Page 48 of Little Boy Toy

“What is it?”

“Are you sure after what happened you want to stay?” The shaky tone of his voice nearly broke my heart.

“More than anything. You should know that.”

He nodded slowly, then arm in arm we went into his house.

16

Zale

Once inside my house, I went to the kitchen. I opened a top cupboard door and took out a neatly wrapped package from the top shelf. I turned and presented it to Kendry.

His eyes widened. “For me?”

“All for you.”

Everything seemed surreal. Kendry holding the package, the kitchen lights too bright, and the fact that I’d actually knocked a man to the floor not one hour ago. My mind buzzed. I was in some sort of shock. I didn’t feel like myself. Hitting a man outside of the sport of boxing, a sport I hadn’t done in over ten years, was something I would never do.

Kendry hopped excitedly to the kitchen table, set Alexander down, and put his gift on the table. He stared at it, then up at me. “Can I open it?”

“That’s what it’s for.”

He tore into it, tugging the bow aside and ripping the shiny blue paper to reveal a box about the size of his hand. When he opened the lid, he gasped. “It’s a necklace!”

“There’s more.”

When he pulled it all the way out, a key swung from the blue and pink titanium chain. “It’s a key!” He cupped it in his palm, then looked up at me. “A key to your house?”

“Yes.”

He crashed into me, wrapping his arms around my waist and yelled, “I love it!”

“It means something.”

“I know. It means you trust me. It means I can come and go by myself. It means I don’t have to knock when I enter.” His voice trailed off.

“And? What else might it mean?”

He stepped back, blinking at me. “I’m not sure.” His voice dipped to a babyish tone. “You tell me?”

“I want you to move in. I know it’s early for us, maybe. But you can take your time. I’d love to have you here twenty-four-seven.”

His lips trembled. “Move in? Here? With you?” He nearly whispered that last question.

Maybe I’d overstepped. As usual for me. “Yeah. Is it too much too soon, honey?”

“It’s not too much. I want to live here with you. I want to sleep in your bed and be with you all the time.”

My heart got a little lighter. The dizziness I was feeling all the way home from the club started to fade. “After tonight, I thought you might be disappointed in me.”

“What?” He reached up, necklace dangling, and cupped my face. “Disappointed?”

“I’m not a violent person. I want you to know that.”

“But Zale,” he said softly. “I already know that. I do.”

“I’m disappointed in myself, then.”

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