Cliff’s gaze roamed Edwin’s body the way mine probably had when I met him. “Is that right?” Edwin nodded. “Well, thank you for bringing him to me safely. That was very kind of you.”
“I-I didn’t want anything to happen to him.”
Cliff reached out and ruffled Edwin’s hair. He did the same thing to me when I was a good boy. “You did well. Brax could use a friend like you.”
Edwin’s cheeks pinked, and he smiled at Cliff like he’d just given him all the cool building blocks in the world. “I want Edwin to be my little friend. I like him a lot.”
That expression of emotions caught the attention of some of the other daddies, but they quickly went back to their conversations.
“I can see that. Well, I think I’d better get you home. Edwin? Would you like us to walk you back so you can return to the others?”
Edwin looked at me. So many unspoken things passed between us. If my brain wasn’t so fuzzy, I might’ve expressed them.
And he only said, “No. Thank you. I can get back by myself. I only had two beers.”
“Good. Thank you again.” Cliff looked at me and then Edwin. He saw the connection. I knew he did. We had things to talk about.
“Let’s go home, Brax. Get you into bed.”
I nodded as we walked away. Leaving Edwin there. Was he trembling? This was hard. I wanted and loved my daddy with all my heart, but there was a new piece of my heart that belonged to Edwin.
And we were leaving him behind.
Chapter Twelve
Cliff
Two steps away, supporting Brax with an arm around his waist, I glanced back to see Edwin standing in the middle of the grouping of daddies. Still pink-cheeked, trembling slightly, he flicked a glance around as if frozen in place.
I couldn’t just leave him there…
I didn’t want to.
Guiding Brax into a chair near the door, I leaned in and whispered in his ear. “You stay here for just a moment, and I’ll be right back.”
His mumbles were unintelligible, but I had to take a chance. Attempting to keep one eye on my little, I took those two steps back and offered Edwin a smile and an extended hand. “Can we offer you a ride home?”
Edwin’s face lit up, and he placed his hand in mine. “I was going to call a rideshare, but if it’s not too far out of your way? I live at the Little House?”
“Not far at all. You can help me get Brax to the car if you don’t mind?”
“Not at all.” I said goodbye to the other daddies and together, we assisted Brax to his feet and outside the bar. Deciding the back seat was the safest place for my little, I ushered him into the car and fastened his belt before opening the front passenger door. “Do you mind riding in the front, Edwin? Give me someone to talk to?”
“Umm, no, that’s fine.” He sat down, and I closed the door and went around to the driver’s side.
“Thanks. I hate driving alone, and I’m afraid Brax is not in any shape to chat. So, you live in the Little House now? Do you like it there?”
“I do.”
While we made our way along the roads, we talked a little about the weather, the news…ordinary topics people who don’t know one another generally speak about. Especially when there is a little tension present. But overall it was fine. With Brax asleep in the back and things left to be discussed between us, what else could we do? It would definitely need to be resolved, though, to prevent awkwardness going forward.
Light relief ran over me when we pulled up in front of the Little House and Edwin opened the door to get out. “Thank you for the ride, Cliff.”
“You’re most—”
“Wait!” Brax called loudly, sitting up and poking his head between the seats. “You can’t go. You have to be my little friend.”
“Shh.” I put my finger to my lips. “You’ll wake everyone in the house, Brax.”
