Page 33 of All Tied Up

You, Neil thought, but he didn’t say it. “Mario paid the most attention to me and he’s already gone. I didn’t even know the other guy, Moses, was going to say hello, and he lives on the east coast.”

Sebastian hummed, considering. “How about if you hang out for another ten minutes and see if anyone else comes over or if you get up the courage to talk to anyone. If you want some help, I’m sure Jamie could give you an introduction.”

Neil didn’t think either of those were likely, but he agreed anyway. Sebastian had said it in such a supportive, take-charge way, that he couldn’t imagine disagreeing.

Still, those ten minutes passed with excruciating slowness. As he predicted, none of the other Daddies wanted to talk with him, so he ended up helping Sebastian shift some of the cheese cubes from two trays to just one.

After that, he stood by the edge of the table, trying to look like he was busy and nibbling a cracker.

The boy in the pajamas crossed over to the table. “Daddy? Can I have more of the bubbly juice?” His voice was low, but light like a child’s.

“Only one more,” the Daddy at his elbow agreed. “We don’t want you needing to pee in the middle of the night.”

The boy giggled. “Well, it won’t matter if I’m wearing my diaper, will it?”

The look on his Daddy’s face was pure, jaw-dropping desire.

It wasn’t Neil’s kink, but it was amazing watching the two of them together. How the hell had they connected this quickly? It was like they hadn’t even needed to say a word. They’d just been drawn together, and now the boy had his Daddy fetching him apple cider.

To be fair, Sebastian had gotten Neil a glass of cider too, but that was completely different.

“Hi!” the boy greeted Neil brightly. “I’m Isaac. This is Daddy and Roarasaurus.” He held up the stuffed dinosaur for inspection.

“Oh, hello,” Neil responded, amused. “I’m Neil.”

Isaac’s Daddy introduced himself with a fond look at his boy. “Remi. AKA, Isaac’s Daddy.”

“Nice to meet you both.” Brilliant small talk, there.

“I like your shirt,” Isaac said. “It’s pretty.”

Neil smiled. “I like your pajamas.” It was a little odd talking to a grown man like he was… five? Three? But at the same time, Neil held him in a little awe for how comfortable he felt being himself. Neil had spent hours debating over wearing a t-shirt and had to be goaded into wearing the shorts he had on, while Isaac was prancing around in a hood with felt dinosaur teeth.

“Thanks!” Isaac looked around the room. “Neil, you don’t have to be sad. Your Daddy will come back soon.”

Huh? Neil tried to figure out what he was talking about, then looked to Isaac’s “Daddy Remi” in case he could help explain.

The man returned his look of confusion, cocking his head in Sebastian’s direction.

Ah. “Sebastian's not my Daddy,” Neil informed Isaac.

Isaac’s nose wrinkled. “He can be your temporary Daddy. Daddy Remi is my temporary Daddy. He’s just going to take care of me until I get on the airplane to go far, far away. Woosh!” His hand gesture matched the sound.

Remi looked pained at the boy’s words. Neil couldn’t blame him. If he’d connected to anyone that quickly, he wouldn’t want to leave them.

“Come on, baby boy.” Remi took Isaac’s hand. “I think Neil needs some space right now. Want to go look for some toys?”

“Toys!” Isaac was already pulling his Daddy out the door when he shouted over his shoulder. “Bye, Mister Neil!”

“Bye!” Neil waved back.

Well, that had been interesting. And that was two people now who thought Sebastian was his Daddy. Neil could only dream of such a thing.

After the couple left, there still wasn’t much to do.

When it had been well over fifteen minutes and Sebastian was locked in conversation, Neil assumed he’d just forgotten. Jamie was talking with one of the Daddies with enthusiastic gestures. Maybe Neil should even slip away. There was still a chance he might meet someone tomorrow in a more natural setting.

Just then, Sebastian looked up and caught his eye. With a few parting words to the other Daddy he was talking to, he crossed the room. “Ready?”