Chapter 7 Miguel

Sitting up in bed, Miguel's face lit up with a wide grin. This beautiful man wants me to call him Daddy Shamus. My dream has come true. "I need you more than you can imagine, Daddy Shamus."

"I know. It's not one-sided, either."

"I was so bummed out because my mother sent me away for my safety."

A loud, sharp knock reverberated through the room, causing Daddy Shamus to quickly make his way to the door. As he opened it, the sound of distant conversations flooded the hallway. He paid for their food, handed the young woman a tip, and thanked her.

"What did you get us?" Miguel asked, already feeling so comfortable with Daddy Shamus.

"Steak and cheese with fries and Cokes."

Daddy Shamus carefully carried the steaming food to the table and set it down. With a yawn, Miguel dragged himself out of bed and plopped down at the table.

"I feel very comfortable and safe with you." Miguel fiddled with his curly hair before he dug into the food. "This is the best!"

"I used to be like you, looking over my shoulder, wondering if being myself was worth the risk," Daddy Shamus confessed. "But I realized that there's strength in numbers, and in knowing who to trust." He took a bite of his sandwich. "You're right, this is delicious."

Miguel nodded. "I wanna be tough like you."

"That's the balance we all have to find." Daddy Shamus placed a reassuring hand on Miguel's hand. "And you're not alone. I'll be here for you this summer and after if you want me around. We'll figure it out together."

"Thanks for the help, Daddy Shamus."

"The moment I saw you in the lobby, I knew I wanted to get to know you."

Miguel got up, walked around the table and hugged Daddy Shamus.

"I was gonna talk to you, but I didn't wanna disrespect my uncle."

"Let's go out tonight. What do you say?" He gently guided Miguel to settle on his lap, cuddling him. Miguel found immense joy in cuddling, especially with Daddy Shamus, who filled him with security and reassurance. Miguel thought this could definitely become his safety spot, where he could escape from the chaos of the world.

"That would be amazing."

"I'll be back to pick you up at seven. If you need anything, call or send me a text, but I need your phone to add my number."

They swapped phones and shared their numbers. With a quick motion, Daddy Shamus stowed his phone away.

The room was filled with heat, courtesy of the late afternoon sun pouring in through the window.

"Turn on the air conditioning," Daddy Shamus suggested as he showed Miguel where it was. "I don't want to come back to a melted mess of my boy."

Daddy Shamus closed the window, then turned it on to cool the room. He was a bit out of it from his medication. He didn't want Daddy Shamus to go, but there was nothing he could do. Well, at least they had a date tonight.

Daddy Shamus headed towards the door with Miguel closely following.

He turned towards Miguel, wearing a smile.

In that moment, the air seemed charged with anticipation, as if every heartbeat echoed the unspoken desire between them. Without a word, Daddy Shamus reached out, gently cupping Miguel's face, his touch tender and reassuring.

Miguel leaned into the caress; his eyes closed as he savored the warmth of Daddy Shamus's hands against his skin. His daddy closed the distance between them, his lips capturing Miguel's in a kiss that spoke of longing and promise. As their lips met for the first time, a wave of warmth and electricity spread through his body. The kiss was so gentle, almost tender, because of Miguel's split lip. Emptiness filled Miguel when Daddy Shamus left.

***

For the next couple of hours, Miguel read a novel in Spanish, then he put on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt to cover his bruises. He left the hotel, stopped at the frozen custard stand and ordered an orange and vanilla cone. He strolled along the boardwalk, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face. The temptation to dive into the ocean was strong, but his bruises reminded him he had to be patient until they healed. Miguel sat on a weathered bench facing the ocean. The pulsing crash of waves against the shore provided a constant soundtrack to his wandering thoughts. Thoughts of Daddy Shamus seemed like a fairytale. The summer months stretched before him with a hopeful relationship budding. Yet, a nagging worry gnawed at him—he needed a summer job to help his mother and sister. It wasn't fair he was on a vacation, while they worked. Guilt overwhelmed him when he experienced any happiness. He felt he was the man of the home and needed to support them. His uncle helped, but Miguel wanted to give back to his mother and sister.

"Miguel! Dude! Is that you?" boomed a familiar voice.

He looked up to see Darren, his college buddy from Princeton, grinning down at him. Relief and surprise washed over Miguel. In the middle of strangers on the boardwalk was a friendly face, a connection to his academic life. Darren was from the Bronx, and they shared the same major at school.

"Darren!" Miguel stood. They were about the same height and weight. "No way, man! What are you doing here?" Miguel exchanged a high five with him, the smack echoing around them.

"Hey what happened to your face?" Darren asked, shoving his blond hair from his eyes.

"Got jumped on my way to the city, so my mother sent me here for the summer."

"Sorry to hear that. I know you were looking forward to working in the city translating."

Miguel nodded. "What are you doing here?"

"Working the summer on the Seaside Heights rides," Darren explained, gesturing towards the brightly lit amusement park on the pier. "They were hiring, so I figured, why not? Beats being stuck in the city working with my father."

Miguel laughed. "So, how's the job here? Roller coaster mechanic or cotton candy connoisseur?"

"A bit of everything, really," Darren admitted. "But hey, it pays. You got anything lined up for the summer?"

Miguel hesitated. "Well, that's the thing," he confessed. "I've got the room for the entire season, but no job yet."

Darren's blue eyes lit up. "Seriously? Dude, perfect timing! We're still hiring for all sorts of positions—concessions, maintenance, even security. Are you interested?"

A wave of relief washed over Miguel. The worry plaguing him since he had arrived here was vanishing. "Interested? Absolutely, man! Thanks, Darren, this is huge!"

Darren clapped him on the back. "Consider it done. Come on, let's head down to the hiring office before it closes. You can thank me later over some boardwalk pizza."

As they walked down the boardwalk, the salty air no longer held a sting of worry. Instead, it tasted like opportunity, and Miguel couldn't help but grin. He had a place to stay, a friend to rely on, and the promise of a summer job. It was shaping up to be a pretty wonderful summer, after all. He couldn't wait to tell his new Daddy Shamus.

Before heading to the Boardwalk Employment office, Darren suggested using light makeup to conceal his bruises before his interview. They made a quick stop at a store along the boardwalk and grabbed a tube of makeup. Then they headed towards Darren's room, which was conveniently situated a block away.

"Do you know who jumped you or why?" Darren asked.

"Trinitarios, I think. Green bandanas."

"Did you wear anything to attract them?"

"I wore jeans and a blue T-shirt, but I had my rainbow keychain."

"No rainbow items or flashy colors when you're alone. Not safe there."

"I know."

"You should dress in all black like me. No one bothers me."

"I'll work on that. I met a guy here who is going to help me out. He's gorgeous. I hope we work out."

"Lucky you. I'm still looking for one."

Darren gently applied concealer to cover the bruises on Miguel's face, then together they made their way back to the employment office. Miguel filled out the papers and had a quick interview. He could begin work at the beginning of next week. He was handed a stack of pamphlets that explained how to operate the rides.

"Thanks, Darren. I'm so glad you're here for the summer."

"I'm glad I found you eating custard. Of course, you're the ice cream king. Where else would you be? I have to work, so I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Much to his own disbelief, Miguel felt significantly better, relieved he had a job for the summer. He made his way back to his room and took a shower, getting ready for his date with Daddy Shamus. He couldn't believe Daddy Shamus had put away all his clothes for him while he rested.

Miguel wore slacks and a long-sleeved shirt, hoping to conceal his bruises. It would be warm, but he didn't want anyone to think Daddy Shamus had been responsible for them. He was ashamed of being a loser, and of his inability to stand up for himself.

Once he was ready, he had an hour before Daddy Shamus picked him up for their date and thought about taking a leisurely stroll to the Seaside Sips bar, hoping to get a glimpse, but waited.