“Good party,” Avery agreed. As tired as he was, Avery was slowly bringing his thumb to his mouth.
Slipping an arm around Avery’s shoulder, Mitch pulled him close. “I’ve got you. Go ahead.”
Avery slipped his thumb between his lips and started to suck then buried his face in Mitch’s chest in case anyone found them.
Closing his eyes, Avery sucked while giving his brain a few minutes to rest. Big groups were hard for him. Even if all the people that were there Avery genuinely liked. Being rejected his entire life, Avery still had moments when he wondered if his friends would turn their backs on him.
All he wanted in his life was to fit in. To be normal. The normal kid at school, or work, or wherever. Turned out that Avery still wasn’t normal. He was special.
Jace had shown him that Avery didn’t have to try to act like everyone else did when that wasn’t what made him happy.
Being a little to an amazing caretaking Daddy was what made Avery truly happy.
“There you are,” Caleb whispered. “We were looking for you.”
“Just need a moment,” Mitch said.
“Hugs?” Hayley asked.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Jayme said.
Avery lifted his head. All his closest friends were standing around him. Caleb was the first to move, closing in on the opposite side as Mitch. Hayley and Jayme separated to cuddle into their sides. Sammy and Marco were smiling and Avery waved them closer as well.
“Group hug!” Jackson declared before picking up Michael and practically crushing the rest of them.
Thumb still in his mouth because he didn’t have to hide his true self from his friends, Avery laughed. They were really in a large group hug. Avery had such an amazing group of friends, of family, and they’d come to him just to make sure that Avery was okay at his own party.
“What’s going on here?”
Avery lifted his head before he pulled out his thumb from his mouth. “Group hug, Daddy.”
“I can see that,” Jace said with a soft smile.
“It was a very important job,” Jackson claimed. “And my idea. You’re welcome.”
“Is that so?” Master Finn questioned as he strode forward. “I released you from your cuffs to allow you to go to the bathroom. I turned around and all you boys were gone.”
Jackson shoved Michael in front of him. “Michael made me come out here.”
Avery giggled. Watching the three of them together was so much fun.
“Really?” Michael smacked Jackson’s stomach.
“You did!” Jackson cried. “I was going to straight back to Finn.”
“You were eating another piece of cake,” Marco said.
“Traitor!” Jackson dramatically staggered back. He grabbed Avery, this time using him as a shield as Finn strode closer.
“I also said no more cake,” Master Finn said sternly.
“Someone is in trouble,” Jayme singsonged.
Avery did not want to be in the middle of this. He glanced over at his Daddy.
“How about a walk?” Jace asked, holding out his hand.
“Sure.” Avery wiggled out of Jackson’s hold just before Master Finn caught Jackson’s chain and fastened it to his pants.
