Page 17 of Baby Boy

Avery nodded. “I love to learn. About anything. It’s…” He pulled at the collar of his shirt. “It’s probably why I’m finding it so hard to pick a major. Everything interests me.”

That was amazing. His boy was so smart and didn’t even know it. Jace would be making certain that Avery got his fill of the knowledge he craved. Eventually he wanted to insist his boy concentrated only on learning and had time to go to school and relax.

“So, this class,” Jace urged. “It was one of the few that still had an opening?”

“Yes, but I’m glad I sort of got pushed into it,” Avery admitted.

Jace waited. There would be times he pushed his boy but this wasn’t it.

“It’s…it’s really interesting and even though the class is really small, I feel like the professor does a good job of not putting us on the spot during open discussions and he keeps his lectures interesting.”

Jace was dying to know what this course was. “Avery? What class are you taking?”

“Ugh.” He cleared his throat. “Human sexuality.”

Jace raised a brow as the only outward expression of surprise. He couldn’t picture his sweet, shy, unsure little Avery in such a course. But the fact that he was enjoying it spoke volumes. Jace might have to thank the fates that had helped Avery luck into an opening into the lifestyle that Jace loved.

“We’ve started discussing different decades and what sexuality appeared like. It’s interesting.”

Avery had used the word interesting a couple times already so Jace could tell he was nervous about the subject.

“I wish I’d had something like that offered when I was in school,” Jace shared. He was only twelve years older than Avery but going to an Ivy League college had been much different. “It might have helped me understand the feelings I had back then.” Jace reached forward and began cutting some bread, filling it with the garlic butter and moving it to a small plate for Avery.

“You think you would have liked it? The course?” Avery questioned as he accepted the plate.

“I don’t know if I would have been brave enough actually,” Jace admitted. “When I started university, I was under a lot of pressure because my father had been struggling with the company that had been in my family for generations.”

Avery nodded as he nibbled on the bread, seemingly hanging onto every word of Jace’s.

“My first year I had a roommate who was a complete mess. It got to the point that it started to affect me and my studies. I’d always been what most would consider bossy, so I took control of our dorm room, our studies, and put him on a schedule. That’s when I realized that I needed that control. That I just worked better when the decisions were mine and I could help someone else thrive and bloom.”

“Was he your boyfriend?” Avery asked with a frown.

His boy was jealous? That was adorable.

“No, he was straight and I wasn’t interested in him. I did find clubs that we could explore together but never sexually. There I met another student and we ended up rooming together for the rest of the years. We were never romantically involved either. It was just nice to have someone we trusted to have our backs as we were learning about our needs,” Jace explained. He purposely used the wordneednotwant.

Marco appeared from the kitchen, carrying two plates so Jace sat back and nodded discreetly so Avery was aware. He did promise his boy no open discussions in public. The other patrons were far enough away that their conversation remained private but he didn’t want Avery to embarrass himself by not knowing the waiter was behind him.

Avery rewarded him with a smile as he easily caught Jace’s meaning.

“Wow,” Avery breathed as his plate was set before him. “It smells so good.”

Jace agreed. He’d known that the food would be amazing and he enjoyed spoiling his boy.

“Here you both go,” Marco said with a flourish. “Let me get you a refill on your drinks really quick.”

Jace waited until Marco had placed fresh teas in front of them and bid them a good meal before he reached over and stole Avery’s plate. Avery peered at him in confusion. He didn’t say anything as he quickly cut up Avery’s food. At home he’d always make sure his boy had bite-sizes pieces so he’d do the same with this dish. It was just a small token by which he could show Avery that he cared.

Avery looked on with wide eyes and a faint flush but he also appeared happy if the way he practically bounced in his seat was any indication.

Once Jace was satisfied with Avery’s plate, he placed it back in front of him.

“Thank you…”

Jace could practically hear theDaddythat Avery wanted to say. Soon, he told himself. Very soon Avery would call him Daddy without having to even think about it. Jace couldn’t wait until that day.

He waited until Avery had taken a bite of his lasagna before he unwrapped his own silverware. If he had his wish, he’d have Avery on his lap, feeding his boy each delicious bite.

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