Page 80 of Baby Boy

“No.” Avery shook his head. “Not right now. Maybe tonight after dinner or something. When I feel like being big for a little bit. I wanna still be little right now. I love it.”

“Okay. Any questions for me right now?”

“Can I stop… I don’t want to go back to the restaurant. Ever. I don’t want to work there anymore.”

Jace smiled. “I agree. You make plenty of money at the coffee shop and picking up a few of the delivery shifts will pad your savings. Let’s schedule that for now. If the restaurant calls, you’ll tell them that you’re taking a break and not picking up any shifts for them.”

Avery sighed. He rubbed his eyes. “No more shifts? At night or on the weekends?”

“That’s right,” Jace said. “I’m going to schedule you time for school and homework, shifts at the coffee shop, some short delivery shifts, maybe two or three a week, and plenty of time for Daddy.” Jace could already see the schedule coming together. Weekends would be theirs.

Avery beamed. “I feel so much lighter.”

“Good. That’s what I wanted. Now, I’m going to work on your budget for the rest of this year and next with school.”

“Can I go play?” Avery asked.

“Eat your snack while you play.”

Avery kissed his cheek before scrambling down and crawling back to the rug. He picked up his sippy cup and took a large drink.

Jace sat back and, full of pride, watched his boy settle down.

Life was pretty much perfect at the moment.

They’d crossed a lot of barriers over the weekend and it was just a start. He could see himself in the same position on the couch watching as Avery grew and embraced his little side for the rest of their lives.

CHAPTER TWELVE

AVERY

Avery kept going back and forth between excitement and nervousness but now that it was almost time, he was practically shaking. As Jace walked into the nursery, Avery dipped his head and went back to running his cars on the carpet.

“It’s time to come downstairs, baby boy,” Jace said as he knelt beside him. “They’ll be here soon.”

“I know.” Avery didn’t stop playing though. He wanted to have his playdate with Mitch, but what if Mitch ended up not liking him? Or only said he wanted to be friends with him because it was what Jace wanted?

“Hey.” Jace laid his hand over Avery’s. “We can cancel if you’re not ready.”

“I want to play with Mitch,” Avery confessed.

“Tell me what’s wrong so I can help fix it?”

Avery liked the way that Jace always offered to help but also encouraged him. “What if he doesn’t really like me?” Avery hadn’t ever had many friends and he didn’t want to embarrass his Daddy. He leaned forward and buried his face in Jace’s chest.

“Oh, my sweet boy,” Jace hugged him tight. “Mitch already likes you. Grant too. I can’t imagine anyone not caring about my boy as much as I do.”

In the two and a half months since they’d been together, Avery had fully embraced his little side and was happier than he’d ever been in his entire life. But he still felt protected inside the walls of Jace’s home. That was why Mitch was coming over to play with Avery there and not at the club yet.

“And it’s just going to be us,” Jace continued. “You’ve been looking forward to wearing your panda bear costume.”

He was! Jace had found a panda bear onesie for adults and Avery couldn’t wait to wear it.

“How about we get you dressed, then see if you’re feeling better?” Jace suggested.

“Okay.” Avery lifted his head. “I’m wet.” He loved wearing his diaper and letting Jace take complete care of him.

“I figured.” Jace helped him stand before guiding him to the changing table.

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