Chapter 2
After the awkward meeting with Manny, Koa decided to stick to playing for the rest of the evening. He didn't want to end up in another situation where his mouth got the best of him. It was fine. It would be fine. He just needed some time to himself.
Ethan played with him for as long as he could, but eventually his phone rang and he had to leave.
That job of his was annoying. Koa hated how it made his friend jumpy.
He hated seeing the exhaustion on his friend's face anytime he came into the club after a long day.
And this time he was having to go back instead of getting to go home like he should have been.
Koa scowled at the thought. What could he do? How could he make things better? He paused to think it through.
He was startled from the moment when a hand landed against his lower back. He turned to see who had approached him.
It was Manny.
"Are you okay, Koa?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Koa nodded. "I am just thinking about my friend."
Manny nodded and dropped into a squat, bringing his face closer to Koa's. "Do you mean your friend who was just here? Ethan?"
"Yes, that's him," Koa replied.
Manny hummed. "Do you want to share what's going on? Is it something that's not private? Maybe I can help."
Koa tilted his head, taking in the man before him.
Had he seen him out on the street, he would have been intrigued.
Manny was very handsome and the soft energy he gave out was like catnip for Koa.
Though having him in this space, being a Daddy and an employee of the club, made things difficult.
Not because they weren't allowed to date employees.
There was no rule in place. Love could find anyone at any moment.
Given the current situation of his life, in which he had embarrassed himself earlier that night, he wanted to retreat into himself.
But what if Manny had the answers he needed? What if his mind, his Daddy mind, was capable of finding a solution?
Koa took a deep breath. "It's just that he works a really hard job and sometimes, like tonight, that job calls him in. We were playing and he was happy, and now I know he's not."
Manny's hand was still pressed against his back. The touch was warm and grounding.
"That must be frustrating. You want him to be happy all the time, but as his Big side, he has to work."
Koa quickly shook his head. "He doesn't though. I told him to come work here. I give him work." His Little side started to slip out as his frustration grew.
Manny's thumb began stroking against his spine. Even through the onesie he could feel the touch. It was exciting and comforting. Everything that a Daddy would do for their boy.
Except Manny wasn't his Daddy. He pushed the thoughts down, focusing on what Manny was going to say.
"I think," Manny started, "that you could be supportive of him. Sometimes people need their own situations to be brought to light in a different manner. It may be that it takes more time for him to see that his lifestyle isn't making him as happy anymore."
"But how do I support him?" Koa asked.
Manny smiled. It was all warm and fuzzy.
It made Koa feel like he did when he held Mr. Teddy at home.
He wrapped his arms around his middle at the thought of his bear and how he wanted him there in that moment.
He was too worried he would reach out and hug Manny instead. That would totally not be appropriate.
"You could do something that you know he likes. Is there anything that he favors? Something that makes him happy that you can do that won't disrupt him?"
Koa closed his eyes for a minute to think. What did Ethan enjoy? His friend did love cuddles, like him, which was why he was great at running the Sunday Snuggles. But he also loved food and coloring. He liked to play pretend.
But how could he get any of those things to Ethan at work?
Then a memory hit him like lightning. Koa recalled a time that Ethan came into the club and started to not feel well.
He remembered that Jacob, their chef, had made a special soup.
Ethan had gobbled it down and felt better within the hour.
Koa remembered how Jacob had jumped to help.
How he’d stopped playing with the others and went into the kitchen to make the food.
"I could bring him some soup," Koa finally said, blinking his eyes open and refocusing on the man in front of him.
"Soup?" Manny questioned.
"Yeah. Soup. Jacob make."
Manny gave a slow nod. "Jacob is the chef, right? I think I met him earlier. Real nice guy."
Koa bounced from his kneeling position. "Very nice. Jacob, nice Daddy."
The word hung between them after Koa said it.
Not in a bad way, but he could see Manny's eyes sparkle like he enjoyed hearing Koa say it.
A lot of Daddies were that way. The title made them proud and happy, especially when it came from a Little.
Koa had to remind himself yet again that Manny wasn't his Daddy and he probably should limit the word around him.
"I go talk Jacob," he muttered, closing the coloring book he'd still been using and tucking the crayons away in the bucket.
He went to stand to put them up but was stopped by Manny's hands covering his.
"I've got this. You go talk to Jacob. Do you want me to come with you?"
Koa was about to tell him no because he had to stick around and finish handling his duties at leading the mixer. But then he realized the room was empty. Not even Briar had stuck around.
How late had it gotten? How had he not realized that he was alone with this new employee, this new distraction?
Koa bit his lip. Manny took a moment to put the coloring book and crayons away, then approached Koa. His fingers went to Koa's chin, holding his jaw steady.
"I would love to help you, but if you don't need me to go with you, or if I am coming on too strong, you can tell me to stop. Whatever makes you most comfortable, Koa."
Koa took a deep breath then blew it out slowly. He brought his hand up between them and wiggled his fingers.
He didn't have words for what he wanted. Couldn't explain why he felt so comfortable around Manny even after the flub of his words. There was just something about him. Something that spoke to Koa's Little side and demanded he look closer at the other man.
Manny pretty much read his mind, taking the wiggling fingers in his hand and following Koa through the open doorway.
Manny hit the lights on the way out and then closed the door.
They would need to lock it up later, but no one would use the space when it was empty.
Plus, they had cameras everywhere in the foyer.
It was a safety precaution in case anyone came in and caused trouble.
Koa led Manny through the club and back towards the kitchen. It was late enough that Jacob had probably already started making snacks for the next day. He often spent time in the club being a Daddy to littles who needed someone or tucked away in the kitchen creating meal ideas and preparing food.
When Koa and Manny came through the doorway, Jacob looked up from where he was stirring a bowl of batter on the counter. His face scrunched up.
"Koa, what's wrong?" His eyes went to Manny. "Hey… is he okay? What's happening?"
Jacob let the batter sit and dusted his hands on his apron. Koa went up to him, tugging Manny along because he refused to let go. Their hands just fit so perfectly together. Why would he ever want to not be holding Manny's hand? Why would he ever let go?
"Ethan," Koa said. Before he could finish sharing the news, Jacob stood up straighter and moved closer.
"What's wrong with Ethan?" he rushed out.
Koa shook his head. "He go work. He not happy."
Jacob looked from Koa to Manny and back. Koa was frustrated. He wanted to say more, to do more, but his Little mind had taken over and forming the words was hard.
Manny squeezed his hand, then moved up closer behind him.
"What Koa is trying to tell you is that he is worried about Ethan.
Apparently they'd been playing and Ethan got called into work for something.
Koa thinks that Ethan's job is being difficult right now and his friend is a bit stubborn about it. Do you know anything about this?"
Jacob's shoulders dropped. "Yes, I'm familiar. The stubborn boy won't listen to anyone who suggests he makes a change, but I'm not sure what I can do."
Koa listened to the two men, wishing they would hurry up and get to the point. He tugged on Manny's hand, which the other man acknowledged with a squeeze back.
"Koa thinks that Ethan would like some of your cooking," Manny continued. "Apparently you made him something one time when he was sick."
Jacob transformed then. His body straightened and a smile bloomed across his face. "Yes, I remember. It was one of my proudest moments."
Koa froze at that. He could feel Manny stroking his hand, but his mind went into overdrive at Jacob's words.
Did Jacob like Ethan? Did he want to be his Daddy?
And if so, why hadn't he done anything? Why hadn't he made a move?
Ethan was a nice person and very sweet. It wasn't as if Jacob didn't have a chance with him.
"I'll make him some soup," Jacob said, "but one of you will have to take it to him. Or maybe the two of you together?" The last part came out as a question as his eyes tilted down to where Manny and Koa had their hands locked together.
Koa nodded, then turned his eyes up to Manny. "You take. We soup."
He blinked a few times because in his head the words had been right, but out loud they didn't seem to make sense. Manny chuckled. "Yes, we can take the soup to him, as long as you know where his office is."
Koa smiled and bounced on his toes. "I know, I know!" he cheered.
Jacob and Manny both laughed at his excited energy. "Then give me about half an hour to get it together," Jacob said. "I know that Dill brought some fresh veggies around that he had extra. I'll put them to good use. Why don't you two go play for a bit? I'll come find you when it's ready."
Koa's eyes went wide at the suggestion. With the Monday mixer over and the time of waiting to go to Ethan in place, there wasn't anything else for him to do.
He had already finished the work that Briar had allotted for him as far as the club went, and he would typically go play in the main area with the other littles.
But there was Manny. And Manny was a Daddy.
And Jacob had just implied that the two of them should do something together.
Manny smiled softly, then gave Jacob a nod and turned back towards the door, pulling Koa behind him.
Once they were out of the kitchen, Manny paused.
He pulled Koa into a secluded corner, took both of his hands in his, and said, "We don't have to play or do any type of scene if you don't want to.
But if you're open to the idea, I would like to be your Daddy, even if it's temporary. "
Koa's entire body shook with the idea. Manny wanted to be his Daddy, even just to play.
Most people were intimidated by his role as part owner of the club.
They heard what he did and made judgments.
But Manny didn't seem to mind. He treated Koa like he would any other little.
It was an opportunity Koa might never get again, which meant it was very easy for him to say his next words.
"Yes, please."