A Daddy’s Boy short story collection

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Avery

Avery clutched his new stuffie as he stared at the automatic doors of the airport. This was it. His very first vacation. His first trip with Jace, his first plane ride, the first time he was little around what appeared to be thousands of people.

Nope, he couldn’t do it. He turned, running into Jace’s chest. His Daddy wrapped his strong arms around Avery’s back.

“Baby boy?” Jace voice was soft. Gentle and coaxing.

Still Avery buried his face in Jace’s chest and mumbled, “I wanna go home.”

“Hey, look at me.” Jace cupped Avery’s face, making Avery look up. “I don’t think you really want to go home. I think that you’re scared. But you know that Daddy will be here the whole time. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Avery shook his head frantically. “Let’s just go home. Please. I’ll be a good boy.”

“Avery.” Jace pressed a kiss to his forehead. “This isn’t a punishment. We’re going to have so much fun.”

“But…” Avery wiggled out of Jace’s hold and waved his hand at all the people. “What if someone laughs at me? What if I forget and call you Daddy? I don’t want to be a freak.”

“You aren’t a freak.” Uh-oh. Jace had his mad Daddy’s face on. “If you call me Daddy, then you call me Daddy. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. You’re my boy and I’m proud of that fact. And no one will laugh at you. I’ll be right by your side.”

“What if I have an accident?” Avery whispered. He’d gone to almost exclusively using his diapers when he was with Jace. He loved his diapers, but he’d been too afraid to wear them to the airport. Now that they had so many hours of traveling ahead of them Avery regretted that decision.

“There’s a change of clothes for you in your backpack, along with Jared and Buster Brown. I’ll remind you to use the restroom though. You do just fine at school. You can do this.”

Avery bit his lip. He wanted to go on vacation but it was just overwhelming. He needed quiet.

“Daddy has everything under control. I have snacks and a water bottle that we’ll fill once we get through security. I’ve got everything you’ll need.”

“Promise?” Avery found himself lifting his thumb to his mouth. No, damn it. He couldn’t suck his thumb in public. Or his binkie. He wanted his binkie. Jeez, adulting was hard. It was better at home where he could run around in his diaper with his binkie.

“I promise, baby boy. It’s going to be okay.”

Avery took a deep breath. It wasn’t until Jace started to rub his lower back that calmness broke through his worries.

His Daddy was with him. That was all he needed to know.

Avery didn’t have to do anything because Jace had it handled.

And Jace had spent a lot of time, and probably a lot of money, putting this trip together for Avery.

Even though Avery didn’t know exactly where they were flying off to, he knew that if he could just relax, then he would love it. Jace knew him so well. Really, Jace knew Avery better than Avery knew himself.

“I’m ready, Daddy.”

Jace beamed, the pride shining from his eyes. That above everything else was the push that Avery needed. “Put your backpack on and hold on to mine. Don’t let go of me.”

His Daddy’s hands were full with their luggage so Avery hoped he could hang on to him.

They both had backpacks that they would carry onto the plane.

Avery’s was filled with his stuffies, lily, crayons, and coloring books.

And the extra change of clothes. Avery didn’t know what Jace had in his but Avery expected that it was more stuff for him.

His Daddy loved him so much and always took the best care of him. Avery was one lucky boy.

Avery wrapped his fingers around Jace’s strap while he clutched his new stuffie to his chest. Mitch was so smart.

He’d suggested that Avery get a special traveling buddy that could go on all of Avery’s adventures with him.

Avery hadn’t known what to get but Jace had taken him to the toy store where he’d wandered the aisles.

Jace had been patient and hadn’t rushed Avery.

Avery had almost given up when he’d spotted the perfect traveling buddy.

On the very top shelf where Avery couldn’t reach was a very regal-looking eagle. Eagles flew on their own. Avery knew that he needed the eagle to be his travel buddy. Albert the Eagle, that’s what Avery had named him, was ready for the adventure. Avery needed to be too.

Avery clung to the strap of his Daddy’s backpack as Jace maneuvered them through the automatic doors and into chaos. There were people everywhere! And bags. And laughter. And arguing. So much noise. His arm tugged when Jace started to move again, causing Avery to stumble.

Jace glanced behind him but Avery smiled. He could do this. He’d just been overwhelmed by the noise. And all the people!

There was a short line where they had to check in. Too soon they were at the counter, getting their boarding passes. Jace checked both suitcases before he handed over his and Avery’s IDs.

They got their IDs back along with a small rectangular card. Jace tucked those into his wallet before grabbing Avery’s hand. That was much better. He liked holding Daddy’s hand.

“Remember what I said about going to security? You’ll show the agent your boarding pass and ID.

Then you’ll get into the line to go through the detectors.

You don’t have a belt on or any jewelry.

I already made sure your pockets were empty.

You put your backpack on the conveyer belt and take off your sandals and put them with the backpack.

They’ll tell you when you can step through. Daddy will be right behind you.”

“What if…what if they want to, like, pat me down? Or strip search me?” That could happen. Avery didn’t want to be strip searched. Avery had already asked but he needed Jace’s reassurance.

“They might pat you down. But they are not going to strip search you. I promise.”

“Okay.” But Avery was still worried. This is why he hadn’t worn his diaper. But Jace had talked him into wearing his favorite padded briefs with giraffes on them. He didn’t think the agents would appreciate them as much as his Daddy.

Jace stopped and pulled him to the side.

More people whizzed by in a hurry to go somewhere.

Avery closed his eyes and leaned into his strong Daddy.

His arms were wrapped around Albert and Jace’s arms were wrapped around him.

He felt so safe that Avery could almost forget that he was surrounded by strangers.

“I made sure we have plenty of time before the plane takes off. If you need a break, you just tell me. I’ll find a quiet place for us.

” He spoke softly in Avery’s ear. “I think this will be the hardest part. Once we’re inside the gates, then we’ll get a drink and have some snacks.

Then we can watch the planes come and go until it’s our turn. ”

“K, Daddy,” Avery murmured.

“Such a good boy. You’re being so brave. I love you so much.”

Avery leaned his head back to peer up at Jace. “I love you too. So much.”

Jace gave Avery a sweet quick kiss before he released him.

An older man passing gave them a nasty look but Avery didn’t care any longer. It wasn’t like they were making out in the middle of the airport.

Jace retook his hand and that man didn’t matter. Only Jace mattered. Avery would probably never see these people again in his life. He just needed to keep reminding himself of that. They didn’t matter. Only Jace did.

They got in the security line and Avery watched everyone who was ahead of him. Yep, just like Jace had said. Shoes off, no electronics, no belts, and everything had to go onto the conveyer belt. He patted his backpack to reassure Jared and Buster Brown. Then gasped. He tugged at Jace’s sleeve.

“What’s wrong?”

“Albert!” he whispered. “He doesn’t want to have his scan by himself. Can you put him in with Jared and Buster Brown? They might get scared and he can explain what’s happening.”

“Good idea,” Jace praised. “We’ll take him out when we get to the gate.” He turned Avery around and Avery handed him Albert after giving his eagle a kiss.

“All set.” Jace patted his back. “Okay, you’re up next. Get ready.”

He accepted his boarding pass and ID from Jace just as the agent called out, “Next.”

Avery stepped forward. He handed over what was in his hand. She didn’t speak to him, so Avery remained silent as well. He never knew what to say or not to say to strangers. She looked from him to his ID, circled something on his boarding pass, and handed it back.

“Next,” she called again and Avery figured she was done with him.

He walked slowly in case she called him back but Jace was already handing over his papers.

Okay, easy enough. He got in the next line where people were already taking off their shoes and belts. Avery was glad that Jace had bought him sandals so he could just slip them off.

“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Jace asked.

“No, it was alright.” Still the contraption or whatever that was in front of him was kinda scary.

“Put your stuff up,” Jace told him.

Avery set his shoes down and then swung his backpack onto the belt. As the belt started to move his backpack away from him, Avery had the sudden urge to lunge for it. Jared, Buster, and Albert! Lily!

“It’s okay,” Jace murmured. “You’ll be right behind them.”

Jace had to remove stuff from his backpack. Their phones, his laptop, tablet, so while Jace was busy, Avery stared after his backpack.

So much could go wrong!

What if the machine broke and his bag was stuck inside?

What if there was something wrong with the machine and it caught fire?

What if—

“Baby, they’re calling you.” Jace nudged him.

Sure enough an agent stood waving at Avery. Avery stepped into some kind of contraption that was metal and glass. Or plexiglass? He didn’t know the difference.

“Feet within the marking and hold your hands up like the picture,” the agent ordered.

Avery moved into position.

He took a deep breath.

“All done. Please step out and stand to the left.”

“That’s…it?” he asked.