1. Calvin

Chapter one

Calvin

I opened the fancy envelope and, even knowing what it was, took one look at what was inside and tossed it aside, falling back on my bed so dramatically that even Eric, my purple tortoise, bounced and slid off his special pillow. In fact, I only just kept him from hitting the floor along with the envelope. "Sorry, Eric," I murmured, kissing the tortoise's nose and stuffing him under my comforter so he was safe from any other pillow avalanches.

I grabbed Tiny from where he sat next to George, my purple unicorn, and hugged him, eyeing my other stuffies. "Okay, we're going in. You'd better all have my back," I whispered and picked up the envelope from the floor and just stared at it, fighting for courage. The card fluttered a little as I drew it out with shaky hands and read the words. I knew what it was going to say, and even the beautiful calligraphy didn't make it any better.

Christopher Dempsey and Richard Samuels request the pleasure of Calvin Jennings and guest,

Saturday, September 12 th to celebrate their wedding.

At: Rainbow Key, Paradise Island.

Florida.

Stuffies optional.

I sniffed and wiped my watery eyes. Stuffies optional. That was so like Ricky. We'd been besties since fourth grade, when we'd both decided that growing up was a cruel and unusual punishment. Ricky, because he didn't like anything that wasn't "fun" and had a wonderful dad that completely agreed with him and supported him when, four years later, he officially came out.

And me, because hiding under the blanket with Tiny drowned out the screaming and shouting from downstairs. Little me could pretend I wasn't alone and scared when the music and the parties started. Little me could pretend that besties always shared when Ricky's dad packed a double lunch for him because I never had one. And Little me would let Ricky pretend my bruises were from our nightly battles as superheroes.

Unfortunately, not even Little me could pretend to be happy when Ricky's dad died from a big heart attack, and he had to go live with his Aunty in Denver. And three months after that, when my teacher noticed all my bruises, I got to go live with my first set of foster parents who expected me at thirteen to be all grown up.

But I was kinda sorta grown up now. At twenty-four, I'd managed to finish school and get a degree. I even had the best job in the world. I was an assistant at Little Legs Daycare. I'd completed the forty hours of competency training and as a result, I got to play with kids and with toys all day. I was proud of myself, even living in the world's tiniest apartment. So the water didn't always heat up properly and the corner of the kitchen ceiling leaked a little from the bathroom in the upstairs apartment, and the bugs were eww but it was still mine, or well not mine exactly, but leased.

I glanced back down at the invite. Ricky had told me I was going to be his very best man, like always, and I couldn't let him down, but I still didn't want to go, even for him.

And it wasn't the traveling or the wedding or even the responsibilities.

It was the stepbrother of Ricky's husband-to-be, and Chris's best man, Steven Carlton. Because Steven Carlton had broken my heart.

I reached over for my phone automatically when it started ringing Friend Like Me from the film Aladdin. It was Ricky and mine's ringtone for each other.

"Did you get it?" Ricky squealed. "It said delivered. Whadda you think?"

I grinned because he was excited and in love and his Daddy was perfect. "Stuffies optional?"

He giggled. "I'm going to have a separate table for them. We already agreed Tiny and Pooh were going to have outfits matching ours."

"It's perfect. You're perfect." But because I was mean and jealous and the worst best friend in the history of besties, my voice hitched at the end and Ricky heard it.

"Calvin," Ricky whispered, sounding like he was going to burst into tears.

"Ricky? Sweetheart?" I heard Christopher in the background, and a sniffle as I imagined Christopher wrapping his arm around Ricky or pulling him onto his lap. I took a deep breath.

"None of that. I'm fine and you know I'm crazy happy for you." I clutched my bear Tiny very tightly. "Did you get the measurements I sent you for Tiny's suit?" I asked, desperately needing to distract Ricky.

I could hear hurried whispering, then a "Calvin," as Christopher took the phone. I sat up straighter. Was Ricky's Daddy going to be cross with me? I hadn't meant to upset Ricky.

"Calvin, we were wondering if you could do us a massive favor?"

"Anything," I said fervently.

"Well, I understand it will be awkward for you to see my stepbrother, especially now that he has a boyfriend." My heart sank. Of course, Steven had a boyfriend. He was gorgeous. He just didn't like "clingy," as he had called me. Although, Ricky and I agreed afterwards that was a little unfair, especially as he'd known Ricky and I were Littles when we met.

"I can stay away," I offered. It would kill me, but I would.

"Calvin," Christopher said patiently. "You're Ricky's best friend and best man. Of course you'll be there. What I wanted to check is that Ricky doesn't think you'll be bringing a guest?"

No, because I was pathetic and had retreated after I'd been dumped. Never again. "No," I agreed.

"Well, that's where the favor comes in. I have a new employee I'm trying out for some undercover work and accompanying you to the wedding as your Daddy would be an absolutely fantastic way of trying him out."

I vaguely heard the delighted squeak from Ricky and that was the only thing that convinced me I wasn't asleep or had been in a car wreck and was hooked up to machines keeping me alive.

Okay, so I was sometimes a little dramatic as well, but Christopher can't have said what I thought he just did. "I'm sorry," I said slowly, "but can you say that again?" I knew Christopher ran a security agency, but undercover work ? I thought that a security company involved guarding billionaires. Taylor Swift if you were lucky.

"I have a new employee. He was actually my sergeant before I left the Marines, and he's just retired. Like me, he doesn't think much of retirement, but neither of us knows if private security will be a good fit. As you're aware, bodyguards often need to be inconspicuous or play a role, so I need to see if he can pull it off. Being your Daddy would be a perfect opportunity."

I saw a message pop up from Ricky and opened it as I was listening to Christopher, and my brain exploded.

I stared at the most gorgeous man I had ever seen in my entire life. Silver-gray hair, cut short military style, a uniform that had been pressed to within an inch of its life, sparkling medals adorning one side of his massive chest, and the most beautiful olive green-gray eyes. He screamed Daddy. I had to press my lips together to stop giggling at all the emojis Ricky had sent as Christopher was still talking.

"And of course only you, Saul, Ricky and I will know he's not your real-life Daddy."

Which brought me up short. Could I do this? But what was the alternative? Being humiliated when Steven paraded his non-clingy boyfriend? Asking my neighbor Gavin from upstairs with the leaky bath who worked as an accountant and constantly complained over the price of everything in a very loud, disapproving voice, or spend the day with my dream Daddy?

"Yes please," I croaked out. And, not sure what I'd agreed to when Christopher told me the arrangements, I dragged out my suitcase and started packing.

Though with a vision of Dream Daddy in my head, I wasn't sure I really cared.