Chapter Five

Barrett

I didn’t see Kent that evening or Saturday morning, but he was not out of my mind for a minute. He was also going to the Christmas Night of Fun at Chained. Some parties at Collared and from what I could tell Chained were geared to one particular group, like daddies and littles for example, but this one was for everyone. I had called and been told we didn’t need tickets or reservations. An event this big was open to all members of Chained or its sister clubs. I’d managed to transfer my membership online right after arriving in town, but I just hadn’t managed to steal the time or energy to go there.

Now I would! Funny how I’d just been thinking of Bridger and his duckie pattern shortly before he called. I’d always had a friend there I could have shown up to visit with, but I’d been so busy, I hadn’t even thought about it. It would be good to see him and his little, but the highlight of the night would be my neighbor in the little room.

I’m going to be in the little room.

When he said those words, my heart had ticked up by ten times. I’d tried to think of casual ways to ask if he was little. So much about him indicated he might be. Lots of people set up Christmas villages, but not so many grown-ups named all the little figurines and knew full life stories about them. The mayor alone had quite a history. We hadn’t had long conversations, but I was totally enchanted by the short ones we’d shared. And I couldn’t wait to see him in the little room. Whatever he wore, he’d be adorable, but my imagination went wild every time I thought of it. Dressing a little before clubbing was one of the privileges of their daddy or mommy, and since I’d never had a little of my own, only play partners, I hadn’t gotten to do that often. The dressing rooms were usually reserved well in advance, and many of them had themes the littles loved. I’d had the tour at Collared when I joined, so I assumed that Chained also was similar.

Saturday night, I got into the car, glancing over to see if Kent was coming out at the same time, but there was no sign of him. Hopefully he hadn’t changed his mind about attending. I had wished I could offer him a ride, but we weren’t at that point. Not yet. He’d been so shy about the fact that he was coming at all, and I didn’t want to push my luck.

I’d driven past the club a few times, so I knew where I was going and found the parking easily enough. Once inside, I looked around the foyer, taking in the comfortable chairs set off to the side and the desk where a volunteer would be waiting to greet visitors and members alike.

But before I could approach the young lady in that position, I was approached by another woman who said, “You must be Barrett.”

“Yes, that’s me.” But I was puzzled. “I didn’t make a reservation or anything. How did you recognize me…or even know I would be attending tonight?”

As we spoke, she offered me a sweet smile. “Bridger and Hudson?”

“They’re here already, then.” I grinned back at her. “Ms. Lily?”

“I see my reputation precedes me. Welcome to Chained. You sure picked a nice time for your first visit.” She waved around her at the gaily decorated foyer. Lights were strung around the ceiling and a Christmas tree stood in the corner. People were streaming past us, stopping at the desk and then moving on into the next area. “I thought I’d give you a quick tour, although as crowded as it is, you probably won’t get to see much.”

“That’s nice of you, but would it be wrong for me to say that you’re very busy tonight and it would be better for me to tour another time?”

“I knew I’d like you.” She took my arm and guided me over to the desk where I signed in and relinquished my phone, just like back home at Collared. “Now, why don’t I show you to the conversation area where Bridger and Hudson and all their friends are gathered. Then they can take you to the little room or wherever you’d like to see?”

“That would be perfect.” Although we’d agreed I wouldn’t get a tour, I noticed we did seem to go a bit out of our way, covering the dressing room hallway with a peek inside a couple of unoccupied dressing rooms decorated with animals and a circus theme, the main floor, and the pet room where puppies and kittens and their handlers were setting up a holiday pet parade. Finally, we arrived. A whole crowd of daddies was seated on the couches and chairs, their littles either on the floor or their daddies’ laps.

As soon as we approached, Hudson hopped up and ran to greet me with a hug. I patted his reindeer-patterned onesie shoulder. “Quite the welcome. Hello, Bridger.”

My friend stood as well and introduced me to all the others. Mateo and his little Walker, Elio and Lane, the list went on and on until my head was spinning and I held up a hand laughing. “I have to warn you all that it’s going to take a few times before I remember everyone’s name. I think a couple of you have been to Collared, right? My previous club?”

Then everyone wanted to talk about who they knew at Collared and when they’d visited and if they thought they’d seen me. Trays of snacks arrived for both big and little, cocoa and cider for the littles and wine and other beverages for the daddies. After a while, tension I hadn’t even realized I held eased from my back and shoulders. I’d needed this so badly, and I vowed not to let so much time go by again before I came back to Chained.

Couples left for the little room, one by one, until finally it was just Bridger, Hudson, and I. “Looks like everyone’s playing tonight,” I commented.

“Yeah, seems it. But with all the fun activities in there for the party, who can blame them?”

“You gonna go?” I shifted, uncomfortable to leave them sitting there if they had stayed just for me.

“Sure.” Bridger stood and straightened his pants then reached down for Hudson’s hand. “Ready to play?

He placed his hand inside his daddy’s and nodded. “I want to play with glitter.”

Bridger and I both burst into laughter. “I guess the littles here love it just as much as at Collared, huh?”

“And the daddies dread it just as much.” Bridger ruffled his little’s hair. “But it’s worth all the cleanup, right buddy?”

“Glitter is the best.”

“I found a piece in his ear last week—and we hadn’t done a glitter craft in a month,” Bridger confided.

The advantage to being a daddy who

As we moved across the main floor toward the hallway we passed stations for all sorts of activities like shibari and the St. Andrew’s cross, and one of the dom’s preparing for a display of fire play. While it was interesting to see those things, and I wasn’t beyond enjoying the show while chatting with friends, it had never been my focus.

“It’s just down along here.” Bridger strode along, pointing out things he thought I’d be interested in as well as telling me some anecdotes about the other members. Overall, the place felt a whole lot like Collared, and I was already at home. “And here we are.” Hudson paraded in ahead of us followed by his daddy but when I moved to go in I was stopped at the door by Ms. Lily. “I’m sorry, Barrett, but there are no unaccompanied mommies or daddies allowed in right now.”

I spotted Kent inside, looking even more adorable than usual, but I wasn’t his daddy or anyone’s. The room had twice as many decorations as the rest of the club and the jazzy, instrumental holiday background music with a club beat was replaced by more traditional lively carols. I wanted to go in so badly, to go and work on a craft or read a story to Kent so much. But what could I do?

I’d have to talk to him at home and see if maybe he’d come here with me another time. About to leave, I suddenly heard my name and a little rocketed out the door to greet me. My next-door little who told Ms. Lily I was there for him.

Because of course I was. I just hadn’t been sure he’d want me to be.