Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Shea
"Woah…"
Theo snickered behind me, leaning in to whisper in my ear. "Come on, sweetheart. I know you need a change."
Warmth flooded to my cheeks. Lately, I'd been choosing to stay diapered more often, and with Theo's constant reassurance that Sophie didn't have to know if I didn't want her to, I decided to pad up for the final road trip from the outskirts of Nashville to Atlanta, where Theo lived.
I didn't want a single thing keeping me from my happy ending any longer—even my stupid bladder.
To their credit, Theo must have had a lot of practice with Littles because Sophie didn't suspect a thing.
Even now where she might have noticed once I stood up, she was just as distracted as I was by Theo’s house. "Holy shit," she murmured, getting out of the driver's seat of her own car.
The two-story ranch-style house sat away from the road, complete with a wraparound porch and even a white picket fence.
The wooden swing on the porch looked like it had been transplanted from somebody's meemaw's front porch, and I thanked the constant warm weather in Georgia for giving me the chance to take full advantage of that.
"Brace yourself," Theo said, letting me and Sophie past the gate and leading us up the driveway.
The front door opened and I had precisely a millisecond to prepare myself before a massive ball of brown and white fluff launched itself at me.
I stumbled, but recovered, giggling my way through sloppy wet kisses. I turned my head, but the dog followed. "I didn't know you had a bear!"
The beast got a look behind me at Sophie and thundered off, giving me a chance to breathe. "That's Cujo," Theo explained.
"Cujo?" I laughed.
"Yeah, but I don't think he'll be mauling anyone anytime soon. He's too busy working on his tan."
I giggled, and another person emerged from the house, and the smile faded from my face. Uh-oh.
Theo's mom.
"Welcome home!" she called, slipping her feet into a pair of sandals and meeting us halfway down the driveway, her floral sundress swishing around her legs as she walked. She'd always looked young, but time had been good to her.
Theo got… so many things from their mom.
Appearances were just the beginning. They had the same kind, dark eyes and sun-kissed hair, even if Augusta's was more gray than rosy these days.
She reached out to hug her child, and I didn't miss the soft whispers they traded.
Sophie squealed behind me, accepting the same treatment from Cujo that I'd received.
I watched for a moment, then Theo and their mom separated and Augusta turned to me. My mouth went dry, and I swallowed hard. "Mom," Theo said, "You remember Shea."
I steeled myself.
Who's Shea? Oh, you mean [insert deadname here]. Oh, where have you been all this time?
"Of course, I do."
Or none of the above…
Augusta approached me with her arms outstretched, with nothing but kindness painted across her features.
I let her embrace me, wrapping my arms around her in turn.
She smelled like gardenias and… safety. "Welcome home, honey," she murmured in my ear, and the combination of her words, her touch, and the nostalgic scent wrapping around me was so damn comforting it brought tears to my eyes.
"Thank you," I said, so softly that my voice was merely a whisper.
Augusta kept the hug brief, turning her attention to my best friend but keeping an arm around my waist. "And Cujo's latest victim must be Sophie."
A hand appeared through the fluff and waved. "Hi!"
I did my best to mask my sigh of relief. Of course Theo would have told their mom everything—they always did. And unlike my bigoted, tone-deaf parents, Augusta was kind enough not to address the elephants in the room. I had enough to fill a circus.
"Mom, could you show Sophie to her space while I help Shea with something?"
"Of course, I can."
Augusta broke away from us to rescue Sophie from the wrath of Cujo and showed her inside. Though instead of the front door, she led Sophie around the side, where I presumed her suite had its own entrance.
"Thank you," I said to Theo once we were alone.
"For what?"
For having an amazing family? For bringing me back into your life without a second thought?
For being everything I ever needed…
Theo grabbed the diaper bag from the back seat, expertly disguised as an overnight bag, and waited for me to answer. I stayed silent long enough that they locked the car and rejoined me, putting a tender hand on my lower back.
"Just… thank you."
Theo grinned and said nothing, only planting a gentle kiss to my cheek. "Come on."
They led me up the small path to the gate, then up the few wooden steps to the front door. The screen door creaked when it opened, a sound I didn't realize I missed. Theo didn't hesitate to kneel and unlace my shoes, helping me out of them and placing them on a rack near the door.
Theo's house was stunning. The homey outside did little justice to the rustic interior.
The front door opened into the living room, complete with a large, plush white sectional that faced a warm and inviting fireplace below the mounted TV.
Theo took my hand and led me past the pristine kitchen, down the dimly lit hallway.
We passed one closed door on the left, and the main bathroom on the right.
"I hope you're okay with my bed for now," Theo said, opening a door at the end of the hall, revealing the primary bedroom. My cheeks warmed and my stomach flipped… until they finished their thought. "I don't have a changing table yet."
Right… They were talking about changing my diaper. Though the sight of the bed had me really looking forward to the moment we were left alone and that bedroom door shut.
As if to tease me even more, Theo kicked the door closed behind them and flipped the lock, giving us full privacy.
Sunlight poured in from the sheer curtains, casting a bright glow over the bedroom.
Like everything else Theo did, the space was comfortable and inviting.
Baby blue bedsheets brightened up the room and drew my eyes to the king-sized bed.
Theo dropped my bag onto the mattress and opened the door on the left of the bed.
They disappeared briefly into the ensuite bathroom with a gleaming marble counter and double vanity—and that’s just what I could see quickly.
Theo opened another door, grabbing a towel and spreading it over the bed.
"What do you mean ‘yet?’" I finally asked, climbing onto the mattress like the towel was an invitation.
Theo pulled a diaper and pack of wipes from the bag, only to swap the padding for a pair of underwear when I shook my head. The diapers would have to wait until the parent was off the premises. Existing as a Little was going to be nerve-wracking enough with Sophie around.
"I've never brought Little home before," Theo admitted. They said it casually, as if it was no big deal, popping the button on my jeans and lowering the zipper.
Tyler'd had a point before—being cared for like this made my brain all fuzzy, leaving me craving more of my Little space… and my Da.
"Never?"
My jeans cleared my legs, and Theo set them aside. "Never." They shrugged. "It wasn't intentional, but no one held my interest long enough, and I was okay with that—until now. Now, you get to help me design our dream nursery. I know just the people to help me."
Theo had effectively rendered me speechless. "Our?" I stuck a finger in my mouth, biting down and letting the pain remind me that I wasn't dreaming. That I had actually just spent a full week with Theo, and now I was in their home.
Our home, sprawled across their bed like I belonged there while they pulled clean underwear up my legs and replaced my jeans, even doing up the zipper and button for me. Once they threw the trash away in the bathroom and cleaned up the evidence, they leaned over for a kiss.
I met them halfway, hauling them down on top of me. They slipped, effectively letting me tug them onto the bed. Their legs tangled with mine, tongue slipping into my mouth. Damn, I could already feel the heat of their arousal on my thigh, the thought of it dampening my own underwear.
Theo snarled and broke off the kiss, dragging their teeth along my bottom lip. "Fuck, I've never been so eager to get rid of my mother."
The loss of Theo's body was sudden, so abrupt that I whimpered and bolted upright.
They stood at the edge of the bed, wiping off their mouth.
Their eyes were shining, pupils blown so wide that the thin ring of brown there appeared black.
"You look so good in my bed, Shea," they husked, voice low and thick with desire.
"Trust me, little boy. The second my mother is out of here and the lights go out for the night…
" They chuckled, sending a bolt of heat to my middle.
" I hope Sophie remembered her noise canceling headphones. "
Theo rounded the mattress, pressing one last kiss to my lips before they moved for the door. "I'm going to see Mom out. Do you want to stay here or come with me?"
Head clearing and my breath returning, I wrestled myself back to reality. Now that I thought about it, I wouldn't mind a few minutes alone. I'd been practically glued to Theo's side for a week, and had hardly gotten any time to process everything. "Mind if I have a look around?"
"Of course not. This is your home too."
I leapt off the bed and followed Theo from the room, offering Augusta one more goodbye before she left. I don't know why I ever expected something other than love and acceptance from her. She'd never shown me—or Theo—anything less.
Theo led her out of the front door with Cujo in tow, leaving me alone in the middle of the living room.
I rounded the sectional sofa, letting my fingers drag along the soft cushions across the back.
On the other side, the open space led into a dining room with a small four-seater table and chairs.
A pitcher of flowers sat in the middle and because she knew her kid inside and out, they were fake.
I chuckled to myself, no doubt in my mind that Theo would somehow.
From the dining room, I followed faint noises through the living room and into the kitchen.
Fluorescent lights bounced off the pristine white surfaces and the gleaming stainless-steel appliances.
A large island commanded the middle of the space, looking small compared to the vaulted ceilings above.
How in the hell were you supposed to clean up there?
Cujo's bowls sat next to the refrigerator and noting that his water was empty, I refilled it and placed it back down, getting a better view of the backyard as I did so.
The lawn seemed to sprawl out for miles.
The picket fence continued around the edge of the property, reinforced in places where I assumed the dog liked to dig.
The house was surrounded by woods on all sides.
There must not be another person for miles.
I whirled at a startling noise, and that was when I discovered a door cracked open at the back of the room. Sophie's swearing clued me in as to what laid beyond.
The door led to a small set of stairs, and Sophie's favorite music filtered up the tiny hallway. I followed the sound, finding her in the in-law suite that, frankly, could have been rented out as an apartment on its own. Sophie stood in the kitchenette, picking at some food that Augusta had presumably stocked in the fridge, perhaps even at Theo’s request.
Damn, Theo really thought of everything.
The small kitchen down here even had an island, with shining marble counters of its own. A two-cooker electric stovetop sat across from the built-in sink, and the counter behind Sophie held a couple of small appliances.
"All settled in?" Sophie called over her music.
"Yeah, I guess so."
A slow, wicked smile curled her lips. "Oh, I get it." She picked up her phone and raised the volume on the obnoxious music. "I'll make myself scarce!"
"Wait!"
My tone of voice had Sophie pausing her music and furrowing her brow.
"Am I doing the right thing?"
My best friend smiled and rushed around the counter to me, grabbing my shoulders and forcing me to look at her.
"Shea Moreland, you are a lot of things, and you've been through so much bullshit.
But one thing you aren't is reckless, or impulsive.
Do you really think I would have let you up and move back to the place that broke you so viciously, much less track down this person for you if I didn't think it was the right move?
" Sophie didn't give me a chance to respond.
"I've never seen you as happy as you are with them.
I thought I'd seen your true smile but it doesn't hold a candle to the one I see now—now that you're with them.
If I knew this was what I was missing, I would have looked them up years ago. "
A lump formed in my throat. I didn't do so well with emotion. "Well, I'm glad you waited until my transition was—ow!"
Not only had Sophie shoved me away, but she’d also smacked me in the chest. "Go be happy, Shea."