Before putting the phone away, Thaddeus tapped Kayden's contact. The screen lit up as he dialed, the familiar tone ringing in his ear while he walked toward the elevator. He pressed the button and waited, already imagining the little ways he would tease Kayden once they spoke.
The line clicked, and Kayden's voice came through, bright and sweet.
"Hey, Daddy."
Thaddeus smiled at the greeting. "Hey, Kay. How's it going?"
"Great, Daddy."
But even as Kayden spoke, Thaddeus caught the muffled noise in the background. His smile faded a little, his ear sharpening at the sound.
"Where are you, Kayden?" he asked slowly.
"I went out to eat with Darren," Kayden answered casually. "We're just heading back home now."
There was a beat of silence on the line. Thaddeus didn't reply immediately; instead, he exhaled through his nose, the weight of something unspoken hanging between them.
Finally, his voice came low and steady. "Call me when you get back to Darren's place."
