Page 38 of Just A Little Joy

“Or, and hear me out, you just use mine.”

Travis’s sidelong look was subtle, and the hope was clear on his face. I nodded, he smiled, and we both headed back to the showers.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t that kind of gym, so we headed into different stalls rather than save water and share one. When I ducked my head under the water, my mind wandered to how much I enjoyed Travis’s company. He was such a sweet Daddy, and I wanted more. He’d stepped in for the night, we’d had a great time, and then we’d retreated to our separate corners. I knew it was because we both had work obligations, but that didn’t make it any less difficult.

I wanted more.

“You about finished?” Travis called from the other side of the plastic curtain.

“Uh, yeah, almost done.” Lies. I was nowhere close to being dressed and ready to go, but since I’d said it, I got myself in gear, finished drying off, and pulled on my clothes as fast as I could. When I pulled the curtain back, Travis was sitting on the bench outside the shower, waiting for me.

If I’d thought he was sexy in his gym clothes—with that muscle-hugging shirt and those shorts—it was nothing compared to seeing him fully dressed. His biceps strained against a tight T-shirt, and his jeans hugged his thighs in all the right ways. He wasn’t just a snack. He was the whole buffet.

“I’m not trying to rush you. I just wanna make sure we’re there on time,” Travis said as I sat next to him to pull on my socks and shoes.

He tapped my leg and motioned for me to put my foot on the bench, then reached over to tie one shoe, and then the other. I didn’t know what to think.

No one else was in the locker room, so it wasn’t like anyone could see us. Still, the simple gesture caught me off guard. It wasn’t unwelcome though. I liked how it seemed second nature for him to take care of things—tying my shoes, carrying my towel earlier, turning on the water for my shower. I could’ve done all of it myself and would have if he hadn’t been there. But he was, and he did, and I liked it.

The conversation I’d had with Drew earlier echoed in my mind while I watched Travis finish up with my shoes. Was I searching for something more permanent? I didn’t know. But I did know that whatever this was with Travis, I wanted to keep doing it. And truthfully, I wanted more. That little taste I’d had in the club—of what it might be like for Travis to be my Daddy—hadn’t been nearly enough.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I asked as Travis gently pushed my feet back to the floor, took my hand, and pulled me up from the bench.

He grabbed our duffel bags, slung them over one shoulder, and kept hold of my hand as we walked out of the locker room.

We lived in a pretty progressive area, but it still wasn’t common to see two men holding hands in public. Travis didn’t seem to care, though, and I liked that about him too. At the car, he opened the door and even buckled me in. I couldn’t help noticing the giddy spark of excitement on his face.

“Are you ignoring my question?” I tried again, hoping for at least a little hint.

“I am, but for a good reason.”

“What reason?”

“I don’t want to give it away and ruin the surprise. But I promise you’re going to like it. It’s fun. At least I hope it’s fun. The ad said it was, and they wouldn’t lie on the internet, right?”

“I don’t think you’re allowed to lie on the internet. There’s a law about that or something.”

“In that case, we’re good to go. It’ll absolutely be a good time.”

I gave up trying to get information out of Travis and settled into the heated seat, deciding to just enjoy the ride. He switched the station to Christmas music, and soon, the car was filled with songs about Santa coming to town and reindeer who needed to learn to play nice.

He headed toward Seattle but turned off the main interstate before we got into downtown. The road wound through suburban streets and then into a more wooded area. It had been dark for a while, but out here, it felt even darker. In the distance, I could see a faint glow of lights.

“Is that where we’re going?” So much for my promise not to ask any more questions. Traffic had slowed to a crawl, everyone inching forward like snails.

“Maybe,” Travis said with a laugh. He grabbed my hand where it rested on my leg and raised it to his lips for a quick kiss. “I’m not gonna tell you where we’re going, but I will say we’re almost there.”

“Well, then I’m just gonna sit back and enjoy it.”

For the next few minutes, we rode in comfortable silence. Travis kept my hand in his, and I made no effort to move it. My hands weren’t small, but compared to his, they felt tiny, and I liked the way his palm covered mine completely as we crept forward.

When we got closer, I realized the lights I’d seen in the distance were part of a massive display—bright-colored Christmas lights flashing in perfect rhythm.

“Oh, is this one of those synchronized light shows?” I asked, practically bouncing in my seat.

I’d seen them advertised on TV and always thought they looked amazing, driving through while the lights danced to the music.

“It sure is,” Travis said with a squeeze of my fingers. “I thought it looked pretty cool, and I was hoping you’d like it.”