15. Riley

Chapter 15

Riley

It had been two weeks since I said goodbye to Daddy. Two very long weeks. But it was finally the day—the day he was coming here to see me.

We weren’t that far apart, not really. It wasn’t as if he was in New York and I was in San Francisco, but it might as well have been. Our schedules had been hectic. After being in Vegas, there was a lot on our plates back home. We’d been able to FaceTime and send text messages, but nothing more than that.

And I missed him.

I knew it would be difficult to come back home and just go on with my life like nothing had changed. Because it did change. I met Adam, and maybe it was too soon, too fast, too whatever society decided was the way to foster relationships, but I knew that he was for me, and I was for him.

At least, I did until yesterday, when I had a nightmare that tore me from my seat. I’d woken up hugging my stuffie, sweating, and crying. It wasn’t the kind of nightmare I’d had as a kid, where a big bad guy was chasing me or a recreation of some horror movie I snuck down to watch when I shouldn’t have.

This one felt real—almost too real.

Adam and I were out on a date. I didn’t recognize the restaurant, but it felt like we’d been there before. We were talking about random things, but I wasn’t really interested in what he had to say. Based on the fact that he didn’t seem to know anything about the conversation either, it seemed like he felt the same.

Then, when we went outside, he said, “Oh, I guess that means we really weren’t meant to be.”

And I said, “Yeah, guess so.”

We walked our separate ways.

Done.

It was a bizarre dream, and it shouldn’t have hit me so hard. I should’ve woken up and known it was just a dream and not at all real.

Back in Vegas, I’d asked him, “Do you pick me to be your boy?” And he said, “I do, sweet boy. Forever.” That wasn’t gonna change because we hadn’t seen each other in two weeks. It was ridiculous for me to even worry about it.

But what was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to text him and say, “Hey, I need reassurance?” Probably not. I let that sit with me all morning long, and it slowly started to fester. Now, I was on my way home, knowing Daddy would be there shortly afterward, and I was petrified.

What if he got here and things were different? What if suddenly he decided that whatever happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas and this was all a mistake? Or worse, what if he’d already turned around and decided not to come at all?

When I got home, I realized I shouldn’t have worried. He was already outside waiting for me with the hugest smile on his face, a suitcase by his side, and a gift bag in his hand. That was not someone who didn’t want to be with me anymore.

I ran up to him and wrapped my arms around his middle. “It’s so good to see you.”

He hugged me tight. “I missed you, my sweet boy.”

“I missed you too, Daddy.” There was so much more to say than that, but first, we needed to get inside.

The door was barely latched behind us when I kissed him properly, loving the feel of his lips against mine and his body holding me close. The feeling of safety, of knowing that this wasn’t a vacation fling—this was more.

“How have you been?” He took my hand and led me to the couch to sit down.

“Well…I don’t want you to laugh, but…” With other Daddies, I might’ve worried he’d get mad and punish me, but Adam wasn’t like that. He’d appreciate the communication now more than ever.

I told him all about my dream, and then waited for him to laugh or to tell me I should have called him or texted him, because obviously, I should have. Instead, he cupped my cheeks, looked me straight in the eyes, and said, “Whenever you feel like that, remember—I love you, Riley.” Then he gave me a sweet kiss. “Daddy loves you.”

It was exactly what I needed to hear. “I love you too, Daddy. So very much.”

I climbed onto his lap and snuggled into him. “I know we’re supposed to go out tonight to hit up the club, but…can I just stay like this all night long?”

“Sweet boy, you can do whatever you want, as long as it’s by my side.”