Chapter 10 #2
“Yeah, no. That’s not gonna work. The thought that you have some ulterior motive hasn’t crossed my mind once, and I’m not about to entertain it now. So just know it’s not a problem, and we’re gonna leave it at that. Okay?”
The finality in his voice was clear. His expression was open, and the message was obvious. He thought I was out of my ever-loving mind for worrying about this.
“Now that that’s rested, are you ready to go to the toy store?”
I nodded eagerly, and he pushed his way through the door. Inside, it was an absolute madhouse since Christmas was only a couple of weeks away. Kids and families were everywhere, babies crying in the background, and parents who looked like they were at their limit. I loved it.
“Is there any place you want to start first?” Daddy murmured in my ear.
“Umm…yeah…uhh…this place is really overwhelming.”
Above my head, there were what felt like ten miles of garland covered in ornaments and Christmas lights.
On one side of the store, Santa was set up on a dais with an enormous line of children waiting to talk to him.
I had never been so grateful that we had done the Christmas light thing earlier because I wasn’t even tempted to stand in the line that snaked through a quarter of the store.
On the other side, I could see the baby section, and no judgment, but I wasn’t interested in the super little stuff. I liked toys for an older little.
Crowds always hit me faster than I expected, but having him beside me softened the edges enough to breathe.
“Didn’t you mention to Santa Claus something about LEGO?”
“Yeah. I like putting them together. I have some at my apartment that I’ve tucked away, but they don’t usually survive traveling very well.”
“Then why don’t we head upstairs to the LEGO section and see if we can find some sets for you?”
Letting him guide me felt easy in a way that scared me, like my feet already trusted wherever he led.
With a plan made, Daddy guided us through the crowds, politely bulldozing his way until we reached the escalator. Once we were upstairs, we wound our way through the people until we got to the section we needed.
“Gentlemen, is there something I can help you find?” the sales associate asked as we stood there gawking at the choices in front of us.
“Yeah, it’s a little overwhelming,” Daddy admitted.
“We have our cartoon characters on this side,” she said, gesturing down the aisle, “and if you go over here, you’ll find the sets aimed at older builders with lots of different choices.”
We thanked her and looked through a few of the kits in front of us. As much as I liked being little, I didn’t enjoy the younger sets unless it was Vampirina because she was fire.
“You pick as much as you want, all right? We’ll call it an early Christmas present,” Daddy whispered close to my ear.
The offer lit something warm and bewildered in me, the kind of generosity I never knew what to do with.
“That’s silly. Christmas isn’t for another two weeks.”
“Well, sometimes you get your presents early.”
With a gentle nudge, Daddy urged me forward for a closer look.
The choices were limitless between the robots, cars, botanicals, and historical buildings.
As I pondered my options, he stayed right by my side.
It never felt like he was rushing or pushing me along, only quietly supporting me while I chose.
“I think I like this one, Daddy,” I said, pulling a botanical garden set off the shelf. It had small succulents and glass vases. With an approving nod, he placed it in the handbasket that seemed to appear by magic in the crook of his arm.
“Are there any others you’d like?”
My real answer was yes, absolutely. I wanted at least a dozen.
That felt selfish, so I shook my head. Daddy gave me a knowing look, the kind that said he saw right through me, and glanced toward the sets I had lingered over earlier.
He stepped around me, walked a few feet down the aisle, and stopped in front of the little French bistro model I had almost chosen.
I wanted more than I’d ever let myself take, but old habits made me shrink from admitting it.
“I think I’m going to add this one too. It looks pretty cool.”
“I didn’t know you liked LEGO too.”
“It’s a new interest I discovered today,” he said with a soft smile that made my stomach flip like I had just lifted off on a flight. “What section should we wander to next?”
He said it lightly, but there was a thread of wanting in his voice that made my cheeks heat.
“What else do you need?”
Heat sparked in Daddy’s eyes, and it was clear how he heard that question.
“What else I need can’t be found in a toy store,” he said, voice low and edged with need and something I couldn’t quite name.
“But for now, let’s see what else we can bring home.
If I’m going to host a playdate, I need to be properly prepared. ”
The heat in his words warmed more than my heart, and I squirmed, trying to keep my instantly chubbed dick hidden. Daddy saw right through me because Daddy is smart, and the tiny look he gave me told me I had already failed.
“Come on before we get ourselves in trouble,” Daddy said firmly.
He tucked my hand in his again and led me toward the craft section of the store.
If I thought the LEGO was going to do me in, this section was a whole new level of trouble.
There was crafting of every type, plus mineral kits and cooking kits.
It was all too much, mostly because I wanted every single kit I saw.
My fingers trailed over the crystal-growing sets before I lingered in front of the kinetic sand.
Then I parked myself in the craft-making section.
Daddy watched me quietly without interfering while I went from one end of the area to the other, picking something up, putting it down, tapping my finger while I tried to think it through.
It was next to impossible for me to make a decision.
After a solid twenty minutes of ping-ponging through the section, I gave up trying to pick anything and returned to Daddy’s side.
“Okay, I think I’m ready to go.”
“Obviously not, because you still haven’t picked anything.” Daddy’s tone was perplexed but not annoyed, which was nice because, truthfully, I was annoyed enough at myself. My indecision meant I didn’t get anything because I couldn’t make up my mind.
“Yeah,” I sighed. “There are too many choices, so I’m gonna focus on LEGO, and that’ll be fine.”
“Nope. Bub, I’m sorry, that’s not gonna work for me.
We’re gonna get you the toys you need to be comfortable because it matters.
It’s important to me that you are. So how about this?
” Daddy stepped ahead to the first section, the crafts, and said, “Pick one from this section. Don’t think about it. Just pick the one you like the most.”
I shot him an uncertain look, but I stepped forward and followed instructions like I was told. I grabbed a friendship bracelet kit from the table and handed it to him.
“Are you telling me you’re a Swiftie?”
“Yes, and I’m not ashamed to say it.”
“Well then, I guess my mom knew what she was doing when she named me Travis.”
I laughed at him and started turning to leave the aisle.
“Where are you going? We’re not done.” This time, he guided us toward the science kits. “Now we gotta pick one of these.”
“Are you sure?”
Daddy came close and whispered, “Are you arguing with your Daddy ’cause that’s going to start off your playdate with a punishment. We’ve covered this.”
I nodded mutely and turned to ponder my choices. I debated with myself for a solid three minutes before I selected a crystal-growing kit. Daddy plucked it out of my hand and added it to the basket.
“Oh, good choice, those are really cool-looking.” I preened under his approving tone. “I hope you have a stuffie, yes?”
“Yep, I have a super cute puppy named Spot.”
“Does he have spots?”
“Nope, but he was sad about it, so I named him Spot so he’d have one.”
Daddy cuddled me close after my explanation. “You’re a sweet boy, bub.”
On our way back downstairs, Daddy kept me close, and I wasn’t mad about it. The space between big and little blurred when he was around, leaving me in a cozy cocoon that allowed me to be both without being forced to choose between them.
“I think Spot needs a friend or two.” Another squeeze, another cuddle, and we were on our way to find me a stuffie friend. Christmas music filled the store, and I happily hummed along to Rudolph and ran over Grandmas.
The rows of stuffed animals were a mountain of plush that was almost too much to focus on. There were so many options that if I’d been overwhelmed before, it was a hopeless task now. I stood frozen in the aisle before slowly moving forward.
“Let’s make it easier for you, bub.” Daddy offered. “Do you like baby dolls?”
“Nah, not really.”
“Okay, then let’s skip this whole section.”
Daddy ushered me to each section and let me decide to say maybe or reject it. It was methodical but fast. In under ten minutes, Daddy helped me narrow it down to sections I loved the most: real-looking animals, squishy cartoon stuff, and dinosaurs.
“Daddy, I’m not sure which one to pick now,” I worried.
I pursed my lips and studied them all. The cat to match Spot would be cute, but the dinosaur with his ruffled rainbow neck collar was adorbs, and a tea cup trio that held each other’s hands was the sweetest.
“Easy-peasy, bub. All of them.”