“Meetings?”
“Lactin Brotherhood meetings.”
“Oh. That’s where Daddy is now. I thought Preston would be, too.”
Rob shook his head and looked down at the plate he was loading up with our snackies. “He said he’s working.”
I wanted to help my friend but didn’t think there was much I could do. We ate and went back to the game with a couple bottles of water, changing the subject back to everything game-related. But there was something else I wanted to know. “Rob?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you a Little like me?”
Rob paused the game and put his controller down. “Not like you. I don’t think. It’s complicated.”
I turned to face him, studying his face. He didn’t look confused, but maybe a little concerned, and I wasn’t sure what was going on with him. “What do you mean?”
Would he open up? “Gilly…” He sighed and leaned his head back as if studying the ceiling. “Remember when you looked that stuff up? Did you see anything about Middles?”
“Yes. And Daddy Nate ‘splained it to me too.”
“Okay.” Was he a Middle then? He lowered his gaze and scrunched up his face like he was thinking hard. “I’m more in the Middle category. I tend to be bratty or sassy. But…I flow into Little sometimes too. Especially if I get Daddy-milk.”
“Oh. Daddy-milk is the best, isn’t it?” I understood what he was saying because I had often slid in and out of Little headspace and sometimes lost track of when I needed to have my adult hat on.
“It is the best.” He winked at me. “Does that answer your question?”
“Yes. Do you want to do something else?” I held up my controller. “I’m bored with this now.” It wasn’t so much that I was bored as that I’d done exactly what we were talking about and let my Little come out.
“Sure. I have some coloring books.” He got up and found them after I nodded so hard I thought my head would bounce off.
We sat together and colored quietly for a few minutes. “Daddy says I could use a play time with new friends. Do you have other Little or Middle friends?”
“I do, but none of them are as close as we are. Mostly we just meet at the club sometimes.”
I looked over at his picture. “Very nice. You should give that to Daddy Preston.”
“Hmm…think he’ll like it?”
“I do.” I hummed and colored some more before asking the question that was really bothering me. I was thankful Rob gave me time to let it all float around my head. “Do you think your friends would like me?”
“Of course. They would love to be your friend.”
“Yay! Just like Ellie. Let’s do it.”
Rob laughed and fell over backwards. “Maybe we can have a big party of all Littles and Middles.”
“That would be fun.”
When Daddy Nate came to pick me up, I showed him the page I colored. “Can you hang this on the fridge for me?”
“Yes, baby.” He did that kissy-on-my-head thing and then helped me tear out the page.
“Thanks for hanging out, Rob. I had fun.” I gave my friend a big hug.
Then we did a high five. “Anytime, buddy!”
We walked out to the car, and Daddy buckled me in. “Did you have fun?” he asked, climbing into the driver’s seat.
