Page 24 of Daddy’s Little Secret

We went through the Coke store first, and he did really well, opting for the escalator instead of the all-glass elevator that looked out onto the main road. Got matching Coke bears for him and Tae and everyone back home a set of Coke bottle salt-and-pepper shakers.

“M&M’s next, please.”

If that boy’s eyes got any wider when he spotted the wall of every color M&M imaginable, they’d have popped out of his skull. “I’ve died and gone to chocolate heaven.”

The lady beside us laughed. “I take it you haven’t been to the Hershey store across the street yet.”

“No, ma’am, but we’re going there next,” Trey told her. “How can it be better than this?”

“They have a café where they make you all kinds of sweet treats.”

Yup, there went the eyes. Thankfully they didn’t come all the way out, but it was damn close.

The nice lady laughed. “Enjoy your trip, boys.”

Trey grabbed a bag and filled it with all his favorite colors—every shade of blue and green—and then a second one with different purples for Tae. “Look, Daddy, we could have matchy shorts.” Man, was I ever glad we drove. I couldn’t imagine getting everything we’d won and bought into two pieces of luggage. “I’m gonna buy them and get us each a mug, my treat, Daddy. Which is your favorite color?”

“You are a sweet boy. I’ll let you treat us if you’ll indulge your Daddy and climb into that photo booth and take silly pictures with me?”

“I’d love that. We need to do more selfies while we’re out. We don’t have any pictures of us up at home.” That hit me full on. “Did I break you?”

“No, just made me realize how many dating things we’ve missed out on. We’ll have to remedy that.” We headed over to the booth while our arms were still somewhat empty and did a couple rounds of silly pictures. Kissing, tongues sticking out, my sassy boy rolling his eyes. I can’t remember the last time I let go and had this much fun. “Let’s see if we can find a picture frame here.”

By the time we checked out, we had mugs for everyone—grabbed one of each color. I picked the yellow one, and Trey chose blue. The others could fight over the rest of them. Matching boxer-type shorts, a picture frame, way too much chocolate, and a few trinkets Trey treated himself and Tae to.

“To the Hershey store!” he announced as we stepped outside.

“Let’s do a selfie with the Coke and M&M signs behind us first.” We took a few so we could pick a favorite later, then some of the hotels around us, before we crossed the road over to New York, New York where the Hershey store was, taking another selfie with the Vegas Statue of Liberty behind us and one of my silly boy with the Hershey figures.

“That lady wasn’t kidding,” Trey said as we stepped inside. The smell of chocolate hit us straight on. “This is so cool!” After this store, we would need to head back to the hotel, for sure, and drop off all these bags.

He walked up and down every aisle twice before deciding what to buy. “Let’s get a treat before we check out, Daddy.”

“I could use a sugar boost.” A bottle of water and a s’more each later, I grabbed a basket to hold whatever he found. He’d be devastated if he got food on anything. “This store is my treat, Angel.”

“Are you sure?” He’d just picked up two adorable stuffies of a Hershey kiss with tiny dangly arms and legs for him and Tae.

“I’m sure, put them in the basket.” He did, along with a collage of chocolates and a couple more trinkets. “Are we good to go?”

“Yup. I’m sticky.”

“I figured as much. Let’s check out and find a restroom.” Given the load we were going home with, I was glad I’d decided to turn Samian’s room into Trey’s playroom. He’d never had much before, just what he got last Christmas and things Tae picked up for him. I guess this wasn’t so bad, it was his chance to give back to his friend. I was sure that made him feel good; I knew his kindness struck me right in the heart. I’d really failed as his Daddy all these years.

Washed up and back in another cab, I made the decision to take Trey out for date night. “Let’s get cleaned up and go out for a nice dinner away from the hotel.”

“Like a date, Daddy?”

“Exactly like a date.” I added the bags to the massive pile of shit we had to load up in the morning and sighed. Just remember, he’s having fun and so are you. You’re allowed to relax and enjoy your boy, Oscar.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, brain, but you’re not the one unloading the truck.

“What sounds good for dinner, Angel?”

“Mmm.” He thought hard, which was cute as hell. “How about steak or shrimp.”

“You do love your shrimp.” I pulled out my phone and did a quick search. “So much for getting outside of the hotel. According to the internet, our hotel has a great surf-and-turf restaurant called The Steakhouse. Let me give them a call and make sure they have an open table.” Guess last-minute spots on a weeknight worked in our favor. “They can seat us in an hour. Time for a shower and a shave.”

I got the water going and stripped down, and my boy joined me as I stepped under the warm spray. “Come here. It’s been far too long since we’ve done this.” The searing kiss we shared was a staunch reminder of just how long it’d been since we’d been intimate. “I’ve really missed that.”