Page 43 of Little Boy Toy

I ordered a martini and Kendry, who was in full little form, got orange juice. We proceeded to order a shitload of appetizers that were really bad for us: wings, cheese fries, jalapeño poppers, beer battered veggies, mini eggrolls. We were both pretty hungry and happy that this club doled out large portions.

The atmosphere was fun and familiar, but being with Kendry was all I cared about these days.

Our food came and we chatted over the music as best we could and devoured the treats.

Someone I knew from another club came up to say hello. We’d never done a scene together, but we’d hung out in the same rooms and knew each other by name.

It happened two more times. One was, Julius, a guy I had done a scene with. He looked at Kendry curiously, then back at me. “You have a new kink.”

I had the sudden thought Kendry would be uncomfortable and we shouldn’t have come, but he merely looked up and said, “Hi, I’m Kendry. I am a little. But that doesn’t mean Zale’s a daddy.

Julius raised his eyebrows, then started to laugh. “Okay then.”

After he left, I said, “Are you sure you’re okay being here.”

He shrugged. “Perfect.” Then he stuffed an entire eggroll into his mouth.

“Kendry, you’re going to choke.”

He grinned. “I’ve had much bigger things in my mouth.”

Touché.

After eating, we ordered more drinks “Off to the playroom next?”

“Okay. Maybe they have some new books.”

“Awesome.”

He picked up Alexander, took my hand in his, and off we went.

On the way to THE CELLAR, I met more people I knew. Everyone was polite. Kendry got a lot of positive attention. I felt good. This was my community.

We moved down the hall and made the turn that led us to the daddy and littles room. The crowd had thinned and only a few guys I didn’t know stood around drinking and talking. We walked into the playroom. I immediately eyed the reading nook and went in that direction, but Kendry’s hand pulled me to an abrupt stop.

I glanced down to see him staring at the couches against the wall. When I followed his gaze I instantly knew the problem. I recognized two of the men as the ones I’d overheard the first day I met Kendry. He had said he probably knew them. Now that was confirmed as they raised their heads at the same time and glanced toward him. They sat side by side. One leaned toward the other, still looking at Kendry, and said something too low for us to hear.

I bent toward him and quietly said, “We don’t have to stay.”

“It’s okay.” He looked up at me and his smile filled his whole face. “I don’t care. They’re my past.”

“Are you sure?”

“They’re the ones you heard talking about me, right?”

I nodded.

“I didn’t realize they knew each other,” he said.

“Regulars know each other here.”

“Yeah.” His voice went low and soft. “I guess.”

“We don’t have to stay.”

Kendry turned, tugging at my hand. “Come on. Let’s go look at the books.”

“Good idea.” I let him lead. It was his choice. I concerned myself with only his happiness.

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