Daddy’s Little Dreamer (The Lactin Brotherhood)

Chapter 14

14

“Wow, that was some hello.” I teased my boy, though Lila’s news escalated my need to have my boy and me under the same roof.

“Right? It surprised me too. But she, um, basically gave us her blessing and said she can’t wait to see the home we’ve made together.”

“Wow. That’s the second time I’ve said that in just as many minutes. Does this daddy dare get his hopes up for a quick move?” I hadn’t shared I’d taken tomorrow off but if he said he was ready, I’d be at their apartment at the crack of dawn.

“I’d like to say yes, but there are logistics to with work and transportation. Remember, Mom and I carpool, and we also share a car. I need to figure out the bus schedule until I save enough for one of my own.”

“How much do you have saved now?” He might already have enough for a down payment, but I’d have to put my foot down if he was shopping for a beater car. There would be no compromise on his safety.

“Like, seven or eight thousand. All the cars in that range were nasty. I don’t want a payment because I’ll need to pay my half of our living expenses.”

“Little Bee, you forget who’s the daddy here. Daddy pays our living expenses, not his boy. That is a great downpayment on a nice car with a warranty. I would feel much better with you in something newer with a high safety rating.”

“Then I’ll have a payment plus car insurance and gas. I can’t let you pay all the bills. It’s important to me to contribute in some way.”

“Deep breath, Trevor. Again, Daddy pays our living. I can add you to my car insurance, then yours won’t be as high. I have excellent credit, I’ll co-sign on your loan and you’ll get a better interest rate.”

“That doesn’t sound fair to you.”

“We’re partners, not strangers helping each other out. Moving in together means combining households, incomes, bills, and buying what we need when we need it. You need a car. Let’s spend this coming weekend looking at a few. What are wants or must haves for you?”

“Um, I haven’t really thought about that but not a stick shift for sure. I can’t drive one.”

“I don’t even think they make those too much anymore. Do you want a car? Two doors or four, or would you rather an SUV?” I was alight with excitement, and it was hard to contain it.

“What do you think is best. I don’t really know anything about cars.”

I figured as much, and this was right up my alley. “If I have a say in the matter, and ultimately what we buy in the end is your choice, but I feel better with you in an SUV.”

Had all my wishes come true in a single day? My boy was moving in, and we were shopping for a vehicle for him. I’d spend the rest of the week comparing safety ratings and warranties and I couldn’t have been happier about it.

“Daddy, you look far too happy.”

“That, my love, is because I am. This is right up my alley. I shopped for months before I bought my vehicle and marketing research is what I do for a living. While this isn’t marketing, it’s research just the same. Do you care about brand? Color? Anything?”

“Mmm, not really. Is that wrong?”

“Not at all. This is where Daddy gets to shine and impress you.”

Trevor rolled his eyes. “Daddy, you always shine, and you always impress me.”

For some reason I pictured my boy driving a bumble bee yellow SUV.

“Why are you laughing, Daddy?”

“Daddy just remembered something silly is all. Question, do you have a lot of stuff to move?” Mentally, I scanned what I remembered of his room, and it wasn’t packed by any means, but storage could be elsewhere. “Will we need a moving truck, or will it fit in Daddy’s vehicle?”

“It will fit. I don’t need my bed or dresser. You have all that. Just my clothes and toys and that kind of stuff. I’ll grab a few empty boxes from work and start packing this week.”

“Let me know if you need any help.” Though Chuck was at the house this week working on Trevor’s birthday gift it was best to keep him away. The smell of paint might trigger a snoopy boy. “Doesn’t someone have a birthday soon?”

“Me! Me! Me!” He cheered. “I do, Daddy.”

“Yes you do, and Daddy is working on something special for you.”

“You already are. You’re helping me get a car and letting me move in.”

“My love, there is no letting to any of that. I’m thrilled. This is like my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one.” Well, hell, that got me thinking about Christmas already and it was over six months away.

Time to tug the reins, Jayger. One step at a time. You just got a huge win.

Ya, ya, ya. When has that ever stopped me?

“Okay, sleepy boy.” His yawning face filled the screen and I looked forward to a lifetime of bedtime stories while my boy nursed away. “It’s story time so Daddy can virtually tuck you in.”

It was nice to see Trevor doze off as quickly as he did, though I knew he’d be up in two hours again. At my house, he stayed down for the night after nursing. Hell, we both did. The pressure relief helped me and the belly full of milk did the same for him. Granted, he was up at a horrendous time the next morning, but he got an average six hours a night with me.

“Good night, my love.” No response was needed. He was sound asleep, and our day ended on a high note.

But now this excited Daddy was wide awake and ready to research. This week would be spent clearing out the spare room and painting it, then once the items I’d ordered for it arrived, Chuck would be back to put it together before Trevor’s birthday at the end of the month.

Which reminded me, I had a birthday party to plan as well.

“Good morning, Chuck. Right on time.” Nine a.m. sharp just as he’d stated. Chuck and I met years ago at the club. He was a regular contractor for Sage as well as for many of its members.

“Morning, Jayger. So, what’s the plan?” He rubbed his hands together like the magician he was. Chuck’s work was top notch.

We headed down the hall toward the spare room and stepped inside. “I’d like to donate the bed. Got any places in mind that’ll take it?”

“I do. I’ll take it to the shelter. Dresser?”

“I think it can stay, but do you know of anyone who can hand paint some of Trevor’s favorite things on it?”

“I absolutely do. My boy Tae is an artist.”

I’d met Tae a few times. He was very quiet and shy, and Chuck adored him. I had no clue that he was an artist. Contractors always had the best hook-ups

“Excellent, does he have a website?”

Chuck pulled out his wallet and handed me a card.

“Now I’m even more excited. Let me share the theme with you.” Intently he listened as I explained everything.

“What would you say to having Tae hand paint a mural in here that depicts all you just described.”

“Huh, I hadn’t considered that. What a wonderful idea and so much more personal than slapping decals on the walls. Let’s do it.”

Chuck and I went through the paint swatches he brought and settled on a pale blue which would make for the perfect sky behind the murals. I was just as excited as the boy receiving his new playroom would be. He and Tae would be back tomorrow to get started. Meanwhile, this daddy had a car and playroom shopping to do.

I’d lived a simple life. My only real extravagances were my club membership, which the nursing paid for, and my vehicle. Outside of that, my life was pretty basic. Really, until Trevor came along, it was dull beige and, quite honestly, mundane.

I purchased my home at the right time and for a great price many years ago so spending what I’d saved on Trevor really didn’t hurt. Would I be the million-dollar daddy so many in the lifestyle were? No, not at all, but that wasn’t who Trevor needed me to be.

How easily Trevor and I slid into each other’s lives was a clear sign of just that.

As packages arrived, I hid them in the garage away from prying eyes and as an extra precaution, locked the soon to be playroom door. The progress Chuck and Tae made was nothing short of amazing. Two truly gifted men helping make the dream for another little come to fruition.

On Friday night when I picked up my Sweet Bee, Lila was out so Trevor and I loaded up the few boxes he had packed.

“Are you excited for this weekend, Little Bee? Car shopping?”

“Excited and nervous. These price tags might give me a heart attack.”

“They’ll be none of that and there’s no price tag worth your life. I’ve narrowed it down to three so we’ll hit auto alley tomorrow morning when the dealerships open.”

“Auto alley? Is that the name of the place we’re going to?”

“Kind of. Most of the larger dealerships are lined up in a row along the same stretch of road that everyone has lovingly nicknamed Auto Alley. It’s not the real name of the street but it sure does make hopping from one lot to the next easier.”

“Can you do the test driving, Daddy? The thought makes me nervous, and I totally trust you.”

“Absolutely, Sweet Bee. I’d have asked to take the vehicles out for another drive even if you had.”

We stopped along the way home to pick up a dinner treat. My boy was so excited he danced and sang in the passenger seat after we went through is favorite drive thru.

“Let’s eat first, then we’ll bring the boxes in. We’ll leave them in the living room for you to unpack.” I’d help if he asked me to but in my opinion it was important for him to decide where his things fit.

Trevor dove right into his kid’s meal, singing his dippy song as he saturated the poor nuggets in a mixture of ranch and barbeque sauce. He turned the house shaped box his dinner came in as he read each side and used a finger to complete the puzzles.

“Ready to unload?”

“’K, Daddy.” He hopped down and threw his trash away. “Ready.”

It only took a few minutes to unload. “Why don’t you put your clothes away in our closet? I also emptied a few dresser drawers for you.”

I queued up his favorite station over the Bluetooth speakers. Never had I enjoyed helping anyone move as much as this. Trevor danced around, stacking old toys with new, making sure everything was just right. Such a gift this bright light was.

I broke down the boxes and put them in the recycle bin and went back through the plan of attack for tomorrow. Dealing with car salesmen wasn’t high on my list of wants, but for my boy, I’d battle the commission-based dragons.