Page 41 of Snuggle Bug

A sense of peace washes over me as I glance around. Everyone here is after the same prize as we are, the one of Best Hugger. Not a soul in the Hug Club doesn’t share our same goal.

We’re competing with these other Littles, boys, brats, and Daddies, but we’re cut from the same cloth. In a very real way, we’re family, despite the fact that we’re going to fight like Spartans later. Well, sweet, cuddly Spartans. That’d make a great story.

I wriggle my bum as I lean against Greyson’s chest. I try not to get his arms around me, because Littles can’t hug their Daddies before the competition officially begins. The overseers of this contest take it very seriously.

I curl my toes, anticipation building inside of me. Any second, Bryce, who’s leading the contest, will bring us all in a circle and read out the rules.

I’m so glad that Greyson helped me go potty before we drove over. There’d be nothing worse than hugging my Daddy and then halfway through having to use the restroom. Wearing a diaper is against the rules, and without one, I’d automatically lose. We’d break our hug, and while I’m not totally sure how the competition is set up, I’m pretty sure that’d disqualify us. Length of hug must be an element in the judging. Whoever hugs their partners the longest surely will win a prize. I want to win a prize. Right?

My nose burrows into Greyson’s chest. "We’ve got this. We’re number one."

Greyson tousles my hair. "We sure are. However, you’d better not snuggle into my chest any more right now. We’ll be asked to leave."

BJ enters the playroom. He’s the only boy who could pull my attention away from Greyson. He wears coveralls with suspenders, a t-shirt with a digger, and light-up sneakers. He carries speakers that pump out the Bob the Builder theme song.

Bryce groans from across the room. "For goodness’ sake."

BJ ignores Bryce and makes a beeline for me. "I’m so happy to see you!"

I hug BJ, then leap back out of fear that I broke the rules. Then, I recall that the rules only apply to Daddies and their boys, not hugs between Littles and other Littles. "You look dressed to win."

BJ smoothes out his coveralls. "These old things? I pulled them out of the back of my closet and tossed them on. I’m heading to a construction rally after this to support better wages for working guys. I need to look the part."

Greyson nudges BJ’s side. "Bryce seems to think so, too."

I playfully punch his shoulder. "Maybe you and Bryce can dig together after the competition."

BJ sighs as he adjusts his suspenders. "I won’t get my hopes up. If I know Bryce as well as I think I do, he’s upset that I’m even here. He knows that I don't have anyone to hug, which means that I’m probably going to try to hug him even though he doesn’t want me to. He’s not wrong. That is my plan. Actually, I think he wants me, but he can’t admit it."

Bryce comes over to join us. "BJ, you didn’t sign up for the competition by the deadline. You’re ineligible."

BJ sniffles as he stares at the ground. "That’s because I didn’t have a Daddy to hug."

Greyson issues Bryce a stern look. "Come on, man. You’ve got a needy, cute boy here, and if you don't step up to the plate, he’s going to head home broken-hearted."

BJ issues Greyson a look. "Well, let’s not be dramatic. I’m a survivor. I’ll live."

Bryce grumbles as he crosses his arms over his chest. "Rules are rules. If you’d asked me earlier in the week, my answer might’ve been different."

BJ snorts. "No, it wouldn’t have been. That’s why I decided to pop by because I knew my chances would be better."

Bryce can’t help but sigh. "Okay, BJ. I’ll be your huggable Daddy tonight, but only for the contest. You look very cute in your coveralls and suspenders, and I’d never deny that. However, don't think that this means we’re on speaking terms after the competition ends. You get one hug. That’s it."

BJ’s eyes light up brighter than his sneakers. "You mean it?"

Bryce smiles as he wraps his arms around BJ. "I do."

They hug each other, lost in one another’s embrace. Magic seems to envelop them, and something tells me this is the first hug of many.

Waxley and Wren are watching the entire thing. "Hey!" Waxley shouts, marching over to us. "We saw that."

"Saw what?" BJ scratches his chin, prying his face out of Bryce’s furry, fluffy chest.

"You hugged your Daddy before the competition started! DISQUALIFIED!"

"Bryce isn’t my Daddy—" A look of realization crosses BJ’s face. He backs up and glares at Bryce. "Dang it, Bryce! We already lost."

"No, we didn’t." Bryce glances at the sign that very clearly tells them that they lost. "Ah, crap. You’re right. That’s what I get for going against my better judgment."

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