Page 12 of Their Perfect Daddy

I can’t resist telling him exactly how I feel about his opinion. “You know that football isn’t boring. We’ve talked about this so many times. Do you have any idea the commitment it takes to run those plays? The teams have to work together becoming a well-oiled machine to make passes and score. It’s not something boring. It’s athleticism at its best.”

Taking a deep breath, I dive into a series of questions about the game we attended together. I know he was distracted by someone on the field, but I need to know how much he actually absorbed.

Will I need to go to another game with him just to ensure he pays attention this time? Or maybe we can watch it on tv instead? The second option keeps us away from his brother, who’s watching me intently.

“You should definitely come to another game with him,” the far too sexy man tells me. “You know, to make sure he’s aware of how awesome it really is.”

Ugh.That stupid smirk of his.

He’s reading my mind, and I don’t like it one bit.

I’d pout if I didn’t think he’d enjoy it too.

Turns out the two of them were plotting some type of Christmas surprise for the player Micah is interested in. I’d say I’m surprised, except it would be a lie. My boss is efficient to his core. If he can coordinate this to his benefit, he’s all in.

While Micah spends the majority of his time and energy planning this surprise, I keep my focus on the business we run together. There’s no need for things here to dwindle while he has other stuff going on.

Besides, I know how to handle everything anyway. With how he set it all up, it’s easy enough for one of us to take control of things should the other need to focus on a particular client.

As much as I would normally complain about my friend being distracted, I’m thankful for it. His own plans make it to where he won’t notice how different I’m acting or how I’ve completely avoided the topic of his brother since his last visit.

Monty isnotsomeone I want to talk about.

He’s not even someone I want tothinkabout.

Yet I find myself doing just that. When I’m home alone, I talk aloud to myself as I try to reason where everything went wrong. And while at work, it takes everything I have not to picture him swaggering through the door with a smirk and a wink for me.

With multiple small holiday events to attend to, you would think my schedule is jam-packed enough to forget about him. Sadly, it’s not. Monty is just that big of a personality.

I don’t know if I’ll ever forget him.

Groaning at my internal thoughts, I decide it’s time for a mini break. Micah is out of the office running errands today, leaving me to man the boutique. We’ve had a few customers stroll in. None were quite ready to set up a schedule for their event.

A quick flip of the ‘away’ sign on the door gives me the peace I’ll need to relax for a few minutes. Rather than checking the sports sites, I pull up one of my other comforts: online shopping.

My weakness for pretty things goes all the way back to childhood. While other boys wanted to play with GI Joe and make muddy messes of themselves, I was sipping tea and deciding which dress went best with Barbie’s skin tone.

The preference never really went away.

Now, instead of dressing up other people’s dolls, I’m doing it to myself.

I pull up my favorite site for lingerie,UnderYou, and scroll to the clearance section. Their prices aren’t horrid, but my addiction is real. Blowing half a paycheck on pretty undergarments isn’t unheard of in my world.

It’s why I have to be super selective of what I buy. I get a few full priced items once a month. The rest of the time, I scavenge through clearance items. If it’s a costume instead of lingerie, then I’ll even look for something secondhand at the thrift.

One cannot be picky when on a limited budget.

A few minutes of scrolling through the options calms the swirling emotions inside me. I smile as I spot a matching baby blue garter and babydoll top. It’s perfect for my collection.

In a flash, I click purchase for the gorgeous creation, going so far as to even splurge on rush delivery. There’s nothing quite like getting a package in the mail with something only you know about.

I don’t have anywhere to wear the new piece. There is no chance of me being caught the way I was with Monty. My lingerie addiction is a secret. No one else would understand me.

Well, almost no one else.

I’m aware there are other people who prefer these types of clothing to traditional masculine wear. I’ve just never met any of them.

Part of me longs to. It would be amazing to swap favorite shopping websites with someone. Oh! Or to text a friend when I spot a sale and think they might like an item.

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