Page 77 of Say It Again

“Oh, who can remember that far back?” Daniel flapped a palm. “So, anyway—”

“C’mon, Danny, you know. Wasn’t he a shrink or something? He did not treat you right. Remember when he said you were too touchy-feely?”

“So, anyway, Mom!” Daniel hard-blinked, and Aaron chuckled. “We’ll leave here in about an hour.”

“Butchie is going to be so excited to see you. He has a new hotel for his trains he’s been dying to show someone.”

“Aww.” Daniel’s shoulders melted as he smiled, a palm pressed to his chest. “Tell Butchie I say hi.”

The way Daniel spoke about his stepdad was with genuine reverence.

“Butchie!” his mom yelled into the phone.

Daniel held the phone at a safer distance.

“Danny says hi!”

He held it farther.

“Oh honey, you’ve made my day. Tell Aaron to bring his appetite.”

Aaron’s heart rate spiked a bit when Daniel winked at him. He was doing this. He was meeting Daniel’s mom. It was thrilling and scary, but he nodded his encouragement. This was a layer that would be excellent for the plan.

“See you soon. And hey, if we could not call me the name? That’d be swell—”

“Bye, my little Flapjack Dancake. Love you.”

Daniel ended the call and held a finger to Aaron’s lips. “Let’s not comment. I’ve tried to train her, but it’s useless. God, is it bread?” Daniel sniffed the air as he charged past him and into the kitchen. “Are you baking bread?”

“Banana bread.”

“Aaron.” He spun around, face aglow. He was still in his dance gear—satiny black capris and an oversized striped sailor’s shirt tied in a knot on the side, exposing his stomach. “That’s the best kind of bread. Is it ready?”

“Not yet. Here.” Aaron guided him toward the sofa and unwedged a tan shoebox from beside the sofa. “I wanted to talk to you about some stuff before we leave, but first, I got you something.”

“You got me a gift?”

“Nothing big. An apology.” He rolled his lips. “For missing the concert with you and Olivia.”

Daniel’s eyes flashed to his. They hadn’t spoken about the reason why, and hopefully Daniel still preferred it that way. Just like they hadn’t spoken about the other thing. The thing Daniel had said. The thing Aaron had not said back.

“You’ve apologized a hundred times. Forgiven. Forgotten. You didn’t have to get me anyth—” Daniel froze when he lifted the lid on the box.

“What do you think?” he asked when Daniel didn’t budge. “You like ’em?”

Daniel’s expression stayed stunned as he lifted one of the shoes out by its long, coiled strap. “Wait. You got me high heels?”

He shrugged. “Just a little something to wear around the bedroom. And the kitchen.”

“Aaron.” Daniel shook his head and blinked. “You bought me a thousand-dollar pair of heels to, quote, ‘wear around the bedroom’?”

“And the kitchen.” Aaron nodded toward the kitchen. “Put ’em on and bend over to check on the banana—wait, how do you know how much they are?”

“Everyone knows how much they are. They’re, like, famous.” Daniel flopped onto his back, strapped on one of the red-bottomed stilettos, and extended his leg into the air. He bubbled in goofy laughter. “This is…. I’ve never owned heels. I don’t know how to walk in them.”

“I don’t think you’ll be doing much walking.”

“Is this your kink? Have we just unlocked a new kink?”

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