Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

The soft hum of chatter filled the lodge’s event hall as guests mingled. Laughter and lighthearted conversations bounced off the wooden beams overhead. The festive Christmas decorations from earlier were now no more. Instead lights hung from the rafters, casting a warm glow, while a twinkling banner read “New Year’s Mixer” in the corner. It was colorfully crafted and very obviously hand-painted by some creative Littles if the amount of glitter on it was anything to go by. The energy in the room was light and carefree, with everyone settling into the celebratory spirit of the Ranch.

Rowan, Forrest, and Sebastian stood near the drink table, each with a glass in hand. The Ranch, while serene and calming earlier, had transformed into a lively space filled with playful energy. Rowan had already made friends with a couple of other guests and was well into a conversation with a bubbly redhead. Forrest, on the other hand, kept a more reserved stance, quietly observing the people around them. Sebastian’s attention, however, wandered.

The girl from earlier hadn’t been at dinner, and now at the mixer, Sebastian’s eyes scanned the room again, seeking her out. Something about her pulled at him in a way he couldn’t explain, and he found himself quietly hoping she’d be here tonight.

“She’s cute,” Rowan said, nodding towards a girl dressed in a pastel onesie, her hair tied up in two pink pigtails. She giggled as she ran across the room to join another Little, her Daddy trailing behind her with an indulgent smile. “I see why you booked this place, Seb. It’s like a playground for Littles.”

Forrest nodded, though his gaze was more thoughtful. “It’s... different from what I’m used to. But it’s good. Everyone seems comfortable. It’s nice.” His gaze shifted toward the corner of the large room where a couple of staff members were setting up for what appeared to be some kind of game or activity. Perhaps someone would do a demonstration or a scene for the evening’s entertainment?

“I didn’t book it just for the Littles, you know,” Sebastian said, though his tone was absent, distracted. He sipped his drink, his eyes continuing to roam the room. “It’s more than that.”

“Oh, I know,” Rowan replied with a playful grin, nudging him in the ribs. “But you’ve got to admit, it’s a delightful bonus.”

Before Sebastian could respond, a sudden burst of laughter caught his attention, and his gaze snapped to the far corner of the room. There she was.

The girl in the rainbow sweater, only now she was dressed in an outfit that made his chest tighten unexpectedly. She wore a soft pink sweater covered in pale blue and purple hearts. The sweater was cut to expose her midriff, her soft expanse of skin meeting up with the shortest, most tempting white skirt and she’d completed her outfit with knee-high white socks and adorable black Mary Jane’s. Her dark braids hung over her shoulders, as they had earlier, and a soft collection of curls framed her face in a way that made her look even younger, more vulnerable. She was laughing, the sound soft and sweet as she played a game of tag with a couple of other Littles near the craft table.

There was something about the way she moved, light and carefree, that reminded Sebastian of what it felt like to be truly young again—to be unburdened. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, mesmerized by the sight.

“Seb?” Forrest’s voice broke through his thoughts. “You good? You’ve been a little out of it since we got here.”

Sebastian blinked, snapping his focus back to his friends. “Yeah, just... thinking.”

“About?” Rowan raised an eyebrow, his signature grin never far from his lips.

“Her.” Sebastian nodded subtly in the direction of the girl, not wanting to draw too much attention. “I saw her earlier. There’s something about her.”

Rowan and Forrest followed his gaze, their eyes landing on the girl as she twirled around in her skirt, her braids bouncing with the movement. The quick movement flicked up her skirt, showing a delightful surprise. The girl was wearing rainbow-colored bloomers under her skirt.

“Oh, I see what you mean,” Rowan said, leaning back against the table with a playful smirk. “She’s adorable. Definitely a Little through and through.”

Forrest, on the other hand, remained quiet, his brows furrowing as he watched her for a moment. He said nothing, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—concern, maybe? Or recognition? Sebastian couldn’t tell, but it was clear Forrest had noticed the same fragility that had caught Sebastian’s attention.

Sebastian’s gaze softened as he watched her, his heart skipping a beat when she paused for a moment to catch her breath, looking around the room with a shy, almost hesitant smile.

Forrest, too, was watching her, his normally stoic expression giving way to something gentler. “There’s something about her,” he said, echoing Sebastian’s earlier sentiment. “She’s delicate. Innocent.”

Sebastian nodded, feeling the same tug of protectiveness that had hit him earlier. “I don’t know what it is. But I want to meet her.”

Rowan grinned, clearly amused by the sudden seriousness of his friends. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go introduce ourselves before someone else does.”

Without hesitation, Rowan started weaving his way through the crowd, motioning for Sebastian and Forrest to follow. They exchanged a glance but didn’t argue—there was a shared sense of urgency now, a need to meet the girl who had so quickly captured their mutual attention.

As they approached, Sebastian’s pulse quickened. The girl was still playing with other Littles, unaware of the trio’s approach. Up close, she looked even smaller than Sebastian had realized, her movements light and carefree, with an air of vulnerability that only made him want to protect her more.

“Excuse me,” Rowan said brightly as they neared, his voice friendly but clearly directed toward her. “Mind if we join the game?”

The girl stopped mid-step, her eyes widening in surprise, and perhaps a healthy dose of fear as she turned toward them. For a brief moment, she froze, glancing between the three men who now stood before her. Her gaze lingered on Sebastian, recognition flickering in her dark eyes.

Sebastian crouched down, trying to make himself less imposing as he gave her a small reassuring smile. “Hi. I saw you earlier today. You’re hard to miss, sweetheart.”

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she ducked her head slightly, her fingers twisting in the hem of her skirt. “Hi,” she murmured, her voice barely audible above the chatter of the room.

“I’m Rowan,” Rowan said with a wide, friendly grin, clearly eager to break the ice. “This is Forrest and Sebastian. We’re here for the holiday celebrations. You?”

The girl glanced up at them again, her shyness evident, but there was a spark of curiosity in her eyes now. “I’m Jessica,” she said softly, her voice gaining a little more confidence. “I’ve been at the Ranch for a while now.”

Sebastian’s heart thudded in his chest at hearing her name. Jessica. It suited her, sweet and simple, like her presence.

“Well, Jessica,” Forrest said, his voice calm and reassuring, “we’re glad to meet you. You seem to be having a lot of fun.”

Jessica smiled shyly, glancing toward her Little friends who were still giggling and playing nearby. “Yeah. It’s fun here.”

Rowan, never one to miss an opportunity, took a playful step forward. “Do you mind if we hang out with you for a bit? We’re new here, and we could use someone to show us around. Maybe even teach us how to have some fun, Little style?”

Jessica giggled, the sound light and musical. “I don’t know if I’m the best teacher,” she said, her voice still soft but warming up to them. “But I guess I could try.”

Sebastian felt a swell of warmth in his chest, his nerves melting away as her smile grew. There was something incredibly disarming about her, something that made him want to protect her while also making her smile like that again.

“We’d appreciate that,” Sebastian said, his voice soft but carrying a sincerity that made Jessica meet his gaze again.

The event organizer suddenly stepped up to the stage, announcing that the icebreaker game would start soon, encouraging everyone to find partners.

Jessica glanced around nervously, her fingers fidgeting with her skirt again. The energy in the room shifted as Littles began pairing off with their caregivers or other guests.

“Looks like it’s time to partner up,” Rowan said, winking at Jessica. “How about it, Jessica? Want to team up with us?”

She blinked, her wide eyes darting between the three men, clearly surprised by the offer. “With all three of you?”

Sebastian chuckled softly, sensing her hesitation. “We won’t make you choose. We’re all in this together.”

Jessica bit her lip, her gaze flicking back to Sebastian, and then she nodded, her smile returning. “Okay, I’d like that. But if we’re going to be partnering up... you should probably call me Jessie.”

And just like that, the tension Sebastian had been feeling all evening faded into something softer, something warmer. There was a sense of anticipation in the air now, not just for the game, but for what the night might bring. Meeting Jessica felt like a new beginning, a spark of something more.

As the icebreaker began and the group moved into the activity, Sebastian, Rowan, and Forrest couldn’t help but feel that this was more than just another night on the Ranch.

It was the start of something bigger, something that connected all of them to Jessica in a way none of them could quite explain.

And none of them were in any hurry to resist it.