Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Micah

Standing in the middle of a busy airport terminal waiting for a man with a sign was not on my bingo card this year. I doubt it was ever going to be on my bingo card, to be honest.

Yet I'm here. And I'm holding the damn sign.

The sign reads: Jett's Secret Santa.

While unoriginal in its simplicity, it is very accurate for what I am. Plus, Jett's already begun his journey to find me before now. This isn't a spoiler or anything.

I had Bellamy deliver him a large brown envelope earlier in the week that said ‘DO NOT OPEN UNTIL' and it had today's date. Inside there were two more envelopes, each numbered so he'd know the order to open them.

The first included a ticket for a flight from Bellport to Chicago, with instructions to pack for a week's worth of travel. There was a note that said to please trust me and that the payoff at the end would be worth it if he did. I also explained that Bellamy had cleared him from practice with a note to call his coach for confirmation if he was worried. The way Bellamy explained it is that he told Jett it's all part of the Secret Santa situation since he's the one who helped coordinated it

A small fib in the grand scheme of things.

I have no doubt my sweet boy did just that. He feels too responsible for the success of the team to leave them hanging for several days.

The second envelope tells him to wait until he's met his driver from the airport to open it. Little does he know that he's actually meeting his Secret Santa as well. I'm pulling double duty today.

My phone alerted me to his arrival a few minutes ago. I know he'll be here any second with his luggage. Hopefully, he'll be happy to see me. Or maybe not happy. I'd settle for not disappointed.

Minutes tick by as I wait, luggage beside me and heart in my throat. Just as I start to second guess this whole plan, I catch sight of him. He's the tallest person coming down the escalator. Several heads turn his way, their gazes questioning. Even if they don't watch football, they know he's important. His size makes him stand out.

His gaze cuts across the exits, likely searching for a taxi or car service. I raise the sign above my head, then bounce on my toes to get his attention.

I can tell the moment he sees the sign. He jolts, then freezes a few steps away from the bottom of the escalator.

It only takes him a minute to recover, then he's striding my way with an intense look. I lower the sign the closer he gets until it's blocking the bottom half of my face once he's right in front of me.

"Micah?" he asks.

"Surprise! I'm your Secret Santa."

His lips twitch, like he's amused by my song and dance style announcement.

"Does this mean I can open the second envelope now? I'll admit, I'm rather curious about what's inside. I'd also like to know how you pulled this off."

I fold the sign, then tuck it in my back pocket. "First, we need to get your luggage, right? Please tell me you didn't only bring a carryon!"

"I've got a suitcase."

He doesn't give much more information than that. It's ok, bud. I'll get you to open up soon enough.

We grab his bag after several minutes of waiting on the slow carousel, then I lead him out to the private car Bellamy booked for us. I told him I'd handle it, but he made it clear Jett's size wouldn't work for most cars, and he wanted us to start in a good place.

As we head in the direction of the train station, I wave for Jett's attention. "Now you get to open the second envelope."

I'm surprised by the speed of his movement. Every time I've seen him, he's been the picture of calm.

Now he's anything but.

Once the paper is open, he scans it quickly, his jaw dropping open. "Is this real?"

"Sure is," I say with a grin. "I know you mentioned wanting to take the Zephyr, but this route actually combines two routes to be the official longest train ride available in the US."

"This is the best present anyone has ever given me."

Taking the opportunity, I press for the next part of my plan. It's unconventional, but I think Jett might be up for it.

"There is more to the gift, if you'd like."

He turns to face me. "What do you mean? This is already too much."

"It's never too much if it makes you happy, sweet boy." I move slowly, careful not to upset him as I gather his hands between mine. "I'd like to join you on this trip if that's ok with you."

"You like trains too?"

His excitement is adorable. I want to bundle him into my arms and never let him go.

Patience, Micah.

"I'll be honest, I don't know much about them."

"Then why would you want to come?" he asks, tilting his head to the side.

I take a deep breath, then say, "Because you're going. I'd like time to get to know you better away from our friends and jobs. A few days alone doing something you love feels like the perfect setting."

We pull up outside of Grand Central Station before he could reply. I climb out first, then hold my hand out to him. It probably looks ridiculous to others since Jett is so much larger than I am. I don't care though. My boy deserves to be doted on.

After gathering his bag, I stand with the back of the vehicle open. "What are you most comfortable with, Jett? I can leave right now and return to Bellport and maybe we can have dinner when you're back. There's no pressure either way."

His eyes move from me to the train and back. "I'm a bit nervous, honestly. Would you come with me?"

"Absolutely! We don't have to do anything you don't want to. It's your speed." I tug my bags from the back of the car, then wave the driver away. Turning us to move inside, I lead him through the station.

We're a little early for our train. I sit Jett in a chair with our bags before leaving to grab us drinks. A water for me and a milk for Jett.

"This place is amazing," he says in greeting when I return. He guzzles the milk down as soon as it's in hand.

"Slow down, sweetheart, or you'll make yourself sick." I keep my voice even, though not too firm.

He does as I say immediately. It sends an overwhelming sense of satisfaction through me. To know this big, sweet man trusts me enough to be good for me.

I shiver as need rushes through me. It's too soon to act on it.

That doesn't stop my dick though.

Damn thing has a mind of its own as it hardens in my jeans. I reach down to discreetly adjust myself. Jett is too busy staring around the station to pay any mind to me and my wayward cock, thank goodness.

By the time our train number gets called for boarding, I'm aching to be closer to this man. We'll be trapped together in the same train room for the next few days. Part of me hopes the proximity creates an environment for Jett to let down his walls.

But another part of me acknowledges that I'm going into this entire trip with motives he's unaware of. Is it right of me to manipulate a situation in my favor when the other person is oblivious?

I ponder it over as we make our way to the proper car. It's only once we're in the tiny room together that I realize how quiet we've been since the moment I told him to slow down with his milk.

I stow our suitcases in the designated cabinets, then I point toward the bottom bunk. "That one is bigger. I got it for you. I figured I'd sleep up top." At his curious look, I chuckle. "It folds out flat. They said it actually sleeps two, so I have no doubt you'll be comfortable enough."

His eyes flash when I mention how many people it normally holds. Is it because he wants me like I want him? Or is it some other reason?

"Thank you," he replies softly as he eases down to sit on the couch. There's a view of the rest of the station from his window. I take the single empty seat across from the couch so I can face him, though I try to give the illusion I'm looking out of the window like him.

I wait until the train is moving before I broach the topic I really want to discuss with him. He either knows about his teammates' preferences and doesn't care, or he's clueless and naturally submissive. Maybe it's a mix of the two.

"There is something I wanted to talk to you about while we were on this trip, Jett. Something that I wasn't sure how to bring up before."

At my words, he pivots to look at me. His gaze is curious, though cautious. I wonder if he thinks I'm going to take back the request to date him. Or it could be he thinks there's some other reason for me coming.

Either way, I'm going to alleviate the hint of worry I see peeking through those blue-gray eyes of his.

"You've been around Bellamy and Aries with their men, right? You've seen how they interact?" I ask.

He nods. "I have a few times. And their partners come to practice quite a bit more now than before."

"I'm sure they do," I start. "How would you feel if someone treated you the way Bellamy treats Finn? Would that be something you think you'd like?"

Jett's eyes flare. "I… I don't know. No one would ever do that. No one has ever offered."

"What if I were offering, sweet boy? Would you be interested then?"

His Adam's apple bobs as he swallows. His pupils grow as he opens his mouth. Nothing comes out though. It's as if he's trapped in his own world, the words caught somewhere he can't get them out.

I scoot to the edge of my seat, then reach out for his hand. Placing it between mine, I gently stroke his skin, my mind memorizing the patterns of scars and calluses he's gained from years of playing sports.

"You may not think anyone wants to spoil you, to take care of you, but they do. I do. Could we see how it goes during this trip? Will you allow me the chance to take your worries away while you focus on enjoying this journey?"

A tear moves down his cheek. My heart breaks at seeing this big, strong boy break before me over the simple offer of having someone show him how special he is.

"I'm not sure I'll know what to do. And most people get bored with me. They think I don't talk enough or that I talk too much about certain things, and it's all?—"

Placing a finger over his lips, I tell him, "Enough, sweet boy. There's no need to worry about anyone else. I'm here now, and I don't feel how others have. I want to be around you as much as possible. I could listen to you talk for hours about the things you love. I could also sit quietly with you if that's what you want too. We don't have to do anything you don't want to."

Another tear joins the first before it turns into a full-blown sob. I move from my seat to the couch, then he's in my arms. I have to get onto my knees to prevent his body from drooping too far. He's such a big boy, it's going to be interesting all the ways we have to adjust to fit him in my arms.

It's no hardship though. He's exactly where I want him to be for as long as he'll let me stay.