Page 54 of Little Boy Toy

“I can tell you anything you want to know.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what I know. I know you’re a little. I know you enjoy that aspect of your life from books to toys to what you wear. I support all of it. What I want to know is how I can help enhance that pleasure for you.”

“You enhance it by being here for me,” Kendry said.

“But I also want to know what you need. From me.”

Kendry looked puzzled.

“It’s like learning what foods you like or dislike. Then I can make sure I have on hand the things that make your life better and easier.”

Kendry ticked off a list using his fingers. “I like chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, ice cream, hamburgers and French fries, pizza and spaghetti.”

I laughed. “I know all that by now. And I like all those things, too. Comfort foods that cause me to have to work out more or I feel guilty.”

Kendry tilted his head. “Well, I didn’t mean we should eat them all at once.”

I hugged him to me. “I know. What I’m talking about is your little tendencies. The things you like in that manner. What makes you happy and what can I, as your not-daddy but the person who really wants to learn what daddies do and know, do for you.”

He rubbed his cheek against my shirt. “Hmm. Such as?”

“Well, for example, do you like diapers?”

“Nope. I told you I’m six most of the time.”

“So no pacifiers, either?”

He puffed out his chest. “I a big boy.”

“See? That’s exactly what I want to know.”

“I can show you all my things. Like my toys. You’ve seen my books, but when you came over I had a lot of my toys put away.”

“See? We’re getting somewhere. I don’t want you to have to hide your toys around me. Not ever. I want to know what your favorite ones are. And what you might be wanting that you don’t already have.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t want you to ever hide anything around me. We need to be open and honest with each other. I want this to work long-term, honey.”

“Me, too.”

“Good. What else would you maybe like?”

“You have a bathtub in the master bath, but we’ve never used it. I love baths.”

“See? Right there. There’s something I need to know.”

“Do you take baths?” he asked.

“I confess, I’ve never used that tub.”

Kendry smiled softly. “I figured that’s why it looked a little dusty.”

“Ha. I’m caught out ignoring my tub.”

“I can show you how to take the best bath.”

I squeezed him tighter. “Honey, I want you to show me everything.”

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