Page 7 of Brock’s Lost Lunchbox

I wanted to ask him to play, but what if he turned me down? He was Will’s friend. That didn’t mean he owed me any of his time. He’d already done more to me than he’d probably realized.

He went with Will to bring the glitter to Sammy, and I watched, unsure what to do next. I knew what I longed to do, but the nagging feeling I maybe shouldn’t, kept holding me back.

In my head, I laid it all out. He’s hot. He’s a daddy. He’s Will’s friend so he’s safe. Will wouldn’t let him in here near Sammy if he wasn’t. And it wouldn’t be like I was asking the man for forever.

It was asking him to play.

Nothing more.

Just one night of hanging out in a place where the stakes were low.

I’d kick myself later if I didn’t at least ask, right?

I walked up to him and, before I could change my mind, blurted out, “Wanna play with me?”

“I would love to. What should we play first?”

Normally, I liked it when a daddy directed what we played, but in this case, I enjoyed having the control. I wasn’t under the belief I’d fall into full little space. That wasn’t the goal. I wanted to have fun and, for a first time playing with a new person, not having them instantly trying to take over was perfect.

“Lots of things, but first I want to finish my picture.”

Chapter Six

Zeph

Glitter! I’d heard the other daddies grumbling about what a mess it made, but it had to be seen to be believed. The crafting table where Brock and two other littles were creating had been placed firmly in the middle of a blue tarp, but the sparkly bits still managed to escape, catching glints of light all over the room. Whoever had to clean this up had their work cut out for them.

“Don’t you like glitter?” Brock asked, looking up at me with such woe, my heart gave a squeeze. “I was making a picture of a star.”

I crouched next to him, careful not to kneel and get my pants dusted with glitter. “Of course I do.” I studied his work. “And your picture is beautiful. What star is it?”

He chewed his lower lip. “It’s a big star far away from here. That’s why there are so many colors.”

“I see. It looks like it’s all done.”

Brock nodded, head bobbing up and down. “The glue has to dry.”

“Is it okay if we leave it here, or should we put it somewhere else?”

“We have to leave it here until we go home. We can’t carry it all around the room.”

“Very good, Brock.” A woman had walked up beside us. “I’m glad you know the rules.” She held out a hand to me. “I’m Ms. Lily, and I’m in charge of activities here in the little room.”

“Zeph.” I shook her hand. “And this room is fabulous. Everyone seems to be having such a good time.”

“That’s what we go for. Quite different from the ‘good time’ people are having on the main floor, isn’t it?”

“Could not be more different.” I was glad that the club employee acknowledged that. “But I guess, to each their own.”

“Exactly. Some people like floggers and others like—”

“Glitter!” Brock put in, letting it sift through his fingers. “I really like glitter.”

“I sensed that.” Before I thought about it, I ruffled his hair, where even more glitter had landed. Rather than shrink back, Brock leaned into my touch. Just for a second, but it was enough to touch me deep inside. “Why don’t you stand up, buddy, and I’ll dust off enough glitter that Ms. Lily will allow us off the tarp.

The woman’s lips tilted up before she firmed them and tsked. “I wish all the daddies were as considerate of the cleanup team as yours.”

I started to correct her, but Brock said, “Daddy Zeph is helping me tonight.”