Chapter Eight

Barrett

I lay awake for hours remembering every detail of the evening. Imagine the odds of finding my next door neighbor who was not only a member of Chained but also a little. They were not great, and not something I would have even looked for. In fact, I was inclined to think Fate took a hand in the whole thing.

For years, I’d gone to Collared and enjoyed play sessions with single littles but never met one who I wanted forever in my life. Never met one I wanted to cross the line to big dating, although I well knew I wanted that was my goal. If I couldn’t share a full life with someone, I didn’t want them for more than an evening.

And that worked out fine because there were plenty of littles there who wanted just a scene and my reputation as a daddy was solid. I was known for being flexible and the kind of daddy each little needed for the evening.

Mainly because I was big on communication and being clear about things. If a little wanted me to play with them, they had to be willing to let me know what that meant to them. It kept things interesting and somewhat fulfilling, but never quite satisfied everything in me. Sure, I liked making the littles happy, but I actually had a daddy style, one that wasn’t always what they were looking for.

It had been a few months since I’d even done a scene because it left me feeling just a little empty afterward. I wanted more, needed more. And that meant finding that person who I could be with both big and small, even if I had begun to doubt that would happen.

Having met Kent as a neighbor first, I already knew I liked him as a big person. Our short conversations were friendly and pleasant and made me want to get to know him better. But then seeing him at Chained? He was as at ease in his skin as a little as he was when he was big and that was not always the case. And his joy at the party… I knew how much he loved Christmas from seeing his decorations, but his excitement at every craft and activity at the party carried me right along with him.

Now, I wanted to spend more time with him on a date and see if we had more than a neighborly connection there. With that decided, I finally was able to close my eyes and get a few hours of sleep, my dreams populated with glitter and jingle bells and a certain cute little boy in a onesie with duckies in elf gear all over it.

When I woke, I wondered if I could find anything like that. It was so specific, and probably, no, certainly would have to be special ordered. Maybe for next Christmas. Would we be together then? I was starting to hope so. I had a busy day with lots of errands to run, but I didn’t want to miss out on the chance to ask Kent for a date, so I opened up my computer and designed an invitation asking him out.

This way, whenever he got up, he would know I had a nice time at the club—which of course we’d said but I thought bore repeating—and that I would love to take him out on a big date to get to know one another better.

As I went through my day, picking up my dry cleaning, stopping at the pet store for some treats, visiting my new dentist for a cleaning, my mind was on that invitation. Had he gotten it? Was he deciding whether he wanted to go out with me? Or maybe how to let me down easy? My fingers twitched to text him, but we hadn’t exchanged phone numbers. I had mine on the invitation, putting the ball truly in his court.

My phone buzzed and I scrambled in my pocket for it, heart beating way too hard. If he said thanks but no thanks, things were going to be awkward when we passed in the shared driveway. But the screen showed the text was from Bridger who wondered if I would like to get together for a coffee this afternoon because Hudson was busy.

You just want to hear all about last night, I replied.

You got me. Is that okay?

Yes, I would be glad to share and get your thoughts. I’m way too invested for something that hasn’t even really started.

We agreed to meet up at a local coffee house at three, and I used the time in between to stop at the store for a few groceries. My cold bag would keep them fresh while we talked.

I hadn’t been to The Coffee Cabana before but it looked cute, and the pastry case held a tempting variety. I spotted Bridger at a table toward the back and waved before buying my peppermint latte and a gingerbread muffin. I didn’t usually go for so much sweetness but ‘twas the season after all.

Plopping onto the chair opposite my friend’s, I took a long draught of my coffee and sighed. “I needed that. How’s business?”

“It’s good. How is that little you were with last night?”

“It was the first time we played together. And he’s my neighbor.”

“That must be interesting.” I had actually mentioned that to him at some point before now I was fairly sure, but he was indeed looking for details. “Did you know he was a member of Chained before you saw him there?”

“Not until right before, when he told me he was going to be at the party in the little room.”

“He sure came running to claim you when Ms. Lily was sending you packing.” He smiled. “I think the boy likes you. You two worked your way through almost every station in the room, I noticed. A lively little.”

“It was fun, and I am hoping to take him out on a big date as well.”

“You know Hudson and I have all aspects of our lives together. Is that what you want, too?”

“Yes, with the right person.”

“And do you think…” He studied my face. “You do think.”

I waved the hand holding my muffin in the air. “It’s too soon to think anything. Except—” My phone buzzed and I grabbed it off the table where I’d set it and looked at the screen. Unknown number. Could it be him?

I swiped the screen and brought up the message. I’d like to go out with you. Thank you for the invite and I had a great time last night, too!

“It’s him, isn’t it?” Bridger leaned over the table and I turned the phone to face him. “That’s great! Where are you taking him?”

Where indeed?