Their Little House Colter (Five Little Roommates #1)

Chapter Thirteen

Colter

I was giddy and nervous and excited and freaking out all at once. I was going back to Chained—not just to play but to play with a daddy. A particular daddy. And I was taking my crush with me—a crush who wouldn’t go anywhere, with him being little and all. There was so much going on in my head all at once. If I hadn’t really needed this little time before, I sure did now.

Once I packed my bag, I headed over to Dallas’ room to see what he thought about my clothes. I wanted him to think I looked adorable. With Bryan, it didn’t matter as much. We’d discussed clothing, but more a conversation starter. I knocked and, when he opened the door, his bed was full of his little clothes.

“I didn’t know what to bring.” He shrugged and stepped aside for me to come inside.

“I don’t think I’m gonna be of any help. I just brought my backpack to show you what I brought—to see if you thought it would be okay.”

He chuckled. “Well, what did you bring? And then I’ll decide mine.”

I pulled everything out, and we went back and forth, picking out clothes for each other, telling each other how cute we were going to look, and pretty much being each other’s hype person. It was nice.

“Do you think it’s too late to get a changing room?”

I usually didn’t mind going in the general changing room, but tonight felt special, like it was something big. Or maybe I was getting all up in my head, which was the more likely scenario. But now that I was living here, my commute was shorter, and my utilities were included, so I had the extra money and could afford the room.

“You could ask.”

And as Dallas drove, I called and was able to secure us a dressing room. It wasn’t a little one—not one of the fancy ones I loved so much—but it was better than being in a big room with a bunch of other people. This was my first time changing with Dallas, and I wanted it to be special.

We checked in, and Ms. Lily led us to our changing room. I didn’t love that it wasn’t a little room, but once we were inside, it was okay. There was a lounge chair that looked like it was probably a futon, but I didn’t explore it enough to figure out how to work it. There was also another chair and a counter filled with supplies, if people were so inclined.

We got dressed, and it was the first time I’d seen him switch from his big self to his little self. I had to be in my little clothes for a while to kind of slip into the headspace. But for him, the clothes really made a difference. With each article he put on, he became more the playful boy I liked to hang out with in the playroom.

“You look good,” he said, looking me up and down. “Adorable, even. Make your sneakers go.”

Like I could turn him down. I stomped up and down, and they lit up.

“I love that.” He clapped.

“You know what would make it better?” I loved sharing my brilliant ideas with others, even though most of them didn’t even think they were decent ideas, much less brilliant. “If they played music too?”

He thought about it for a few seconds, tapping his nose. “Only if you could turn it off. And only if you could pick the songs.”

“Yes! We should make those.”

Neither of us had the skills to make fancy sneakers that played music on command, but it was fun to talk and dream about.

“So…if you need to have time with just Ari and you want me to go somewhere, you can tell me,” Dallas said, running his hand through his hair. “If you just said yes to me because he asked you first, and you’re just being nice—”

“No,” I cut him off. We were going to be having none of that. “He didn’t really ask either of us. He hinted that he liked the idea of playing with both of us. But even if that weren’t the case, I’d want you here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. Ever since I first went off to college, I wanted to have a roommate I was friends with. Somebody I had something in common with and liked doing things with. But I’ve always had practical roommates. We got along fine, paid our share, that kind of stuff. But I don’t know… Now that I’m at the house, it’s different. And you’re important.”

It was so much more than that.

“I’m glad you’re there too.”

And there it was. That feeling again. That pull, where I wanted to lean in and kiss him.

And then my world shifted on its axis as Dallas said, “You look good enough to kiss.”

If I had taken a few seconds to think about it, to form a coherent phrase that would benefit both of us in the long run, I’d have said thanks and started toward the door.

But I did none of those things.

Instead, I said, “Okay.”

Dallas chuckled. “It’s an expression.”

I was pretty sure it wasn’t. “Does it have to be? I mean…maybe, if you wanted to—”

That seemed to be all the permission he needed.

His lips were on mine, his hand behind my head, holding me close as he kissed me soundly. There was no pretense of this being a sweet little peck on the lips. No. We were kissing each other as if we’d been yearning for it. Like we needed it. Like this kiss was our everything.

And I wanted it to be.

As our lips broke apart and we caught our breath, I asked, “Should we go home?”

I was so confused, and it made sense we’d go someplace to talk about things. Only he didn’t take me up on the offer.

Dallas reached up and cupped my cheek. “No, we shouldn’t go home. We probably shouldn’t have done this…or maybe we should, but that doesn’t mean that…”

“I know. I can’t be what you need.”

“And I can’t be what you need, Colter.”

“This sucks.” There was no pretending it didn’t.

“It does.” He kissed me again. This time short and sweet—a goodbye kiss. Not to our friendship but to this door we had opened. It was now slammed shut, bolted, and chained, locked with one of those security bars meant to keep everyone out.

It was over.

We had a taste. It was magnificent.

But it wasn’t meant to be.

“Ready to go play?” he asked, taking my hand in his and swinging it back and forth.

“Yeah,” I said, squeezing his fingers. “Let’s go play.”