Page 97 of Their Perfect Daddy

Bellamy claps, drawing everyone’s attention. “In that case, let’s get to painting. Since Jett’s Daddy organized everything, he gets to pick his first. After that, each boy will choose what they want, as well as deciding if they want their Daddy’s help or not.”

Jake snorts. “I don’t need no help.”

Leon and Maddox, his Daddies, share a look. It’s filled with amusement over their boy’s antics. “Sure you don’t,” Maddox croons.

“We’ll sit back and watch.” Leon tugs Maddox away while I reach for the kit I’m most interested in.

The others might see something simple when they see the one I picked. It’s smaller than the rest. Since it’s also one of the only wooden options, it doesn’t offer any type of mechanical challenge.

But the beauty of its simplicity is what I want. To sink into my Little space with my little train and my Little friends… it’s a gift.

No sooner than we get started, I hear Jake begin to whine. His daddies let him stew for a few minutes, then they jump in to show him where he took a misstep. It’s all white noise as I focus on my own project.

Time passes in a blur as I give in to the part of me that wants to let go. I’m stopped to hydrate and eat snacks a few times. Otherwise, I’m left to explore however I want. I pause when my stomach lets out a god-awful noise.

Blinking away the lingering playful emotions, I take in the state of things around me. Most of the others have finished their projects and are either working on a second or cuddled with their partners. Even when it makes me miss my Daddy, I don’t feel as alone either.

“How you doing there, Jett?”

I look over to see Timothy, Jake’s assistant, leaning against the table beside me. Smiling at him, I motion to my project. I managed to make it look exactly like the image on the box, down to the finest of details.

“Oh wow! How amazing,” he says, leaning closer to inspect it. “You’re really good at this.”

Nodding, I wait for whatever he wants to say next. While I could offer up a discussion topic, I have a feeling he has a specific reason for checking in on me.

It takes him another moment to turn back my way. “I just wanted to let you know I’m glad you came. I don’t really get to hang out much since my Daddy prefers not to show favoritism. Occasionally I get to spend time with Atlas for a playdate, but nothing this big.”

“I didn’t set this up,” I tell him.

He smiles. “I know. But you’re the reason behind it. That’s why I’m thanking you. If your Daddy hadn’t asked Bellamy to do this, then I’d have missed out too. So yeah.”

I watch him spin around and rush off. He runs straight into the arms of Luke Swift, coach of the Bellport Bears hockey team. Coach Swift looks over to me, then nods his head. I know he’s giving me some type of code about everything that’s just happened. It’s natural for me to return the gesture, though I have no clue what to think of all this.

This group of people gathered here today in support of me and my Daddy. They spent a holiday dedicated to romance painting model trains. They didn’t once complain about my silence, nor did they rush me.

While I can’t explain the rush of emotions I get from these realizations, I do understand one of them clearly. I’m grateful.

Grateful for my friends.

Grateful for my Daddy.

And grateful for a future filled with more of these nights.

CHAPTER 33

DADDY ALLIANCE GROUP CHAT

Aries:

*Clears throat*

Aries:

Ahem! GentleDaddies of the Alliance Chat, I come to thee today to induct a new member to our organization.

Bellamy:

Oh, good grief. Could you just tell us who it is?

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