Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

was already standing when he was just over six months. People said it happens, that he was ready. But crawling was good. Zach didn't like skipping steps, he liked to be reassured that he was doing a good job in raising his boy.
    Nowadays it was a challenge to keep an eye on him, between using the furniture for little walks and crawling about, he seemed to be everywhere he wasn't supposed be.
    Zach even brought a little umbrella to give Archer some shade. When everything was set, he lay down and relaxed, listening to Archer's sounds as he lifted his little diapered butt up, only to drop back down.
    "Hi, handsome," a voice said, startling Zach. Archer looked up and squealed, lifting his hands up in the air once he recognized Noah.
    Zach was surprised how his son knew him without all the make-up and with a different hair, but apparently there was no fooling the little guy.
    "Hey there, cute baby," Noah said as he dropped down, letting Archer touch his shirt, but looking at Zach.
    His hair was different, divided on the side and with much less gel in it. The shirt he wore seemed expensive but was still casual considering his usual style, and his black jeans kicked ass with the rip at the knee. But he wouldn't have been Noah without his boots, even in a park, and Zach just loved it.
    Archer talked to him, babbling enthusiastically about Gabriel it seemed since that was the only word he knew how to say so far – G. It still seemed to Zach that he was screwing something up. But people said boys took their time when it came to talking. It was still scary.
    "You look hot," Noah said and his devouring gaze pushed the point home.
    "Thanks. You too." No stammering this time, thank God , Zach thought to himself.
    "So what is your other job? You never told me."
    Way to break the ice. Zach took a deep breath and decided to come clean from the start, "I'm a stripper. I dance at a friend's club."
    "Oh." Noah moved his head slightly back, his eyebrows doing an up and down dance. "I didn't see that one coming. Okay." He then grinned, "I don't think I've ever met a stripper."
    Zach laughed, still nervous but feeling slightly better. "I needed the money for Archer and me. I used to dance there when I was younger, or whenever I needed some cash. My friends own the club, so I can dance for half a shift. It's the same with Adam, he lets me work only mornings."
    "I can see that. Do you like dancing?"
    "Oh yeah, I love it. Always have. I even love the club, and the people. But it keeps me away from Archer and if I didn't need the money I would quit. It's good that he sleeps most of the time that I'm away, but I still leave him in tears every night I have to work."
    "Hey, hey. He's a happy kid. Sure, he cried when I first met him, but essentially he's a happy child. He adores you, and is naturally curious. I'm sure he misses you, and doesn't like to be apart from you, but there are plenty of parents who work the whole day and only see their kids for maybe an hour. You're doing the best you can, and he is happy for it."
    "Thanks. I just… I never expected to do this on my own." Zach sighed, rubbing at his eyes.
    "What do you mean?"
    "Sorry, that kind of slipped out. I really don't want to drown you with too much drama."
    "It's not drama. It's your life, and I'm interested. You can read everything about me online while I have to ask about anything I want to know."
    "Yes, there's a lot about you out there."
    "Oh," Noah pointed his finger at Zach, only for it to be grabbed by Archer a moment later. Still, Noah, said his piece of mind, "We'll talk about that right after you tell me about your drama, sweetcheeks."
    "Fine. I was in a relationship for a long time. Austin was older than me and I honestly thought we would spend our lives together." Zach smirked, "Yeah, everyone thinks like that when they're in love. He was older, more experienced. He said he was ready for a family. I wasn't. I felt too young and inexperienced. But Austin wanted a family, so we found a surrogate, spent all our savings and gave our sperm. Jacking off in a bottle. It still makes me fucking laugh. By the time she was pregnant, I got excited. I felt him kick, saw the ultrasound. Archer was a living being. I don't think I'd ever been as excited as I was the first time I heard his heartbeat. It was bigger than life. I swear." Zach looked up at Noah, who smiled at him, so sweetly. "Anyway, by the time he was born I couldn't have been happier. And he was such a good child,