Page 71 of Baby Boy

“I don’t blame you,” the guy—no, Grant; it must be Grant—replied. “It’s been a horrible flu season and it’s only been a few weeks. I’m not looking forward to seeing how the rest of season goes. It’s gonna be rough.”

“That’s what I’ve heard.” Jace began to pet Avery again and Avery sighed.

“Mitch picked something up for your boy. Is it okay if he comes over and gives it to him?” Grant questioned.

Avery peeked over the couch and saw Mitch standing behind Grant, looking uncertain. Mitch had been really nice to him at the restaurant.

“What do you say, baby boy?” Jace asked him. “Can Mitch come over here?”

Avery nodded quickly.

Mitch came around the couch. He’d been so nicely dressed and clean-cut before that Avery almost didn’t recognize him in aTransformersT-shirt and jeans.

“When I was sick last time, Grant and Jace took care of me. Grant even bought me a new bear that’s my sicky bear. I only play with him when I’m sick but I thought you might like one too.” He whipped his arm out from behind his back and showed Avery a blue bear with a red nose and holding a blanket. Avery squinted—no, holding a Kleenex.

“Daddy!” Avery pointed. His binkie fell out of his mouth since he forgot he’d had it in. “Bear!”

“I see that, baby boy,” Jace responded. “Would you like a new bear for when you’re sick?”

“Yes, please.” Avery made give-me hands and the smile that bloomed on Mitch’s face made the guy look like ten years younger. Mitch rushed forward and plopped down on the other end of the couch. He held out the bear for Avery to take.

“Thank you!” Avery grabbed the bear and held it up to his face. It was so soft! As soft as his lily. He rubbed it all over his face, giggling, then turned to Jace. “Feel, Daddy.” He proceeded to rub the bear fur all over Jace’s face too.

Jace laughed then batted the bear away.

“Daddy!” Avery chided. “No hitting.”

“Sorry, baby boy,” Jace replied with amusement. Avery didn’t think it was funny.

“Are you feeling any better?” Mitch asked him quietly.

“I am, actually,” Avery said. “I thought I was dying.”

Mitch nodded. “Yeah, I got the flu three years ago and it was awful.”

“Is that when you got your bear?” Avery asked. He placed the bear under the blanket right in between Jared and Buster Brown. They would welcome his new bear and make him feel at home.

“Yeah, Grant and Jace took turns coming to my apartment and taking care of me. Grant showed up with it one night when I was feeling real bad. It helped. You can put him in the microwave—he has beads in his belly—and then cuddle him. It’s awesome.”

Avery was sad for Mitch because he didn’t have a Daddy like Jace to cuddle. Sure, he had Jace as a friend and if Grant had bought him a bear, he must be a good guy, too, but Mitch needed his own Daddy. Maybe he could help Mitch find the right Daddy when they became friends…because he wanted to be Mitch’s friend.

“What are you watching?” Mitch asked as the show came back on.

Avery leaned forward. The blanket dipped a little, but he didn’t care. “The zoo show. It’s about the biggest and best zoo in the whole world and all their animals. It shows all kinds of neat things.”

“Oh, cool.” Mitch turned so he could see the television. “I like animals.”

“Me too!” Avery exclaimed. He was aware of Jace and Grant speaking quietly behind him, and Grant leaving the room, but he had someone to talk animals with. “My favorite is the giraffes.” He picked up Jared. “This is Jared.”

“Oh, nice.” Mitch reached over and petted Jared’s head.

“What’s your favorite animal?” he asked.

“I like sea animals,” Mitch said.

“Like sharks?” Avery frowned. He didn’t like sharks at all.

“Yep,” Mitch answered. “Sharks, sea lions, dolphins, fish, whales, and especially octopuses. Octopuses are really smart.”

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