2. Augie
2
AUGIE
Brayden and I decided to build a fort before our dessert course, but while we collected all the cushions and blankets, my attention kept drifting to the kitchen where Daddy Ethan and Mister Dexter were talking.
Every time I looked at Dexter, it seemed like he was looking at me too, but I was too shy to make double sure, so I just turned away and secured the blanket roof with some pillows.
After we were hidden inside the walls of our fortress and less exposed, I said what I’d been thinking about all night…and for the past few months. "I wish I had a Daddy like yours." I used my whisper voice, but I made sure it was loud enough for Brayden to hear me. "He’s so nice and makes the best dinners."
"Yeah, he’s the best at everything." Brayden turned on a flashlight and pointed it up at the ceiling then made a shadow bunny. "You'll find a good Daddy someday too. Maybe one who also bakes cakes and cookies."
"Shh!" My eyes went wide, and I looked toward the kitchen even though I couldn’t see through the blanket wall. “He’ll hear you!”
Brayden smirked. “Who will hear me? The baking Daddy you keep checking out?”
“I do not!” I put a pillow over my face and hid behind it. “And is he even a Daddy? Maybe he doesn’t like Little boys. Maybe he’s just nice to you and doesn’t like?—”
“Maybe you shouldn’t make assumptions.” Dexter’s deep voice filtered through the fort. “And I like Little boys and big boys just fine.”
I gasped and panicked. “Uh-oh.”
Brayden’s eyes were big for just a second, and then he erupted in laughter. “He heard you, Augs. You need to whisper better.”
“Clearly.” I pursed my lips together to keep from saying anything else. “Weren’t you gonna get cake or something?”
“Cake!” Brayden hopped to his feet and tore off all the walls of our fort to get to the kitchen. “Dessert course, Daddy!”
I stayed on the floor, hugging my frog. I wasn’t sure I’d like any of those desserts, and I didn’t want to be rude by refusing to try them. “I’m full for now. I’ll have some later.”
“If I don’t eat it all…” Brayden was lucky because he could eat anything. He could even stomach yucky stuff without throwing up. I, on the other hand, had a very short list of foods I liked and a giant list of things I didn’t like. I couldn’t even pretend to eat yucky stuff to be polite, so lots of people thought I was rude before they got to know me.
I didn’t want Mister Dexter to think I was rude, so avoidance was the best option. “It’s okay if you do. I ate lots of noodles. I’ll be stuffed till breakfast.”
“Are you sure, Augie?” Daddy Ethan took a step toward me, but Mister Dexter stopped him. “I’ve got this.”
I watched nervously as Mister Dexter put some of each dessert on a plate and brought it to me.
“Are you sure you don’t want to try one bite of each?” He sat on the corner of the couch and held the plate over his knees. “I made them myself.”
They looked beautiful, but I knew I wouldn't like the flavors. “Um, no, thank you.”
Dexter cocked his head and looked at me with furrowed brows. "Are you feeling okay, sweetheart?"
“Yes, sir.” I sat up and peeked closer to the plate. “The cupcake looks good.”
He smiled and held it up for me. “It’s all yours.” He pinched the side of the paper and tugged it away from the cake so it would be easy to peel off. “Or if you’re too full for a whole one, I can share it with you.”
Food sharing wasn’t usually my bag but it sounded good when Mister Dexter suggested it. “Um, okay. I’ll try a bite.”
“Excellent.” Dexter beamed with approval, clearly passionate about his craft, as he peeled back the other half of the wrapper. “Okay, first bite is yours.”
I slowly leaned forward, and when Dexter held up the cupcake, I opened my mouth and took a small bite with an equal ratio of frosting and cake. “Mmm, it’s good.” I didn’t even have to fake it. His cupcake was delicious. “Delicious, even!”
“Glad you think so.” He held up the cake again. “Another bite?”
As much as I loved being hand-fed by this man, my tummy was hurting from being so nervous, and I didn’t want any more. “No, thank you. You can have the rest.”
“Okay. And I’m proud of you for trying it. Sometimes it’s scary to try new things, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I guess.” People always assumed I was picky because I didn’t like the way food looked or smelled, but that wasn’t true at all. I wanted to eat everything that looked good and my friends loved. There were just so many flavors that were yucky, and no matter how badly I wanted to eat like everyone else, I just couldn’t keep most things down.
He opened his mouth wide and ate half of it in a single bite. “Mo’ fo’ me.”
I giggled and rolled back onto my bottom. “You’re silly, Mister Dexter.”
He caught my ankle and tickled the bottom of my foot. “And you’re adorable.”
My cheeks heated up as I tucked my chin to my chest, feeling warm all over from his compliment and touch. “Thank you.” When I peeked up at him through my lashes, the look in his eyes made my breath catch.
"Augie." His thumb brushed over the back of my heel. "I hope this isn't too forward, but I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me sometime?"
"Really?" My heart leapt. “Like, on a date?”
Dexter nodded, a hint of uncertainty in his expression. "Only if you'd like to, of course. No pressure at all. And if you want to think about it, you don’t have to answer now."
"I'd love to," I said quickly, not wanting him to doubt my interest for a second. "What do you have in mind?"
"Well, the weather's supposed to be nice this weekend. How would you feel about flying kites in the park tomorrow?"
“Kites!” I gasped at the suggestion. How did he know that was one of my favorite things? I had a lot of favorite things, but kites were way, way up on the list. "That would be amazing! I love kites…and parks."
Dexter's eyes sparkled as he smiled brightly. "Then it's settled. I'll pack us a picnic, nothing fancy, and we can spend the afternoon in the sunshine."
"It's a date!" Warmth spread through my chest as I peeked over at Brayden. He had chocolate smeared on his cheek as he gave me a thumbs-up.
Dexter stood up and brushed my hair off my forehead. "I'm looking forward to it, little one."