Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

Jett

My mother loses all cool the second I utter the word boyfriend.

In her defense, I've never had one of those. She probably thought I'd spend the rest of my life alone and nursing injuries I received from my time in the league.

"A boyfriend," she says breathlessly after screaming her head off. "This is wonderful. I'm so happy to meet you. My name is Ernestine. Are you treating my Jett right? How long have you two known each other?"

I shake my head at her, a slow smile forming as I wait to see what Daddy says.

"We met fairly recently. It's been a few weeks now. And yes, ma'am. I'm treating him like the precious man he is. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Oh, boy.

Daddy is laying it on thick with my mother. And of course she enjoys every second of it.

"Jett, sweetheart, he's definitely a keeper. When we're both home, you'll have to bring him around for dinner. I'll make his favorite." A voice from off camera calls out her name. "It's bingo time, boys. I've got to go."

She waves to us, then the screen goes blank. The silence that had come over the room erupts into cheers and laughter as everyone comments on the call. They give us congratulations and tease Daddy for his formality. A few who could see my mother on the screen even comment on how beautiful she is.

"I loved that scarf. Any chance you know where she got it?" Ean asks from over my shoulder.

"No, but I can find out."

He smiles. "Thank you! We should all exchange numbers to keep in touch."

Thus begins the long process of making sure everyone gets to put their name, number, and a selfie into my phone. By the time I get the device back, I have nearly twice as many contacts as I did before. My life pre-train ride was made up of a few key people: my mother and my teammates.

Now it's filled with men like me and the Daddies who love them.

While not a formal gift, I consider the entire experience to be a blessing. I've never spent a holiday surrounded by so much happiness.

I'm not sure how I'll adjust once we're off this ride.

Hours later, we pull to a stop at the station in San Francisco. Everyone exists with their bags, careful to move out of the way of other travelers. It's not until we weave through to the coach area that the goodbyes commence.

"We're going straight to the airport from here to head back," Charlie tells Daddy. "Don't forget my offer the next time you're in our area."

Daddy grins. "Wouldn't miss the chance to get everyone back together. Plus, there are a few I heard about who weren't here. We'd love to meet them."

I love how he talks about us as a couple. Despite my introverted ways, he doesn't hesitate to share that I'd come with him.

Whether that's because we're still together or because we both want to see our friends is yet to be seen.

Princess Aster comes up to me. He's so tiny compared to me, a fact I ignored on the train but can't help but notice now.

In fact, I realize how little all the boys are. Minus Vaughn, who is wearing the tallest set of platform heels I've ever seen, most of them only come up to my chest or slightly higher.

"I'm going to miss you, big guy. I feel like we just started getting to know you," he tells me with tears in his eyes.

"Don't cry." I pull him into a hug, then freeze.

Since when did I become the hugging type? I don't usually reach out for physical touch from others. Yet now, I can't deny that a couple of days with new friends has shown me how closeness can actually be enjoyable.

The rest of the Littles join in the hug until we're gathered in a very familiar huddle. I make sure to pat each one of them since I can't get to them all individually this way.

Their Daddies shake hands and pat my Daddy's back, who much the opposite way, is much smaller than all of them. It would be comical if I stopped to really think about it.

Instead, I'm dreading not having the others' support. I'm also having mixed feelings about the hotel room with Daddy.

We've been so immersed in everything train related; I haven't let myself dig too deep into our relationship. I've done and said things on this trip that I never intended to tell anyone else. At least not for a while.

Yet here we are, alone and heading to a new adventure.

"Ready to go, sweet boy?" Daddy holds his free hand out to me.

I take it, then nod.

He leads us out to a waiting car. The driver holds a sign up with Daddy's last name.

"Ready to go, sirs?"

Daddy nods, then motions for my bags. "Go ahead and get comfy inside. I'm going to help stow these away."

He and the driver move to the trunk. Meanwhile, I open the door and ease myself into the vehicle. It's spacious enough for me, yet not so large I feel like we're wasting space or drawing attention to ourselves.

A minute or two passes, just long enough for me to start to worry, before Daddy climbs in behind me. The driver gets in place next, and then we're off to the hotel.

"We'll get checked in, then we can go grab something to eat for dinner if you like. Or would you prefer room service?"

It's a fair enough question. We've been on the train in an isolated environment for so long. Instinctively, I want to tell him to get room service to keep us in the bubble we've built.

But I know that isn't fair. Not when I know we'll have to face the real world of home soon enough.

"Out, please. Do you know what's in the area?"

He shakes his head, then pulls out his phone. We're close enough to touch, yet I still feel far from him. Daddy must feel the disconnect too, because he tucks my hand under his arm to lay on his thigh.

I smile to myself as I watch him go through options.

"Is there any particular cuisine you'd like?" he asks.

"Nothing too heavy."

His gaze turns to mine. "Any particular reason for that?"

I let my gaze move to the front of the car where the driver sits. He's not paying us any mind, but I bet he's heard every word we've exchanged. I don't want some gossip rag sharing private details of my life with the world. Not after I've kept to myself for so long.

I have no doubt they'll eventually get photos of me and Daddy together since the media loves my team. I'd simply prefer to stay secluded a bit longer.

"No reason, really."

He doesn't call me out for the lie. I think he understands what I'm thinking better than most. His brother is on my team and has had enough media coverage through the years—both good and bad—for Daddy to be aware.

Once we arrive at the hotel, Daddy walks me straight to the front desk while the bellboy gets our luggage from the car. It's ingrained in me to tip service workers, but when I attempt to reach for my wallet, Daddy shakes his head.

"Everything is taken care of, sweet boy. You don't have to do anything, physically or financially."

After making it through a quick check-in process, during which I think of how amazing the man beside me really is, we take the elevator to our room.

"It's not a penthouse or anything, but it is still spacious. I made sure the beds would be big enough," Daddy tells me as he opens the door.

I get hung up on the word ‘beds'. Why is there more than one? Aren't we going to share?

Daddy's already inside the room looking around and opening the blinds across the space. I stay rooted by the door, my gaze taking in the two king-size beds that are way too far apart.

How will I get a good night's sleep if he's not in my arms?

"Daddy," I call out softly.

Turning my way, he pauses his shuffling around. "What's wrong?"

"There's…" I wave at the beds. "Two! Why are there two?"

He looks from the bed to me and back. His brow dips, and his hands move to his hips.

"Well, I didn't want to assume anything. Prior to the trip, I could only hope we'd be as close as we've become. I booked this before we left, sweet boy. If you want to share a bed with me, all you have to do is say so. I promise to make it happen."

I nod quickly. "Yes, Daddy. Us together always. I need you."

The words couldn't be more true, even if I'm alluding to them being just for sleep. Our relationship, while still very new, has become a need for me.

I need him close. I need his care and attention. I need my Daddy.

"You have me. All of me, for however long you need."

He strides across the room. In a flash, he launches himself into my arms. I lift him up, my face tucking into his neck. His legs wrap around me as his arms pull me close.

"Daddy has you, sweet boy. Don't worry about a thing."

Relief comes instantly.

We remain that way for a few minutes, then I ease him down. He drags our luggage to the bed closest to the door and throws it on top, clapping his hands after.

"There we go. Now we have a luggage bed and a sleeping bed. Problem solved."

I smile at him as a laugh breaks free. He might be the only Daddy I've ever had, but even if he wasn't, I still think he'd be the best.

"Now we need to find food for us both. My boy has to be hungry, right?"

"Yes, Daddy. Very."

Hungry for food and for him. I keep my fingers crossed I'll get to have both tonight.