Page 23 of Just A Little Joy
“No, that’s definitely not what I was trying to say. I meant I didn’t know you were going to be here, but I’m really glad you are. I hope you’re having fun. But Jakob said you needed help, so what do you need me to help you with?”
“Why didn’t you just say that?”
“Believe it or not, I was trying to say that. Can you tell me what you need?”
“Zipper’s stuck. I pulled, and I pulled, and I pulled, and it just keeps getting more stucker.”
“Did you know I’m a pro on zipper unsticking? Come here, and I’ll see if I can prove it.” Casey’s skeptical look made it obvious what he thought about that. He didn’t move closer. “C’mere. Let me help you.”
“You gotted a trophy?”
“Well, no, but my mom said I was really good at it.” Casey didn’t look like he believed me any more now than before, but he at least moved closer so I could see what I needed to untangle. “Oh, man, you got it snarled good.” The moving zipper part—did that have a real name?—was snagged deep into the fabric.
“I sorry.”
“Shh, stop. You didn’t do anything wrong. The zipper is the one being naughty, so it should be the one apologizing.”
That silly idea was enough for Casey to settle back down and wait mostly patiently for me to unstick everything and get him properly suited up.
My mind wanted to wander into dangerous territory. If I let myself, I’d get distracted by how cute the gym bro with the sunny smile looked in his snowman onesie. He smelled like chocolate and oranges, which happened to be my favorite combo in the entire world. It was like the universe had created some giant conspiracy to help me lose my mind. Casey’s skin was tantalizingly close, and it would be the easiest thing in the world for me to brush against him.
“Gonna fix it?” I heard the worry in Casey’s voice, and he had good reason. I didn’t know he’d done it, but it was wedged tight.
“I’m still working on it, bub. It’s hard to be patient when your friends are waiting, huh?”
“It is! The club is ’ecial.”
“Yeah, why’s that?” If I kept him distracted by talking, I’d get to listen to the soft cadence of his voice and distract him from less-than-stellar unzipping techniques.
“It is ’cause I don’t get to come too much.” Casey paused, then added with extra emphasis, “Or ever. It my first time.”
“Oh yeah? When then I’d best get a move on so you can have all the time you want. How come you’ve never been before?”
“Silly! It costed lots and lots of money,” Casay said with an easy shrug, and I felt like an ass. I was raised in a blue-collarhouse, and my dad would have kicked my ass on the spot if he ever heard me asking such an obvious question. I knew what Casey drove and where he lived. I knew the cost of the club was pricy because I’d paid my damn membership fees. Rather than stick my foot further down my throat, I forced myself to keep yanking on the zipper until I felt a tiny, almost microscopic, movement.
“Bub, it moved a little. Maybe it’s gonna work.”
“Good job, Travvy.” The clapping that followed the kudos was a nice touch, but it was the nickname that caught my attention. Absolutely no one in the world called me Travvy except my mom’s aunt, and I hated it. But that definitely wasn’t the feeling I got when Casey said it. It was much closer to hot and bothered.
“Aw, thanks. Keep your fingers crossed because I think it’s moving.” I glanced up in time to see Casey with his eyes squeezed tight, fingers crossed, and arms crisscrossed over his chest. Well, damn, I better not fuck this one up. With one more prayer to whoever might be listening, I gave a final yank.
Success.
“Travvy, you did it!! Good job!”
“Aww, thanks, bub.” I paused when I realized I wasn’t sure if he’d been trying to get into the onesie or out of it. And that, of course, sent a flood of X-rated fantasies about the naughty options of stripping him out of it and discovering what was hidden under the jeans or gym shorts I usually saw him in. “Are you getting in or out of being a snowman?”
“I’m gonna be a snowman ’cause I wanna have my little clothes night,” Casey answered mulishly. The defensiveness in his tone was plain, and I knew where it likely came from. Though if I was here tonight, the explanations were simple: Daddy or boy. Still, given his little state of mind, that likely hadn’t occurred to him yet. He was still processing that I’d seen himhere and now knew his secret, which didn’t ever need to be a secret from me.
“In that case, you’re good to go. Need the potty before I finish zipping?” Rather than answer, Casey folded his arms across his broad chest and set his lips in a thin line. It was a little remarkable given how pouty they were naturally. “Hey, none of that. It’s a yes or no question. Yes, I’ll wait to zip. No, I’ll zip now. Which is it?” While I waited for an answer, I raised my eyes to the aged copper ceiling. When Barrett had proudly mentioned that Owen had thought about every inch of this space, he wasn’t kidding.
The next thirteen seconds of my life might have been the longest since I hung up my skates. But at fourteen seconds, Casey admitted he needed to potty before he finished. Silently, I turned my back and gave him some privacy to handle his business. When I heard the water faucet turn on, I turned back around to hand him a few paper towels while I carefully pulled up the zipper to avoid any more mishaps.
“You did a good job!”
“Thanks, bub. You ready to join your friends? I bet they’re waiting on you.” Right on cue, when I pushed open the door, there was a wall of littles standing breathlessly outside. Rory, red curls partially hidden under an elf’s cap, stepped forward. Next to him, Jakob, in a matching hat, held hands with Owen, who partially hid his face behind a bottle he clutched along with the worn stuffie in his arms. Nico stood next to all of them, looking like a sentry with fantastic hair.
“Gentlemen, I suspected you’d all be here. See, Casey? Just like I thought, your friends are waiting for you.” Casey inched closer to me, and my heart swelled against my rib cage over the protective feeling. The warmth that started in my core quickened its pace, and I felt the flood of happiness that accompanied it.