Page 66 of Baby Boy

Avery tried to open his eyes to see who else was in his apartment, but it hurt too much.

“Thanks, Jasmin.” Jace spoke so softly that Avery wanted to hug him. If he could just lift his arms.

“No problem. I should have come over earlier. He texted a few times then just stopped answering our texts.”

“He texted me too, but he wasn’t making any sense. When he didn’t answer after class was when I called. I got really worried.”

He heard them talking but nothing made sense. Not that it mattered, Avery decided. If his Daddy was with him, then there wasn’t anything he needed to do.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t just give you the key,” Jasmin continued to say. “But he trusts me and he doesn’t like anyone coming over here. I couldn’t just give it to you.”

She sounded sad and Avery wished he could say something, but his tongue was thick. Was he going to swallow it?

“I understand,” Jace responded, to something. “I can take care of him now and we’ll discuss me getting my own key.”

Yes, Jace could have a key. Jace could have anything. He gave Avery soft toys and lots of cuddles. “Jared,” he croaked.

“I don’t have Jared with me, baby boy, but soon,” Jace said.

“K, Daddy…plllllllease.”

“You sure you have him?” Jasmin asked.

“Yeah. I’m going to get him cleaned up and take him home. He likes my house and he’ll be comfortable there.”

“Good,” Jasmin replied.

Yeah, good. Daddy’s house, his jammies, and his stuffies, and binkie, and toys. He just wanted to stay forever.

“Daddy,” he cried as another spasm hit his stomach.

“I got you,” Jace said and Avery was lifted from his bed.

§ § §

JACE

Jace carried Avery to the bathroom when he clutched his stomach. His boy was completely naked although he’d managed to cover Avery up so Jasmin didn’t see him. Luckily, she’d left quietly when Jace had ushered her from the small apartment.

Panic like he’d never felt before left him once he had Avery in his arms. The text messages he’d received throughout the afternoon had gotten more confusing and Jace was a wreck when his boy didn’t answer the phone. Not once.

He’d left work early and driven like a madman to the coffee shop only to find out that Avery had called in sick, although the messages to Cathy and Jasmin didn’t make much more sense than his had. It had been obvious that something was wrong with Avery.

Jace had demanded that Jasmin give him Avery’s address. He’d felt like a complete failure when he had to admit that he didn’t know where his boy was. Jasmin had understood, though. She had the spare key to Avery’s apartment and although she wouldn’t give it to him, Cathy did allow her to leave and let him in. They were all worried about the boy.

Jace set Avery down on the toilet and looked around. The tiny room showed signs of Avery having been sick for quite some time. While the rest of the small apartment had been spotless except for the futon Avery called a bed, the bathroom was a mess.

He waited as Avery used the toilet, never opening his eyes, then tried to reach for the toilet paper. Jace gently pushed Avery’s hand away and set about cleaning the boys’ bottom. Then he wet a washcloth and cleaned Avery’s face, neck, and body. Once his boy could sit up on his own, he’d get Avery a bath. Until then a quick wash would have to do.

“It’s okay,” Jace murmured as he picked Avery up and carried him back to bed.

Once Avery was lying on his side, Jace found his lily tangled in the sheets. Jace straightened out all the covers until his boy was resting. Then he strolled back into the bathroom and grabbed another washcloth. He ran the cloth under the cold water then wrung it out. Back in the living room, he placed the cloth over Avery’s forehead.

Avery shivered and groaned. Jace’s heart broke. His boy was so sick. Not that Jace was surprised. With how hard their town had been hit by the flu and all the extra hours Avery had picked up, it had only been a matter of time before his run-down and exhausted boy got sick.

Jace headed back into the bathroom and set about cleaning the small space. Avery had cleaning supplies under the sink, so it was no surprise the place was normally clean. It might be a tiny studio with worn or makeshift furniture but it was obvious his boy took care of what was his. Jace wasn’t pleased with the neighborhood but Avery should be proud for paying his own bills and having his own place. He’d make sure Avery knew how proud Jace was. He had no reason to be ashamed.

After quickly getting the toilet, floor, sink, and tub cleaned, the small space smelt much better. Jace still cracked the bathroom window a small amount to air out the room. He didn’t want to Avery to return to a dirty or smelly apartment.

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