Page 3 of Ted's Temerity
Before I can fumble over an answer that doesn’t sound creepy as fuck, Chance interrupts us, throwing his arm around my shoulder while he grins at Zephyr. Chance’s enthusiasm is usually infectious, innocuous as he is with his dad bod and ginger beard, but today the interruption grates on my nerves.
“Mission accomplished,” he declares, sounding proud of himself. “Now all we gotta do is try and sit at the far end of the table at the fancy-schmancy restaurant you booked for tonight, and we can avoid Mrs Walker trying to marry us all off.”
Honestly, considering the casual attire of the Wedding Party, it’s not like we’re going anywhere that exclusive, but I don’t bother arguing with my friend. Instead, I allow his comment to launch us into a debate about the merits of getting to the restaurant early vs late, and I’m thrilled beyond measure when Zephyr agrees to ride with us in Chance’s truck when we finally get our shit together and leave the park.
Chapter Two – Zephyr
“So…Ted, huh?” Ash asks, dropping into the chair beside me at his very casual wedding reception.
It turned out, as his gift to his friends, one Theodore Masters hired a private room at their favorite restaurant. How do I know this? Asher and his new husband, Charlie, were sure to thank the man effusively during their impromptu speeches as we ate. Sitting beside me, the very same man tried to brush off the thanks casually, but I could tell he was genuinely happy to have been able to help his friends out.
I haven’t known Ash very long, and this is only the third time I’ve met Charlie, but they’re good people.
Well, good…if somewhat nosy.
I do my best to appear unaffected by my new friend’s observational skills. “What about him?” I ask nonchalantly, reaching for the glass of sweet white wine I’ve been nursing for the last half hour. I’m not a big drinker, but I do have a weakness for sweet things.
The room we’re in is just long enough for the extended table which seats twenty people. Ash and Charlie had taken seats next to each other in the middle, with Charlie’s family down one end and his and Ash’s friends clustered on the other. I found myself seated among their friends, which was nice.
It’s actually a lovely space. The room is cozy and warmly lit, the walls painted cream. Fairy lights are strung above our heads. There’s a small, makeshift ‘dance floor’ in the other half of the room, and now that dinner is over, some of the couples in attendance are swaying together to the strains of Michael Bublé’s crooning.
Charlie’s being begrudgingly dragged around the dance space by his mother, but when he looks over at Ash in an obvious cry for help, my new friend just giggles and blows his husband a kiss. Then he turns back to me and raises an eyebrow. “Oh, nothing,” he answers my question with airy amusement, “just the fact that you’ve been eyeing him off all night.”
I shrug. “He’s an attractive man.”
Ted is tall and broad shouldered, with dark brown hair and a healthy tan. He has salt and pepper streaks at his temples and artfully scattered atop his head, which seems almost artificial considering the way they perfect his silver fox vibe. A strong, clean-shaven jawline and warm light brown eyes round out the image. His voice isn’t ridiculously deep, but it’s smooth and measured when he speaks, likely a byproduct of his chosen career as a lawyer.
Ash’s smirk turns knowing. “Uh huh. And he’s an excellent Daddy.”
I don’t bother reacting to that, either. I’d gathered as much just from our interactions alone. When we arrived at the restaurant and took our seats, Ted slid into the one beside mine, and it seemed almost second nature for him to look after me for the course of the meal, refilling my glass, checking that things were to my liking, being sure to include me in the conversations he fell into with the people around us. I guess that, if he’d been given the chance, he would have even cut my steak for me.
After the meal, he’d been dragged into conversation with someone at the far end of the table and I’d encouraged him to go chat. I knew Chance as well, after all, and even if I do come off shy, I can socialize with strangers without any issues. But Ash was right when he said I’d been eyeing Ted all night: even with him on the far side of the room, my eyes still stray to him.
“Does your new husband know that you’re trying to play matchmaker for his best friend?” I tease lightly, leaning back in my chair to stretch off the soporific effects of the decadent meal I just ate.
“Yep,” Ash pops the ‘p’ as he speaks the word with childlike glee. “And he’s all for it. Ted’s been single for too long, and, honestly, we both just wanna see him happy.”
“Maybe there’s a reason Ted’s been single,” I argue, then hold up a finger to defend my point when it’s clear Ash is unimpressed at the implication that his friend is somehow flawed. “And I don’t mean that he’s not a good guy, because it’s obvious that he is. Just…maybe hewantsto be single. Maybe he’s the type that likes to hit it and quit it.”
Ash scoffs. “He’s aDaddy,” he tells me in a tone that says I’m being stupid. “He has dedicated space for age regression play in his homeandin his office.” That last tidbit does surprise me, and I know it shows on my face. Ash’s vehemence gentles. “Apparently, he’d just come out of a long-term relationship around the time I met Charlie. He’s been on a few dates here and there, but he hasn’t really clicked with anyone.” Now, an almost lupine grin pulls his lips upwards. “Until now.”
I roll my eyes. “And what would you know of our interactions, hmm? It’s your wedding day. You’ve been too loved up with that handsome man of yours to be paying little ol’ me any mind.”
“Please. People watching is something Charlie and I both enjoy.” There’s a sharpness to Ash’s grin now: a hint that he can read me better than I’d like him to be able to. “And, let me tell you, watching the man I like to think of as ‘Uncle Ted’ fall all over himself to keep your attention was a revelation.”
I take a moment to process those words, patting the corners of my mouth delicately with my thick, white linen napkin before tossing it over the crumbed remnants of my slice of wedding cake. “Alright, so there was alittlebitof flirting…” I hold my thumb and index finger an inch or so apart. “But it’s a wedding. Don’t all single people get a bit flirty with all the happily ever after vibes going on?” Not to mention the alcohol, not that I’ve had more than two glasses.
“You weren’t flirting with Chance or Spence, though, and they’re both single.” Ash lets his gaze float around the room, pointing people out. “So’s Max, actually.” He cocks his head and muses, “I mean, I think he’s straight? I don’t know. He’s Charlie’s former partner. Anyway, I know Tristan and Gabe are single, and they’re involved in the BDSM lifestyle, too.” He waves at the two men he just named when they look over. Both are, objectively speaking, handsome men. Probably too young for my taste, but with pleasant smiles and friendly eyes. “They’re also new friends of ours,” he adds, offhandedly. “We met them through Cherie and Kate. Tristan’s a counselor and Gabe’s a social worker. They’re helping with the community center.” He shrugs. “Not sure what their kinks are, but they’re involved in the lifestyle, too.”
I nod, but my disinterest in any of the men he just mentioned is almost palpable. “Okay, fine, you’ve made your point,” I laugh, shaking my head before my gaze once again seeks out Ted. He’s currently leaning against the far wall with a beer in hand, apparently engrossed in casual conversation with the woman Ash introduced earlier as Cherie, as well as his friends Matt and London. As I watch him, I can feel Ash studying me. I sigh. “What do you suggest I do about it, then?”
It’s not like I’m going to actually take Ash’s advice on board. I’ll humor him. I’ll listen and pretend to think it over, and then I’ll slink out the door alone as planned.
Don’t get me wrong: I like Ted. I like him a lot. And I don’t doubt that he’d make a fantastic Daddy for someone. But…I’m not exactly a ‘traditional’ little and, as much as I can tell Ted finds me attractive, I don’t know that our role-playing tastes would match. From what I’ve gathered just from listening to Ash talk about his circle of friends, someone like Ash himself is more Ted’s type. A perfect little boy.
Not someone like me.
See, I’m little, but I like to play dress ups. Princess style.
