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Chapter Twelve

Roen

I had the best week in Vegas, but I was anxious to get back to my Daddy, and because of that I had to set the cruise control, so I didn’t speed.

The bed of my truck was loaded with tools plus a new trailer full was towed behind.

Who knew I’d accumulated as much as I had over the years.

The boxes of my stuff filled the passenger and back seats, placed there in case I hit any summer storms along the way.

Northern Arizona weather was a flurry of Mother Nature’s mood swings.

You never knew what the afternoon had in store for you.

But I had one thought and one thought only on my mind—getting back in daddy’s arms where I belonged.

As soon as I hit the halfway mark at Kingman, the butterflies took over. Nervous, excited, curious, and a million other emotions slammed into me. Daddy was just as riled up as I was but with this being as new as it was, it was hard not to fear the unknown.

When the gravel road that led to the cabins came into sight my little bubbled up and bounced in place.

The road wasn’t bumpy, but my booty was at war with the seat belt.

Daddy bounded out of the office right as I parked.

Hmm, I wonder if he had a tracking device on his Sprite.

Nah, he was probably staring out the window counting down the seconds like I was.

“Stupid seatbelt.” I flung the door open but couldn’t get it off and it was the only thing separating me from my daddy.

“Easy now, Sprite, let Daddy help you.” As soon as he unbuckled it, I launched myself at him. Daddy peppered my face with kisses and the tears ran wild. “Happy tears, Sprite?”

“The happiest, Daddy.” My lips forcefully hit his and our teeth clanked. “Sorry, Daddy.”

“Never apologize for loving your daddy, sweet boy.”

When I finally glanced around it hit me that the parking lot was empty. “Everyone checked out already?”

“They did and the cleaning crew is turning the rooms now. I believe they’re almost done. What’s with the trailer?”

“Mark decided I needed a work trailer that he stocked full of more tools than I’ll ever use. Guess he wanted to make sure we were prepared for anything.” I shook my head. I was one lucky man in more ways than one.

“That man doesn’t miss a trick. This might be partially my fault though.”

“How so?”

“I asked him about building a garage that could not only serve as a workshop for you but a place to park both our vehicles in to keep them out of the weather.”

“Great idea. Where do you want me to park for now?” The gravel lot was for visitors and now I was a resident. That word thrilled me to no end.

“Why don’t you pull behind the office and park next to me, then we’ll get you unloaded.”

Daddy jogged around behind the building, both of us sharing smiles back and forth as I followed him.

He was so cute every time he glanced over at me.

We each took what we could carry and headed up the stairs.

“Wow, you’ve been busy. You framed our pictures.

How’d you do that so fast?” My eyes were everywhere at once and there wasn’t a spot in the living room that didn’t show a piece of us.

“A printer and the modern miracle of online shopping.”

“Some of the frames are empty.”

“On purpose. Those are for future memories we’ll make together.”

If there was any part of my heart he didn’t already own, it no longer existed after those words.

“I love you, Daddy. Kisses.” He couldn’t resist my kissy lips.

“Silly boy, I sure did miss you. Come on, let’s put these boxes down.” Daddy had a glint in his eyes and a sly smile, and I wondered what he was…

“Daddy!” I gasped as we stepped inside my new room. “It’s a playroom. Look at all the gnomes!” I dropped the box and ran around the room touching everything. “The floor is so squishy. Thank you Daddy, I love it so much.”

“I’m so happy, Sprite. There’s more to show you but let’s get all your stuff out of the truck first.”

I didn’t want to leave my new toys, but Daddy went out of his way to make this special room for me.

Plus, the quicker we got the truck unloaded the faster I got to play with everything.

I zoomed past him and down the stairs, he’d barely hit the bottom step when I zoomed by him again and into the apartment.

Daddy moved a lot slower than me so for every box he brought up I’d already done two.

“Will the tools be okay out here?”

Daddy peeked over the side of the truck. “I would think so but is there room in the trailer to lock this lot in there?”

Why I stood there and thought about that when the keys to the lock were in my hand, I had no clue.

“Let’s look.” A quick assessment determined they should fit.

We moved the ones I was most concerned with, locked the trailer then I raced Daddy upstairs.

“Come on, Daddy. You didn’t even try, and I’ve got new toys to play with.

” I almost—almost stomped my foot, but I wasn’t a bad boy and fussing at my thoughtful daddy wouldn’t be nice. That’s not the boy I wanted to be.

“Thank you for waiting at the top of the stairs, Go Speed Racer.” Daddy rolled his eyes. “After you, sir.”

Just inside the door, I kicked off my shoes and bolted down the hall and straight into the room.

I went through every storage bin. There were gnome figurines, tiny houses for them, and cars and blocks.

“Look Daddy, build your own gnome’s.” Sets of blocks that clicked together to make giant gnomes. “Daddy where did you find all this?”

“Back to that whole online shopping deal. We have arts and crafts stuff, garden stuff, tubby toys.”

My brain froze on the last one. “You got me tubby toys?”

“I did. We’ll use them tonight after dinner. Wait until you see the new bubble machine.”

“Daddy, you went silly on me.”

“Are you happy, my love?”

That’s the first time he called me that and it wrapped around me in all the warm feels.

“The happiest, Daddy.” Daddy kissed the top of my head, as I zoomed the cars around the blocks.

“Oh no!” The tires squealed when they hit the breaks to avoid the roadblock.

“Vroom, urttttttttt.” The fast car squealed to a stop and hid behind a block wall.

“Whew, they’re gone.” It took off again, running away from the bad guys.

Every container I opened held something exciting, but it was time to clean up and get my boxes unpacked, only when I got to the living room, half of them were empty and broken down already.

“Daddy, where’s all my clothes?”

“In the closet and dresser.”

Did I miss him coming into my room? “I don’t remember seeing you put them away.” Daddy took my hand and led me to his bedroom.

“In there,” he pointed. “And there.”

I peeked inside the closet and there were my clothes. “You put them in here? But I’ll have to bug you to get dressed.”

“No, you won’t.” Wait, did Daddy just blush? “You know as well as I do you belong in here with me. The other room is your playroom and a guest room if we have any need to use it as such.”

For the second time today, I launched myself at him. Sneaky daddy knew he had a sneaky boy that planned to share a bed with him anyway. Now he just went and made it all official.

“A boy belongs with his daddy. Even if Mark hadn’t told me that, I felt it in my heart. Plus, I haven’t slept great with you gone.”

“Ditto, daddy. I like being your little spoon.”

“You’re my little everything.” Daddy squeezed me tight.

“I never thought I’d find a love like this, didn’t believe such a thing even existed.

Then along came my Sprite and my entire world flipped upside down.

In two weeks, you’ve stolen my heart, and made my life better and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. ”

And more tears…

“I love you so much, Daddy. It was hard to be away from you too.” As we drew apart something else caught my eye. “Daddy, Gnomey and Otis get to sleep with us?” There they sat, so cute next to each other up against the bed pillows.

“Of course they do, sweet boy.” Daddy rubbed my back as we stood there, and I took it all in. It was a lot to absorb but not in a bad way. “Are you hungry? How about an early dinner, then tubby time and a story? You’ve got to be exhausted.”

“That sounds like a perfect night to me.”

“Watch this one, Sprite.” I was so busy running my new tubby gnomes through the bubbly marsh I missed daddy opening another prezzie. “Here we go!” Out came more bubbles as the gnome in daddy’s hand blew them out of his butt.

“Did he just fart, Daddy?”

“He did and that’s how bubbles are made. Betcha didn’t know that.”

The giggled couldn’t stop cause Daddy kept pushing the button. “Again, Daddy!”

It was so easy to be myself around him. Even with Donna and Journey last week I’d slip from Big Roen who wanted to catch up with his best friend to Sprite who wanted to play with his buddy.

Confusing as it was, I still had a great time with them but with Daddy it was different.

Relaxing, carefree. Daddy was here and he’d take care of his boy.

“Best. Gift. Ever!” Laughter bubbled from me, he-he, bubbled , when the gassy gnome let loose.

“We’re almost out of bubbles, Sprite. Let’s get you cleaned up. Daddy can reload it tomorrow.”

“Okay, Daddy.” I put the tubby toys in the new mesh bag Daddy hung on the side of the tub so they could dry without leaking all over the floor.

“Careful, now.” Daddy held my hand and helped me out. “Let’s get you dried off and in your new pjs.”

“New pj’s too? You went crazy, Daddy.”

“A little bit, Sprite. But you’re worth it.” He opened a bag and pulled out my new jammies.

“New Gnomey jammies. Yay! They look just like him.”

“Yes, and ones that are shorts. It’s too warm right now for long jammies especially with our combined body heat in the same bed. I want my boy to be comfy when he sleeps. Lift your foot.”

Spinning around in front of the bathroom mirror, showing off my new jams and smiling wide for the pretend cameras as I posed. “I look cute.”