Page 20 of Milk for His Daddy (The Lactin Brotherhood #21)

WHIT

“Daddy!”

“Hey, babe. How are you doing?”

“I’m good, but lonely.”

“Me too. You don’t know how boring it is here.”

“Did you see any koalas today?”

“No. I haven’t had any time to sightsee.”

“You should go and take pictures.”

“Maybe, but right now, I’m trying to figure out a way to get home.”

“Really!” I gasp.

“Yep, but don’t get your hopes up too high. Everything is delayed because of the snow. Fucking snow,” he growls.

“I like the snow. But not when it keeps us apart.”

“Normally I don’t mind it, but now that it’s fucking with me, I hate it.”

Wow, he sounds kinda grumpy. “Is there something wrong?”

“Yeah, Izzy got hurt at work?—”

“Oh no!” I gasp. “I hope he’s okay.” I know how important he is to Leo.

“It’s very nice of you to worry about Daddy’s friend, but it isn’t too serious.”

“Hopefully he can be my friend someday too.” I could really use more friends since I left all of them behind when I came here. Sure, we still email and text, but it’s not the same.

“I hope so too.” That sounds promising. “What about you? Is your flight canceled?”

“I haven’t checked.” I pull up my airport app. Please be canceled, please be canceled. Yes! “Oh shoot, it is.”

“Yes, you sound so upset.” Leo chuckles.

“I’d rather be with you.”

“Sadly that might not be possible.”

“Hopefully you’ll be home for Christmas, like you promised.”

“I’ll be heading up north to join Izzy and my dad at the cabin.”

“Oh.” I pout. He isn’t ready to introduce me to his family. I mean, it’s only been a few weeks, but I’d have his babies right now if he asked me. I guess he’s not as sure as I am.

“None of that. I’ll still have lots of presents for my boy when I get home.”

I do like presents, but… “All I want for Christmas is you.”

Leo laughs loudly. “Aww. That’s sweet. Did you make anything pretty for me today?”

I hop up. “Oh yeah!” I turn the phone so he can see the painting.

“Wow. You’re getting good, babe.”

“Thanks. I followed some online directions.”

“That’s smart. Looks like you got some good tips and tricks.”

“Yeah. Oh, and I made this.” I turn the phone to my little clay cat sculpture.

“Wow, babe, that’s incredible! Just look at his perfect little ears.”

“Thank you.” All of his praise is making me squirm a bit. “He’s not dry yet.”

“How did you make him?”

“I took a block of the modeling clay and carved him out.”

“Seriously, that’s awesome.”

“Thanks. I want to paint him when he’s dry.”

“He’s so small, I know I couldn’t paint him.”

“I have a small enough brush because someone keeps buying me things.”

“You must have a great Daddy.” He winks at the camera.

“The best. So any idea when you might be able to get home?”

“Not really. The snow is supposed to continue for a few days, then let up, and then start again. So if I’m going to get home, I need to take whatever is available and be quick about it.”

“Are you on the standby list?”

“For every airline and any class. Normally I like to fly first class or business class, but I’ll take whatever to get out of here.”

“Did you get everything fixed?”

He sighs heavily. “Yeah. It took for-fucking- ever, but I did.”

“What are you going to do now? Just wait, or do you have more work you can do?”

“I’m going to replace some equipment that’s long overdue to be replaced and update what I can.”

“Maybe you should go and relax on the beach.”

“I’m more of an indoor cat, and I don’t like sand or jellyfish. Oh, and I turn red like a damn lobster after about five minutes in the sun.”

“I don’t like sand either. It’s messy and it gets everywhere.”

“But I bet you tan nicely.”

“I do. Jealous?” I tease.

“Nope, my milky-white skin suits me just fine.”

“I thought my skin was milky.”

“Good one.” He laughs and then yawns. “I think I need to get some sleep.”

“Oh, okay.” I pout.

“I’ll call you again tomorrow.” He chuckles.

“But that’s all the way to tomorrow.”

“So dramatic.”

“Will you call me when you get a flight home?”

“Of course, but remember that I’m going to see Izzy as soon as I get back.”

“I understand.”

“I won’t stay long, I just need to make sure he’s okay and watch some movies with him. It’s tradition.”

I try not to pout. I understand this is still new, but it hurts even though he doesn’t mean it to.

I run into Leo’s open arms as soon as I see him at the airport. He called me just a few hours ago and asked me to pick him up. I hope it means he changed his mind about me meeting his family.

“I missed you,” I gush as I try to make myself smaller so I fit in his arms. He laughs lightly.

“I missed you too, babe.” He lets me snuggle him for a moment before he peels me off of him. “Come on. Let’s get my bags.”

We stand in front of the baggage carousel, and I pull him into my arms and squeeze him tight while we wait. He feels so good against me.

“Oh, that one’s mine.” He points to a very expensive piece of luggage, and he grabs it. “And that one.” I grab it. “And that one.”

“Is that all?” I tease.

“There’s just one more.” He points to a large gift bag. I grab it and resist the urge to look inside. Well, the bag is actually sealed, so I can’t look inside.

“What’s in it?” I ask as we step back.

“I forgot. Maybe you should open it?”

“Is it for me?” I gasp.

“It is.”

“Can I open it now?”

“Of course. It’s your present.”

“Awesome.” I pull him back toward a bench so we can set his stuff down. I look over at him with a huge smile on my face as I prepare to rip into the package, but he’s yawning. “Oh, I’m sorry. I can wait to open this. You must be exhausted.”

“I could use a nap, but I want to see you open your present.”

“Okay.” I pull the edges of the bag until it pops open. Then I pull out the tissue paper. There, in the bottom of the bag is a stuffed bear. A bear! My own stuffie.

His cream fur is so soft under my fingers.

I want to take him out and hug him, but maybe that isn’t the best idea. We’re in public, and I don’t want people to judge Little me. That would hurt my feelings.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Leo rubs my back. “You don’t have to take him out of the bag. He can be just for home.”

“No, I want him, but…”

“Listen to me.” I look over at him. “If you want to squeeze your stuffie in public, you go right ahead.”

“But what if people laugh or are mean?” I whisper.

“Then I’ll tell them to fuck a cactus.”

I snort a laugh and decide to man up. Or Little up? I’m not sure, but I really want to hug this bear. So I take him out and rub my face into his soft fur.

Leo lightly chuckles and rubs my back. “Do you like your bear, baby?”

“So soft.”

“He’s the softest one I could find, and I’ve been looking for a while.”

He’s been looking for me? That is so sweet.

“Thank you.” I lean down to kiss him.

“You’re very welcome. What are you going to name him?”

“Hmm.” I rub my chin, and he snickers. “I’ll need some time to think of something.”

“It’s a good thing you didn’t ask me because I would name him something ridiculous like Lord Dickington.”

I laugh so loud I startle the older couple next to me. “Where did you even get a name like that?”

“It just came to me.” He smirks.

“Well, I like it, but I’ll call him Dicky for short.”

“Perfect.” He yawns and then clears his throat.

“I’m pretty tired, so I thought maybe we could stop by your house, get some clothes, and then you could drive me to the cabin.

And you could stay to meet my family.” He sounds so unsure, and it’s fricking adorable.

He’s worried about me meeting his family.

“Since you’d already be there, of course. ”

I smile. “Yeah, driving while tired is a bad idea.”

“Exactly. I need to be smart and safe.” He looks up at me. “Will you come with me?”

“I’d love to.”