipated. 

Broken and distrustful, getting through to Jamie Sinclair was a hard feat.

Both damaged from the past, hurt and cautious, could they learn to let go and figure out how to love again? 

Or was life's only joy to direct a tragedy?

His Little Boy

Jamie had asked if he could dress himself and Stryker hadn't had the heart to tell him no.

/"Oh,/" Stryker asked with a grin, opening the back seat. /"What are you gonna sing?/"

/"Incy wincy spy-dur,/" Jamie lisped as he brought his panda's ear up to his mouth. Stryker gently pried it away as he helped the boy into his seat.

/"No way,/" he mock gasped. /"That was exactly what I was going to recommend that you sing!/"

/"Wasn't,/" Jamie said with a loud giggle. /"Was you?/"

/"I totally was,/" Stryker teased, fastening the straps. /"Will you sing for me so I can be the first to hear your beautiful voice?/"

And like any time Stryker paid him a compliment, heat lit up his cheeks and he ended up stuttering over his own words.

/"Kay, Daddy,/" Jamie agreed as Stryker made his way to the driver's seat. /"But he gotsta hewp./" He pointed at his panda before very sweetly began to sing.

Chapter32