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“That’s enough, hun,” Roy says in a teasing voice, and grabs the wine glass from Georgie’s hand, raising it to his lips. She scoffs, making a half-hearted attempt to retrieve it.
“It’s past your bedtime.”
”Oh please, It’s only nine o’clock,” Georgie rolls her eyes and caresses Roy’s giddy face. “I only had two sips!”
Roy downs the glass himself, much to Georgie's annoyance.
“Yer so rude,” she pouts that lovely pout, with her glossy lips out and perfectly trimmed brows coming together — it gets Roy every single time.
They giggle like naughty school mates, drunk on their honeymoon phase that has yet to end — three years and counting. They lean in to close the gap between them, their breaths tickling each other's skin and lips close—
“Mummy…” A small whimper tears them apart suddenly. Georgie yelps when she's falling off Roy's lap just for him to hook his arm around her waist. She covers her lacy garments that are a bit too see through at the intruder — ”Oh, goodness gracious, Jamie! Ye’ scared the shite out of me!”
There at the bedroom door stood little Jamie, hugging his toy close to his chest and in his PJ's, all scared and trembling.
“What's wrong, my sexy little sweetheart?” Georgie notices the shine on his cheeks and the snot rolling down from his nose. Her baby must have had a fright.
“N-nightmares, mummy…” He says so quietly that Roy and Georgie have to lean a bit. “Scared…”
“Why don't I put you to bed?” Roy offers because Georgie's half naked and drank a bit too much to stand properly, let alone put her baby to bed.
Jamie shakes his head at the offer, glaring at Roy. It's cute to see the little bugger try and act tough to a football player who's seen worse mugs on the pitch.
“No! Dun’t wants the big stinky hairy old man!”
“Jamie Tartt, ye’watch yer mouth!” Georgie says, her slurred speech blending with her motherly tone. Jamie pouts, just like his mother, and brings his toy up to his face, whispering something into its ear. It's a large orange bear that has a lion's mane and claws. Jamie takes it everywhere with him and considered his best friend.
“Mr. Roary says that big stinky hairy old man has to tell me a story or else he's not allowed in me's room.”
Roy chuckles and nods. “Mr. Roary knows how to haggle. Go wait for me. I need to put your mother to bed first.”
Jamie smiles but it drops quickly to a mean frown. To their surprise, Jamie scurries over to Georgie's side of the bed.
“No! I puts mummy to bed!” He says determined, fluffing her pillow and patting her spot. “Mummy, lay down.”
“Aw, thank you, me sweet sexy baby,” Georgie gushes and does as she's told by Jamie. She gets comfortable and Jamie puts up the blankets clumsily, smoothing it over with Mr. Roary ‘helping’. He runs off to their bathroom, coming back with a glass of water that he sets on her nightstand. He makes sure she's tucked in and gives her a big kiss on her cheek.
Georgie returns it on both his cheeks and gives a big one on his forehead and one for Mr. Roary.
“Goodnight, mummy!” Jamie says sweetly and gives her one big hug with Mr. Roary in between them.
“Goodnight, my sweet sexy baby. Roy is going to put yer lil tush to bed. Behave, okay?”
Roy is up and ready, his arms open. Jamie looks at him, unsure. He's voiced how much he doesn't like Roy and throws crude nicknames at him on a daily basis.
But Jamie is like any other little boy. He's afraid of the dark. The adrenaline of his nightmare had given him the push to wander their dark, scary halls with Mr. Roary. Now that same adrenaline has subsided, leaving him fearful.
Roy smiles warmly when Jamie jumps into his arms. He gives Georgie a wink and walks out the room to put Jamie to bed.
.
Roy never thought he wanted to be a dad at his age. Much less a step-dad to a brat that despises him. Patience is the key with kids, and Roy’s learning it the hard way.
Here he was in the lads room. Blue walls and stuffed toys littering the floor. The ones that had been destroyed were gifts from Roy; he couldn’t complain when he’d done the same to his sister’s dolls.
Jamie gets out of his arms and runs to bed. He gets under the covers with Mr. Roary, waiting for Roy.
“Excited?” Roy goes over and gently pushes Jamie down into the bed. He pulls up the blanket and tucks it into the mattress — just how Jamie likes it. When Roy was a lad, he personally hated when his dad tucked in his sheets. He could barely move and would suffocate in the trapped heat.
Jamie is the complete opposite. As much as Roy hated it growing up, he loves doing these little moments with the lad.
Once tucked in properly, Jamie snuggles up to the warm blankets and hugs Mr. Roary close to his chest. He stares up at Roy, his big hazel eyes waiting in anticipation.
Roy sits at the edge of the bed, trying to think of a story. He isn’t good at this step-dad thing and tries his best to make the kid like him. One would think having the man he idolised dating his mum would earn Roy some brownie points.
In the beginning, all Roy got was tantrums and cold shoulders. Now, it's mainly attitude, sass, and a rare 'daddy' that Roy held onto with a death grip.
“Story?” Jamie whispers politely from under the blankets.
“Thinking of one.” Stories should come easily to Roy. He’s lived an interesting life so far and still is. At pubs, he shared his football stories. Over fires, he's told tall tales. Unfortunately, Jamie’s a bit too young to hear about a lady and her emerald ring.
“Yer stories probably suck.” Jamie teases, his little eyes flashing with mischievousness. “Stinky stories.”
”You’re stinky.” Roy joshes him. Then a story pops up in his head when he looks at Jamie's best friend; Mr. Roary. “Do you remember how you got Mr. Roary?”
Jamie shakes his head. “No...”
Roy’s lip curves up in a smile. “Want to know?”
Jamie nods slowly, curious.
”Would you believe me if I told you it’s how I met your mother?”
Jamie’s bright saucers go as wide as they can. “Yer fucking lying!”
Roy gives Jamie’s leg under the blanket a gentle swat in warning. “Language.”
”You swear!”
”Because I’m an adult. Now, do you want to hear my story or me read a boring book?”
Jamie holds up Mr. Roary, who nods at Roy. “Tell us!”
“All right. Listen closely, you two,” Roy advises and Jamie does by leaning in close and bringing Mr. Roary up to his face. “This is the story of how I met your mother thanks to Mr. Roary—“
—
Roy hated the holidays.
Christmas in particular. He was busy with training, parties, sponsors, and games — so much going on for this growing football star. He had no time for the bullshit the holidays brought.
Yet. Here he was by himself. In a big sha-mancy mall in Manchester because of course they had to do it at his relatives that were hours away. Looking to find gifts for his family dinner that he graciously took work off for — only because Jenni threatened to kill him if he didn’t attend this year. He had his stupid disguise on that seemed to ward off any muppets asking for pictures and autographs; sunglasses on, cap on, hair tied back in a bun. He looked like any wanker in the store but he rather be at the pub or on the field.
“Your father would be happy with a crystal shot glass set,” his mind told him when his eyes landed on it. It was expensive. He had money. The old man would lose it after a week. Perfect.
Shoving the boxed item in, Roy wheeled to the next section. His sister was easy. Either makeup, money for medical textbooks, or his presence at his estranged family's dinner would suffice. But she deserved everything she ever wanted and he would check all three off the list.
Grabbing the nicest makeup brands that she’d talked about over the phone and posted on her socials, he moved on, mindlessly wheeling around the overly large store decorated from top to bottom in gaudy Christmas decorations. The people he passed wore clothes that could pay off some chumps school loan and their faces made Roy want to punch them.
All fake smiles and cheer. Roy truly believed Christmas was created to make people like him suffer. The joy that this holiday brought was only an annoyance to Roy and many others growing up in low income houses.
Shoving in a couple of bath gift baskets for whoever was going to this fucking family dinner, Roy turned towards the toy section.
He might be a grown man. He might be a rising football star. He might be the Grinch on Christmas. But Roy Kent loved to browse the toy section—
—
“You like toys too, Roy?” Jamie interrupts Roy’s story with a tiny voice. Roy glances at him and sees he’s nervous — scared even — for speaking out of turn. Roy’s been told about the lads' dad and suspects Jamie is waiting to be yelled at to shut up or scolded for talking over an adult — oddly, Roy’s just noticing now Jamie never talked over people. A good trait if it weren’t for the fact how it came to be.
Patting Jamie’s legs, Roy vanquishes the boy’s nervousness by nodding at him with a smile.
“Yes. I do. That’s why I always go with you to the toys section behind your mum’s back when we shop.”
Jamie gives him a look he can’t put his finger on. It’s as if he’s deciding if he should throw an insult or carry this conversation civilly.
“I like toys a lot,” Jamie says happily, bringing Mr. Roary up to his face to scrub it all over. “A lot!”
”I know you do,” Roy chuckles, giving the floor littered with toys a look. “Very much so.”
”Continue!” Jamie urges, squirming under his sheets.
“All right, settle down now. Where was I?”
”The toy section!”
”That’s right. I Roy Kent loved browsing the toy section—“
—
Roy looked at the overpriced toys that weren’t meant to go under fake trees in cozy homes. They were toys some kids dreamed of having and stayed a dream. Ultimately, Roy picked out a few to donate; a few Barbie dolls, action figures, toy cars, and a single, large orange teddy bear with a lion's mane. Personally, Roy never attached his name to charities he’d donated to because he hated the praise of his goodwill. It shouldn’t be applauded nor should it be anyone’s business but his own.
About to leave, a little boy ran into the section. He looked upset with a little pout on his face. He wore a shirt that was a bit stained, jeans that had little holes at the bottom, and his trainers were starting to wear down. His jacket was the newest thing on him, but it still was on a cheaper end. The kid stuck out among everything around him — just one of these toys probably cost more than what the kid wore.
Roy watched him run up and down the aisle in search of something and stopped when he saw Roy’s cart. His eyes shot open, so wide that Roy swore he found gold.
The little boy inched towards him to tip-toe and peek into his cart.
”Can I… help you?” Roy awkwardly asked. The kid seemed to be fixated with Roy’s items, specifically at the teddy bear. The little boy whipped his head up at Roy. He looked scared of him — who can blame him when someone wearing sunglasses, thick beard, and a cap inside a fancy mall was staring you down.
“Um…” The little boy kept looking back and forth to Roy and the items in the cart. “Toy!” He pointed inside to Roy’s cart and at the teddy bear.
”Oh. Sorry. I’m getting that.”
The little brat huffed. He brought his brows down and the twinkle in his eyes was now a glare.
”I wants et!”
This little shit was glaring at none other than Roy Kent and demanding a toy that wasn’t his. If the brat knew who he was behind his disguise, that attitude would change — or so he thought.
“No.” Roy would punch out a kid if the law prohibited him. He just didn’t have the patience to deal with their troublesome arse.
”Yes!” And to Roy’s shock, the little brat reached in but because he was short, he stumbled when Roy moved the cart away.
Roy growled deeply. “Where the fuck are your manners?!” He shouted and that got the boy to shrink and put his hands up in defense.
Oh shit. Roy didn’t mean to actually scare him like that. He forgot his anger could be scary, especially to little minds. Grumbling, Roy inched away from the kid, who watched him from behind his tiny hands.
”Go on now.” Roy shooed him away with a flick of his head to the left. “Your mum or dad are probably looking for you or something.” Roy just hoped they were alive because the last thing he needed was the kid sobbing about his dead parents.
”I dun’t know where mummy is.” His head ducks down and he looks like he's about to cry.
“Oh.” Great. Now Roy had to take him to someone who worked here because this kid was clearly a runner and his mum was probably losing her fucking mind. He wasn’t sure how old the kid was, but definitely too young to be on his own.
“Okay. Let’s… um… find her.”
The little boy trembled. “I aren’t supposed to talk to strangers.”
Roy raised a brow. It was funny he said that after the attempt of thievery. “You tried to steal from a stranger, little boy.”
”I aren’t a little boy!” The kid stomped his foot with a huff. “Mummy says I am old enough to brush meh teeth and tie meh trainers’ laces. I am a man!”
Roy laughed a hearty one. Okay, this kid was adorable with his little Mancunian accent and his pouty face. The annoyance he had was gone, now replaced with the need to make sure this kid was safe with his mum.
”Okay, little man. Let’s look for your mum. I’m… Roy.” Roy changed his mind on giving a fake name. The name Roy was pretty common with hairy bearded men and he doubted this kid could put two and two together on who he was.
“Mummy said I’m not allowed to give me name out to strangers,” said the little boy, who went up to him and grabbed his hand so effortlessly. It was warm, small, and the heaviest thing Roy’s ever held.
Holy shit, Roy thought. This kid was too gullible and trusting to hold a stranger's hand, yet standoffish and guard up about giving his name out. Thank God he bumped into Roy because who knows what could have happened to him.
They walked around the mall together. The little boy asked random questions like what Roy’s favourite colour was (red), his favourite football player (himself), what he liked on his pizza (nothing because he hated pizza), and so on. Roy came to find out the kid liked the colour orange, lived with his mum, loved pepperoni and black olives on his slices, and wanted to be a football player like Roy Kent, his favourite player.
”You have the best name, mister,” the kid said with a hop to his steps. He was touching everything they passed and Roy wasn't sure if he was doing it mindlessly or purposefully.
“Why is that?”
“Cuz’ Roy Kent’s the best!”
Roy would agree. The kid had some good tastes, minus his pizza toppings. “He is. You play?”
The little boy nodded and kicked up a foot, his old trainers sticking up in the air. “Yeah! Mummy and me daddy puts me in the academy. They said I am a perogie.”
”Prodigy?” Roy chuckled. “I bet Roy Kent would love to see you play.”
The kid paused to stare up at him, same wide eyes as before. This time, they sparkled ten times brighter. “Reall’eh?”
”Really. Now, let’s keep looking for your—“
“Jamie fucking Tartt!” A screech from behind made Roy jump and turn around.
—
“Wait... I’m Jamie Tartt!” Jamie interrupts the story again when it finally clicks. That was one of the many things Roy loves about this little brat — so simple, yet when something comes to him, Roy can see it happen. From Jamie's brows going up to his eyes flashing with realisation, and how his lips shape a little O. As daft as he could be, the lad was always brimming with excellent ideas and thoughts. “Wait, that's me in the story!?” Jamie gasps, his face going red with embarrassment.
Roy nods, trying to hide his smirk under his relaxed scowl. “Yes. I met your little arse first. Remember?”
Jamie hums, taking a moment to think about it. He shakes his head slowly and Roy can't blame him. Jamie was young and a lot has happened over the three years since they've met.
”I only remember Mr. Roary,” he whispers. “Keep going! Mr. Roary wants to hear how we became best friends.”
“Well, if you keep interrupting me I might have to wait till tomorrow night to finish,” Roy teases.
”No! Promise I won’t say anything!” Jamie zips his lips with his fingers and throws the ‘key’ at Roy. Roy catches it and swallows the ‘key’ down with a wink and a pat to his stomach. Jamie giggles but stops, frowning to match Roy’s scowl. It's time to get super serious.
Roy clears his throat and continues on, “There, behind us, stood a beautiful goddess—“
”Ewwww,” Jamie makes a face — so much for keeping quiet. Like any kid, hearing someone talk about your mum the way Roy does would earn one a stick-out tongue and a grimace.
”Zip it, you. Just wait until you find the one that makes your heart go—” Roy takes his hand and lightly taps Jamie's chest.
“I already do,” Jamie says smugly. “Only Mr. Roary knows.”
“Wow, not even mum?”
“Not even mum.” Jamie does the zip up with his fingers and mouth. He gives Mr. Roary the key this time and makes the toy nod its head. “Top secret!”
“I can't lie. I'm a little jealous.”
“Good. Stay jealous, stinky.”
Roy claps his knees and pretends to get up. “Welp. Looks like I'm done.”
“Noooo!” Jamie whines, the regret of being a little brat written all over his face. He shakes Mr. Roary, who protests with floppy arms. “Promise to be quiet!”
Roy shifts back in his spot and smooths over Jamie's blanket that was coming undone from the sides. Jamie can't stop squirming and fidgeting in his spot. It's way past Jamie's curfew, but Roy can't give up this bonding moment. Not when Jamie is actually listening to him without causing much trouble or calling him crude nicknames.
“Now. Where was I again?”
“Mummy!”
“Ah. Yes. Your mum had just found us—”
—
Georgie stood there with her hands on her hips and a face twisted in pure rage and worry. She was young, with her hair in a messy bun and her worn out jacket hugging her nicely. She had hoops that could fit any kid's whole hand through and lipstick that glistened under the mall’s warm lighting.
She definitely stood out like a sore thumb in a place meant for snobs and knobs. What really got Roy's breath was how she held herself without shame; she knew she didn't belong here. But she owned the space she stood in, with her head held up high and an air of confidence.
Roy would flip up his sunglasses to get a good look at her if it didn't give him away.
Never had he been struck with this feeling of whatever the fuck this was. Attraction? Fascination? Her anger really brought her beauty out and he suspected that she was the kids' mum with how her murderous motherly gaze struck through him.
And that they were the only ones in the aisle, surrounded by blankets, pillow cases and duvets.
”Jamie! Get away from that man!” The woman shouted and pointed to the empty space in front of her. “Come here, now!”
Roy let go of Jamie's hand and lightly shoved him towards her. Jamie hesitated but quickly ran over to his mum.
Georgie hugged him, kissed his face all over, and gave him a look over before she forced him over her arm. Jamie went limp, and started to protest weakly.
“Mummy! I just wanted to look at the toys!” His defense was weak. The little brat also forgot to mention the robbery attempt and his ill-mannered mouth.
“Toys me fucking arse! I was near dead when I didn't see yer arse behind me!” Georgie said angrily, and swung her other hand up. She brought it down right on Jamie's bum over his jeans, the swat muffled by the thick fabric. She was spanking him. Right there. In the middle of the bed section of the mall. People passed, wheeling around her as if it was nothing and continued their shopping.
Roy was frozen in place. He'd been spanked plenty of times as a lad and even took blame for Jenni. He remembered his own father giving him a few swats in a Tesco bathroom after throwing a few fits about candy and chips.
But never had he seen someone openly spank their child, much less in a mall. This was his first time witnessing such a thing.
“Sworry, mummy!” Jamie whined loudly, wiggling his little body under his mother's unforgiving hand. It actually sounded like he was more annoyed at the situation than upset.
“Sorry me fucking arse! You know yer not supposed ta’ walk away and talk to strangers!” Georgie huffed and kept going to get her point across. Jamie didn't fight against her and she didn’t stop until his whines became whimpers. She gave him one final, sharp swat before setting him back on his feet.
“When we get home, no TV, games, or dessert!”
Jamie's eyes started to well up. It seemed that his favourite things being taken away were worse than the spanking itself. Roy found that a bit amusing.
“I just wanted t-to find t-the toy, mummy,” Jamie sniffled, encircling his arms around her leg. He looked smaller than he did walking beside Roy. Even the air around him was different, once cocky and smug, now timid and shy. He glanced at Roy, embarrassed that he bore witness to his little smacking. “S-sworry.”
“Sorry, yeah?” Georgie sighed, stroking at Jamie's hair with trembling hands. She looked up to stare at Roy, who stood a few feet away. She wasn’t glaring at him murderously anymore, but she wasn't giving him a nice stare either.
“Who the fuck are you?” She asked him bluntly, putting a defensive hand around Jamie's head. “And what the fuck are you doing with me son?”
Roy put up a hand in surrender. “The little brat was missing his mum. I was simply a samaritan trying to find her. Seems like she found us first.”
Georgie scoffed, her lips curving up in a smirk. “Oh yeah? What kind of samaritan wears sunglasses inside and wanders the toy aisle? Yer walking towards the exit."
Roy turned around and he was indeed walking near the exit. He just happened to walk through this aisle without noticing anything beyond five feet away when Jamie was yapping his goddamn ear off. She got Roy there. And if Roy saw anyone that looked like him, dressed in a look that hid his identity, he'd suspect they were up to no good, too.
“Sounds like a pervert,” Roy replied a second too late at realising he's calling himself a fucking pervert.
“Ye’ are a pervert. A stinky pervert." Jamie agreed with snicker.
Georgie blinked, caught off guard by his blunt humour. Roy was used to joshing with the lads and flirting with women he wanted to sleep with, all without care about what he said because he's Roy Kent — could tell someone to fuck off a roof and they'd just laugh. But here, in this situation, he was a nobody that wanted to make a good first impression.
And unfortunately, he was just some guy wearing sunglasses, hanging out in the toy section, and walking hand in hand with someone else's kid.
Roy fucked up. He swallowed audibly, about to apologise for once in his life but Georgie tilted her head up to laugh. That caught him off guard.
“Yer right about that, pervert.”
“Hey now! You'd actually have to pay me to take the little brat,” Roy chuckled nervously and thought of every flirtatious thing that caught a lady's attention. But he was finding it impossible to say any of them because she wasn’t another lady he wanted to score for a night. Fucking hell, he wasn't that much of a romantic and all his one liners were borderline fuck boy territory. A mum didn't need to hear that bullshit.
So, Roy stuck his hand out. “Roy. Just Roy.” He wasn't expecting her to go for it, but she took it without hesitating.
“Georgie. Just Georgie.” Georgie shook his hand with a strong grip and winked at him. Cheeky, Roy thought and was coming to find out now he liked cheeky women.
Or just Georgie and her cheekiness.
They held each other's gazes and though he wore sunglasses, she stared right at him. Jamie looked between them and didn't like what he was seeing. He tugged at Georgie's jeans, but she was too focused on Roy.
Roy soon found himself chatting with Georgie as they walked around without purpose. He found out she was single, loved the colour blue, enjoyed singing, and was working three jobs. She asked the same questions, just as intrigued in him as he was in her.
Roy had never been this nervous talking to anyone, let alone someone he (possibly) fancied — and he didn't fancy anyone until this exact moment. Fucking hell, he was getting flustered at their elbows grazing. His career didn't give him much time to focus on that aspect of his life. Now he knew what people meant when they had butterflies in their stomachs. It really felt like there was something warm and fluttering inside him, spreading throughout his chest.
And then there was Jamie. The little brat couldn't stop glaring up at Roy and would step on his feet like that did anything. Compared side by side, Roy's whole foot could take the brat out with a single kick.
The little brat also did not like how close they would get. He would shove Roy away from his mummy with a little ‘hmph’. He made sure they were far apart at all times and acted like her little body guard.
Regardless, they continued to exchange pleasantries as Jamie followed like a duckling in between them like a wall.
Roy could have talked to her for hours if his phone didn't go off midway through their conversation about the best beer.
“Shoot. I have to go.” It was his agent and if his agent was calling him past 2 o'clock on his day off, Roy forgot to take the day off. Wouldn't matter anyway. He's in Manchester and his agent is in Chelsea.
“Oh boo.”
He was finding out he liked teasing women — or just Georgie.
“Thanks for the chat,” Roy said, the beginning of his farewell. He was actually a smidge sad that they were going to part. There was so much he wanted to know about her. How he could just listen to her chat all day.
“Thanks fer not kidnapping me son,” Georgie joked. “I knew you wouldn't. Was pulling yer leg there.”
“How so?” Roy was relieved to hear that.
Georgie smiled sweetly and leaned up to him, her face close to his ear. Her breath was cool and her breath minty. She whispered so Jamie wouldn't hear what she had to say, “I'm pretty sure Roy Kent ain't a stinky pervert. Unless?” The last word hit him hard with how she said it; low and seductively smooth.
Roy had to give her some credit. He could fool a five year old, but not a full-sized adult that was quick witted. His disguise only worked if he kept his mouth shut.
“You got me there. Keep it a secret?”
“Which one?”
Roy playfully scoffed. “You're fucking hilarious, know that?”
They both laughed and Jamie didn't like that. No matter his little weak stomps or constant whines, neither adults paid him any mind. He tried to lean up earlier to hear what his mummy was whispering about, but couldn't because of how short he was.
“So, what are you shopping for anyway?” Roy asked to satisfy his curiosity. “You're certainly dressed for the occasion.”
Georgie flipped up some tags they passed, making faces at the ridiculous prices. “Just for a toy fer Jamie, ere’.” She patted Jamie's head and Jamie nodded. “He scored all the goals fer his team and won them the game. Told him he can pick any toy.”
“Mhm!” Jamie proudly hummed with a smug smile. So he wasn't lying about being a prodigy.
“This stinky pervert has the last one, mummy! Tooks it from me!”
The false accusations this little brat was throwing at Roy would make him growl any given day. He could sue the kid for slander, too, and win ten times over. Instead, Roy took out the toy and gave it to Jamie. It was going to be donated anyway, so why not give it to someone deserving? As much as Jamie seemed to be a little brat, he was acting like any other little kid in a mall.
Annoying. Troublesome. Silly. Everything that makes Roy hate kids — except this one gets a pass.
“It's on me, kid. Congrats on the win.”
If there was something brighter than the sun, Roy just found it on Jamie's radiant face. The lad was so happy that he couldn't speak, with his eyes bulging out. His smile was the widest it could go and he bounced in his spot, hugging the soft toy in his arms.
“Oh, please. I'll get it. Thank you, though.” Georgie smiled warmly at Roy then looked down at Jamie, bringing him close to her leg he stimmed happily. “What do you say, Jamie?”
Jamie made a few noises, his excitement too much for him to properly speak. He couldn't say thank you but he knew how to show it.
Parting from Georgie, Jamie strode over and wrapped his little arms around Roy's leg, much to his and Georgie's shock. Jamie seemed even tinier clinging to Roy’s leg than he had clinging to his mum. His hug was tight, and tender, weighing Roy down like an anchor. The shakes of Jamie's excitement vibrated up and straight to Roy's heart.
—
“Yer lying! Did I really hug you?” Jamie almost yelled, interrupting Roy once again. Roy pressed a finger up to his own lips and said shhh. Jamie had been quiet for most of the story as promised.
“Shh. Mum's sleeping. And yes. You did.”
“I didn't hug you! I never would hug a stinky pervert!” Jamie protested much quieter. If Jamie could see the look on his face, he'd see how bad of a liar he was.
Roy smirked. “But you did. I wanted to hug you back but I held off. I was scared of you.”
“You were scared of me?”
“Yes. You scared the shit out of me,” Roy said truthfully. “I really wanted to impress you. It was easy.” Roy's eyes dropped down to Mr. Roary. “Real easy.”
—
They strode up to the cashiers. Georgie went first to pay for the toy. Jamie outright refused to part with it and would screeh if attempted. The cashier had to scan it from his arms, much to everyone's amusement.
The moment the price flashed up, Georgie’s face paled. “What!?” Her eyes were wide at the price being displayed for the toy. “Jamie, you said it were forty pounds! There's an extra fucking zero there!” Possibly, just possibly, she was a bit daft to believe a five year old wanting a toy would truthfully tell their parents the correct price and that anything would be forty pounds here. Roy found it cute.
“Um, missed the sale?” Jamie hugged the toy tighter, staring up at the price. To him, it was a big number that didn't have any meaning to him. He just knew big numbers made adults say no and fibbed. “Saids I can pick any toy, mummy!” He stepped back with the toy, his shoulders hunched and lips wobbling. If anyone tried to pry them apart, it would be a tantrum of a lifetime.
“Jamie…” Georgie used that voice that Roy was all too familiar with. His dad used it when he was about to drop the “we can't, son.”
Jamie's face dropped to a devastated one, tugging at Roy's hardened heart strings. He looked to Roy, and the fucker was smart with those puppy eyes and pout no one can say no to.
Not even Roy.
“Let me get this for you,” Roy said politely. She knew who he was, knew he had money except Jamie; he knew Roy had money, but didn’t know who he was. It was either her pride holding her back from saying yes or stubbornness to protect her dignity. She couldn't afford it, and to break her son's heart would kill her.
Georgie chewed her lip and sighed when Jamie started to hiccup with his tears falling. Those weren't crocodiles he was letting spill freely. She caved when her gaze met with Roy's shades and nod of his head. Even the cashier was giving her an encouraging smile to go for it.
“Fine. I'll let you pay. But!” She held up a finger before Roy could say anything. “I will owe you back. I always owe back. No ifs and or buts!”
To Georgie, this was a week's worth of paychecks. To Roy, it was pocket change.
“Sounds good to me.” Roy took out his card, and Georgie stepped out of the way for him to pay. She watched him swipe it without hesitating, making the lad shout out with utter joy when the receipt started to print out. It was done, non-refundable, and the best purchase Roy's made.
“Yippe!” Jamie danced around them, hopping and throwing up the toy in the air. Georgie laughed, watching Jamie crash into Roy with another hug. This time, he didn't let go.
“Thank you, again. I’ll have the money by next week. Promise,” Georgie said, determined to make it happen. Roy believed her, but he was looking for a set of different numbers as payment.
”How about we discuss your tab over dinner?” Roy wasn’t a romantic. His one liners got him giggles and fingers twirling hair, but never anything long lasting. He was young and had plenty of fish chasing him. But something about Georgie stuck to him. He wanted to make her giggle from his stupid jokes, twirl her hair from his cheesy pick-up lines, and take the little brat to a park to kick a ball.
Georgie quirked a brow. “Aren't you a little young and famous to be a dadd'eh?” Georgie would never say yes for a hook-up, let alone to a football player that were known to sleep around. The flirty and amorous tension between them vanished when the possibility of them going further than flirting sank in.
“Aren't you a little young and beautiful to be a mum?” Roy couldn’t predict the future but he was certain it could go past three dates.
She laughed, giving Roy's shoulder a playful slap. “Fuck, you got me there. Never believe a man who says they can pull out.”
“I’ll make a mental note.”
They smiled at each other. Georgie helped take out the rest of his items to place at the counter. She joked and teased him all the way to his car and helped carry his bags. Jamie stayed glued to his leg, and he thought that was a good sign that the three of them could work out.
Roy found out she took a bus there. He insisted on driving them, only to be rejected. Not because she didn’t want to, quite the opposite. Roy found out five year olds needed a booster seat or it was a ticket and a slap of child endangerment charges. To solve the issue, Roy went back to the mall and bought one, with Georgie protesting him there and back without the jokes and teasing.
Jamie was still glued to his leg, hanging off with no issue. A senior commented on how beautiful they were as a family when they passed her, her comment throwing the two off. That got Georgie to shut up with a dust of pink on her round cheeks and make Roy turn red from his ears to his neck. Neither corrected the senior and moved on to install a booster seat after Georgie admitted defeat — she needed a new one anyway.
Roy used to think Ikea furniture was hard. A fucking booster seat was the final boss of all installations. Georgie timed him and he got it done in under half an hour. She never once questioned his chivalrous behaviour and he never questioned why she was putting up with it. He was doing too much to impress her and it was working.
He drove her home — after he stopped by McDonald’s because Jamie saw the golden arches from miles away and dropped the question, “Can I has cheeseburger, mummy?”
Roy personally never ate at fast food burger joints. He was more of a kebab kind of guy.
Jamie was being spoiled because Roy went in the McDonald’s drive thru and suffered a fifteen minute wait. Georgie insisted she pay for this one and Roy let her because he shouldn’t make her feel like she couldn't support her own kid. She even bought Roy a happy meal because it came with a toy and wanted to give something in return.
Once she was home, they exchanged numbers and Jamie ran off the moment Georgie unbuckled him before Roy could say goodbye to the lad. Jamie was too excited to play with his new friend but it was okay.
“See you,” Roy said, his cap and sunglasses off when Jamie was gone inside the house. “I’ll call you.”
”Nope.” Georgie held up his number in her hand, smirking. “I’ll call you. I’m the one with the brat and three jobs. Me schedule is tight.”
“Fair point.” Roy was learning that he could let someone else take the lead for once. He learned a lot of things and it all started because of a silly overpriced, magnificent toy and a little man with sticky fingers.
—
Roy gets up to retuck Jamie and Mr. Roary back into bed. He smooths over the edges and the blanket on top of Jamie. "After three weeks your mum called me and I was over the moon. I dropped everything to drive to Manchester just for our first date. We fought the first three dates about her tab. On the fourth date, we kissed.”
Jamie listens on, his little eyes going heavy. He has no energy to make faces or care to banter. Every story's ending had that magic — the ability to put a child to sleep.
“When you found out I was Roy Kent, you lost it on the both of us. You were so mad you tore off my poster from your wall." Roy remembers it like it was yesterday. Five year old Jamie throwing a tantrum about his hero dating his mum. "We got serious after the seventh date. She trusted me with you and allowed me to babysit your little arse during my time off. You hated coming to Chelsea and my games but you cheered for me the loudest." Roy caresses Jamie's cheek tenderly, always afraid if his large hands would hurt the lad accidentally --- minus his deserving swats at his rear end. "But I loved it when you stayed. Loved it when you came to my games. You were a meance and still are. My meance, my boy."
Jamie gave him a little sleepy smile, leaning into Roy's touch.
"When I asked her to move in the first time, she said no. You came first. She couldn't believe someone like me would commit to her and her son." Roy brushed a few strands out of Jamie's face. "I swore it to her that I love you just as much as I love her.”
Jamie mumbles something under his breathe. It was either a fuck you or a love you. It doesn't matter when both mean the same thing in Jamies books.
“After a year of going back and forth, I asked again. She caved when I gave her a pout and the puppy eyes. Learned from yours truly," Roy chuckles at the sleepy pout, giving Jamie’s cheek a light pinch. "You two moved in with me officially and here we are. The fucking end. Goodnight son.”
"Night, dadd'eh," Jamie whispers under his breathe and finally snoozes off, his face buried into Mr. Roary.
Smiling as if he won the game, Roy leans down to plant a fatherly kiss on Jamie's forehead. He gave one to Mr. Roary just in case this fucker actually spoke.
Leaving the room, Roy returns to his own bed and sees Georgie passed out. Guess he'll tell her tomorrow that Jamie called him daddy again and record it in the baby books later. She hasn’t moved an inch since, but her snores have definitely got louder. Joining her, Georgie rolls over by sleep instinct and cuddles up next to him, her snores right by his ear.
“Thanks, babe,” Roy mumbles under his breath, wrapped in his lover's strong embrace. He kisses Georgie on her forehead and gets comfortable, falling asleep shortly after counting up to forty sheep.
To only wake up an hour later when Jamie is at his bedside, crawling over him and settling himself in the middle, doing it without uttering a single word but sniffles and hiccups. Georgie snores on and Roy scoots over to make room. So much for tucking Jamie in. If the lad had another nightmare then it was best to have him sleep where he felt the safest.
Jamie curls himself against Georgie but presses his back into Roy’s arm. Mr. Roary stays cradled up to his chest, it's plush head looking over Jamie's shoulder. It’s beady eyes stare deeply into Roy's.
Roy winks at the toy and he swears it winks back. Chalking it up to needing sleep, Roy puts his arm as far as it can stretch around Georgie and lets it limply rest. Roy stays awake until he's certain Jamie is sleeping soundly, monitoring to catch any indication of a nightmare. When it's clear, Roy let's himself fall asleep, excited to wake up with two people he loves dearly.