“Yeah, just—” I sucked in air and nodded. “Before we go in, I’ve got a lot of stuff, and it’s kinda cramped, but—”
“It’s okay,” he said in his sweet tone. I could’ve melted right there on the floor like warm whipped cream. My hands were still a little sticky from where I’d wiped them and not cleaned well. “I’m hoping it’s a play den or something. I can imagine that’s something a little without roommates and their own place would have.”
I giggled and quickly quietened when I remembered we were still out in the hallway and I didn’t want to disturb my neighbors. “It is, and there isn’t enough room for roommates,” I told him. “Just prepare yourself, okay?”
“Close my eyes?”
“Yes.”
That was perfect. Or maybe I needed to let him stay out here while I investigated the place and checked to make sure there wasn’t anything out that he shouldn’t see, or that I didn’t think he should see just yet.
Henry closed his eyes, tucking the box to his chest with the one remaining pie container inside. “You tell me when to open them again, okay?”
I opened the door, and as soon as I stepped inside, I was hit with relief. I’d put the bed away; I’d set the teddies out neatly like I did most mornings. There were dishes in the sink and I had a pile of laundry spilling out of the basket, but besides that, it wasn’t bad.
Henry walked in after me, and when he opened his eyes there was a moment of quiet. I was trying to figure out if he was shocked or concerned in that moment of quiet. I stood bythe sink, trying my best to allow my body to obscure the mess behind me.
“Just as I imagined,” he said with a big smile. “In fact, better. I shouldn’t have been too surprised that you’re a collector. I just—” He stepped closer, looking for somewhere to place the box.
“You can—”
“I’ve already seen it,” he said. “I’ve still got breakfast dishes in the sink at my place.” His head turned again. “Either you don’t have a bathroom, or you don’t have a bedroom,” he said, nodding to the one closed door. “Or the—”
“It’s a studio,” I said. “I have a Murphy bed; I’ve got pull it down each night.” I nodded to the wall directly across from me. There was a rainbow tie-dye tapestry obscuring the bottom of the bed, the wall art making it look less like furniture.
“Ah, well, that’s a nice way to save some space,” he said, planting the box on the counter. “And it’s well decorated.”
“I’ll take all the credit for that.” I said. “I also don’t always leave my laundry and stuff around. I’ve been busy with work, and taking my laundry down to the basement to do it is hell since I’ve got to walk all the way down and then back up.”
“Why don’t you take it down when you go out, and pick it up when you get back?” he suggested.
I gave his arm a pat. “Some people here will leave passive aggressive notes about that, so I always try and get it done on a weekend. But in summer, I sweat more, I change more, and I make more laundry.”
“Well then, let’s not worry about all of that,” he said. “So, what do you usually do when you’re home and you’re getting ready to play?”
“First, I’ll usually take off my clothes and get into something comfy, like a onesie, or because of how warm it is, some booty shorts and a crop top,” I said. “And then, I’llusually make up a place on the floor with a blanket, and then make sandwiches and sit my teddies around the blanket as a tea party.”
“Then would you like me to make sandwiches while you get changed?”
“Okay, but I don’t really have all that many options in the fridge. Mostly some sliced ham,” I told him. “No veggies, though. When I’m in little space, the last thing I want is to feel like a rabbit chowing down on lettuce leaves.”
He nodded. “Understood. Although you’ve got to get your veggies in somewhere.”
I stared at him, my eyes narrowing slightly. “In soup,” I said, my chest forward with confidence. “I eat my veggies in soup. Very blended and all that good stuff.”
“Well then, go get dressed into something you like to wear, and I’ll make sandwiches,” he said. “I think this is the best way for us to get to know each other.”
He was right. This was the best way to get to know me on that level. I was slightly anxious as soon as I took a onesie and went into the bathroom to change. I had a guilt in my chest that told me I shouldn’t have taken him from the bakery; he was working hard there, and he probably didn’t need me coming in occupying his time. While in the bathroom, I washed off the sticky residue still on my face and gave my mouth a quick rinse with mouthwash, which I quickly regretted since I was about to eat whatever it was Henry—or Daddy—had made for me.
I took a moment to text Oliver back, informing him of the situation I’d gotten myself into, and how I was beginning to spiral, which he responded to with a series of gifs telling me to treat myself and enjoy the moment.
In a colorful bear onesie, a bit of a knock-off Sublime teddy, I slowly walked out and to my surprise Henry—Daddywasn’t standing in the kitchenette area. In fact, the washing I’d left in the sink was now up on the drying rack.
“I think I prepared it right,” he said. “You were... taking a while, so I figured I’d make a start.”
Daddy was sitting in the middle of the room; he’d found my patchwork picnic blanket and set it out with a hoard of teddies he’d picked from around the room to sit in a circle. In the center of the circle, there was the plate of sandwiches, cut into small rectangles. They were right beside the tray of pie.
“I was telling Oli about... about this,” I admitted. It was better than a lie. I knew that.
