Page 4 of Joining Little Jessica

Sebastian’s gaze softened as he watched her, his heart skipping a beat when she paused for a moment to catch her breath, looking around the room with a shy, almost hesitant smile.

Forrest, too, was watching her, his normally stoic expression giving way to something gentler. “There’s something about her,” he said, echoing Sebastian’s earlier sentiment. “She’s delicate. Innocent.”

Sebastian nodded, feeling the same tug of protectiveness that had hit him earlier. “I don’t know what it is. But I want to meet her.”

Rowan grinned, clearly amused by the sudden seriousness of his friends. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go introduce ourselves before someone else does.”

Without hesitation, Rowan started weaving his way through the crowd, motioning for Sebastian and Forrest to follow. They exchanged a glance but didn’t argue—there was a shared sense of urgency now, a need to meet the girl who had so quickly captured their mutual attention.

As they approached, Sebastian’s pulse quickened. The girl was still playing with other Littles, unaware of the trio’s approach. Up close, she looked even smaller than Sebastian had realized, her movements light and carefree, with an air of vulnerability that only made him want to protect her more.

“Excuse me,” Rowan said brightly as they neared, his voice friendly but clearly directed toward her. “Mind if we join the game?”

The girl stopped mid-step, her eyes widening in surprise, and perhaps a healthy dose of fear as she turned toward them. For a brief moment, she froze, glancing between the three men who now stood before her. Her gaze lingered on Sebastian, recognition flickering in her dark eyes.

Sebastian crouched down, trying to make himself less imposing as he gave her a small reassuring smile. “Hi. I saw you earlier today. You’re hard to miss, sweetheart.”

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she ducked her head slightly, her fingers twisting in the hem of her skirt. “Hi,” shemurmured, her voice barely audible above the chatter of the room.

“I’m Rowan,” Rowan said with a wide, friendly grin, clearly eager to break the ice. “This is Forrest and Sebastian. We’re here for the holiday celebrations. You?”

The girl glanced up at them again, her shyness evident, but there was a spark of curiosity in her eyes now. “I’m Jessica,” she said softly, her voice gaining a little more confidence. “I’ve been at the Ranch for a while now.”

Sebastian’s heart thudded in his chest at hearing her name. Jessica. It suited her, sweet and simple, like her presence.

“Well, Jessica,” Forrest said, his voice calm and reassuring, “we’re glad to meet you. You seem to be having a lot of fun.”

Jessica smiled shyly, glancing toward her Little friends who were still giggling and playing nearby. “Yeah. It’s fun here.”

Rowan, never one to miss an opportunity, took a playful step forward. “Do you mind if we hang out with you for a bit? We’re new here, and we could use someone to show us around. Maybe even teach us how to have some fun, Little style?”

Jessica giggled, the sound light and musical. “I don’t know if I’m the best teacher,” she said, her voice still soft but warming up to them. “But I guess I could try.”

Sebastian felt a swell of warmth in his chest, his nerves melting away as her smile grew. There was something incredibly disarming about her, something that made him want to protect her while also making her smile like that again.

“We’d appreciate that,” Sebastian said, his voice soft but carrying a sincerity that made Jessica meet his gaze again.

The event organizer suddenly stepped up to the stage, announcing that the icebreaker game would start soon, encouraging everyone to find partners.

Jessica glanced around nervously, her fingers fidgeting with her skirt again. The energy in the room shifted as Littles began pairing off with their caregivers or other guests.

“Looks like it’s time to partner up,” Rowan said, winking at Jessica. “How about it, Jessica? Want to team up with us?”

She blinked, her wide eyes darting between the three men, clearly surprised by the offer. “With all three of you?”

Sebastian chuckled softly, sensing her hesitation. “We won’t make you choose. We’re all in this together.”

Jessica bit her lip, her gaze flicking back to Sebastian, and then she nodded, her smile returning. “Okay, I’d like that. But if we’re going to be partnering up... you should probably call me Jessie.”

And just like that, the tension Sebastian had been feeling all evening faded into something softer, something warmer. There was a sense of anticipation in the air now, not just for the game, but for what the night might bring. Meeting Jessica felt like a new beginning, a spark of something more.

As the icebreaker began and the group moved into the activity, Sebastian, Rowan, and Forrest couldn’t help but feel that this was more than just another night on the Ranch.

It was the start of something bigger, something that connected all of them to Jessica in a way none of them could quite explain.

And none of them were in any hurry to resist it.

CHAPTER 3

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