Page 46 of Just A Little Joy
I nodded eagerly, and he pushed his way through the door. Inside, it was an absolute madhouse since Christmas was only a couple of weeks away. Kids and families were everywhere, babies crying in the background, and parents who looked like they were at their limit. I loved it.
“Is there any place you want to start first?” Daddy murmured in my ear.
“Umm…yeah…uhh…this place is really overwhelming.”
Above my head, there were what felt like ten miles of garland covered in ornaments and Christmas lights. On one side of the store, Santa was set up on a dais with an enormous line of children waiting to talk to him. I had never been so grateful that we had done the Christmas light thing earlier because I wasn’t even tempted to stand in the line that snaked through a quarter of the store. On the other side, I could see the baby section, and no judgment, but I wasn’t interested in the super little stuff. I liked toys for an older little.
Crowds always hit me faster than I expected, but having him beside me softened the edges enough to breathe.
“Didn’t you mention to Santa Claus something about LEGO?”
“Yeah. I like putting them together. I have some at my apartment that I’ve tucked away, but they don’t usually survive traveling very well.”
“Then why don’t we head upstairs to the LEGO section and see if we can find some sets for you?”
Letting him guide me felt easy in a way that scared me, like my feet already trusted wherever he led.
With a plan made, Daddy guided us through the crowds, politely bulldozing his way until we reached the escalator. Once we were upstairs, we wound our way through the people until we got to the section we needed.
“Gentlemen, is there something I can help you find?” the sales associate asked as we stood there gawking at the choices in front of us.
“Yeah, it’s a little overwhelming,” Daddy admitted.
“We have our cartoon characters on this side,” she said, gesturing down the aisle, “and if you go over here, you’ll find the sets aimed at older builders with lots of different choices.”
We thanked her and looked through a few of the kits in front of us. As much as I liked being little, I didn’t enjoy the younger sets unless it was Vampirina because she was fire.
“You pick as much as you want, all right? We’ll call it an early Christmas present,” Daddy whispered close to my ear.
The offer lit something warm and bewildered in me, the kind of generosity I never knew what to do with.
“That’s silly. Christmas isn’t for another two weeks.”
“Well, sometimes you get your presents early.”
With a gentle nudge, Daddy urged me forward for a closer look. The choices were limitless between the robots, cars, botanicals, and historical buildings. As I pondered my options, he stayed right by my side. It never felt like he was rushing or pushing me along, only quietly supporting me while I chose.
“I think I like this one, Daddy,” I said, pulling a botanical garden set off the shelf. It had small succulents and glass vases. With an approving nod, he placed it in the handbasket that seemed to appear by magic in the crook of his arm.
“Are there any others you’d like?”
My real answer was yes, absolutely. I wanted at least a dozen. That felt selfish, so I shook my head. Daddy gave me a knowing look, the kind that said he saw right through me, and glanced toward the sets I had lingered over earlier. He stepped around me, walked a few feet down the aisle, and stopped in front of the little French bistro model I had almost chosen.
I wanted more than I’d ever let myself take, but old habits made me shrink from admitting it.
“I think I’m going to add this one too. It looks pretty cool.”
“I didn’t know you liked LEGO too.”
“It’s a new interest I discovered today,” he said with a soft smile that made my stomach flip like I had just lifted off on a flight. “What section should we wander to next?”
He said it lightly, but there was a thread of wanting in his voice that made my cheeks heat.
“What else do you need?”
Heat sparked in Daddy’s eyes, and it was clear how he heard that question. “What else I need can’t be found in a toy store,” he said, voice low and edged with need and something I couldn’t quite name. “But for now, let’s see what else we can bring home. If I’m going to host a playdate, I need to be properly prepared.”
The heat in his words warmed more than my heart, and I squirmed, trying to keep my instantly chubbed dick hidden. Daddy saw right through me because Daddy is smart, and the tiny look he gave me told me I had already failed.