Lily: When can we meet him? Properly? We want to welcome him to the Daddy club
Chloe: Soon. He's nervous about meeting all of you at once.
Holly: Tell him we're friendly. Mostly.
Amber: I'm just here reading this like a romance novel. This is better than Netflix.
Maya: Same. I want what you guys have.
Emily: You'll find it, Maya. We all will. The right Daddies are out there.
I spend the day at the shop, and true to my word, I set alarms and take breaks. I eat a real lunch. I close on time.
And I text Tyler throughout, letting him know how I'm doing.
Tyler: Proud of you for following through. You're doing so well.
Chloe: Thank you, Daddy. I'm trying.
Tyler: You're succeeding. That's what matters.
By the time I close the shop, I'm tired but satisfied.
I drive to Tyler's apartment, using the key he gave me last week, and let myself in.
He's not home yet, so I start dinner. Nothing fancy, just pasta and salad. But something I can do to take care of him for once.
When Tyler walks in at seven, he stops in the doorway, taking in the scene.
"You cooked."
"I wanted to do something for you. You're always taking care of me. I wanted to return the favor."
His expression softens. "Sweetheart, you don't have to?—"
"I know I don't have to. I want to." I cross to him. "You take such good care of me, Daddy. Let me take care of you too."
He pulls me into his arms. "You already do. Every day. Just by being you."
"Sap."
"Your sap." He kisses me. "Now let's eat this dinner you made before it gets cold."
We eat, and Tyler tells me about his day. The training exercise that went well. The new guy who reminds him of himself at twenty-two. The paperwork that never seems to end.
After dinner, we settle on the couch to watch a movie. After the movie, I turn and ask him a question.
"When did you know? That I was it for you?"
He's quiet for a moment. "The first day you smiled at me when I walked into the shop. You were talking to another customer, and you were so animated and genuine. And when you turned to take my order, that smile stayed. Like you were genuinely happy to see me even though I was just another customer." He pauses. "I knew right then that I wanted to be the reason for that smile."
"Tyler—"
"I'm not done. I also knew you were Little. The way you got excited about simple things. The way you sought approval without realizing it. The way you lit up when someone praised your coffee." His hand strokes my back. "I knew I wanted to be your Daddy before I even knew your name."
"That's the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me."
"It's the truth. I fell for you the second I saw you. And I've been falling harder every day since."
