Before I left, I wrote on the dry-erase board on his fridge and asked him to call me if he wanted to go out to eat with me. It felt like a no-pressure way to ask him out. I was sure there was some pressure, with him wanting to buy my product, something we were going to have to work out, but this way, he didn't have to reject me in person or at all. He could simply ignore it.
Still, I checked my phone at least ten times, hoping that he’d want to meet with me.
It was nearly noon when I got a text back.I found your note. Is it too late?
Absolutely not.If he could see me, he'd know it was not too late. I was glowing.I'll come get you. I texted him again and asked if he had any allergies. I didn't want to take him someplace that would make him sick.
And then came the hardest part of the day…waiting until it was time for our date and going back and forth on where to take him. A huge part of me wanted to spoil him, to bring him to a fancy steakhouse or the new Italian place that had just gone viral for its homemade pasta. Someplace that would wow his socks off.
But on the other hand, I just wanted to spend time with him and give him a chance to relax and have fun. He was new to the city, and from the sounds of things, he hadn't been able to be Little during that time. That had to be emotionally hard on him. In a way, I understood better than most but couldn't fully understand, not being Little myself.
I decided to take him to the Christmas Village in town. It wasn't actually a village, but that was what they called the annual tree-lighting ceremony. They turned the park into a vendor space for different restaurants, businesses, and community groups. I'dgone years ago, and I remembered it being fun, from make-and-take crafts to homemade cookies to a s'mores pit to caroling. All the good stuff you expected this time of year.
And of course, at the center was a huge Christmas tree. And if you wanted the event to feel big, there was even Santa's Bar there. I didn't see the connection, but they had winter-themed drinks to warm you up, which was always a good time in the cold.
It started to snow as I was getting ready to leave, and I grabbed my shovel. The owner of Dakota's building was a friend of mine, and he was out of town helping his mom, so when the snow came, I shoveled out front for him. That was no replacement for his actual snow-removal people, but it kept things safe enough until they arrived, which was later and later with each snowfall. He was going to need to find someone else to do it soon, because counting on friends to have time off when it snowed or for him to be able to sneak away wasn't sustainable.
I quickly shoveled the walk, and when I looked up, Dakota was sitting there looking out the window. I might not have recognized him had I not known it was his apartment, but someone was definitely there watching me. Well, two someones, if you counted Mr. Whiskers.
His cat was adorable, and I had wanted to bring the cat condo I won over today. Mr. Whiskers and I needed to make friends. So far, he was pretty standoffish with me—not hostile, which cats could be, but he wasn't so sure if he liked me or not. I had a feeling there was a whole lot of "because I took his person" vibes cooking there. I'd have to bring it next time.
Look at me, jumping ahead again and assuming there would be a next time. And maybe there would be. I knew I wantedthere to be one already. There was something about Dakota that just called to me, had me wanting to take care of him, to hold him, and to do some not-so-Little things with him. But that didn’t mean Dakota felt the same. I’d had what he needed when he needed it most. That wasn’t the same as him feeling a connection, as much as I wished that it did.
I left the shovel out front and walked in to get him, glad it had slowed to a flurry. When I knocked on the door, he opened it, a huge smile on his face. "I knew I recognized you!"
"Oh, because I'm Santa?" I was confused.
"No, because you shoveled outside. I saw you that day, and then felt like I knew you when I won, and then again when I picked up the milk... Well, anyway, you looked familiar, and now I know why. We were going to meet anyway."
He was so joy-filled, and I felt on top of the world because I played a part in it.
"Looks like we were. Let's get you bundled up, and we can go and have some Christmas fun."
"Sounds good." He grabbed his outerwear, and I helped him get it on. Not once did he resist. If anything, he was letting me do more than I’d planned, holding out his mittens for me. Then we walked hand in hand to the park where the Christmas festivities were beginning.
"They were talking about this at work. I didn't realize it was going to be so...wow." He leaned into my side, and I felt like the best Daddy there was. Only I wasn't his Daddy. I was a date, and I needed to remember that. Some things I could jump ahead on, like holding hands, but not the "Daddy” side of things.
That needed a conversation.
We ate dinner from various booths as we walked around, trying some holiday specialties from around the world. We made Christmas decorations. We sang around the fire, making s'mores and singing "Jingle Bells" at the top of our lungs. And then we joined in as the entire crowd counted down for the tree to be lit. It couldn't have been more Christmassy than this, and I loved it.
But my sweet boy was getting tired, and he was cold. He hadn't said as much, but Santa could tell. "I think it's time to walk you home, my sweet boy."
He looked up at me, his eyes wide. "Baby?”
“What do you mean?"
He crooked his finger, and I brought my ear down to his lips, and he whispered, “Not sweet boy. Baby.”
This sweet boy. I mean this baby boy was going to be the death of me, and what a way to go.
"Would you like me to take you home, baby boy?" I whispered back. He nodded.
We walked back to his place, the flurries picking up strength again, our hands locked together. I’d underestimated how cold he was, and when we walked inside, I saw how rosy his cheeks were, and not in the warm, happy way.
"Oh, baby boy, you are so cold. What can I do to help? Do you want a bath?"
I was overstepping. I was so overstepping.
