Cal (A Little Christmas Season Three)

12. Simon

Chapter 12

Simon

I’d never been in a serious relationship before, and even though it was new and unexpected, my relationship with Cal was serious.

But I had no idea what was going on with him.

One minute, we were great, and I was already feeling so much love for him that I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. And then the next minute, he was upset and snapping at customers and then tearing up in my arms. I’d clearly missed some cues and wasn’t doing a good job understanding his needs, but that would come with time. Until that time, I had to rely on him to tell me what he was thinking and feeling so I could understand. And most importantly, so I could give him what he needed.

As a Daddy, that was my whole purpose. I wanted to take care of Cal in every way, and being his emotional support system was a big part of that. Not just a secondary thought but the most important part. So far, I was failing.

When we got to my place, I sat in the corner of the couch again while Cal took his place between my legs. As he did the day before, he faced away, apparently more comfortable talking about hard things when he wasn’t able to see my reaction.

I didn’t love it, but it wasn’t about what I needed. He was calling the shots.

“Are you ready to tell Daddy what you’re feeling?”

Cal sucked in a deep breath and then slowly exhaled. “I felt jealous when those kids were touching you. I’m sorry.”

I grinned and felt a wave of relief wash through me when I understood where his stress was coming from. “I’m sorry for not shutting that down sooner. Honestly, I just wanted them to get their picture and leave so we could go to lunch. I didn’t stop to think about how you might feel, and that was wrong. I’m sorry for not being more thoughtful.”

“Oh, that’s okay.” He relaxed against me like he’d been holding in his tension too. “It’s not your fault you’re the sexiest Santa ever. I think I need to get used to people wanting to touch you.”

“Thank you for the compliment, but you do not have to get used to people touching your boyfriend. I’m yours and you’re mine. No one else has the right to touch us unless we give them permission.”

He turned in my arms to face me. “I’m your boyfriend?”

Shit, did I overstep? The smile on his face and in his eyes confirmed I hadn’t. “Aren’t you?”

He bit his lip and nodded as a single tear dropped down his cheek. “I want to be. I think I want to be even more than that. And for a long, long time.”

I wanted that too. Forever. “I’m glad that’s settled, because if the man I’m falling in love with didn’t even want to be my boyfriend, I’d have a pretty sad Christmas.”

He pushed up and kissed my mouth hard as a few more tears streaked down his cheeks. I kissed them away when Cal pulled back. But then his happy smile dropped into a frown again.

“Oh, that’s the other thing I was sad about.” He looked up at me. “Christmas.”

“How can Christmas make you sad? You love Christmas.”

“But I don’t want to leave you. And I really don’t want to take you to visit my family. I just want you all to myself this year. And you want me to leave.” He pressed his head into my neck, hiding from me again.

“I absolutely do not want you to leave, sweetheart. Nothing would make me happier than spending Christmas with you.” This one and every one to come. “But if you want to go visit your family, I’m not going to discourage you from doing that. It’s important to stay close to them.”

“I don’t want to go, Daddy. I want to stay with you.”

I swallowed back my own emotion and nodded. “Then it’s settled. We’ll spend our first Christmas together and maybe you can video chat with your family.

He relaxed against my chest and sighed. “Thank you, Daddy. I don’t feel yucky anymore.”

I rubbed the back of his scalp, loving the way he almost purred in contentment whenever I did that. “I’m happy to hear that. Because I seem to recall you talking about a Christmas boutique at work that I need to have some gifts ready to sell at.”

Suddenly, Cal was wide awake. “You’re gonna sell some of your stuff at my boutique?” He rolled back so he was sitting on his heels. “That’s great. Everyone is gonna love your pieces. Which ones? The dioramas? The trains? Oh, oh. Maybe some ornaments?”

I chuckled and sat up in front of him. “Let’s go down to the workshop and see what I have. You can pick the things you think will be most interesting to your shoppers.”

“I love helping you, Daddy.” He hopped up and then held out his hand to yank me to my feet. “Because I love you.”

That little rascal bolted into the kitchen and down the basement steps before I could respond. At least I knew there’d never be a dull moment with him.