Chapter 20
Grizzly
Draft day arrived like it did every year. Only this time was different because my Daddy was the coveted player.
The press had gotten wind about a week ago that Paxton had moved to Bellport and become my client. I wasn’t sure what tipped them off. All I knew was our phones at the office blew up the minute it leaked.
Coach after coach wanted to acquire him. They’d apparently been trying to work with his former agent to no success. When they split, the teams had no point of contact to discuss potential deals with.
I listened and replied to each of them. Never did I give a definitive answer as to what would happen even though I knew where Paxton was headed.
Royce had sent more than one email detailing how they were going to have the first coveted selection thanks to a bet in their favor.
They didn’t go into specifics, but I had hopes I’d learn one day.
One thing about Royce Bellport was that they knew how to get their way when they wanted something. Hell, all the Bellports did.
Paxton had opted to stay in town for the draft, rather than taking a trip to the event. He said being with me, his Dad, and the Princess Pack via video call was way more important than a room of people who would give him fake smiles.
I’d been happy with the choice since it meant I didn’t have to be fully on for the day. While I obviously couldn’t be Little thanks to the camera crew in Paxton’s living room, I still got to sit close to him, hold his hand, and genuinely be a part of his big moment.
Having been in this industry long enough to have sat beside a lot of clients on a lot of draft days, I’d never once gotten tired of the energy it brought.
It was the thing that made the job worth the rest of it.
The contracts, the cold calls, the late nights combing through performance data, the clients who were difficult, the ones who left without warning, and the ones you poured yourself into who flamed out before they finished a full contract. All of it was worth it for this part.
It was even better since my Daddy was the one in the spotlight.
Paxton had on a freshly pressed button-down and slacks. He looked more businessman than athlete for the moment, though his muscles straining against the fabric definitely alluded to his size. He had one hand in mine, the other between his dad’s hands.
He didn’t bounce his leg. Didn’t fidget at all.
Calm.
That’s how he appeared. And it’s how he made me feel.
When they announced him as a Bellport Blue Jay, cheers echoed around us. From the tv, to the video call, to his own father, it was chaos. Paxton simply smiled through it all. He didn’t ham it up for the cameras or do the opposite and make it seem like no big deal.
Instead, he gave a small speech about what an honor it was to be with his dream team before hugging his dad and then me. I could see the camera people raising their brows, though no one said anything.
Even when they broke down their equipment after the live part was over, they didn’t bring it up. I could sense their judgment though. For the first time, I worried if our relationship was going to cause him problems.
As if he could sense my worry, he pulled me into the kitchen away from the final goodbyes. I looked at him with wide eyes.
He leaned close, whispering, “I can see you’re overthinking, baby. There is nothing wrong about us or this deal. You are my future as much as this team is. Don’t let anyone’s opinion change that.”
I had to trust what he said even though my gut told me it would come back to bite me in the ass later.
Royce Bellport ran meetings efficiently and without a lot of ceremony. They had a taken over the team when their brother Bellamy had purchased it on behalf of his husband, Finn. While Royce had run many businesses, they’d never taken on a team.
Still, I couldn’t ask for a better point of contact. We’d interacted enough to have a good rapport. It helped that Royce was dominant to their submissive partner, Kenneth, who also happened to be the former owner of the team and Royce’s old bully.
Yeah, I know. It’s a fucking trip here in Bellport.
Royce and Kenneth greeted us the minute we walked into the conference room at the stadium. They had a lawyer present, along with some other staff—likely to talk money, logistics, and the like.
It could have felt suffocating. But really, it felt more like a small party. A celebration of new opportunities ahead.
Royce opened with the numbers. No preamble or flattery, just the full offer laid out in a simple format. I’d already gone over everything, so I knew what to expect. Paxton did too since I didn’t keep anything from him.
To keep up appearances though, my Daddy read the whole thing again, line by line. I’d coached him on this part since not everyone knew how involved we both were in this selection. Had they, it might have affected the draft in a way we didn’t want.
People always wanted to prosecute others who used their connections in life to get ahead. As if that wasn’t the way everything in life was done. Even mom and pop type places chose family over letting someone else come in to help.
Read it completely before your face does anything, I had told him. You have to pretend this is all new.
The room was quiet as he penciled in notes here and there on the pages. I watched with a close, professional eye. Right now, he was Paxton. Not Daddy. I had to keep reminding myself as much with so many eyes on us.
After he looked through it all, Paxton handed me the stack. “Take a look at my notes,” he said.
We spent an hour going back and forth with Royce’s staff. They made amendments to the contract—which were things we’d already agreed to but clearly Royce had changed to make the negotiations look more authentic.
Once the contract was solid, it was time to dive into money and training structures. Royce had been letting Paxton train with the team a bit here and there. It was a discreet setup to make sure no one found out where he was getting drafted before things were official.
Now though, Paxton would be brought in full-time. All eyes would be on him as he showed why he was a number one draft pick.
I had no doubt my Daddy would live up to the hype.
Royce shook my hand and then Paxton's, and Kenneth did the same. There was a moment after the formal parts were over when Royce looked at Paxton with an amused expression and said, "We're glad you chose Bellport."
Paxton smiled back. "Bellport felt like home the minute I heard about it. Everything I’ve ever wanted is here."
Then he looked at me, just for a second. Royce let out a knowing laugh, not even stopping when I scowled at them. Kenneth smirked, though he had the decency to not be so obvious.
Cheyenne and Moseley were waiting somewhat patiently at the office when we came to drop the paperwork off. They didn’t need to be there. It was technically their day off with the draft happening.
There wasn’t an ounce of surprise in me at their choice to come in. They both knew we were meeting with Royce and the team. I’m sure they wanted to gossip, and maybe even congratulate Paxton.
“It’s official!” Cheyenne clapped, her smile so wide I knew her cheeks would hurt later. “How does it feel, Paxton?”
“It feels epic. Like the joy of a plan finally coming together how you’d hoped. I couldn’t have asked for a better day,” he replied while I went to put the papers on my desk.
I heard the group following me, which had me smiling. Those three weren’t going to let me miss a second of the story time.
Moseley had been quiet as Cheyenne peppered Paxton with questions. After I laid the papers on my desk, I turned to face him.
He was very obviously holding himself back. His body shook with restraint, kind of like when a Little has too much sugar and doesn’t want to admit it to anyone. I smiled at the idea since I’d seen Monty’s partner Danny in the exact same state a few times.
A pause in the conversation had me turning to Paxton. He watched Moseley with a raised brow, as if to ask what he needed.
"Do you want… can I… would it be weird if I…”
"Moseley," Paxton said warmly.
He sighed, his shoulders dropping. "Yeah?"
"Come here and hug me."
Moseley crossed the distance in a quick shuffle. Paxton caught him in a brief, solid hug, and Moseley emerged from it looking less frazzled. His smile seemed more genuine too.
I found that I didn't mind it at all. Moseley needing a hug didn’t mean he wanted to take my Daddy away. Especially since I didn’t know if my employee was even kinky. That was a thought for a much later date and time.
Cheyenne hugged Paxton next, taking the opportunity since we were all being open. It was when she came to hug me that I felt tears well in my eyes. Affection like this, so freely given, always undid me.
She pulled back and smoothed the front of my jacket with brisk, practical pats.
"Okay, people. We need to eat and chat. I want all the details of today. Should we order in or go out?"
"Let’s go eat somewhere. I want to be out with the people of Bellport,” Paxton suggested. “I don’t want them to see me as a celebrity or anything. Better they get used to me now.”
It was a smart move. One I hoped would pay off in the future.
Paxton's dad was at an empty table in Hazel’s when we got there. He waved us over with a wide grin that matched his son’s. The resemblance between them became more obvious. It made me wonder if Paxton would look that way when he was older.
The thought made me freeze, my heart lurching in my chest. With my condition, I might never actually see him that way. Forget the age gap part of it. I’d be blind before he went gray and rugged.
I fought to shake off the sadness trying to grip me. It wasn’t the time or place. I could wallow alone at home later.
Paxton had apparently texted his dad as the group was deciding where to eat, and the man had gotten in his car immediately to meet us. He was already several bites into one of Hazel's famous biscuits when we reached him.