Chapter 4 #3
“We’re here.” He pointed on the map so Avery could follow along.
“We can follow this path and see all the enclosures on this side. Then we’ll have lunch at the Croc Café before making our way back around.
We’ll finish the day with a ride through the safari park.
That should set us nicely for our extra-special day tomorrow. ”
“What’s so special about tomorrow?”
Jace debated not telling his boy except there was a good chance that Avery had had enough surprises for one trip.
Yeah, this Jace wanted to share with Avery.
It would also help to know what to do that day.
“Tomorrow we have special passes that allow us to go back with the handlers. You’ll get to make up some food and help feed the animals. ”
“Oh my God!” Avery squealed. “I’ve seen that on my shows.”
Jace knew that. That was where he got the idea of looking for special passes. It would be worth every penny he’d had to fork over. “We have all day tomorrow to do all that. So today we’ll have fun walking around. There are even a few we can feed today.”
“This is unbelievable,” Avery said. He hopped up and danced around. “Come on, Daddy! Daddy! Hurry! We need to go.”
That was his boy. This is what he wanted to see. Jace stood and stuffed the map in his back pocket. He held out his hand and Avery immediately grabbed it.
“Let’s go see some animals.”
* * *
Avery
This was the best day ever.
They’d spent the entire day at the zoo, walking around, feeding animals, taking pictures, and even ending the day with a cool train ride.
And now Avery had a brand-new monkey backpack that was the best thing ever.
The monkey arms even went around his neck.
Avery couldn’t wait to wear it to the club and show all his friends. They would love it too.
Avery dragged his feet as his Daddy led him out of the gates of the zoo. They weren’t going far though. Back to the hotel for the night before returning for Avery’s special day. He couldn’t believe how awesome this vacation had turned out.
Avery would’ve been happy enough staying at the beach. But the two day passes at the zoo meant so much. Further proof that Jace knew and accepted him.
“Let’s get you settled in the car,” Jace said as he opened the door.
Avery climbed into his seat, unable to hold in his yawn. He didn’t know if he had ever had so much fun, laughed so hard, as he’d done that day.
“I know how tired you are, boy,” Jace said. He brushed the hair from Avery’s forehead before giving him a kiss. “We’ll be back to the hotel soon.”
“Thank you for today, Daddy.” The words might not sound like enough but Avery was sure that his Daddy knew how grateful he truly was.
“Of course,” Jace reached for the glove box and opened it. He pulled out a spare binkie that Avery hadn’t even known Jace had hidden in the rental car.
Avery moaned with gratitude as the nipple of the binkie was pushed against his lips.
He loved being at the zoo and hadn’t once worried about the other patrons and what they had thought about him.
He’d totally been in little mode yet he’d missed his binkie, lily, and stuffed friends.
That would have made the day even more perfect.
Although as dirty as he was, it was a good thing they were back safe and clean at the hotel.
Avery bet they had a good day relaxing. That was important for stuffies too. They were such good friends to him.
The ride back to the hotel was much calmer than the ride there. Jace shared his favorite parts of the day. Avery was pretty certain that Jace was just trying to keep him awake. He didn’t mind though since Jace’s voice was the best sound that he’d ever heard.
Once they pulled into the valet parking of the hotel, Avery was barely able to keep his eyes open.
Jace helped him out of the car and into the hotel. Somewhere along the way his binkie had disappeared from his mouth. Avery held in his whine. He was about to be in bed with his lily and stuffies. It was okay.
He leaned against Jace in the elevator with his arms around his Daddy’s waist and his chest against his chest. When the doors opened, he was surprised by being picked up. He wrapped his arms and legs around Jace. It was so awesome that his Daddy could carry him around. Walking was so overrated.
“Let’s get a quick shower before bed. I’ll give you a bath in the morning and give you time to play.”
“K.” Avery didn’t care much about anything.
He would have just climbed into bed but he was sweaty and dirty.
Plus there had to be some slobber on him from feeding the giraffes.
Seriously, giraffe tongues felt weird. Awesome but weird.
And feeding one had led to all of them wanting some leaves.
They’d been kind of greedy about the food.
“So many giraffes. So many,” he mumbled as Jace undressed him.
“Yes, boy. There were so many giraffes.” Jace pulled Avery into the shower stall with him.
The shower was quick and Avery might have drifted through the entire thing. He needed to get his sleep though for the next day. The zoo was huge so there was still lots to do. And more animals to feed.