A Daddy for Damian by Joe Satoria

20. KRISTOPHER

I sat beside Theo on the flight. He wore clothes from last night. I could smell the alcohol on him, and I’d really hoped he wouldn’t show up. I’d spoke to his assistant, Nina, and she’d told me there was no chance he’d be waking up. She actually sounded like she’d be having a great time either way.

With Theo out of the office, she had a long weekend to herself. With him in Berlin, he was basically my responsibility.

I wasn’t the responsible one in the business. I made decisions on a researched whim, sometimes they were really good decisions, most of the time they were profitable, but some were disasters. While Theo never had any disasters like mine, he definitely led a disastrous life with a drinking habit I couldn’t keep up with.

I was half-German and half-English; beer should’ve flown through my veins. Perhaps it meant I handled beer consumption better, but at the speed Theo drank, he smelt like he’d been living in a brewery for the last twelve hours.

“I’d never turn down an opportunity to get German beer from the source,” Theo let out, getting cozy in the seat beside me.

We were in business class at the front of the plane, but that didn’t mean much for these short flights. Extra leg room, complimentary snacks and drinks, but that was about it.

“Did you talk to him yet?” Theo asked as I tried to tune him out.

“Who?”

“Who?” he scoffed. “Your assistant.”

“After the trip,” I said. I’d tried to mention something earlier. It was one of the reasons I didn’t want him over the past couple of nights. I didn’t know if I could keep it to myself, especially when we were together, especially when it was just the two of us, and we’d said as much as we could.

“Boo,” he heckled me.

“I’m gonna get this stewardess to tape your mouth shut,” I grumbled. “And where are you staying? Because I think the hotel is all booked up.”

He scoffed. “Was all booked up. They made room.”

I didn’t like the sound or idea of that. “And what about you?” I asked. “Have you had a talk with yourself in the mirror yet? You know, asked yourself why you’re still drinking instead of dealing with your issues.”

“Issues,” he scoffed. “His name was Jake, and he was an awful human being.”

And here I thought Jake was several guys ago, although Jake was the longest, I thought he was already over him. But I could relate to Theo. We were both going through similar things, and both of us dealing with those things in very different ways. I was hiring and sleeping with assistants, he was getting drunk in gay bars and taking home whoever made the most eye contact.

It wasn’t long before we were in the air and Theo was asleep. I didn’t want to disturb him, at all. He didn’t need that. I was busy going over the things I was going to bring up with my family, and a lot of that was about how successful I was at different things. I had a whole entire file centred around what I’d been up to, and with recent investments, I figured it was around the right time to be bragging and hopefully have them tell me I’d done a good job.

Each month, depending on how long I’d be staying for, I had a knot of nervous energy bubble away in my stomach. I didn’t want to admit that, at least not to myself, and definitely at least not to anyone else. Theo knew, but he’d seen me grow, and he knew me better than anyone else. Theo said nothing, and I think he thought him being here and around me would make for the meeting to go a little smoother.

Instead, it felt like I had a child to be responsible for. The only times Theo came with me to Germany was to get drunk, and for him, this was a party. For me, this meant seeing family and trying not to start fights with them—verbal, not physical.

Once we landed, I was first off the plane. I headed straight to the border control and through to baggage claim. I needed to be out and at the hotel as soon as possible.

There was a driver waiting for me outside, pre-booked, and another waiting for Damian. Even though we were going to the same place, I needed my time and space alone.

“You ok?” I heard his small voice as he bumped into me near the baggage claim carousel.

“I’m—fine,” I replied, looking him over. I was fine, in his eyes, at least. I needed to be fine, and if it took me lying to myself to push that narrative, it’s what I was going to do.

“Well, you know,” he began, sucking in. “If you need anyone to talk to.”

I’d known him a week. He had all the best intentions, and I was sure he would’ve spilled his guts to me if I asked him, but I couldn’t do the same. I’d made that mistake with assistant one and two.

“It’ll be fine,” I said. “Keep your eye out for the car, there will be a man holding a sign for you.”

He nodded. “Me and—” he turned, but I’d already seen it. Emile and Theo were talking. Theo looked like he’d sobered up a little after that sleep, and Emile appeared to flirt.

“You should go help your friend,” I said.

Damian sighed. “Theo is harmless though, right?”

“Just don’t go drinking with him,” I warned.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

The vibrations were going wild.

I didn’t expect it to happen after turning off airplane mode, but to see everything come through as the network connected to a new country. I stared from the phone and the back to Damian.

“Are you taking him with you?” he asked with unease washed across his face.

Smirking, I shook my head. “Not a chance.” And that was my cue to get my back quickly. The last thing I wanted was for Theo to get my room number at the hotel. I’d already told Damian I didn’t want disturbing, and I could give him a little leeway since we were fucking, but Theo—I needed to make sure he was absolutely clueless.

Looking back at my phone as Damian walked off. I saw the incoming stream of texts from my mother.

It was almost like she’d been tracking my flight and timed it perfectly to when I landed. And that wasn’t a compliment.

The message preview had already pumped my heart rate.

—Don’t be late—

I didn’t want to read the rest of it.

—Don’t be late tonight. It’s going to be a nice evening. Your father is looking forward to seeing you. Your brothers have also got their own news to share. They won’t tell me what’s going on, but they’ve both told me it has to wait until you’re here.

—Dinner is being served at 7. Please arrive at 6.

—Be on time. In the past, you’ve been late, and you know how much your father hates that.

—I know you’re well-adjusted to British time, but he really wants me to stress that you’re on time.

—He’s on new medication and they must be taken at a set time each day, with food.

It was a lot to take in. I had roughly five hours, and I felt like I was back to being a child, waiting around to be told when and where to be.

Bringing myself and the twinge of pain in my eyes from the phone, I looked at the carousel as it moved. And there was my bag, front and centre.