Page 14

"Are you sure about this?" Tyler asks me once more as we walk across the parking lot behind Shade Grown. I take his hand and squeeze it.

"Double sure," I say. "This is a part of you, a big part that I know makes you happy and I want to learn more."

"But if this isn't for you, we can leave early."

I tug on Tyler's hand, stopping us just shy of walking through the small alley between the coffee shop and restaurant next door.

"I'm interested in this, Tyler. We had fun last week, didn't we?" I smile when his cheeks turn a rosy pink ever-so-slightly. "I've read first hand accounts, I've joined groups on a couple social media platforms as well. This is as much for me as it is for you, okay?"

"Okay." He nods and I lean forward and kiss his forehead.

"Let's go inside," I say with a smile.

I am a bit nervous, but not for the reasons that Tyler thinks.

I'm meeting the others that he hangs out with regularly.

Of course, I already know Austin and Orion, but as a customer.

I'm meeting their Daddies tonight, which is what I'm equally excited and terrified for.

I have so many questions. I know I'm younger than them.

I know there isn't an age requirement to be a Daddy, but still.

They have their own careers, own their businesses.

I work as a nurse. I love my job and I'm proud of what I do, but… Will it be enough?

There are already plenty of people here when we walk in.

I had to work a long shift and Tyler didn't want to show up without me.

The atmosphere is warm, cozy. I take Tyler's jacket, a light one that we had to compromise on.

I'm doing better at letting him make his own decisions.

We talked about it, about how he wants someone that can help him with keeping track of everything, but not overbearing and making him feel like he's fragile.

I'm still trying to figure out that balance and I'm hoping tonight will answer some of my questions.

"Ty!" Someone shouts. I watch Tyler turn toward the sound and smile. There's a guy, early twenties, with cropped, blonde hair and the bluest eyes. He's wearing a baby blue long sleeve shirt with a pair of khaki shorts and brightly colored tennis shoes.

"Hey, Luke," Tyler says and hugs the guy. I can see Luke look over at me and then back to Tyler, questions clear in his eyes. Tyler looks over his shoulder and smiles at me. "Luke, this is Brandt. Brandt, Luke. He's one of my friends in our group."

I don't blink at him calling me by my name. We've only had the one scene together last week and I told him he could call me whatever he was comfortable with tonight.

"It's nice to meet you, Brandt!" Luke says happily. "Isn't this awesome! I love this coffee shop."

"And you love the coffee a little too much, baby.

" A woman comes up and rests a hand on Luke's shoulder.

She's pretty, mid thirties maybe, with long brown hair.

She's petite, but the way Luke immediately calms down and looks at her gives me all the information I need.

This is his Mommy. She holds a hand out toward me.

"I'm Rachel. You've met Luke. I let him get an extra shot of espresso and I'm starting to regret it. "

"It's okay, Mommy." Luke's voice is taking on some kind of sweet tone. His big eyes are turned to her. "I still go night night like I promised."

"Just don't break anything," Rachel says. "Take Tyler and go hang out with the others. Tyler, I'm going to introduce Brandt to the Daddies, okay?"

"Okay!" Tyler and Luke speak at the same time. Just like when he's at the apartment with me, I can see him slipping just below the surface of being Little. I watch Tyler walk off with Luke until he steps behind another group and I lose sight of him. I turn my attention back to Rachel.

"So, you're here with Tyler?" Rachel asks.

"I am," I say with a nod.

"And are you…?"

I know what she's asking. I shake my head, not sure if that's actually the right answer or not. "I'm curious, definitely. Learning right now and we've done a scene together, but not much else."

"You know he's fairly new to the whole world as well, right?"

"Yeah, I am. He was honest with me the first day we hung out."

"That's good," Rachel says. We still haven't moved any closer to the others in the coffee shop. "Tyler is a sweet boy. We were all relieved when he was okay after going to the hospital. Scared all of us."

"Scared me, too." I don't like remembering seeing him unconscious on the gurney coming in. "He's managing it, though. I'm making sure he takes his medicine each day."

Rachel stares at me for a second too long before her lips turn up into a genuine smile and I relax my shoulders. I wasn't even aware that I had them tensed up.

"Come on, I'll introduce you to the others." She lays a hand on my forearm and lowers her voice. "Just a heads up, the tall one with the salt and pepper hair is Mark."

"The ex." I nod once. I know when someone is sent to do their due diligence on the new person before introducing them to the others.

"The ex," she says. "I thought they would be good together, but…"

I don't take any offense to it. I know they're all friends. Tyler gave me the heads up that Mark would be here. He was worried about it, but I promised him that it would be okay. We're all adults and can act like that.

"The medical side of things made it a bit complicated, from what Tyler told me." I don't give any more information than that. If Tyler wants to share more, he can. Living with his family would too, but I know he’s still looking at apartments.

"That's in the past," Rachel says. We stop at the first table, where three men are sitting.

One is bald and nothing but muscles. The other has a solid beard and mustache.

He's equally as muscled, but has more of a Dad bod than abs.

There's a third guy, slightly smaller than the other two, with dark skin and chocolate brown eyes.

"Remi, Garrett, Vaughn, this is Brandt. He came with Tyler tonight. "

"Sandwich and coffee guy?" The bald one asks. I smile and raise a hand in the affirmative. "We've heard much about you, man. Come on, join us."

Rachel and I both sit down around the table.

The other tables are filled with more people and couples.

One table alone seems to be just Littles.

There's another guy that is holding a leash, which is hooked to a collar around the neck of a pup in full gear.

He's sitting calmly beside his Master, but I notice his head turn toward the laughter caused by Tyler and his group.

When I look back at the four I'm sitting with, I realize they're all looking at me.

I feel like I'm about to get quizzed. It only lasts for a few seconds and before I can really start to feel the nerves, Remington speaks.

"So, if my gossip of a Boy is right, you've dipped your toes into the Daddy world, right? "

"I have," I say with a slight nod. "I mean, I've read more than I've experienced, but Ty and I are figuring it out. I’ve been in a kinky relationship before, just not as a Daddy."

"Anything you have questions about?" Garrett asks. "I won't talk specifics, but I think between all of us, we have different styles, rules, that sort of thing."

"I have tons of questions," I say with a small laugh. "Mostly just how to balance it. We don't get a lot of time together with our schedules and I don't like having to check in with him over text."

"Oh, I've got this." Rachel interrupts before Garrett or Remington can say anything.

Their expressions look equally offended and like she made the right call.

"Those two will just tell you to move your Boy in with you.

Remington moved Austin in after two or three months?

Garrett here had Orion spending whole weekends in under a month.

Moving in together definitely helps with being able to build that bond together, but you can still be a Daddy, or Mommy, through the phone.

It's a mindset, an agreement between the two of you.

My Boy works nights and I hold random hours so I'm checking in with him throughout the night and then I'll have breakfast ready when he gets home. "

"Orion will tell you that text messages help with the spank bank as well," Garrett says. The laugh that follows tells me there is a story behind that. "He hates it when I end up calling him, but I don't think he's caught on that I do it on purpose."

"That's mean," Vaughn says. He lifts his cup to his lips and takes a sip. "Genius and I might steal it, but mean."

"Look, I love when my Boy is a bit frustrated when I get home." Garrett shrugs and takes a sip of his own coffee. I realize I don't have a drink and glance over toward the coffee bar. There are a couple of drip coffees out and Austin is still behind the counter, making someone else a drink.

"I'll be right back." I excuse myself and walk over to the register. The woman that's waiting on a drink nods my way, but doesn't say much. She still has a coat draped over her arm and I'm not sure if she is on her way in or out. When it's my turn, Austin's smile grows wider.

"Fancy seeing you here after hours," Austin says. "What can I get for you?"

"Uh, can I just do a drip coffee and a… hot chocolate for Ty?"

"Whipped cream?" Austin asks with a smile.

"Oh no, not for Ty. Do you have any sugar free flavors? Like vanilla or caramel?" Austin's smile falters for a second and I realize that my words came out a bit harsher than I meant. "I'm sorry, Austin. Ty has to be careful with his sugar intake and the chocolate is going to be more than enough."

"Oh, okay. That makes sense. I'll remember to keep an eye on him."

"I appreciate you doing that while he's here," I say honestly. I pay for the drinks and look back over the crowd of people while Austin makes the drinks. I see Tyler stand up and head straight toward me. "Hey, baby. I got you a hot chocolate."