Page 43 of Daddy's Little Dreamer

“Just saying thanks again and taking pictures of the stars.” Was she gonna tell me where she was or did I have to ask?

“You um, you miss Jayger when you’re away from him, don’t you?”

“I do. So much my heart and my stomach hurt. Is that weird?”

“No sweetheart, that’s love. I’ve been selfish keeping you to myself. Foolishly, I always figured it would be the two of us against the world forever. How silly was that?”

“Not silly at all, Mom. It has always been us, but I guess at some point I grew up and we both forgot about that. Jayger and I um,we want to move in together at his house.” How would she take that? Breaking my mother’s heart would absolutely gut me.

“I figured that was coming soon, especially after you sent me the pictures of the back yard. You’ve made a great home together and I can’t wait to see it in person. I’ve um, I’ve got some news myself.” She played with the hem of her shirt, twisting it around. “I’ve started seeing someone myself.”

“What? When? Who? How did this happen?”

She held her hands up and laughed. “I’m just as surprised by this as you are. No one ever really caught my eye for more than, well, you know, and even that was a million years ago. I figured, well, maybe I’m asexual but dismissed that idea as soon as it came. Leaning more towards demisexual. Just never found someone I had a strong enough connection with before now.”

“So, tell me all about him.” It was girl talk time and dang it if I didn’t miss this with Mom.

“Her.”

“What? Way to go, Mom!” I high fived her and she actually giggled. It was so freaking cute.

“Yeah, a mom of one of my students. We just, you know, hit it off. I mean, nothing has happened sex wise.” Yeah, don’t need those deets. “But we talk all the time. I guess I’m finally understanding a bit of what you’re feeling because when we don’t talk or see each other I’m having withdrawals.”

“Ooohhhh, Mom’s got it bad. Go Mom!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don’t you have a story time coming from your Daddy?” She winked.

“I do.” She cracked up like I had floaty hearts around my head. “Seriously, Mom, I’m so freaking happy for you. No one deserves to find love more than you.”

“And no one deserves to move in with their boyfriend more than you. Look, Trevor, I know you worry about me, but I’m gonna be okay, I promise.” She gave me a huge hug right as my phone rang.

“Mom’s got a girlfriend. Mom’s got a girlfriend,” I sang into the facetime call.

Mom stood behind me waving at Daddy. “Jayger, he’s all yours. Good luck!”

Daddy found that far too funny.

“Hey, no fair.” I mock pouted, but my two favorite people were happy, so I’d take one for the team.

14

“Wow, that was some hello.” I teased my boy, though Lila’s news escalated my need to have my boy and me under the same roof.

“Right? It surprised me too. But she, um, basically gave us her blessing and said she can’t wait to see the home we’ve made together.”

“Wow. That’s the second time I’ve said that in just as many minutes. Does this daddy dare get his hopes up for a quick move?” I hadn’t shared I’d taken tomorrow off but if he said he was ready, I’d be at their apartment at the crack of dawn.

“I’d like to say yes, but there are logistics to with work and transportation. Remember, Mom and I carpool, and we also share a car. I need to figure out the bus schedule until I save enough for one of my own.”

“How much do you have saved now?” He might already have enough for a down payment, but I’d have to put my foot down if he was shopping for a beater car. There would be no compromise on his safety.

“Like, seven or eight thousand. All the cars in that range were nasty. I don’t want a payment because I’ll need to pay my half of our living expenses.”

“Little Bee, you forget who’s the daddy here. Daddy pays our living expenses, not his boy. That is a great downpayment on a nice car with a warranty. I would feel much better with you in something newer with a high safety rating.”

“Then I’ll have a payment plus car insurance and gas. I can’t let you pay all the bills. It’s important to me to contribute in some way.”

“Deep breath, Trevor. Again, Daddy pays our living. I can add you to my car insurance, then yours won’t be as high. I have excellent credit, I’ll co-sign on your loan and you’ll get a better interest rate.”

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