Sabastian
It was all true.
I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Oakley. It was more than just protecting him because I’d do that either way. But I was in love with the boy. Every bit of him.
He still had a long way to go in healing, years of it if I were truthful. But my love was there with him. He held me in his little hands.
I wasn’t sure when I fell, but I did. Hard.
I wanted to marry him, make him mine. On paper, it already showed he was mine. His documents were already in my possession. A birth certificate, marriage license, social security card. I had everything with my last name, making sure that no one would ever touch him in any sort of way.
Oakley Ray Moreno was mine. I didn’t need to take his body for that to happen.
The only way to keep him safe was to tie him to me by name. The world wouldn’t need to know more than that.
Mess with my boy, and whoever did was sure to meet the end of my gun. I had killed many times before, one or two more wasn’t going to hurt me.
I had a lot of work to get the boy to trust me fully, but I was determined to get there. He was my everything, even if he hadn’t yet seen that.
He was perfect in so many ways. I only wanted to help him grow, help him find his feet so he could stand up for his own beliefs.
I couldn’t wait to see the day when he’d freely talk, freely tell me what he didn’t want. Or tell me exactly what he wanted.
Today was a huge step.
I hadn’t lied when I told him things would change on his birthday. I was going to spoil him rotten, showing him just how much I wanted a life with him.
I woke up early, well, earlier than the boy who was fast asleep in bed, to make a breakfast that he’d never forget.
It wasn’t going to be too flashy, but one that would start the day off on a good foot.
Oakley wasn’t like most people, food didn’t call to him. But stuffed animals certainly did, which is why a brand new one sat on the chair he always picked. A blue bear with a weighted bottom and floppy ears would be perfect for him.
The first of many gifts.
Flipping the bacon over, I heard Oakley shuffle into the kitchen. His steps were light, and normally I wouldn’t have bothered to keep my back to him. But I wanted him to think I hadn’t heard. It was the only time he truly let out his emotions, or when he was scared. And today I didn’t want an ounce of fear to be there.
I heard his small gasp, a smile twisted my lips slightly. A second later, I turned, peeking over my shoulder.
Oakley stood there, hugging the new stuffie to his chest, eyes closed. One ear was rubbed against his cheek as if he couldn’t help himself.
“Happy birthday, little one.”
His eyes flashed to me, unsure surprise filtering through.
“Have a seat. Breakfast is almost done.”
Without a word, that’s what he did. Normally, his eyes would be on me, but right now, they were on the new stuffie. He twisted it this way and that, examining every inch of it.
I’d have bought an entire store of stuffed animals if I didn’t think it’d overwhelm him. Plus, where would I put all of them?
Shaking that thought away because if he asked for that many, he’d get them, I turned my focus back to the food.
The last bit of bacon was done, and I plated it up. We each got a couple of waffles and a side of fruit. More than what Oakley would eat, but I wanted to offer a bit of everything anyway.
“Did you sleep well?” I asked as I put his plate in front of him.
He nodded, moving his new stuffie out of the way.
