Page 63 of Baby Boy

“I need to stop doubting myself and rely on you when you can help me instead of struggling.”

Jace beamed with pride. “I am so proud of you!”

“You are?”

“Yes. Not only did you think about your actions, you recognized what you could do differently. I know you’re smart, but when it comes to personal relationships, sometimes it easy to get wrapped up in our own insecurities.”

“Thank you, Daddy. I don’t always feel smart. I feel like I screw up too much and people are going to get tired of having me around,” Avery confided.

“Then those thoughts are something we’ll work on together. When you start feeling bad about yourself, I want you to come to me so I can tell you how amazing you are.”

Avery laughed. “I think you might be a little prejudiced. You think I’m perfect.”

“Because you are,” Jace responded. “You’re perfect for me.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“Now that your punishment is over, you need to let go of what happened tonight. You are not a bad boy. You’re my sweet baby boy.”

Avery hesitated then nodded.

“Is there anything else you would like to talk about? I think this incident is really going to help us more forward, together.”

“Well…” Avery picked up the edge of his lily and ran it over Jace’s wrist as he thought. “You really like taking care of me, right?”

Not sure what Avery was thinking, Jace hugged his boy tight. “I do. I’m a caregiver and when I get to take care of people, it makes me feel like a superhero. I don’t like things being out of my control, especially when it’s something I can easily fix.” Jace wasn’t sure he was explaining his feeling correctly, but Avery was nodding.

“If I needed help with stuff that’s not, like, relationship-related, would it be too much to ask for your help?”

Oh! Jace wanted to cheer. This, this was what he needed. “Not too much at all. I always, always, want to help. But nothing that has to do with you is not relationship-related. You’re my boy and Daddy wants you to be happy.”

“Healthy and happy,” Avery repeated the words from earlier.

“Exactly.”

Avery fiddled with his lily more and for several long seconds. It was torture for Jace, but he knew Avery needed to get in thoughts in order. then Jace could help him figure out whatever was bothering him.

“I worked a whole lot over the summer,” Avery shared. “It’s actually easier to find extra shifts because people go on vacation a lot.”

Jace rubbed Avery’s wrist in encouragement.

“I waited too long to sign up for classes, which is why I ended up stuck in the ones I got. Not that I don’t love them, because I do but…I could have signed up sooner.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because…” Avery wiggled his cheeks red. “I couldn’t decide.”

“Couldn’t decide on what classes?” Jace asked for clarification.

“I told everyone that I hadn’t had time to sign up, but that’s not true. I pulled up the online enrollment every day, but the list of available classes was so overwhelming I couldn’t decide.”

“Is that something you would let me help with? We could look together, narrow down courses, and decide which ones would work. We can take our time and make a list of what you need for your degree.”

“You would do that for me?” Avery whispered, with so much hope that Jace’s heart squeezed a little.

“I’d love to,” Jace assured him. “It makes sense for me to help because it would go hand-in-hand with your schedule with me. Making sure you get plenty of little time.”

“Good.” Avery bobbed his head. “Good, good, good.”

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