Page 16 of Their Perfect Daddy

MONTY

T rying to work the day after Skye has to leave to help his sister is a joke. Saturdays aren’t super hard on us or anything. Usually, it’s more of a rest before the big game on Sunday.

Today it drags like no other.

All I want to do is check on Skye to see how he’s doing. I want to know if his sister is ok and how the baby is. Watching him learn of the news tore me wide open. He looked at me like his world was falling apart.

The man loves his family immensely. That much I surmised.

Him leaving also interrupted the date we were having. As much as I’d have loved for him to stay, I also understood his need to go.

Danny was exhausted on the way back from the airport, so I dropped him at his place before driving Skye’s car into my garage. I’ll keep it safe for him while he’s out of town. It’ll also give me an excuse to see him once he’s back.

The screen in front of me plays footage of our opponent’s game from last week. I should be watching it. Should be studying the moves to know what to expect from them.

Instead, I’m lost in the memories of the three of us together in that shower. It is by far one of the hottest things I’ve ever gotten to do. More than being hot though, is the fact of how connected I felt to them. How perfect we felt together.

I’m dying to have that back.

A text pings on my phone as we near the end of the game footage an hour later. I look down to see it’s my agent reaching out.

Grizzly:

Monty! I got some big news for you. Swing by the office before you head home.

Grizzly:

And bring me something to eat. I’m starving.

I chuckle at his audacity. He always wants me to bring him some food when I come for a visit.

He’s a fucking bear of a man, all packed on muscle with a bit of a belly that doesn’t make him any less attractive to people.

His perfect smile and contagious humor only draw them in even more.

Sadly, the man doesn’t date because he’s shy outside of his professional demeanor.

Monty:

I’ll be there in about forty so long as the deli can get your food made right this time.

Grizzly:

Cool. I’ll even put in the order so all you gotta do is grab it.

Monty:

Good. I don’t have the patience to deal with those kids today.

Grizzly:

*laughing emojis*

Shaking my head, I lay my phone face down and focus on the screen. At least now I’m not going to an empty house. I’ll have some company for a little bit. Maybe then I won’t feel so off my axis.

While I know I could have Danny come over to hang, I don’t want to push him away by doing something stupid. Anytime we’re alone together, I fuck it up. Skye is the glue that keeps me on solid ground. Without him, I’m a bumbling mess.

Eventually, I’ll need to figure my shit out. Just not yet.

I need more time.

Time in which I hope I convince Danny I’m worth all the extra effort.

“You want to grab drinks with us, Tempest?” Chadwick asks me after practice wraps up. He motions to the group of men waiting by the door. I recognize that they’re the ones who love to party hard.

“Not tonight.” I wave my phone. “Agent messaged me about something important. I gotta go meet with him. Who knows how long that will take?”

I sigh as if it’s some kind of inconvenience. In reality, I’m thankful I have an excuse. For as much as I love to hang with those guys because it helps me feel less alone, I don’t really have the energy to be ‘on’ right now.

“Alright, bro. If you get done early, hit me up. We need to pre-game for tomorrow.” He gives me double finger guns, then jogs off to the rest of the group.

Hopefully they don’t wind up too hammered tonight. Tomorrow’s game isn’t against a team that I’m worried will challenge us too much. Still, it’s not a good look to be hungover at kickoff.

This is our job after all. They wouldn’t show up to the office drunk, would they?

Ok, well maybe some of them would if I’m honest.

Grizzly greets me with wide arms and an even wider smile when I step into his office loaded down with food. “Monty! My favorite client!”

“I’m your highest paid client, Grizz. That’s the only reason you say that.”

“Nah, man. I like you as a person too. We both work too much to hang out, but if we could, I bet we’d find we’re similar in ways you don’t even think about.”

Something in the way he says the words makes me think of Danny and Skye. It makes me wonder if maybe Grizzly is kinky too. With his size, one might assume him a Dom of some type. But I know better than to judge the inside based on the outer appearance.

Hell, I had no clue Danny was rocking those sexy panties under his cute clothes. No reason for me to assume what my agent is into.

A glance his way shows he doesn’t realize how his words are affecting me. He has no clue I’m assessing him to see if he’s a Daddy or a boy. Or maybe he’s into pet play. Could he be… could he pretend to be an actual bear? Is that a pet-play thing?

“Why are you squinting at me? Is there something on my shirt?” Grizzly dusts his hand over the fabric. It’s then I notice the other is holding a sandwich half unwrapped and missing a big bite.

I must have been lost in thought for a while.

“Sorry. Long few days. Things are moving faster than I can keep up. What did we need to meet about?” I grab a sandwich of my own and drop down onto his soft-as-fuck couch. The thing feels what I imagine it would be like to sit on a cloud.

Grizzly finishes chewing his bite as he nods. “Got an email a few weeks back about something pretty cool. I thought it was a good idea; however, I needed to see the contract before I brought it up to you.”

“Did they send it?”

“They did,” he says as he grabs a stack of papers from his desk. He sits down beside me and hands them over. “The offer is one of the best I’ve ever seen. You’ll be their brand ambassador for a minimum of two years, barring you don’t get into any trouble that gives you bad publicity.”

I snort. “I’m not one for the gossip column these days.”

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I’m leaning towards this being an easy decision. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, Monty. If you start partying a little less and focusing on the game, we could get you where you want to be. You’ll be one of the greats!”

His enthusiasm has me smiling. “I like the sound of that.”

“Me too. Great men make great money.” He gives a booming laugh at his own joke.

“What are the commitments like? I’m already short on time as it is.”

“That’s the beauty of it. You don’t have to do much during the season. They do want to get a photoshoot and a commercial done as soon as we can. Preferably this week, actually. Then they can hit the ground running.”

“Damn. That’s fast.”

He nods. “It is. They were hoping to announce the collab for the new year, but their legal team took a bit getting the paperwork over. It’s all just how you like it though. I made sure to give you the best deal possible.”

I look over the paperwork, noting the highlighted parts Grizzly has laid out for me. It says everything he’s telling me, and yet when I get to the payment section, my body nearly collapses.

“They want to pay me this much?” My voice comes out hoarse.

Being in this industry, I’m no stranger to money. My signing contract was a big one. I see guys get millions of dollars to sign for teams all the time.

Sponsorships are a different game. I don’t keep up with them because they vary so much from brand to brand.

This deal is huge.

As in millions of dollars huge.

Grizzly smiles softly. “I’ve checked over it several times. The numbers are correct. You’re a big talent in the game, Monty. They want to pay you what you’re worth.”

“But this is for shoes, Grizz. Fucking shoes!”

“I mean, you can do more than fuck in them. Running is what they’re mostly designed for. Also, unless it’s a quickie, I’m always shoe free. It distracts me if I’m not, you know.”

“Don’t talk to me about your sex life. I’m trying to be serious right now,” I huff.

If Daddy were here, he’d be telling me I was being a brat. I frown even more knowing I haven’t gotten to hear his voice in days. The only thing we’ve heard is that he made it safe and that he’d text us soon.

What qualifies as soon? A day. An hour. A year.

I hate that tears form at the thought of going longer without him in my life. It’s already lonely with him gone. I want to blow the game and contact his brother just so I can get on a plane to see them in person. I’d bring Danny too of course.

Sadly, I can’t do what I want. I have to go to work, which means no spur of the moment trips.

“You don’t seem happy about this,” Grizzly says softly as he points to the papers. “What’s bothering you about it?”

“It’s not the deal. Not really.”

“Then what is it? You can tell me. I’m not going to judge you or anything.”

I shrug. “It’s not that I’m worried you’ll judge me. I’m just… I’m sad. I miss someone, and I don’t know when I’ll get to see him. There’s a lot more to it all.”

“Sounds complicated.”

“It is.”

He hums. “Well, if it makes you happy, and it isn’t harmful in any way, then I say find a way to make it happen. Or maybe be a bit more patient. You never know when things could change.”

I open my mouth to answer him when my phone rings. Pulling it out, I see it’s just the man I’ve been thinking about.

“Hello,” I answer quickly, hoping this isn’t a butt dial or some other horrible mistake. I want to hear Daddy’s voice. Need to hear it actually.

A sigh comes across the line. I instantly recognize it as Skye.

“Hey there, Brat. We’ve missed you.”

I’m about to ask what he means, but then I hear a giggle. “We did! I mean I’m in town, but I missed you too.”

Danny is in full princess mode. I don’t even need to be around him to know he’s wiggling side to side and probably kicking his feet if he’s seated.

“I’ve missed you both too. It’s been hard not hearing from you.”

“Things have been progressing quickly here. I haven’t had a moment to call until now. And I figured a three way was best to get you both.”

More giggles. “Daddy said three way!”

I laugh as well this time, then stop when I see Grizzly smiling at me. He shakes his head before leaning back to dig into the rest of his sandwich.

While I could leave to talk to them on my own, I don’t really want to move away from the comfortable couch or the delicious food. Plus, I don’t think he’ll judge me despite this not being business.

Grizzly is a friend. One that I don’t get a lot of time with, but a friend, nonetheless. Sort of how Micah and Danny are close. I think after spending years working with someone, you tend to find yourself bonding. The only times it doesn’t work out is when one of you is an ass.

“Now can you tell me why our princess says you two haven’t been together since I left? Are you avoiding him, Brat?”

“I’m not…” I start, then freeze. “Ok, maybe a little bit. I always mess up when it’s just the two of us. When you’re around, I do better. It makes more sense.”

Daddy hums as if he’s thinking it over. Our princess is particularly quiet. I hope I didn’t offend him or hurt his feelings. That wasn’t my intention. I just want to be honest.

“While I understand your hesitation, I have to say it’s doing more harm than good.

The two of you have something special. Keeping yourself away from him isn’t going to help your relationship grow.

I want you two to be just as strong on your own as we are together.

After all, this all started with y’all.”

It’s strange to hear him say this, despite the truth behind his words.

Because yeah, it did start with us. That first time I saw him, I knew he was different. I knew I wanted him to be mine.

I never thought I’d be sharing him with someone. However, Daddy is right about me needing to nurture our original foundation.

“You’re right,” I admit softly. Then I harden my voice and say, “I vow to do better, Daddy. I will be there for our Princess whenever he needs me. Like a knight in shining football armor.”

Danny gives a squeal of laughter. “Yes, please. That’s perfect.”

“Good boy. I’m proud of you, Brat. You’re going to feel much better once you stop overthinking things.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

We talk for a few more minutes. Skye gives us an update on his sister, and then he admits he needs to go to dinner with the family before it gets too late.

By the time I hang up the phone, Grizzly has managed to eat two and a half sandwiches, and he looks two minutes away from needing a nap. Except when I ease the device on the table, he pounces.

“Daddy and Princess, huh? Someone has been keeping secrets.”

I shake my head at him. “Not really. It’s very new. Nothing to tell.”

He hums as if he doesn’t believe me. He really shouldn’t.

Because new or not, there’s already loads I could tell him about this relationship. I simply don’t want to. I want to keep them to myself a bit longer.