Page 61 of Baby Boy

“I am,” Jace told him.

“Oh.” It wouldn’t be too bad. Jace wouldn’t hurt-hurt him. “Okay.”

“We still need to eat,” Jace reminded him. “I think you can serve your punishment while I start dinner.”

“Uh…” What did that mean? Jace was going to…

“Come on.” Jace patted his hip before helping Avery slide off his lap. Jace picked up the new binkie from where it had fallen onto the changing table and popped it back into Avery’s mouth. Avery loved the soothing suction. Then Jace grasped his hand and led him from the nursery.

Nerves were getting the better of him and Avery shook, but he was going to take his punishment. He wouldn’t wimp out. The walk downstairs through the living room and over to his backpack seemed to take forever.

When Jace unzipped his bag to pull out his lily, Avery was thankful. He didn’t have time to think, though. With his lily and Jared held to his chest, he allowed Jace to pull him into the kitchen.

“This is what is going to happen,” Jace told him.

Avery took a deep breath. He liked knowing so there wouldn’t be any surprises.

“You’re going to stand in the corner,” Jace said. “I want you to think about why you’re being punished.”

“Cuz I was bad?” Avery suggested, with the word muffled by the binkie.

“But why? Why did you snap at me? Why did you cuss? Why did you not call me?”

Huh, those were very good questions.

“I’m going to set the timer,” Jace continued. “When the timer goes off, you’re going to sit with me and we’re going to talk about it.”

Avery nodded.

“Then it’s over. I won’t bring it up again and you’re not going to beat yourself up over it.”

“Okay.” This sounded a whole lot simpler than getting a beating. “You’re not gonna spank me or something?” He had to ask.

“No,” Jace said firmly. “I don’t think that’s warranted. I might have to someday. But not tonight. You didn’t purposely set out to act bad. Your mind is your worst enemy. You got caught up in your bad thoughts and you need to think about why.”

So maybe not so simple. “I’ll…try.” He could at least try. He might not know the answer, though.

“Good boy,” Jace said. He guided Avery to face the corner of the wall. “You can keep your binkie and your lily and Jared. This time. They might help you think.”

“Okay.”

“Press your nose to the corner,” Jace ordered.

Avery did.

“Now stay there and don’t move until I come and get you.”

“You won’t forget?” Avery didn’t even know where that question came from. Jace wouldn’t forget him but…he just wanted to make sure.

“Never,” Jace assured him. “I’m going to set the timer to make sure, but I would never forget you. I won’t even leave the room. I’m just a few feet away if you need anything.”

“Good.” Avery relaxed and pressed closer to the corner.

Jace patted his bottom then walked away. Avery felt silly standing in the corner in his new jammies with his lily and Jared. If he had just called Jace to pick him up when Jasmin couldn’t give him a ride, this wouldn’t be happening. If he’d texted Jace and told him how tired he was, he wouldn’t be in the corner. He’d gotten so frustrated because he was trying to show Jace he could take care of himself when, truthfully, he was really struggling.

He found it hard to say no to picking up more shifts. Sure, he needed the money, but he hadn’t had a day off in almost two weeks. Jace didn’t even know that Avery had skipped his mythology class to pick up an extra shift delivering food because the owner of the app had begged him.

But Jace didn’t expect him to be perfect. Jace wanted to take care of him to help him. He’d told Avery over and over that taking care of Avery was what made Jace feel needed and important. By holding things back, he wasn’t giving Jace what he needed out of the relationship.

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