Chapter 5 Daddy Shamus

The moment Shamus opened his eyes in the hotel room, he was consumed by a deep sense of disorientation and sadness. He didn't hear Miguel moving around next door; judging by the quietness of his room, he must still be sleeping soundly. The absence of noise next door made him hopeful that Miguel had another day booked. Since he had only booked one night, Shamus reluctantly made his way to the front desk to check out before noon, so he wouldn't be charged for another day.

As Shamus approached, the sight of the Seaside Sips, with its flickering neon sign, stirred mixed emotions within him. The familiarity of the place offered a whisper of comfort. Then he recognized Timmy standing outside the bar with a posture of entitlement and a scowl sketched onto his face like a permanent fixture.

Just his presence in front of his bar ignited a tumultuous storm of feelings. Resentment and hurt bubbled up, mingling with a deep-seated sadness that threatened to overwhelm him. Despite his emotional turmoil, a resilient determination anchored him. This was his place, his sanctuary, and he refused to let Timmy's harsh words tarnish it.

"What do you want, Timmy?" Shamus asked when he reached his bar.

"I'm here for my stuff, and that's all. I don't want any drama."

"Drama? You come here, after breaking up on our anniversary, and talk about avoiding drama?"

"Oh, please. You were never going to be enough, Daddy Shamus. You know that, right?"

"Don't call me Daddy Shamus. I'm nothing to you. Nothing."

"I didn't want to disrespect you, Shamus. Is that better?"

"Enough! I gave you everything I could. My love, my time, and I was going to ask you to move in here with me. If we worked out, then I wanted you to move in with me for the rest of the year at my home."

"I need a daddy who can provide for me, not someone who counts pennies."

"You think money is what love is about? You're more fucked up than I thought." Shamus had money, lots of it, but he'd never discussed his net worth with Timmy. Why should he? No boy had ever spoken to him like this. He didn't understand.

"Call it what you want. I've found a real daddy who can give me what I deserve."

"A real daddy?" Shamus paused, taking a deep breath to compose himself. "You mean a sugar daddy?"

"What's wrong with a sugar daddy?"

"And what about what we had? Did it mean nothing to you?"

"It was fun while it lasted. The hot sex was why I stayed this long. But let's be real. We were always on borrowed time." The problem was Timmy didn't want to work during the summer. Maybe his new daddy would free him from that responsibility.

"Get your things and leave." Shamus pushed open the creaking door of the bar. Relief washed over him—the familiar groan of the floorboards underfoot, the dim glow reflecting off the beer bottles lining the shelves. He led Timmy through the bar, passing his cousin Finn behind the bar, and up the stairs to his apartment. Timmy kept a backpack there of his things for the weekends when he stayed with him.

Timmy collected his backpack and left, slamming the door. As soon as Shamus was alone, his phone signaled he had a message.

Finn: What's going on? Are you okay?

Shamus: Coming down. Make me a double whiskey.

Shamus took a refreshing shower, feeling the warm water cascade over his skin. He then handpicked a pair of khaki shorts and matched it with one of his Hawaiian shirts, ready to embrace the tropical vibes. With his outfit complete, he headed towards the bar.

A beer and the whiskey were sitting on the back shelf for him. He stood beside Finn. "I got you a beer to chase your drink down."

"Timmy found a sugar daddy," Shamus told Finn.

"I knew it. I never liked him, but I didn't want to say anything."

"He's gone now. But last night, I saw a young man who was bruised in the hotel lobby. I'd like to get to know him, but he was with an older man."

"Sugar Daddy?"

"Don't think so. He dropped him off and left. He's so cute."

"Is he gay?"

"Don't know, but he had a rainbow keyring hanging out of his pocket."

"He could be an ally."

"I didn't get those vibes. I gave him two secret gifts—put them in front of his door."

"I guess you're okay if you've moved on to another one."

"I loved Timmy, but I'm done with him. I don't need him or the pain that came with him."

"Take it slow. I can cover for you, so don't worry about anything. If I need extra help at night, I can call Jimmy."

"What's he doing?" Jimmy was Finn's older brother. The two of them had agreed to share a rental property for the summer.

"Nothing. He took the summer off. He said he'd fill in here any time. He loves Seaside Sips."

"Thanks, I need a break. I'm going to take a walk."

"If you need anything, just call."

"Thanks."

Shamus meandered along the wooden boardwalk, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face. As the day wore on, the beach became increasingly crowded with sunbathers and beachgoers. Without thinking, he retraced his steps from last night and found himself back at the hotel. He couldn't resist stopping at the fresh lemonade stand in front, and enticed by the sweet citrus aroma, he ordered two lemonades. Surrounded by the familiar scent of freshly squeezed lemons, he moved inside the hotel, listening to the soft hum of the elevator coming to life as he pressed the button.

Stepping inside the elevator, then before he knew it, the doors opened, and he stepped onto the third floor.

He paused in front of Miguel's door, listening for any signs of movement inside. He worried he was all alone, surrounded by a silence that weighed heavily on his heart, so he knocked on the door, the sound echoing through the empty hallway.