Page 19 of Baby Boy

I’m sure. I’m excited to see you.

Me too, baby boy

Avery bit his lip. Should he ask? It was better to know, he figured.Are we going to play?He didn’t know how else to ask. Was play the right word?

That’s up to you. I would like to show you how you can relax with me and I think you would really enjoy it, but whatever you are comfortable with tonight.

He wanted to try.But not diapers?He didn’t know if he was ready for that yet.

No, baby boy. We’ll discuss that first.

Okay. You’ll pick me up at seven?

I’ll be there.

Avery closed his eyes before hugging the phone to his chest. He had a date with his Daddy and he would get to try being little. He didn’t know if he was more excited or nauseated.

He didn’t have too much time to stress about it, though. He needed to get to the coffee shop or he would be late. Well not late-late but he wouldn’t be early and Avery needed the familiar routine of his job.

CHAPTER FOUR

AVERY

Avery was exhausted. The routine of the shop hadn’t worked for him at all. Instead if settling in like he’d hoped for, Avery had been a bumbling mess the entire night.

He stepped outside into the freezing night air, pulling his jacket tighter around himself. Avery should probably wait inside, with the threat of sleet hovering, but he’d had to escape. Even Jasmin, who never got short with him, had snapped after he’d dropped the third drink of the night. She’d apologized right away but the damage had been done. Avery had to lock himself inside the employee bathroom and take deep breaths before he broke down. It was embarrassing but he’d finally gotten his act together. After he’d calmed down, he hadn’t dropped anything else, but he’d still fumbled around.

“Avery!” Jace rushed toward him.

So relieved to see Jace, Avery almost broke down for real. He fought to keep the tears at bay.

“Why are you out here in the cold? I was coming inside to get you. I’m not late, am I?” Jace sounded concerned and it made Avery feel even worse.

“I…” He shook his head before barreling into Jace. Avery pressed his face into Jace’s broad strong chest, much like the night at the bus stop. It was where he felt the safest.

Jace grunted but his arms came around Avery, holding him tight. “What’s wrong?”

Avery simply shook his head. He didn’t want to talk—he just wanted what Jace had been offering him all week. To let go.

“Okay,” Jace murmured as he embraced and rocked Avery right in front of the shop.

Not that Jace seemed to mind. Instead of seeming annoyed or frustrated, Jace whispered that everything was okay and Avery had nothing to worry about. Thankful that he hadn’t started crying, Avery took a deep breath before lifting his head from Jace’s chest.

“Sorry.” Avery flushed. It just wasn’t his night.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” Jace assured him. “Did you have a rough night?”

Avery nodded.

“Did you want to reschedule? If you aren’t feeling up to dinner—”

“No! I mean yes,” Avery winced. “I mean, I really want to have dinner with you. I…I want to relax.”

“Yeah?” Jace questioned.

“Please,” Avery said. “I need…something.” He couldn’t explain how much he was looking forward to the night. Sure, he was stressed out because of it but putting off seeing if he could be little would just make it worse.

“Okay, baby boy,” Jace told him. “From here on out, you’re going to be my boy for the night.”

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