Page 73 of Fitch

“You will. I’m wearing this shirt, just so you know. Though daddy told me I had to put some shorts on.”

Benji snorted. “So you don’t get arrested for indecency.”

Fitch rolled his eyes. “Text Ky. He won’t be awake yet.”

“Already have.”

Fitch gasped, his hand to his heart. “You texted him before me?”

“Yes, but Icalledyou.”

He sighed, pouting. “Fine.”

Benji was quiet for a moment. “I miss you, Fitch.”

Now he frowned. “I miss you too.”

“Can we hang out?” Benji asked. “Maybe tomorrow? Come spend the day with me here.”

“Okay,” he whispered. “See you soon though.”

He ended the call and was quiet a long moment, frowning as he slid his phone away. I turned the heat off the stovetop and went to Fitch, pulling him in for a hug. “You okay?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I just miss them. We just... it was only us every day for two years. We were all we had. Then in the last weeks, everything changed. Benji’s with Nolan. I doubt he’ll be coming back to our flat. Pretty sure he’s at Nolan’s for good. I’m here a few nights a week, and Ky... well, he’s had his two daddies for a while now, and he’s not home two nights a week. It’s just...” He sighed. “Changing, I guess.”

I gave his back a rub and kissed the top of his head. “Change isn’t easy. But these are good changes, yes? You’re all happy?”

He nodded. “Yeah. The happiest I’ve ever been, Dominic.”

God, when he called me by my name...

“You’ll all be okay,” I reassured him. “Honestly, Benji staying with Nolan for the duration of the court case isn’t a bad idea. He’ll be safer there.”

Fitch sighed. “I know.”

“So get through today, the police interviews and statements,” I said. “Then spend the day with them tomorrow. And talk about your plans.”

He looked up at me. “What plans?”

“Plans for the future.”

He made a face. “I... I don’t have any... I mean, I never thought any further ahead than next week or a six-month lease at the most, ya know?”

God, that hurt to hear. I hadn’t actually meant life plans, just plans involving hanging out with Benji more. But now that he’d mentioned it...

I put my hand to his face. “Then maybe you should start thinking about what future you want? Where do you want to be in six months? A year, five years, ten?”

He searched my eyes. “I... I don’t know.”

I tried to smile for him. “Thenstartthinking about it. What do you want? Maybe write down some goals. Small ones,nothing too crazy. Then some big ones. Then put together a plan.”

He didn’t look convinced.

“Fitch,” I said gently. “Don’t let it scare you.”

“Hope is a dangerous thing to have for someone like me,” he whispered.

Oh god.

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