Page 19 of Little Bedtime Snack

“Think about who has tomorrow off.” His voice was light and completely unbothered. He figured out something I’d missed.

It took me a few seconds, but then I realized what he meant. “Jeb.” It was his one day off this week.

“Yes. Jeb. Not only does he have tomorrow off, but when I called him to see if this was something you might like, he offered to take over for you.”

I really did have the best friends ever. I was going to make it up to him.

“You did all of that for me? Both of you?”

“Of course. You need some sleep, and besides, I miss you. Please say you accept.”

“Yes, Daddy. I accept. I can’t wait! What should I bring?”

We spent the next hour going over details, and then he had to get to a meeting. Only this time, I didn’t mind because in the morning, I was going to board a plane and finally see my Daddy.

14

MASON

Seeing Eli wearing himself out to the point of exhaustion while I was a thousand miles away was crushing me. I knew why he had been holding back letting me know how bad it was, not wanting me to worry. What would be the point, practically speaking. From where I was, I couldn’t really do much to help him.

Understanding his reasons and liking them were two very different things. I wanted him to come to me no matter what and was glad when he finally did. I told him as much, and he promised to try and be better about it. It wasn’t like I was one to talk. There had been times I hadn’t been as open with him as I should’ve been. This kind of love was new to me. It wasn’t me enjoying spending time together with a like-minded man. No, this was a relationship, one I wanted to last forever.

When I got the idea to fly him out here, I called Jeb first to make sure that it was doable. His bestie was the reason I met Eli in the first place, and since they worked together, he had the intel I needed. Their work wasn’t what you’d call overly employee-friendly, and I didn’t want to put Eli in a position where I wasasking him to choose me over work—which I had inadvertently done when I invited him on my trip.

But also, it was either I cut my time here short and messed up some very big deals to go and take care of him, or I flew him here, gave him a fun adventure, and took care of him here. Obviously, I liked one of the options much better, but if it meant risking his job, I’d take the other without a shred of disappointment. My goal was to be there for Eli, whatever that looked like.

Jeb surprised me by letting me know that it was his day off and that he would gladly help cover his shift. He, too, was an adorable Little. I was hoping he was going to find a Daddy of his own soon. The two of them were great friends, and it would be nice for him to find what he wanted in life.

In between meetings, I drove to the airport and waited at the door to baggage claim for Eli to walk out. Every time the door swished open and a new group came through, I looked eagerly for him.

And then finally, there he was.

I saw him before he saw me, and I got to witness the exact moment he realized I was there. His face lit up, and, carry-on in hand, he started to run in my direction, dropping it and throwing his arms around me.

“I missed you so much.” He hugged me so tightly.

“I missed you too, sweet boy. I missed you too.” More than words could describe.

The ride back to the hotel was short, and he spent it telling me all about his travels—about how he kept his bunny in hishoodie pocket the entire time, how the person next to him said he reminded her of her grandson, and how he learned far more about said grandson than he knew about some of his own friends.

But in between talking points, he yawned.

My sweet boy was exhausted.

I’d already checked into a new room, getting us a suite with a nice bath, a place where we could dine if we chose to stay in, and an amazing view of the city. My boy deserved to be pampered.

“I’ve never been in a place like this,” he said, twirling around, taking it all in. “Wow.”

“I thought you’d like it.”

“When do you have your meeting?”

I looked down at my watch. It was soon—and it wasn’t going to happen. Now that he was here and I saw firsthand how badly he needed sleep, that was my priority.

Before I set my phone down for the afternoon, I texted my apologies, telling them I was stuck in another meeting and would see them at dinner. Then I did something I rarely did to my boy: I lied.

“Tomorrow, sweet boy, and I don’t have to be anywhere else today until happy hour.”

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