14. Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Stanley

“Any idea why my sweet boy just called me crying?” Crispin immediately dove in as I answered his call.

“Glitter mishap.”

“Say no more. Through the sobs his words were indecipherable. I grabbed my keys and hopped in the car and figured calling you first would be best before I stormed the gates.”

Yup, smitten.

“If it’s any consolation, Jobe is on his fourth shower.”

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes. He was the lucky recipient of the deadly dust.” I got most of it out of the rug, at least. You’d have to be down there with a microscope to find the leftovers.

“Is it safe to whisk my boy away? I’m thinking a night at the Carnival Midway at Circus Circus is in order.”

“Good call. I’ll have him get cleaned up and ready.”

“Thanks, Stanley. I owe you one.”

You owe me twelve , though I didn’t say that. His very sad boy currently sat beside me, still sobbing.

“Sweet boy, we need to get you cleaned up. Your Daddy is coming to get you.”

“Am-am, am I in trouble?” Beck stuttered.

Crispin was in for it with this one. His crying face was one for the books and not easily ignored. Hell, I nearly handed him the container of sugar and said have at it just to get him to stop. He was equally as adorable sad as he was happy.

“No, you’re not. Your Daddy has fun things planned for you.”

“Is Jobe still mad at me?”

“Not mad at you at all, Beck.” Jobe surprised us as he came around the couch. “I love you, Beck, and this wasn’t your fault. You were having fun, and I just wasn’t quick enough, that’s all. Did you finish your stuff?”

Beck hopped up and hugged Jobe. I was so proud of my boy for the way he handled this. The old Jobe would’ve likely strung an interesting line of curse words together while flipping out.

“Most of it. Daddy Stanley helped me put it away so my Daddy wouldn’t see his surprises. He’s on the way to take me somewhere fun. I have to shower. Thanks again for everything today,” Beck hollered as he ran out the door.

“Jobe, my love, I must commend you. You’ve learned how to handle a little.”

“If there’s an award for that, you can keep it.” Jobe plopped down on the couch, completely done.

“Ha-ha-ha, cheeky boy. No, no award it’s just a proud Daddy moment.”

“I can think of better things than that to make you proud, though sadly I’m far too tired to perform any of them tonight. Rain check?”

“Absolutely. I’ve got it all cleaned up and put away. I also hid the glitter.” Probably should’ve warned him not to buy it in the first place.

“Can we just throw it out? That shit’s evil.”

“I think that’s the technical description for it.”

“I can’t believe you had one of those full-time. That’s a lot of energy and babysitting,” Jobe sighed.

“Technically, I never had any little full-time. I frequented Cordes off and on and had a couple I played with as time allowed, but I’ve never had a permanent or semi-permanent one of my own.” Now I saw it in a different light. One of the reasons it never worked with a little was because I was meant to have a sassy, spunky boy.

“Well, that explains how you survived. I have a whole new respect for Crispin.”

I locked the door, slid out of my shoes and joined my boy on the couch. He snuggled in and I wrapped my arms around him.

“This is heaven,” Jobe nuzzled my chest.

“Agreed.” No music, no TV. Nothing but Jobe and me as we stared out at the city lights.

Then eventually the backs of our eyelids.

My eyes slowly opened as Jobe stirred beside me. “This has become a habit for us.”

“It’s a sign we’re comfortable with one another. Are you hungry, my love?” He hadn’t had any of the pizza earlier so he must be.

“I could eat. Is there any pizza left?”

“Yes.” I snagged a kiss and slid out from under him and stretched. I swear, every bone popped.

“Wow, you okay, old man?”

“Old man?” I flipped him over and paddled his ass and the snarky boy laughed the entire time, so I switched to tickling him.

“I give! I give!” he breathlessly surrendered.

“This old man can still take you.” Should’ve made him get his own food after that comment. But one of the many things I enjoyed about being a Daddy was taking care of my boy. The duties were less with Jobe so I’d take what I could get. What I lost in Daddy duties I gained in so many other ways when my heart chose him.

“Here you go,” I handed him a plate with a couple pieces and a bottle of water.

“Thanks, Daddy.” Jobe turned the TV on and found a new series for us to binge.

This comfortable domesticated routine we’d fallen into was complete and total bliss. Give and take from both in an equal partnership. My only fear was that giving him keys to my place for Christmas may be too forward and potentially send him running.

Guess I’d find out soon enough.

The days leading up to the big day were hectic. I received a call from the contractors that they’d completed the room and met them at my place to do a final walkthrough one afternoon while Jobe was off doing stuff with Beck. There were a few last-minute details I had to tend to myself. Final touches to the room, scheduling the catering for Christmas Eve dinner and breakfast for Christmas morning to be delivered ahead of time.

I locked the door to Jobe’s new sewing room just as he arrived.

“Daddy, where are you?” he called out, his voice echoing down the hall.

“Coming.” He stood in the foyer surrounded by shopping bags. “You should’ve called, I would’ve come down and helped you.”

“No worries, the doorman came to the rescue. I wanted to bring the presents over. Beck left with Crispin, so I headed over here.”

“These are all presents?” I counted a dozen large shopping bags in all, packed to the gills.

“No, I brought more of my things over. I figured I’d be here at least through New Year’s. Unless you kick me out sooner.”

“As if I’d do that. I love having you here.” It’d been so long since we hadn’t shared a bed I wasn’t sure I’d be able to sleep without him again and I didn’t want to find out.

I set the perfectly wrapped packages under the tree while Jobe put his stuff away. I loved opening my closet and seeing his clothes hanging with mine. Co-habitating at its finest. Well, almost, and I looked forward to the day my boy was here with me full-time.

The keys I had made for him were burning a hole in my pocket. Actually, they were in my dresser drawer but driving me insane just the same. One to the front door and another to his new sewing room. I’d purposely locked it to keep prying eyes and the little who’d be joining us from spoiling the big reveal.

“Daddy, the tree is naked,” Jobe sighed, “we have a long night of decorating ahead of us.”

“That we do, but I look forward to it.” I hit the app on my phone and queued up the music. Catchy carols played through the Bluetooth surround sound speakers as we got to work.

“Daddy, you’re on lights duty while I get the hooks on the ornaments.”

“Sounds like a plan, my love.” Given this was the second tree we’d decorated in a week, we worked together like tree decorating champs. By the time the dinner I ordered got here I’d just finished placing the stockings over the fireplace. Not often used in Vegas, but Christmas day it generally was. Nothing like unwrapping gifts in front of a roaring fire.

“I’m famished.” Jobe filled his plate with a myriad of the Thai dishes I’d selected.

“Ditto. I was so busy wrapping my boy’s presents today I’d forgot to eat.” Gifted with the skills to properly wrap, I was not. Hopefully Jobe overlooked that.

“What time did you tell Crispin to be here tomorrow?”

“Four. The catering will be delivered just before then.”

“Perfect. Beck is excited, and I want it to be special for him. He told me he grew up in foster care and never really had a family or holidays. He didn’t say much more so I’m guessing it wasn’t great,” Jobe shrugged. “I just want him to be happy, you know?”

“I do, sweet boy, and Crispin is just the man who’ll ensure that happens.”