“And how much cake did you eat?”
“Just a little piece,” Jacob said. That bottom lip came out again. “He wouldn’t let me have more.”
“I’ll try to remember to thank him,” Jacob joked.
James’s eyes grew wide. “No! The two of you…working together? No! I would never get away with anything.”
Jacob rinsed off the plate and set it aside. “You don’t get away with anything now.”
James huffed.
“Am I wrong?” Jacob asked. He returned to the table to grab James’s cup. Refilling it with water from the fridge, Jacob held out his hand. “Come on. Let me show you what else I got you.”
“I could get away with something,” James mumbled. “If I really want to.”
That didn’t require a response.
James leaped up from the table. The cape around his shoulders whirled as he skipped toward him.
Jacob grabbed James’s hand to pull him down the hall.
“Is it playtime?” James asked, nearly tripping along.
“Not yet.” They passed the playroom and into the guest bedroom.
“It’s not sleepy time,” James said firmly.
Jacob turned, pulling James closer to the bed. “How about a play outfit?” He pointed toward the two outfits on the bed.
James made a weird squeaking sound that Jacob had never heard a human make before. He was nearly vibrating as he stared at the clothes.
“Is that a yes?” Jacob questioned.
“Yes! Yes!” James bounced.
“Okay, we have two options. The blue lounge pants and red shirt or the green shorts and yellow shirt.” The shorts were more for a little while the lounge set could have been bought by any adult that wanted to have something fun to hang out in.
“Shorts!” James said quickly.
That was perfect. “Now, next question. And there is no right or wrong answer. Just tell me what feels right.”
James stilled.
Reaching under the shorts, Jacob pulled out the thick dark blue underwear with the wide white stripes around the waist and leg openings.
James gurgled something.
“No pressure,” Jacob reminded him. “You can wear what you have on now. We can save these for another time. Or never. It’s completely up to you.”
James looked up at him.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Jacob patted his knee. “Come sit, baby.”
The boy moved fast. Okay. James was still there with him. Not freaking out. Maybe curious.
Jacob held up the undies. “Would you like to touch them?”
James nodded.
