Page 49 of Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang Us, Daddy

“What’s wrong, little guy?” Nate asks. Benji doesn’t answer. Hecan’tanswer, judging by the heartbroken look on his face.

“We’re not allowed inside,” I finally tell Dad. “We used to come here when we were teenagers. We didn’t have a lot of money, so we couldn’t ever buy anything. They kicked us out and said we couldn’t come back.”

Nate glares at the store like it’s an affront to all he holds dear. I guess it is. “When was this?”

“About five or six years ago.” I know he won’t judge us for it, but I still feel embarrassed to admit we were sixteen years old and still visiting toy stores.

He looks down at me with the most determined expression I’ve ever seen. “Yes, well, we’ll see about that.” Grabbing each of our hands, he leads us into the store. I look around the shop, my feet just itching with anticipation. As I take in the scent of warm vanilla and Build-A-Bear happiness, I have a silly urge to rock back and forth on my heels like a child. I resist the urge. Benji, on the other hand, is having less success. He’s basically bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. He looks like he’s prettyclose to prying his hand out of Nate’s grip so he can rummage through the aisles the way we used to.

Unfortunately, I realize that’s probably not going to be possible once I see the woman behind the counter. It’s the same lady who kicked us out when we were teenagers, and she’s glaring at us like she has our faces memorized by heart. I guess the sight of two teenagers wearing matching clothes was enough to emblazon us into her memory. She’s staring right into my eyes, and it’s a look that makes me more than a little fearful.

“Marnie?” Daddy whispers to himself. Does he know her?

“Out,” she growls, looking almost feral. “Out, now! I won’t say it again. No vagrants, and no loitering. Not on my watch.”

Daddy’s face is redder than I’ve ever seen it. “Excuse me?”

The woman tears her eyes away from mine, and the moment she spots Nate, she freezes. “Nathan?”

“Mrs. McGuire.” The name is said calmly, but the look on his face is anything but. He’s out for blood. “Is there a problem?”

She’s smirking at us like she’s got some trump card up her sleeve, but as hard as I try, I can’t figure out what we ever did to deserve this much resentment. “They aren’t welcome here. We had to ban them for their treachery. They used to come in here and wander around for hours touching everything and moving inventory around.”

“That’s not true!” Benji shouts. “I touched the teddy bears, but I didn’t move anything.” He’s right. Benji was always very careful not to mess up the display racks. Oftentimes, he would pick up items that had been dropped, and he would place them neatly back in their home, claiming every customer deserved an untainted Build-A-Bear experience.

“Oh, you moved them all right. I spent hours cleaning up your mess.”

He shakes his head frantically. “She’s lying, Dad. I would never do that!” He stares at her looking almost heartbroken.“Why are you lying? Why are you always so mean?” There are tears forming in his eyes, but as soon as one falls, he wipes it away. “You didn’t have to be so mean. We never did nothing to you, and you took this place away from us. It was the only place we—we didn’t—I wouldn’t . . .” He stares up at Nate, pleading with his eyes. “Dad, I wouldn’t.”

“I know,” Nate insists. “Baby, I know. You’re my good boy, and you always tell the truth.” He stares into Benji’s eyes for what feels like minutes, studying him. “I believe you, buddy. I’ll always believe you.” He kisses the corner of Benji’s mouth, telling him, “I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.” When he breaks the embrace, he turns and approaches the counter, leaning against it once he gets there. “Why are you lying, Marnie?” He thrums his fingers against the counter, waiting patiently, his eyes locked on the jerk behind the counter. “Well?”

“I’m not lying.” She clears her throat and looks away. “They’re not welcome here. They’re not here for the Build-A-Bear experience, they just come in and wreak havoc. It would have been different if they actually bought something.” She locks eyes with me, making my knees go wobbly. “Little grifters, both of them.”

“Is that so?” He pulls out his wallet and removes a really pretty black credit card from his wallet. “Well, I planned on treating them today, but if our money’s no good here, I suppose I’ll have to order something online.” Before Benji can object, Dad shoots him a look that I can read a mile off. With a single glance, he’s asking Benji for patience. For him to trust in Daddy, because he has this. Benji must see it, too, because he doesn’t put up a fight.

Daddy leans over the counter again, giving us a delightful view of his ass. He’s got such a cute butt. It’s not overly large like Tatum’s, but it’s an absolute vision, nonetheless. His slacks are wedged between his cheeks, leaving nothing to the imagination.I wonder if he’ll ever let us play with it. Benji’s not big on rimming, but I kind of want to do it all the time. Just have Daddy lie on his back and let me make out with his hole for hours on end while he reads or watches television. Maybe I’ll ask him later.

“If it’s truly a problem, I don’t mind,” he says to her. “I love to shop online, so it won’t hurt my feelings.” He pauses, his fingers tap-tap-tapping against the counter. “I enjoy doing a lot of things online, actually. Leaving reviews for places I love. Sharing tidbits about my life to my internet followers. I have hundreds of Tallulahns at my fingertips.” He stands suddenly and slides his credit card back in his wallet. “They love a scandal, Mrs. McGuire.”

Her eyes widen. “Nathan, I?—”

Daddy smiles at her, but it doesn't seem super genuine. “I believe I may be a bisexual demisexual, Mrs. McGuire.” He cocks his head to the side, looking genuinely confused. “Well, maybe it’s demisexual bisexual. Honestly, I think we’re in a bit of a the-chicken-or-the-egg situation, because I'm not sure which part of the label comes first Then we add the new polyamorous angle, and it gets even more confusing.” Her eyebrows scrunch together in confusion, but Daddy just keeps talking. “You’re the first person I’ve come out to. I didn’t even realize I was stuck inside a closet, but my boys yanked that door right open, bathing me in the rainbow.” His eyes narrow. “Funny thing, closets. We all have them. Some are small, barely able to house much at all. Oh, but the big ones, Marnie? They can hide and hoard skeletons for years.” He cocks his head to the side, just staring at her, blinking slowly. “Three, four . . . five years’ worth of secrets. What kind of secrets are hiding in yours?”

“Nathan. Mr. St. James?—”

“It’s Doctor,” he corrects, his voice sharp and firm. “But I’ll let that slide. What I can’t let slide is your blatant cruelty, or theway you apparently enjoy bullying teenagers who had absolutely nothing but the clothes on their back, and this place as a refuge. Did it make you feel good, Marnie? Treating my boys like trash?”

“I didn’t?—”

“Golly,” he says with a lighthearted chuckle, cutting her off. “I can’t think of anything worse than bullying children.” Daddy chews his cheek as he stares into the distance, then he widens his eyes dramatically as if a lightbulb has just gone off in his head. Sure, his acting skills are lackluster at best, but seeing him like this—so overwhelmingly possessive of his boys—more than makes up for his flair for the dramatic. “Actually, I can think of something worse. Much worse, if I’m being honest.”

“Please,” she whispers, leaning closer. “Please, don’t do this.”

“How’s Reverend Matthews?” His words have a cold, menacing tone to them, and judging by the look of abject horror on her face, Marnie must know exactly what he’s talking about.

“F-fine,” she stutters. “He’s fine.”

Daddy nods. “And his wife? His seven children?”

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