With James’s excitement for regression, Jacob had suspected that another playdate would be happening soon. Maybe not this soon but Jacob was already getting ahead of himself, so why not go all-in?
Pulling ingredients out of the fridge, Jacob fixed a snack for his boy.
The new plastic colorful superhero divider plate had been drying on the rack beside the sink. Using the sections, Jacob filled them with cheese squares from the deli. Then he cut off some of the summer sausage he’d purchased before adding a stack of crackers in another section. Some carrots and homemade ranch dip rounded up the snack.
Grabbing the matching tumbler with a straw, Jacob filled that with ice and water.
He was just placing both the plate and cup on the table when he heard the familiar motorcycle engine approaching.
Jacob hurried to the door, barely having it all the way open before he was outside.
James had the bike turned off and had removed his helmet already. The boy flashed him a grin before scurrying from the back of the bike.
He ran.
James ran right for him. Helmet in one hand and backpack bouncing over his shoulder.
Had anyone ever been so excited to see him? Jacob couldn’t remember. His own excitement bobbed to the surface. Jacob opened his arms as James flew into them.
Closing his arms around the boy, Jacob lifted him off his feet. “Hey, baby.” Damn, he really needed to stop using pet names.
Tilting his head back, James grinned. “Hi! Did you miss me?”
“Of course I did,” Jacob replied honestly. Spending the day gathering what he thought James needed filled the time that they’d been apart.
“I missed you too,” James said. He rose to his tiptoes to kiss Jacob’s cheek.
All of Jacob’s warnings to himself were gone. He knew he needed to keep distance between them. It was just so hard as James really was the perfect boy for him.
“Thanks for letting me come over,” James said.
“Anytime,” Jacob told him. “You are always welcome here.”
James laughed. “I am so going to make you regret telling me that.”
There was no possible way. “Come inside. I made you a snack.”
“Really?” James released him and began to bounce.
“Come on, brat.” Jacob towed James toward the back door and got him inside. Closing and locking the outside world away just felt right.
“Snack!” James dropped his helmet before sliding off his backpack.
Jacob caught the backpack and set it on the counter. He bent and retrieved the helmet from the floor as James slid out the chair.
“Dude!” James exclaimed. “Look at this plate! And the cup. These are so cool!”
Jacob had been reaching into the backpack to pull out the cape and Kane as he knew that James would want them. He turned to check that James was really taking the gifts as well as he sounded.
To his absolute amazement, James was sitting in the chair, giving a little wiggle as he admired the cup in his hand. Jacob had been prepared to coax and barter in order for James to use the dishes. The plate and cup were obviously made for someone much younger.
Remembering what he was doing, Jacob grabbed the cape and action figure before walking to the table.
“Do you like them?” he asked quietly.
“So cool!” James repeated. He took a long drink from the straw.
Jacob grew emotional. He quickly blinked away the tears. It was silly. He was the Daddy and wasn’t new to the scene. He’d played with boys several times at the club. None of them had ever made Jacob realize how much he wanted this. A partner. A happy boy. His entire world.
