Chapter Fifteen
Cliff
Our first date had been very much “big,” but that was perfect since we’d needed to talk and learn a bit about one another’s backgrounds.
The food was good, the company excellent, and after we dropped Edwin off at the Little House, we went home and spoke more together.
Brax and I had been together long enough, we thought we’d known what the future held.
We were both attracted to him and drawn to his personality as well.
But if we were going to change our future, if he was even interested in being part of it, we needed to spend more time together first.
“Is this weird?” Brax asked. “I mean, I never even had a fantasy where I was with a daddy and another little.”
“No, I felt pretty complete being just the two of us as well, but that night at Chained when the two of you played for the first time, it felt as if a door opened.” We were driving to pick up Edwin for our second date as we spoke.
“It scares me a little because we’re so good.” Brax rested his hand on my thigh.
“I understand. So, taking our time, making sure we all three want the same things in our lives, is the smart thing to do.”
“Do you think he’ll like the arcade?”
“He said he’d like to do that when we asked him.
And you mentioned the one you did the dancing game at when you had your little party.
” I shrugged. “Hopefully he will have a great time. I know you always do.” The arcade was an opportunity for a little to be in public and actually play where nobody was going to bully them.
Arcades were popular with all ages. I pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. “Shall we both go to the door?”
Before he could reply, it opened and Edwin came out, a bounce in his step. He trotted to the car and hopped in the back. “Thank you for inviting me to the arcade. I’ve been wanting to go, but haven’t made it. My friends in the Little House have been telling me how fun it is since I moved in.”
“So much fun.” Brax turned in his seat as much as his seat belt allowed. “They have a whole section of claw machines where you can win stuffies and building sets and candy and chips and”— he hesitated as—if trying to think what other prizes might be in there—“everything.”
“Wow! I’ve only seen the ones at gas stations and at the fair and they weren’t that interesting. Also, I’ve never succeeded in winning anything. Are these hard like that?”
“No.” Brax’s head swung back and forth with his denial. “They’re not easy, but Daddy can almost always get something, and I’ve won a few too. What do you hope they have to win?”
They launched into a discussion of what they would like to find in the machines and devised strategies for “beating the system.” While they were not in full little mode, they were so enthusiastic, it made me smile.
Having the two of them together in my life was certainly different than Brax on his own, and the more time we spent together, the better I felt about the whole thing.
Or at least, I believed I could enjoy them, their interactions with one another and with me.
My concern was whether I could be everything they needed in return.
The arcade lay at the edge of town where the owners had been able to find a property with enough room for things like a nine-hole mini-golf and a few other outdoor activities and rides.
We’d chosen to go kind of late, at nine o’clock, where we hoped it would be less crowded.
As we pulled into the parking lot, I realized that the plan had not worked.
While there weren’t many children there, other adults must have had the same idea we did.
No matter. Everyone was there to have a good time, and we would fit right into that.
“What do you boys want to do first?” I asked them. “Games? Rides? Golf?”
“Let Edwin decide,” Brax insisted. “He’s our guest.”
“That’s so nice of you, Brax.” I turned off the car and climbed out, meeting the others at the front bumper. “So, Edwin, choices?”
“I was going to say Brax should pick because he has been here before.”
They stood there looking at one another for a long moment. Then they giggled and chorused, quietly, “Daddy, choose.”
In the interest of time, I didn’t argue their choice. “All right. Arcade games then claw machines.”
They had meant it when they offered me the options because they instantly agreed, and Brax led the way toward the arcade doors.
I had thought they might insist on claw machines first, but since we would end up carrying prizes from there—I would make sure of it—games that only spit out tickets first. They would be turned in for prizes as well, but the tickets could be in my pockets until we were ready to select them and leave.
Despite the parking lot’s fullness, it seemed that the largest number of customers were outside on the rides and other attractions, so my two boys were able to dash from machine to machine as it pleased them without having to wait in line.
They played an alien version of Whac-A-Mole, laughing as they used the mallets to bop the little green heads and make their eyes bulge.
There were more active games than I recalled, and they raced on motorcycles, danced on a light mat, and climbed the rock wall before pausing for a cold drink and hot pretzel.
“Ready for the claws?” I asked when they had sucked the last of their frozen lemonade through the straws. “I checked out the machines while you were playing the vintage games, and there are some very cute prizes.”
They had been looking a little tired and sweaty, but when I mentioned the machines, both boys perked up. “I’m ready,” Brax said.
“Me too.” Edwin grinned. “Is it true you always win, D-Cliff?”
My heard thumped at his near misspeak. Would I like Edwin to call me Daddy? Yes, I thought I would. “I don’t always,” I replied. “But I’m not bad.”
In fact, I had my best night ever, and we drove away with an armload of stuffies for each of the boys. Also, the prizes they’d used their game tickets for, mostly smaller stuffies. Everything was adorable, and the pair of prize winners fell asleep almost as soon as we left the parking lot.
At the Little House, I went around to his side of the car and shook Edwin’s shoulder gently. “You’re home. Time to wake up.”
He sighed, huddling in the seat and batting my hand away. “Five more minutes, Daddy.”
“Oh no.” I stroked his hair back from his forehead. “You have to walk inside before you can sleep in your comfy bed, okay?”
Edwin allowed me to unhook his seat belt and help him to his feet. “I wish you could carry me,” he murmured.
“Me too.” But he was not a small man, and it would have been awkward at best. “You’re doing great.”
Footsteps from behind us were followed by, “Wait for me,” and Brax came up next to us. “I didn’t get to say good night.”
The three of us mounted the steps and came to the door of the Little House. Then we stood there, for a moment, before I reached out and drew Edwin into a hug. Meeting Brax’s gaze over his shoulder, I arched a brow, and my little nodded.
“May we kiss you good night, Edwin?” I asked, stroking his back in long, gentle caresses.
“Yes,” he said. “Please.”
It was a very short kiss, but enough to know that I liked his warmth and sweetness before I turned him in my arms to face Brax. And if I’d enjoyed our kiss, watching theirs was a revelation. Jealousy? Not at all. Just gladness and heat.
And an easy affection that made my heart swell.