Chapter Four

Kevin

My friends agreed it was time for me to go back to the club. More than agreed, they'd picked up on my comment at dinner and pushed me to pick an evening when we could all meet up. It had been a while, although I'd maintained my membership at Chained even when April encouraged me to drop it.

I'd never found a place where I felt more at home, more accepted. There were events geared to various member interests, as well as a little room open where single daddies and mommies could scene with single littles most evenings. Walking through the door, I drew a breath of air that felt like the first free breath in a long time. Like home.

I paused at the front desk to leave my phone and asked if there was anything in particular going on in the little room tonight. Occasionally events were being held for littles only or caregivers and their littles only, but tonight was just a regular evening, meaning, I'd be able to go in and scene if I wanted to and if I found a little who would like to spend time with me.

Heading for the conversation area, I found Cliff and Arnhof sitting on one of the sofas chatting with Bridger who was crocheting some sort of cute little animal.

"What is it this time?" I asked, sitting down across from the three of them. Bridger designed crochet patterns, and his new patterns were always in high demand.

"A piglet." He chuckled. "Hudson asked me to do one, and I think it's coming out well." He held up the pink yarn. "Cute, right?"

"Beyond adorable." As was his little. "Good call, Hudson."

From where he leaned against his daddy's legs, playing with a pair of crocheted yellow duckies, the little beamed up at me. "Ducks."

"I see that. Daddy made those for you?"

He nodded and had the ducks bump beaks. "They love each other." As he went back to playing with his toys, all of us daddies smiled at one another. This was the sort of thing that made our hearts beat faster. Hudson and Bridger had met at a munch and been inseparable from almost that moment. They, and other couples at Chained, were a reminder that it was possible to have everything we dreamed of in a relationship. Of course, no two were alike, and even among my friends and I, those dreams varied, but wasn't that why some people belonged together and others did not? Hudson in his tight tee and short shorts, socks embroidered with duckies and sneakers with light-up ducks was the image of an adorable little, but only perfect for Bridger.

My ex and I had looked good in our wedding pictures, but it didn't take long to find out that we were more different than alike.

"I think I'll head for the little room." Cliff stood up and set the glass he'd been sipping from on the small table beside him. "Anyone coming?"

"We're waiting for Lane and his daddy," Hudson said. "We're going to play together."

"That sounds fun!" I smiled down at him. "We'll see you there in a bit, then."

Cliff and Arnhoff and I traversed the club, passing the main floor where several stations were set up for those who had other plans for the evening, the ecstatic cries and snaps of impact play echoing across the room. We followed the hallway on the other side, leaving the others behind and came to the much smaller area set aside for caregivers and their littles.

"Looks like a pretty quiet night." Cliff stepped inside and we followed. "But I see a little I've played with before, and I think I'll see if he would like to spend some time again." He wandered off to the sand and water table where a little wearing a onesie that said Cutest of Them All was splashing around because tonight, it was set up for that version of play. A tarp was spread underneath to protect the floor. He bent to speak to the little who was pouring water in the top level and letting it carry boats down a precarious slope into the "lake" at the bottom.

The little lifted his face and gave a nod, and Cliff knelt at his side.

"How many times has he played with him?" I asked. "Looks like they know one another pretty well."

"A few. Might be something there, but he hasn't said." Arnhof chuckled. "They seem to be having fun though."

"They do."

We wandered around for a bit, checking out the different activities and the single littles who were participating. Finally, we settled at the blocks table helping to construct an elaborate castle with the brightly colored handmade wooden shapes. As each level grew, the trio of littles became more and more excited, and it didn't take a genius to know what would be coming next. There was only one possible end to a "block party," the only question being at what point someone's enthusiasm would spill over. Also…if someone goofed and caused an early collapse, well, that could lead to severe angst and maybe even a tear or three.

A little daddy supervision could help with that, sometimes.

I was handing a green triangle block to a little boy in a sailor suit onesie, when I caught a glimpse of a little standing in the doorway. He wore a red, white, and blue baseball cap with a star on the front, a teddy bear onesie, and knee socks, and an expression of perplexity. Leaning a little into the room, he looked around and then backed up and returned down the hallway toward the main rooms.

"Daddy?" I realized the dark, curly haired little was tugging on the block. "Give me."

"Oh sorry." I released the triangle and refocused on the play at hand. Or tried to. The structure continued to rise, as did the excitement of the participants, but a portion of my mind remained with the little who'd peeked inside the room and left.

He must have been looking for someone, I told myself. His daddy, likely. If I'd been coming regularly, I'd know who that was, but on my first time back in a while, I was pretty out of the loop on daddy/little partnerships.

"It's time," the curly haired boy announced, and nearby littles moved in closer. About a minute later, the littles at our table stood up and grinned at one another, and the castle came tumbling down with a satisfying crash met with resounding cheers. The different reactions to accidental and deliberate destruction were striking. Clapping and shouting by a good portion of the room at large as opposed to quiet sniffles from the participants.

I was very glad it went this way tonight.

Standing up, I spotted Ms. Lily by the bookcase, making a selection. There was almost always a story time toward the end of the evening here, where all the littles who'd been playing hard could settle down and unwind before heading to the locker rooms to change and go home. I didn't want to bother her but didn't see any other unoccupied staff members, so I approached her.

"Hi."

She turned and a broad smile stretched her lips. "Kevin, it's been forever." She enfolded me in a warm hug before stepping back. "I heard what happened. How are you doing?"

I returned her smile. "Good, I think. It took a while, but I've moved on. The place looks great."

"Oh, that's right. You haven't been here since we redid the little room. I think it came out well."

"It is so bright and cheerful. Hey, I know you're busy but I had a question?"

"Never too busy to speak to a member. I was just choosing a story time book. What do you think of this one?" She picked up a large book with brightly colored illustrations. "It's all about bears at the fair and has a nice coming-home-sleepy ending."

"Perfect as always." She would either read it herself or find someone else, but in any event, the littles would enjoy the bears' adventures, and the ending was just right for a pre-going-home activity.

"Well, thank you. You really need to come around more often." Setting the book down, she arched one brow. "What was your question?"

"There was a little in the doorway a few minutes ago wearing a red, white, and blue hat. Do you know who he is?"

"Oh, a guest. First time here. Cute, huh?"

"Yes, he was."

"I'd better get over to the story corner, but see you again soon?"

"Yes, definitely." I said good night and headed for the door. My friends were still occupied, and I caught their eyes and waved before leaving. It had been a fun first time back, and I was ready to go home and get some sleep.

But just outside the little room, I spotted the hat with the distinctive star. Picking it up, I looked inside and saw a name there. Reid and a last name I had to squint to read. As I picked up my phone at the front desk, I asked the person there if they knew him or if they thought he'd be back, but since he was a guest, they didn't know. I looked the name up on my phone and found someone with that name just a few blocks from me. "I'll drop it off tomorrow after work," I told them and headed for home.