Page 82 of Pretty Baby

“Avery!” Jace's voice held a warning.

Caleb wondered if Avery would continue to fight his Daddy. Avery didn’t seem like he enjoyed being a brat though. Caleb definitely didn’t want to be a brat like he’d once been.

“Sorry, Daddy.” Avery dropped the yellow giraffe pacifier in Jace’s hand before he grabbed the green one and popped it in his mouth.

Caleb slipped his hand in Avery’s free one and squeezed in encouragement.

Avery took a deep breath as he sucked on his pacifier before he nodded. “Play,” he said around his pacifier.

Caleb nodded and pulled him down to play. Avery had shovels and buckets already laying around. The started to play and Avery found it funny that they both started to build castles.

“Let’s build our castles together so they’re big,” he suggested.

“K,” Avery said around his pacifier.

With the sun shining on his shoulders and his Daddy close by on the porch drinking a beer with Jace and Byron Caleb was thankful for this opportunity. He reached over and hugged Avery quickly before going back to playing. Even if he hadn’t done more than sit on Grant’s lap Caleb would have been proud to be included in the day.

But he wasn’t being left out.

Avery hadn’t thought his pretties were strange. He’d even wanted to touch his cami. That had to mean that he liked it. He’d called Caleb pretty too. Only Grant had ever called him pretty before that.

The more they played the easier it was to get lost as being the boy he’d never gotten to experience when he’d truly been young.

Caleb had missed out on making friends, playing at a playground, or beach. He was making up for lost time but this time he had Grant’s support. As more time passed Caleb grew thirsty. He glanced at Avery and nudged him.

Avery pulled his pacifier out of his mouth.

“I’m thirsty.”

“Me too!” Avery said with a nod. “Daddy!”

“I’m sitting right here baby boy. You don’t have to yell.”

“Sorry, Daddy.”

“It’s okay. What did you need?”

“We’re thirsty.”

“Ah,” Grant said standing. “I’ll go get some drinks for our boys. I wanted to text Mitch and check on him as well. He should be here by now.”

“Thanks, man,” Jace said. He turned back and narrowed his eyes. “Avery.”

“Yes, Daddy?”

Caleb glanced over and saw what had Jace frowning. Avery had lowered the hand that held his pacifier resting it in the sand. He covered his giggle.

Jace sighed before he stood up. He walked over and crouched down beside Avery. He held out his hand. Avery looked down and blushed. “Sorry, Daddy.”

“It’s okay baby,” Jace said. “You’ll get used to playing outside.”

“It’s awesome but it sure is dirty,” Avery said seriously.

“It is. But as long as you have fun that’s all that matters.”

“Cuz I get a bath later?” Avery asked with a cheekily smile.

“You know you do.” Jace peered over at Caleb and rolled his eyes. “My boy loves his baths.”

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