Page 9 of Baby Boy

They just gazed at each other for a moment.

“Get me the phone, boy. The bus is coming.”

“Oh, right,” Avery dove for his backpack and unzipped the front pocket. They weren’t allowed to carry their phones when working so he always put his in the small pocket. He handed over his old, used phone and regretted not being able to afford a nicer version. It had always worked for him, but it would be obvious to Jace that Avery didn’t have much.

Jace didn’t say anything about his phone. Instead his fingers flew over the device until he handed it back to Avery with a smirk.

“I want you to text me the minute you get home, or I’ll worry,” Jace told him.

No one worried about him. It felt nice. “I can do that.”

“Don’t forget,” Jace warned.

“I won’t.”

“Good boy.” Jace leaned forward and kissed the top of his head as Avery warmed with delight at the praise. He liked being called Jace’s boy.

The stupid bus chose that moment to arrive and Avery needed to hurry. If he didn’t get on the bus, it would leave without him.

“I’ll text you.”

“As soon as you get home.”

Avery took a step back then picked up his backpack and jacket. He kept glancing over his shoulder at Jace, who stood under the awning with his hands in his pockets watching Avery leave him.

Once his butt was firmly planted on the cold seat, Avery regretted his decision. He should have stayed with Jace as long as he’d been able to. Jace couldn’t really want some type of relationship with Avery. Avery was too big of a fuck-up. Jace probably felt bad for Avery and had picked up on some of Avery’s dirty thoughts. That was all this was. Jace being nice to him.

Avery wiggled himself comfortably into the window. He’d hold on to the feeling of Jace cuddling him and try not to worry about what would happen the next time Jace came into the coffee shop.

CHAPTER TWO

AVERY

Avery looked down as his phone buzzed. Another text from Jace. It was Monday morning and Jace had been texting Avery all weekend.

The first text had come in twenty minutes after he’d gotten home on Saturday night. He’d been sitting on the side of the tub, trying to get up the nerve to put cream on the scrape on his knee. Avery had known it would sting.

He’d jumped when his phone had buzzed.

Are you home? You haven’t texted me.

Avery had held the phone in his hand, staring at it in disbelief for over five minutes.

Avery? Are you okay?

His fingers had shaken as he answered Jace’s texts. He couldn’t just ignore the man. That would be rude.

Yes I’m home. There. He’d typed a whole sentence.

Are you okay?

Yes

You didn’t text me

Avery bit his lip, trying to think of how to respond. In the end, he figured telling the truth was best. Jace already knew he was a spaz.I didn’t know if you really wanted me to.

Of course I did. I don’t say things I don’t mean. I’ll be more clear next time

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