ONE
CALLOWAY
"No, BJ!"
I pout as my friend BJ steals my steamship and places it on his dump truck. It’s not fair. We’re playing Sea Rescue in the Hug Club’s main playroom, not Construction Yard.
I’m not even sure why he has his dump truck out. Last week, we pretended that we were builders for seven days straight. That’s the game he wanted to play. Now, it’s time for my game of choice.
BJ ignores me. "Your steamship zoomed into my construction yard."
"No, it didn’t."
"Yes, it did."
"There are no construction yards in the ocean. Damnit, BJ. You’re always doing this."
BJ gasps as he finally ticks his eyes up. "You said a bad word."
I slam my hands over my lips. Whoops. The Hug Club gives us Littles free rein to do what we enjoy most of the time, but cursing while playing is a no no. It’s the third rule on the sign posted next to the toy counter. The sign also stipulates that, even if you have club bucks to spend, their value will plummet to zero if a Daddy in the club catches you speaking a naughty.
"You made me do it." I stick my nose in the air.
BJ tsk tsks me. "You’re lucky I’m not a tattletale. But you’ll have to be more careful from now on. Someone who’s meaner than me will make your life hell."
I glare at BJ. "Now who’s swearing?"
"I didn’t swear." I see the gears turning in BJ’s head. It’s not long before he drops his dump truck and slams his own hands over his lips. "Oh, crap. I did."
"You just did it again. You said crap."
"Ah, crap!"
My Daddy Greyson waddles over. "Hey, beautiful boys. What are you up to?"
I look up… and smile as I take in my beautiful Daddy. No words can describe how perfect he is. He’s the cuddliest, sweetest man in New York, and he always cooks the best meals for me.
Greyson has been my Daddy since last year when I turned eighteen. We met on an app for Daddies and Littles, and when he invited me to play with him at the Hug Club, we clicked instantly.
I like everything about him. His big, cozy body; his protective arms; and his ability to speak what’s in his heart. He’s certainly not as teary as my friend Waxley’s Daddy, Wren, but he can still open up to me when the time is right.
Greyson is the best Daddy a boy could ask for, but there’s one thing that he refuses to help me with. It’s a gift that every Daddy should give to their boy when they’re ready.
He won’t take my virginity.
I forget all about curse words, dump trucks, and steamships as I leap up, pitch toward Greyson, and thrust my arms around him. "Hi, Daddy."
"Are you keeping the passengers on your ship safe?" Greyson tousles my hair.
I melt under his touch, my nervous Little soul more relaxed than a baby bunny that’s experiencing his mother’s love for the first time. "BJ’s ruining the game for me, but I’m doing my best."
BJ shoots me a death glare. "I’m making Sea Rescue even better."
Greyson glances at BJ’s dump truck that seems to be smiling like a googly-eyed automobile from Bob the Builder. "I’d better not ask why there’s a truck in the middle of the ocean."
"I’m building the first water-resistant construction yard. Only the best builders can pull it off." BJ is way too confident for my liking. "Like me and Bob."
I roll my eyes. "Buzz off, BJ."