Page 44 of Myths and Shifts

“I got bed space.” And I had pillows and my bear and lots of toys. “I’ll share.”

Daddy chuckled. “I hope so because there isn’t anywhere else to sleep.”

Hmm.

“Sleep tax.” Ha. I was going to get Daddy. “Gotta pay the sleep tax first.”

Daddy looked suspicious.

Daddy was smart.

Daddy smiled. “I’m very curious to hear more about this sleep tax system you seem to think is fair.”

Silly Daddy.

“Fair?”

No.

“Fun.”

Yes.

Chapter 13

Pierce

I wasn’t going to lie…I was curious. But I was also very cognizant of the fact that he kept sliding between silly little and just little, so I wasn’t going to push about the sleep tax or the naughty gleam in his eyes.

Whatever it was, I approved, but it was something I was going to take one step at a time. “Alright, silly boy, jammie time.”

We’d eaten dinner and played toys and had even watched cartoons on his laptop with him curled up in my lap, but he was starting to droop and we had a big day ahead of us, moving from story time to real planning.

The littles were right—it’d been one big story time and we needed to shift things toward the reasonable.

At the moment, though, I had to deal with a little mate who’d decided dramatic was more fun than moving. He flopped back on the bed, closing his eyes. “No. I stuck.”

If we’d been in an area with more space, I’d have picked him up but that just wasn’t possible in the camper. He knew it too. Barely holding back a grin as I huffed, he gave a little wiggle. “Stuck.”

“You’re stuck, huh?” Pretending to tug on him, I sighed. “I guess you are. We’ll have to do showers in the morning. It’s sad that we won’t be able to have fun then. We’ll have to hurry tomorrow instead of being able to go to the bakery.”

Oh, something about that got his attention and he peeked one eye open at me. “Fun? Muffins?”

Fun and food…got it.

“Yes, I thought that would be a good plan but we can’t do it. That’s okay. I like snuggling with you even if you’re stuck.” Stretching out beside him on the bed, I rested my head on his chest. “This is nice.”

It wasn’t a bad option…I was being truthful when I said I liked cuddling him.

Merritt must’ve heard that in my voice because he changed tactics and sighed. “Daddy likes planning.”

He wasn’t wrong and had me trying to hold back laugher as I fought for a good response. “You know your mate very well.”

His next sigh was adorably dramatic and wonderfully manipulative. “I do. I’m smart. Daddy needs to plan.”

Hisoh welltone made it clear what his next move was going to be. “Showers and fun, Daddy. You’re special too.”

But he was the most special?

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