Page 17 of Little Boy Toy

Zale

Kendry would not leave my mind. At home. At work. In bed. His slightly sullen but very animated voice read to me even in my sleep. I dreamt of dragons flying at sunset, and racing raindrops named John and James. I kept thinking about beetles named Alexander. I raced talking cars and had a few minor nightmares about sea serpents.

I had planned to wait for Kendry to initiate anything that might happen between us, but it seemed I was not patient. I had asked for that hug after our pizza night.

Had I been out of line? If he was ace, did he want touching only on his terms? I could ask him, instead of wondering, but with Kendry I wanted him comfortable, with few or no demands from me. We could just hang out and be ourselves.

But then there was that annoying thing called communication.

I itched to text him the next day, pacing my rooms. Kendry was fun. But more than that, he was getting his hooks into me. I felt it like hands grasping at my shoulders and arms. At my neck and waist.

He had wanted a longer hug last night. I knew that. But I had to stop just in case I was reading him wrong. It mattered that I handle Kendry just right. But that hug. It was everything.

I stared at my phone. This boy. He was the only thing on my mind.

I opened the text window and started to type.

I had a good time last night.

Before I could finish and hit send, my phone chirped. The incoming text was from Kendry.

I started to laugh as I opened the message.

Kendry: Last night was fun. Thank you so much for the pizza and letting me keep the leftovers. When can we do it again?

Zale: I don’t work tomorrow. How about tonight?

I worried I was being too forward. But he had opened that door. He had texted first.

Kendry: I don’t have to work, either. I can work, but I like to take my weekends off. I’d like to see you tonight.

Zale: You can come to my place this time. If you’d like.

Kendry: Yes! I’d love to see it. And you.

Zale: Come early. Texting you my address. Or I can pick you up.

Kendry: I can drive. How early is early?

If it had been entirely up to me, I would have said right now. But it was only ten a.m.

Zale: Come around three o’clock. I’ll have snacks.

Kendry: I love snacks.

Zale: I’ll have dinner for us, too.

Kendry: See you at three.

Did Kendry seem excited? How could I tell from a text? I read our thread over again three times and decided he typed with enthusiasm. That was a win for me. I’d have to keep a handle on things, though. If he was ace, I couldn’t allow myself to get out of hand.

I returned from the store with quite a selection of snacks, and the makings for spaghetti for dinner. Every little liked spaghetti, didn’t they?

I set out a huge serving plate on my coffee table with brownies, tinfoil-wrapped kisses, and mixed nuts, along with carrots, celery, dip, and little dill pickles to round out the healthy choices. I set another bowl out with grapes, sliced apples, and peeled and sectioned Cutie tangerines. I’d even bought Kendry a sippy cup and some juice. It was blue with little yellow emoji faces on it. The grocery store didn’t have a huge selection, but I thought he might appreciate it.

After I got all that done, it was only one o’clock. I stood back and admired my setup. Everything was in place, perfect for the boy that was coming to spend the evening with me.

I sat down hard on my couch at a new revelation. I was acting like a total daddy. I wasn’t a daddy, though. I didn’t crave any little in any onesie sucking on any pacifier. I wanted just one little. That little was Kendry. He was the one. I didn’t care if he was a little or a middle or older. He could be and do anything he wanted and that wouldn’t change how I felt. Nor did I have to change myself around him. I liked doing nice things for my lovers in the past. That was built into me.

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