"Brother!"
Aster startled, nearly dropping his phone. "What's wrong, baby?"
Finn came running into the living room with one sock on and bed hair flying everywhere. "My other sock is gone! It ran away!"
Aster bit back a grin as he bent down to help. "I think it just ran under the couch, baby. Let me grab it."
"Sock being bad," Finn mumbled, holding out his foot dramatically. "Sock don't wanna go to school."
Aster kissed his little toes before sliding the sock on. "Well, it better behave or I'll tickle both of you."
Finn squealed with laughter.
His phone buzzed again.
Still crouched on the floor, Aster answered. "Hello?"
"Morning," Jace said smoothly. "Got a minute, or are you knee deep in domestic bliss?"
Aster sighed. "More like trying to convince my toddler his sock isn't sentient."
"Cute, haha" Jace laughed. "Well, listen. Your filming schedule's set. Location's close enough that you'll be able to go home after shoots."
"That's perfect," Aster said. "Thank you."
"Also," Jace added, "swing by the company today, alright? We've got variety show options and a few short-term contracts for early press appearances. Nothing crazy. Just enough to get your face back out there."
Aster hesitated, then peeked toward the clock. "Yeah. We're dropping off Finn at school this morning anyway. I can come by after that."
"Perfect. Text when you're close."
"Lookin' good," Adrian said from the hallway, leaning on the doorframe, arms crossed. He was already dressed in dark slacks and a crisp white shirt, undone at the collar just enough to be sinful.
Finn immediately ran to him. "Uncle! Look at my bag! I got dinos and snacks and juice box!"
Adrian lifted him easily and inspected the lunchbox. "You're fully stocked. You could run a convenience store out of this thing."
"Can't eat all of it now," Finn whispered conspiratorially, "or Brother will say no more cookies."
Aster raised an eyebrow. "You just told on yourself."
Finn gasped. "Oopsies."
The school was already familiar—Finn had visited before, toured the bright classrooms and played with toys that made his eyes shine.
But this time felt different.
It was real now.
His first day.
Aster held his hand tightly as they walked toward the gates. Finn wore his tiny uniform like it was armor, his dino lunchbox swinging as he skipped. "Brother, will there be snacks? I bring snacks. But will they share snacks too?"
"There will be snacks, baby," Aster said. "But you have to remember to share yours too, okay?"
"Even the cookie?"
"Yes. Even the cookie."
Finn gasped in betrayal. "Brother~~."
Dani was already there, chatting with the teacher. She spotted them and waved. "Morning, superstar!"
Finn ran to her. "Daniii! I got juice!"
She picked him up and ruffle his hair. "I see that. Let's go in, buddy."
Finn looked back once.
Aster knelt and hugged him close. "Be good, baby bear. I'll pick you up later."
"'Kay! Love you, Brother!"
Then he turned to Adrian and gave him a high-five. "Bye-bye, Uncle!"
"Be brave, champ."
"Finn is always brave," Finn said, puffing out his tiny chest before marching inside.
Aster exhaled as they walked back to the car.
"He's getting too big," he said softly.
"You're just realizing now?"
"No," Aster said, smiling faintly. "I've always known. I just... never thought I'd see this day."
Adrian opened the passenger door. "You're doing a good job."
They slid into the car, quiet for a moment. The traffic outside the school swirled around them, but the cabin felt still.
Aster looked at Adrian—this man who had done so much for him. Not just financially. Not just with the house, or the nanny, or the career restart. But with everything.
The kind of debt Aster couldn't repay with money or even gratitude.
He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Adrian's lips.
Adrian blinked. "What was that for?"
"Just... thanks," Aster said quietly.
Adrian raised a brow, clearly amused. "You should've done that at home. I might've let you blow me in the shower."
Aster gaped. "Adrian—!"
"Or in the car," Adrian mused. "Right here's good too. Though it'd be a shame to steam up these nice tinted windows."
"You are incorrigible."
Adrian leaned closer, smirking. "You love it."
Before Aster could retort, Adrian pulled him in again and kissed him properly—slow, deep, a little hungry. His hand cupped the back of Aster's neck like he was claiming him all over again.
When they parted, Aster was breathless.
"I have to go," he mumbled. Quickly reaching for the door.
He really has to go or else, he doesn't even know what this horny guy might do.
"Pity." Adrian open the car window and lean his head out, smirking at Aster
The revolving door creak and moved. Jace and Yanna emerged, each holding folders.
"Nice of you to show up," Jace greeted, smirking.
Yanna's cheeks turned pink. "I—I didn't see anything!"
Adrian narrowed his eyes. "That's not convincing."
"You sure you don't wanna wear lip gloss next time?" Jace teased. "Might match better with your dazed post-kiss glow."
"I hate all of you," Aster muttered.
Adrian, still leaning out his car, raised a hand in a lazy wave. "Have fun, sweetheart."
After receiving Aster's grimaced, he smiling started the car and went his own way.
Jace blinked. "Did he just call you sweetheart?"
Yanna whimpered.
Aster dragged them toward the hallway. Cheeks flushing. "Let's just go."