Page 14 of Little Boy Toy

I responded quickly. “I would love to take you to dinner. Or just hang out anywhere, actually.”

He looked up at me again. This time his eyes held a glow I wanted to fall right into. This was so different for me, like my mind and body were opening up to a sort of beauty like a sunset, or a piece of art I’d never seen before but now wanted on my wall in my home.

“I would like that. Is it okay? I mean, you’re—” he hesitated again, shy.

“Well, is it okay with you?” I asked. “I’m not great daddy material, as you know.”

He answered quickly. “You’re fine. Just fine.” A small smile lifted his lips, but the essence of it washed over his whole face.

I would have kissed him then, or liked to, but that was another thing I’d wait for him to initiate.

Would this even work?

I wanted very much to find out.

7

Kendry

“Hi. Please come in.” I opened the door to my studio apartment, standing to the side as Zale walked in. He ducked his head crossing my threshold.

Looking at him now occupying the middle of the room made my apartment seem even smaller, the walls closing in. He took up a lot of room.

I didn’t know what to think about my friendship with Zale. Yet all I ever did was think about him, and every day I wanted to rush to the club to have more story time with him.

The main thing we’d confessed to each other was that we were both on a break from our usual routines. Having him visit me at my apartment was a no expectations meetup, yet my breath caught in my chest to see him. He brought with him a powerful presence and having him here where I lived changed how I viewed every item in my room.

For example, I loved color. My couch was blue and the chair by the window was bright red. The shelf below the wall TV was covered with mini-squishmallows I’d collected since I was five. My bed, in an alcove by another window, was also covered in plushies, and beside it was a small desk with my laptop on it where I did a lot of my computer work. Was it all too weird?

But then I reminded myself that even though he wasn’t a daddy, he’d met me in a littles playroom. He already knew what I was about, and he still wanted to come to my place.

I might be a little, but I was also a good host.

“I have coffee or tea. And Coke and juice. I don’t really keep alcohol.”

“That’s perfectly fine. I’ll take a Coke.”

“Make yourself at home.”

Zale sat on my couch, his eyebrows rising as he sank into the plush cushions with a surprised sigh. I covered my smile with my hand as I moved to the open kitchen area. My couch was super comfy. That had been a priority for me when I got it since I often fell asleep playing games and watching TV before getting myself off to my bed. It was a great place to relax after work. Much more comfortable than the teeny chairs at the club. I only used the teeny chairs because they made me look littler which I wanted to convey.

I brought our drinks to my small living area, Coke for Zale, apple juice in a sippy cup for me. I sat next to him, even though he took up a lot of space with those broad shoulders and the way he sat so casually, knees spread, feet forward. There was still enough space for me, and close enough that I could feel the heat of his body.

Zale smiled, glancing at my cup. It was bright pink with bunny rabbits chasing each other just beneath the rim. I put both hands on either side of it and upended it, spout in my mouth. Did Zale hate that I wanted to use a sippy cup? Did he like it?

I decided a person didn’t have to be an actual daddy to be interested in someone else’s routine and mannerisms. Especially if they were different from what they were used to. I liked that he watched me.

I leaned forward to set my cup on the coffee table, which I’d stacked with fun books I thought we’d both enjoy. Zale put his Coke to his lips and tipped it up. He gulped and swallowed several times. I thought he’d finish the whole thing right in that moment, but he stopped and set it on the table next to my sippy cup.

“Are you hungry? I have all the food I like, like milk and cereal and chicken nuggets. But I also have fresh sandwich makings.” I’d splurged a little beyond my budget at the store knowing he was coming, but the lunchmeat would keep me eating for days, so I justified it quite well. “Turkey. Ham. Plus, peanut butter and jelly.”

“I’m fine. But do you like pizza?”

“I do. But I don’t have any.”

“Not frozen. Fresh. It will be my treat if we order delivery in a little while.”

“I’d love that!”

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