“I do. But this one, I think you’re really gonna love, and I don’t want to wait ’til tomorrow to give it to you.”
I loved seeing him this excited about a gift. He always looked at me with anticipation when he gave me a treat, but this was more than that. Adorable.
“I guess I’ll have to accept it now, then.” I sat up, and he went to his suitcase and came back with a box with a logo on it I recognized.
“This is the artisan who made my bracelet.”
“It is.”
I opened it up, and inside was another bracelet. This one had both a unicorn and a bear. On the bear’s sweater, it had his initials.
“I love it.”
“There’s more.” This time, he held his hand out so I could see the one that he had that matched almost exactly. His teddy bear had my initials.
“You got us twinsies bracelets.”
“Seemed like the best choice, given how we met.”
“I love it, Daddy.” I slid the bracelet on and then crawled over to him.
“I love you, my sweet, brave boy.”
“I love you too, Daddy. Want me to show you how much?” I mumbled against his lips.
“Absolutely. Show Daddy how much you love him.”
I sealed my lips to his and spent the next two hours doing exactly that.
Chapter Sixteen
August
We were spending more and more time together. Big. Little. Sometimes blurring the lines. But everything we did was what was right for us. And just by virtue of being together, it was always special.
But one of our favorite things to do was to visit the little room at Chained. Our first visit together had been the vendor event, but we’d been other times, and it was always fun. Ms. Lily had different themes all the time. Seasonal or maybe fantasy. We had book-themed nights and movie nights. Crafts. Game nights. And some where there were just lots of different activities available. And glitter…all the littles loved glitter, but it was doled out with care because we daddies and mommies sometimes had a hard time getting it out of their hair. Or our cars. Or the bed.
But so shiny…and colorful. Any opportunity to use it was sure to draw a crowd.
So, when I spotted a notice on the monthly calendar at Chained for a Sparkly Night, I read the fine print. There would be glitter, but it wasn’t going to be the loose vials of it that usually appeared.
This glitter was virtual, and the littles would be able to create art that they could print out with, according to Ms. Lily, really glitter-like experiences. It was a special printer, special software, and the man who had invented the whole thing was looking for people to try it out. He wasn’t in the scene himself, but he had friends who were.
Hal was all for it, and so we set off to Chained that night ready to have a great time in the little room with our friends and each other.
Because I was trying to make it an extra-special evening, I’d booked one of the extra-special changing rooms. By the time we stood by the door, Hal was bouncing on his toes. “Which room is it, Daddy? Circus? Animals?”
“You’ll see!” I opened the door just a little. “Any more guesses?”
“Bears?”
“No.” This time, I opened it wide. “There you go.”
He still wore street clothes, but as he stepped inside the changing room and looked around, he fell fully into little space. The face that lifted toward mine radiated joy. “Daddy, it’s unicorns.”
“That’s right.” I hugged him, slipping the backpack straps from his shoulders. “Are you ready to change?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
