Bowie nodded, although he’d never played make believe before, because he couldn’t include the times he pretended to have a family that wanted him.
Stop that, we’re here to have fun,he reprimanded himself, not wanting to disappoint Sweeny.
“I knew we was gonna be friends. Let me hear you roar.”
Bowie nervously glanced over at Kari once more. He gave him an encouraging smile. Bowie returned his attention to Sweeny, who wore an expectant look. He coughed to clear his throat, and because Bowie never did anything half-heartedly, he roared as loud as he could.
Sweeny clapped, bounced and giggled next to him. “You’re the bestest roarer I heard.”
Bowie blushed, smiling shyly. “What noise does a uni make?” he questioned Sweeny, intrigued.
“We don’t make lots of noise, we dance like a rainbow.”
“Really, what’s that look like?”
Bowie was tugged up off the floor with an ease that belied Sweeny’s size. “I’ll do it first, then you can copy.”
His arms flailed about in the air, and he wiggled his bottom, his head bobbing from side-to-side, sprinkling glitter everywhere. “Come on, you do it too.”
Bowie didn’t think twice before following Sweeny, giggling when the glitter landed on him and sparkled on his hands. He wasn’t sure how long they danced about for, but when they collapsed giggling on the playmat, Bowie was sweaty, and thirsty.
Then there was Daddy with a sippy cup, grinning.
“I’m thirsty,” he exclaimed, opening his lips to suck on the spout, slurping the same as Sweeny, whose Daddy had also appeared as if by magic.
When he needed to catch his breath, he rubbed at his damp lips, then squinted to see if he could look at his lips.
“Daddy did you see me dancing in the sparkles?” Bowie held up his hands watching them twinkle in the light. “Do I have sparkly lips?”
“I did. And yes, you do.”
He puckered up and when he got the kiss he wanted, he tugged back quickly, squinting, then grinned. “Now you do too, Daddy. I shared, so we’re the same. Can I have more sparkles when we go home,” he pleaded.
“You can have whatever you want, Babycakes.”
“Promise.”
“Promise.”
Bowie smiled brightly, peeking up. “Then I want Daddy never to leave.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Kari
Kari was hit by the familiar scent of home, suddenly realizing he’d missed it more than he thought. Popi came striding down the stairs towards him and came in for a hug.
“Popi,” Kari kissed his cheek, hugging him back. He held on a little longer, needing something to ground him. Bowie’s request, made when he was in Little space, had meant Kari slept for shit. He needed Bowie to make the request when he was more cognizant, so Kari had done everything he could to think of anything but the request.
“Hello darling, when did you get back from New York?” Popi asked, glancing at Bowie, who hovered in the doorway, glancing around.
“Early this afternoon. We had to co-ordinate with Booker and Frey, so I drove Bowie home so he could drop off his things before driving here.” Kari heard voices and glanced in the direction of the dining room.
Popi let him go and went to Bowie, hugging him the same way he’d done to Kari. “You look radiant, Bowie.”
His brows shot up. “I do?”
Kari gave Popi a warning look, despite agreeing with him. The visit to the club had left Bowie with a new friend and sporting a grin that never seemed far away.
