Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

TIMOTHY

From: Admin@theselittlemoments(dot)com

To: Timothy.Baker@gmail(dot)com

Dear Timothy,

Here are the proofs for your project. Please let me know if this is to your liking. I can have them printed and delivered by courier this evening if you wish. It was a pleasure to work on such a special project. I’ll be here if you need anything further.

Sincerely,

Malik

I stare at the email, biting my thumbnail as I fight my excitement. Keeping this project a secret has been harder than I thought it would be.

If it wasn't only a couple of days until Christmas, I know I’d bust. Daddy already knows I’m eager to exchange gifts with him. He’s made me promise to hold off until Christmas morning though. Apparently, mine isn’t ready yet.

I shoot Malik, the magician artist he is, a quick reply to say all is approved and to coordinate the delivery of Daddy’s gift. Timing it to when he’s not home will be tricky since the team gets four days off this year instead of the traditional three.

Not that I’m complaining. I love having more time with him.

Knowing we’ll also get to spend time at the Bellport family home is a welcome surprise. It'll be nice to not be alone this year.

When Mama Bellport asked us, I can admit my first reaction was to be sad. Her invite reminded me that I didn’t have my own family to spend time with anymore. The grief I felt at losing my grandfather had returned with a pounding force.

In the time since, I’ve accepted her actions as a show of kindness. The entire Bellport family has always been nice to me. The fact that she insists on me calling her Mama Bellport is enough of a clue. Add in the kind things they’ve done over the years and all the trips they’ve included me in, and well, it’s obvious they consider me one of their own.

“Honeybee? You still here?” Daddy calls from down the hall.

I quickly exit out of the browser on my phone, so he won’t see my email before yelling back, “In the living room.”

I‘m at his place today. He wanted me to be here while he had their last practice before the break. Something about knowing I would be in his home waiting for him and how hot it made him.

At the time, I laughed it off.

Now though, I can see the hungry look in his eyes as he saunters into the room. His large body prowls across the space, never once looking at anything other than me.

The second he’s close enough, he pounces. I squeak as I fall back onto the couch, his weight pressing me further into the couch.

“Daddy!”

He hums. His face nuzzles against my neck, breathing me in like he’s starved for my scent.

“Yes. That’s exactly how I want you to cry out my name, honeybee.”

I laugh at his flirty words, then groan as his hips thrust forward. His cock presses against mine, all firm and needy.

Before either of us can speak again, his phone goes off. “Fucking hell. Who is that?”

He tugs the device free. Glaring at the screen, his frown turns to a look of worry.

“What is it?”

Sitting back onto his heels, he uses both hands to type out a quick reply. “Something is going on. One of the guys got rushed to the hospital. Something about an allergic reaction.”

I gasp, rising to look at the screen. The name there brings about even more shock.

“Chavez? Is he ok?”

Trying to read from this odd angle is near impossible. Daddy turns the device my way right as another text lights up the screen.

Team Doc: He’s being seen now. I don’t have updates. He may or may not be good to play next week.

Luke: Which hospital? I’m going to come up there.

I jump off the couch. “I’m going too. Should we text Jake?”

“Yeah, we should. You call him while we’re on the way.”

What happens next is a mad rush to get shoes on and make it out the door while also getting updates on one phone and calling the team owner on another. Jake is shocked at the news and promises to make his way up to the hospital too.

“Chavez is going to be basking in all this attention,” I murmur as we pull into a parking spot near the emergency room entry.

Daddy laughs. “Yeah, he is. Sucky situation to have caused it though. Poor guy.”

“I wonder what he ate.”

“Who knows? He’s usually a bottomless pit for food. Could have been anything.”

Once we’re inside, Daddy takes charge, turning from the protective doting man I’m obsessed with into the no-nonsense coach I’m also obsessed with. I follow his lead the entire time, careful not to distract from the details the medical team gives him. As one of the emergency contacts for Chavez, he’s able to get more than he might for others.

“Why are you his emergency contact?” I ask once the nurse leaves us at the door to his room.

Daddy looks at the door hard before tugging me closer. To anyone else, it would look like a loving embrace. The tension in his shoulders tells me it’s a ruse.

“His family aren’t good people. Well, some of them, anyway. He didn’t want them notified if he was ever in this position. He’s got me and the doctors on the team's staff as his contacts instead.”

“That makes sense. I had no idea,” I cut off my reply as I hear Jake’s voice call out to us.

Turning, I see him, flanked by his men rushing down the hall. “What do we know so far?”

Part of me is surprised they’re letting five grown men take up so much room in the emergency room hallway. Then I remember exactly who these men are — former NHL superstar turned coach, Bellport family royalty, and two current team stars — and realize they’d be eager to have them all here. I confirm the notion when I spot more than one nurse taking long glances at our group.

“He’s stable and ok. They’re not sure what caused the reaction. He was eating a variety of things. He’ll need to do some allergy testing to get clear answers. Doctor is holding him for a few hours to make sure it doesn’t get worse. He’s also going to be given an EpiPen prescription to have on hand from now on.”

Jake nods firmly at the explanation. “Ok. Can we get extras for when we’re on the road? I don’t want him to run out or anything. Surely, we can keep him away from whatever it is, but what if he —“

“Easy there,” Leon says calmly as he tucks Jake into his chest.

Maddox pats his back as he tells us, “Jake’s been a nervous wreck since the call. He isn’t a big fan of medical stuff. Especially when it comes to his team and family.”

“Understandable. The staff assured me this is something that’s manageable. We should probably get inside to see him though.” Daddy doesn’t wait for a reply before pushing the door open to the private room Chavez is in.

I follow right behind him, with the other men close at my back. The second we step through; we’re greeted with a crooked grin on Chavez’s handsome face.

“It’s a party,” he cries out far too loudly.

Jake scoots around me, moving to the far side of the bed. “Not a party, tough guy. You look like shit. Why’d you try to die on us?”

“I didn’t try to do that,” Chavez says with a hand to his chest. “I was just hungry. And I wanted a variety of things. I went to one of those buffet places. Had no clue I’d wind up collapsing on the floor panting for breath.”

He’s surprisingly coherent given the situation. I expected him to be more out of it, or at least to be the joking playboy I’ve seen in the past. A serious Chavez is a weird sight.

“Either way, not cool.” Jake points his finger at the man in the bed seriously.

Maddox tugs him back to his chest. “No need to berate the man after a near death experience.”

“That’s right. Near death.” Chavez points to himself.

Daddy takes the opportunity to butt into the conversation. “Your doctors feel good about things. You should be able to go home in a few hours. There's a bunch of stuff we have to do testing wise to make sure you’re ok. No one is really clear on what triggered it.”

Chavez winces. “Me neither. It’s all a blur, really. Guess I’ve got to stick to the basics for a bit until I know, huh.”

“Not necessarily,” I say, speaking up for the first time. “I know some people develop allergies to things they’ve been fine with for years. Like shellfish or dairy. It can come on at any point and time.”

His eyes go wide. “Then how do I even eat? I don’t want to do all this again.”

Leon takes the opportunity to come forward then. “I’m sure the doctors will know what's best. We’ll support you through it all. You’ve got the owner, the coach, and us as teammates who have your back. Plus Timothy, though I don’t know his official role. Sorry, man.”

I wave off the words. “No one ever really knows. I’m technically Jake’s assistant.”

“No way. I loaned you out to Luke,” Jake throws back out.

“Don’t say it like that. He was my temporary assistant while I got my house set up. He’s always been yours.” At Jake’s smirk, he rolled his eyes. “Not like that. Isn’t two men enough for you?”

Chavez snorts so loud it draws all our attention. “You’re all so funny. Wish I had someone to love.”

His voice fades with each word until his head is thrown back, and his eyes are closed. If not for the machine monitoring his heartrate, I’d be worried.

“This has been an interesting day,” Jake declares.

Daddy nods. “Sure has. You three can head out. I’d like to stay until his doctor comes around again, then I’ll ensure he has everything ready to go home. Doubt his car is here.”

“Then let us take care of that much at least, Coach. We can be useful while not being all up in his business here.” Maddox’s tone is firm. He’s jumping in to help, whether Daddy likes it or not. I can see the stubborn set of his features as he challenges the other man.

I step in before tensions rise. “That would be great, Maddox. Let’s find out where his stuff is and get it all done. With y’all doing that much, we can stay here to get everything ready.”

The group disperses, leaving me alone with Daddy and Chavez, the latter of which is still out cold. Daddy draws me into his arms, a soft smile on his face.

“This wasn’t what I had planned for the start of our holidays.”

“No? I doubt you have the ability to read the future. That’s the only way you could have known,” I tell him.

He shrugs. “I know a bit of the future. The you and me future.”

Then he kisses me all soft and sweet like. It’s a weird setting and a not-so-romantic reason to be here, but I’ll never pass up a chance to have his lips on mine.

Besides, he just said he saw a future with us together. That’s the best Christmas present ever.