Chapter 11 #2
“Definitely,” I said, blowing out a long breath and relaxing as he hugged me again and started stroking my hair.
“I, um…when you praised me like that, this flood of joy hit, and I just felt proud to have pleased you and happy to know that I was making good decisions for myself. Sometimes it’s just really helpful to hear that.
Like, it gave me a huge confidence boost. I’m going to write out any questions I have for them so I can ask them during the interview.
I don’t want to get so enthusiastic about the possibility of getting to relocate that I forget to get clarification on hours and work responsibilities.
I’ve already learned the hard way that some bosses like to redefine the parameters of a job description when it suits them and fail to offer any explanation or compensation for all the extra work they suddenly heap on you. ”
“In that case, I’ll make sure you always know how proud I am of you,” he replied, pressing another kiss to the top of my head.
“And I hope it goes without saying that you can tell me if you’re worried about something or concerned that you aren’t making the right decision about something, even if it’s something between us. ”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. It’s way better to get things out in the open than to hold them in,” he replied. “I know I don’t have the same experiences as you when it comes to the innerworkings of the business world, but problems tend to boil down to common issues, and I am more than able to help with those.”
“Thank you. I am just so excited right now,” I said as I stared up at him.
“I’m excited for you,” he said, brushing a kiss over my lips that I deepened as my fingers tangled in his hair and I let out a low moan.
The kiss felt like a celebration while also grounding me and reminding me that the day was young and I still had an awesome sea turtle to create. Oh shit, my sea turtle.
“Do sea turtles have tails?” I asked as we broke the kiss.
“They do indeed.”
“Good, then I don’t need to look at anything else on my phone,” I said before turning it off again and holding it out to him. “Can you put this in the box for me?”
“Of course, have you had the chance to check in with Megan today?” He asked.
“Not yet, I was going to do that tonight,” I replied. “Hopefully she sent videos this time. I’ve been dying to see my fuzzy feline brats in action and hear them running around playing with their toys.”
“Gives a whole new definition to furry TV,” he said as he accepted the phone. “I’ll be right back out.”
“Okay.”
While he headed in to put my phone in the time-out box, I finished drawing the outline of my sea turtle in the sand, complete with tail, then sat back to think about where I wanted to get started with the actual sculpture.
The shell, definitely the shell.
Robbie returned while I heaped sand in the center. It would be far easier to create the dome shape I’d need to flatten on the top to have the proper platform for the sandcastle to be built on.
“I’ve got a question for you,” Robbie asked as he got started on the outline of the lips he planned to sculpt.
“Sure.”
“How do you like to spend your downtime, when you have it?” he asked, and immediately threw my brain into a tizzy.
Did I tell him the truth and hope he didn’t laugh at me, or did I run down the list of things that I usually did with my friends because those were the things that they were into?
Uncertainty gripped me as I dunked my hands in the water in my bucket and began rubbing them over the sand to help form a more solid layer.
“Is it really that difficult a question?” Robbie asked after I remained silent for several moments, massaging the sand and staring out over the water.
“Kind of,” I admitted.
“Okay, how so?”
“Just that, if it were up to me, I’d go see a puppet show instead of touring a brewery,” I explained. “And I’d much rather go do something hands-on, creative, and fun than go to a club or a party. I like more interactive things, like escape rooms, renaissance festivals, and corn mazes.”
“Why be afraid to tell me that?” he asked.
Squirming, I kept my eyes on my turtle when I answered him.
“I guess because sometimes I feel like the things I enjoy might be a little, I don’t know, different, I guess, from what my friends are into.
I just, I remember when we were back in college and everyone was in such a hurry to grow up, while I was just kind of wishing we could spend the day at the amusement park riding the rides and trying to win stuffed animals from the carnival games. ”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he replied. “It sounds like a fun time to me. I’ve had my fill of clubs, like the one we visited the other night.
Like you, I’d much rather enjoy a private evening dancing on the beach, just you and me and the stars overhead.
Speaking of Renaissance Fairs, I enjoy them too.
Honolulu has an amazing one. If everything turns out the way we’re hoping, we can visit it next year.
Seeing my partner happy and engaging in the things they love brings me a great deal of joy.
I just hope you’ll be okay with me wanting to pamper you from time to time.
I can be a bit indulgent, and, well, I don’t like the word “silly,” not when it comes to things that make the person I care about smile.
So, if you’re curious about something or eager and excited to try a new activity, please don’t hesitate to tell me.
I will never, ever laugh at you or make you feel like you’re immature for wanting to do it. ”
I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I raised my head to look at him. “Are you a Daddy?”
His sharp intake of breath was followed by a smile and a nod.
“I have been, but it’s been a lot of years since I’ve had a boy of my own to care for,” he explained.
“The club scene can get a bit tedious at times. It’s just never really suited me.
I wasn’t sure if I was picking up on that vibe from you.
Now I see that I was. How long has it been since you’ve had a Daddy? ”
“Never,” I explained. “Not one that was just mine. There was a club I went to sometimes, but not often enough to figure out where I fit. I love to play, but I’m more of a middle than a little, I think.”
“Okay, we can explore that and see if that’s where you land.
Just so you know, you don’t have to regress to want or need a Daddy.
Every dynamic is different. If it’s something you crave, we’ll figure it out so it’s right for us.
We don’t have to model our dynamic after what others have.
We can define it however it turns out working for us. ”
“Yes please, I’d like that,” I replied, carefully crawling across the sand to hug him without accidentally knocking into one of our sculptures.
I’d felt like the luckiest person in the world when I’d boarded the plane to Maui, getting to celebrate a holiday season full of sunshine, fresh air, and the beach.
I never imagined that meeting a surf idol I’d loved to watch on television, having him turn out to be attracted to me, and him being a Daddy were in the cards.
Talk about a perfect holiday. And maybe, perhaps, if the universe was kind and I landed the job I’d soon be applying for, it would be the perfect start to the next chapter of my life.
A boy could wish, especially during a season meant to make dreams come true.