"Daddy," a small voice complained from the other room.
Ryan shot off the couch and ran to the bedroom. His voice drifted from around the corner. "I'm here, Andrew."
"Where Ms. Smith?"
"She just went home," Ryan replied.
Andrew grunted in acknowledgement, then paused and asked, "Where Yooshy?"
My heart just about exploded.
Ryan chuckled softly. "He's still here, don't worry. He's just in the living room."
Andrew let out a big, dramatic sigh. "Oh, good!"
I couldn't stop smiling. I burned the memory into my brain so that I would never forget it.
* * *
After all ofAndrew's needs had been taken care of, we got dressed and ready to go.
As Ryan was changing, he glanced over to me apologetically. "Sorry that I don't have anything in your size."
"No need to worry. I am perfectly fine wearing the same clothes I wore yesterday. Unicorn shifters do not get sweaty and smelly the way humans do," I explained.
Ryan snorted. "Gee, thanks."
"I do not mean it offensively. In fact, I rather enjoy your natural bodily sensations."
Ryan turned as red as a beet. "Oh. Well, all right then." He tugged a new shirt over his head, then shot me a coy glance. "When you saidyour,did you mean the general word, as in for all humans? Or did you mean just me?"
"What do you think, Ryan?"
His blush only deepened and he went back to changing. We both knew what the answer was.
With everybody all set to go, we exited the building. I followed Ryan's lead as we weaved out of the apartment complex and onto the sidewalk. I was fascinated by all the sights and sounds of human society. I could never get enough of it, even if Ryan thought it was nothing special.
"I'm quite enjoying our trip to the stroller emporium," I announced.
Ryan smirked. "You're going to be sorely disappointed if you think there's a stroller emporium. The last one I bought was just from the local big box store."
I raised a brow. "If it's a big box store, then why do they also sell strollers?" I asked.
Both Ryan and Andrew chuckled at my comment, though I failed to see why it was so funny.
Ryan attempted to explain. "They don't sell boxes—well, I mean, they do, but…"
"You see?" I insisted. "The name is very misleading. They should change it."
"Big Box Storeisn't the name of the—you know what? Never mind." He pointed to a large building on the horizon. "Anyway, it's not far, just over there."
At this point we'd already been walking for quite some time and I noticed Andrew had less of a spring in his step.
"That's quite a distance to walk," I pointed out. "Not that I'm averse to exercise, but will Andrew be all right?"
Ryan sighed. "It wouldn't be a big deal if he was in his stroller. He likes going for rides in it. Anyway, I don't have a car, and I can't use ride share apps with my old phone, and cabs are too expensive."
"What about the bug?"
