A Daddy for Alexi by Joe Satoria

15. ALEXI

Warren completed me. He filled me up in more ways than I knew. He was physically filling me and mentally filling me too.

I didn’t mind that we would be working outside while everyone else was going to be coming to the stall and asking for the samples. I didn’t mind because I knew Warren was going to be there, and I knew Warren wouldn’t let me breakdown like I broke down before.

BrattyBoy69: You should bring the kitten! I can’t wait to meet you!

Alexxxi: I don’t think I can. The kitten probably needs another injection, but you should come and meet him. He’s so sweet.

BrattyBoy69: That’s why he’s called Sugar!

Alexxxi: I can’t wait for you to meet the guy I’ve been seeing. And don’t even think about trying to steal him.

BrattyBoy69: Daddies like him don’t go for boys like me.

I knew that much was true. Benny was someone who liked to be strapped up with the harnesses, and I’d seen the pictures. Warren liked the lace much better; he liked the softness, and I was delicate.

In the middle of the city centre as stalls had been set up with their stands and their flags, and their tables filled with leaflets and small tasters. A lot of the restaurants had come out, and there were food trucks too. It was a nice day, at the end of April, surprising it hadn’t rained.

“Marketing got here early to set everything up, and operations got the cans in the back. All we have to do is pour them out, take the surveys, and they get the little shot glasses,” Warren said, explaining as we walked into the small stand.

“Isn’t it weird though,” I mumbled, standing behind him as Nick, from the marketing team, stood ahead at the stall window, cracking the can lids.

“What’s weird?” he asked.

“The shot glasses,” I said, trying not to speak too loudly. I didn’t like being overheard, and I always felt people listening in on what I was saying. “Because you don’t sell alcohol.”

He placed his hand on my shoulder. He never did that around people he worked with. Watching his lips move as he spoke. I wanted a kiss, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen. “Of all the ideas, that’s the one Marcus liked the most,” he said, “plus, it has the logo on. It doesn’t make business sense, maybe if we were making vodka or tequila, but he’s not.” He smirked.

Warren was intelligent. He always knew what he was talking about, and he always had an answer. He didn’t speak down to me. He explained what he was saying to me like I was another adult, and I appreciated that. Even if I did just want to colour and play with the kitten.

“Ok, and what do you want me to do now?” I asked, looking at the cases of cans behind me.

“You can take a couple of the flavours and pour some out,” Nick said from ahead, turning to me. He’d been listening to what I’d been saying. The creeping nervousness in the back of my throat sent a shiver down my back.

“Do you want to do that?” Warren said, pulling focus back to him. “I have to speak to Nick.”

I nodded to him. “Yeah.” As long as I wasn’t being made to talk to strangers, asking them about what they thought of the drinks or filling in the questionnaires.

It was still early and not many people came to the stand. It was a good idea, but maybe not for the first thing in the morning when everyone was occupied with going to the different stands that were serving and selling the different breakfast foods.

We’re not selling, I reminded myself. We’re just handing out samples. If they want to place orders, they can place them online. I continued to go through that in my mind as people came by and I offered them the shot glass with the drink. They could only have one, but I didn’t like to say no.

Warren and Nick were outside. They were the ones asking the questions and handing out the flyers. I preferred to be inside. I liked the feeling of being inside the stand and the colours were nice inside. Natural light was a friend, much better than the weird office lighting.

“Alexi?” a voice snapped. I was in a world of my own.

Jumping, I jolted at the sound of my name being called like that. I turned to see where the sound appeared from. Behind me?

“Alexi?” it came again, softer from ahead.

“Huh?” I could barely string a thought together. “Hi.”

In front of the stand, he was tall, dressed in a pair of ripped black jeans, a white hoodie with a black harness at the chest and shoulders. I made eye contact with him. His short hair and deep brown eyes, he chuckled.

“It’s me,” he said, “Benny.”

Of course, I’d seen the face, I’d seen the outfit. I’d been expecting to see him, but I hadn’t thought he would’ve been this tall or attractive in person.

“Hi,” I said, the heat in my face and neck dropping at the chill up my back. “I thought you’d message me first.”

“I did,” he chuckled, grabbing at his phone from his pocket. He had a nose piercing too. I wanted one, but at the same time, they only looked good on certain people, and I was scared of needles. “You look busy. Oh, what flavours do you have?” he looked down at the table filled.

“Cola. Cherry. Apple. Mixed fruit. Lemonade.” I gestured with a hand over the different flavours. “I thought we’d meet for coffee or something, I feel—”

“Oh shit,” he grumbled, “I’m sorry. I should’ve waited for you to message back. You know, this guy cancelled, so I figured I’d surprise you.”

Surprised. I was surprised. Turning slightly. I wanted someone to take over, or to have Warren comfort me. I felt lost and disoriented from what was happening. Of course, I had told him to visit, but I thought it wouldn’t have been this big of a shock.

I’d told Benny things I’d never told anyone else. He was just a name on the internet.

“How are you, anyway?” he asked, grabbing at one of the glasses. “Oo, can I keep this?” He tapped a finger at the shot glass.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m—”

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Warren’s deep voice snapped behind me.

The hairs on my neck stood and my throat grew tight. It summoned a feeling of fear, a dread knotting in my stomach, pulling me.

“Warren?” Benny laughed.

“What are you doing?” Warren asked, his hand on my shoulder. “Stirring up shit?”

Benny chuckled. “I didn’t know you were keen on sweet boys.”

“I—I—” I turned, shrugging Warren’s hand off my shoulder. It was like a night terror coming to life, the anger in them both, the way their voices turned somewhat demonic in my ears. I wanted to crawl into a ball, I wanted to hide, I didn’t want them to get me and take me away again.

“Alexi,” a soft voice in my ear. “Are you ok?”

“I didn’t know you were together,” Benny’s sharp voice, cutting through. “But I’m happy for you, Alexi deserves someone good, and—”

“Shut up!” Warren called back.

At the back of the stall, my head hanging low. I sucked in a deep breath, and on the exhale I threw up.

I felt Warren’s warm body and hand at my skin, stroking my back. “Everything ok, baby?” he asked, his voice soft again. “Let me take you home.” His hand through my hair, I couldn’t say anything, and through my watery eyes, all I could see was the sick on the stone.