Page 11 of Lost Boy

His leather furniture was perfect to snuggle in at night. He even had a fireplace. All that was missing was a room full of toys and a partner to share it all with.

He stopped in front of the leather ottoman in front of the couch. Mitch grunted and pointed. So cool not to have to talk. Mitch wished he could always have a pacifier in his mouth.

Byron furrowed his brows. “I need a little help here sweetie. What is it you want me to do?”

Sweetie, Mitch liked that. Mitch dropped to his knees in front of the ottoman and pushed at the top enough where Byron saw it opened.

“You want this open?”

Mitch nodded and grunted. Toys.

Byron smiled kindly before he lifted off the top. Mitch peered inside the ottoman where he hid his precious toys. He leaned over the side and grabbed his cars. He had some other toys but it didn’t take much thinking to play cars. Perfect for how he felt.

Once he had his cars in his hand he grunted and pointed back to the ottoman.

Shaking his head but grinning Byron replaced the top of the ottoman. Mitch knee walked to it and put his cars down. He began lining them up so they could race.

Byron ruffled his hair before sitting on the big leather couch behind him.

The television was flicked on then the channels changed until a cartoon with gargoyles played. Mitch grunted and Byron stopped flipping through the channels. Gargoyles were cool.

“You will have to talk eventually sweetie,” Byron told him. “But for now, just play and watch your cartoons.”

Mitch wasn’t going to think about eventually.

It was perfect right then.

2

Byron

Mitch pushed his car off the ottoman and made a crashing sound behind his pacifier as the car plummeted to the carpet. There was a giggle then Mitch clapped. In all the time he’d been watching, okay stalking Mitch, Byron hadn’t seen Mitch so carefree. Not even at the playdate with Avery and Caleb.

It had been an hour since Mitch had settled on the floor to play with his cars. Luckily Mitch’s gray carpet was thick. Byron didn’t think the boy’s knees would be sore. Not yet anyway.

Seeing the small number of clothes and toys Mitch owned broke Byron’s heart.

Mitch had discovered that he wanted a Daddy when he was in college. Now so many years later and he still wasn’t getting the opportunity to fully embrace his boy side. And he made such a beautiful boy.

The pacifier had been a huge success. Byron hadn’t even known if Mitch would accept his gift. But Byron had been right, he’d followed his instinct, and Mitch was happy.

Byron sighed as he glanced at his watch. It was getting late and he wanted to get dinner into his boy. Byron doubted that Mitch had much of anything in his stomach other than coffee.

He rose before crouching down behind Mitch. “I’m going to check the kitchen to see if you have anything for dinner or if we need to order in. Would you like something to drink?”

Mitch nodded then went back to playing.

Byron ruffled his hair as he stood. Right before he turned to go into the kitchen Mitch caught his hand. Byron waited to see if Mitch would say something, maybe offer an opinion on dinner.

Instead, Mitch brought Byron’s hand to his cheek and rubbed the back of Byron’s hand. A show of infection. Byron beamed down at his boy. “I’ll be right back.”

Mitch nodded.

As he strolled into the kitchen Byron couldn’t help but admire the impressive condo.

The living room was done comfortably with big large black leather furniture, a brick fireplace, huge windows, and soft gray carpet.

Spending nights there would be comfortable.

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