“I want…I want…” Hayley wiggled.
“You boys don’t have to decide now,” Jace told them. He held out his hand to Avery.
Tightening his fingers, Avery peered up at his Daddy.
“Give it to me, baby boy,” Jace demanded.
Avery shook his head.
“Now,” Jace ordered.
His lips trembled as Avery opened his hand, revealing the binkie that was covered in sand. Jace snatched it from him but before Avery could complain he popped a different binkie into Avery’s mouth.
Avery hummed as he started to suck. That was better. And he wouldn’t be spitting out sand later either.
“Let’s play,” Caleb said, taking Avery’s hand and dragging him back to the sandbox.
“K,” Avery mumbled around his binkie. It was time for some fun!
“Where are your animals?” Mitch asked. “We can build them a ranch.”
“I’ll get them,” Hayley said. “I saw them by the swing set.”
That’s right. Avery had gotten distracted earlier and made Jace push him on the swings before his Daddy said he was tired.
The sun was still shining as in summer it stayed hot until late at night. Which was perfect for pizza night with his best friends.
Even though Caleb was in his pretty dress, he sat in the middle of the sandbox and started making squares so they knew where to build the enclosures. Hayley ran back with the box of outside plastic animals which Mitch began to pass around.
Avery had so many boxes of animals that he had ones that were for the playroom, some for outside, some for the toybox in the living room, and even some that could be in the tub. Since all animals were his favorite, Avery never got bored with playing with them. And all of his friends knew just what to do. Not thatAvery minded too much when they did their own thing. Hayley though could be kind of bossy when they played. It was still fun.
They all got to work on making their own square perfect for the enclosures that they were responsible for.
Just as Avery was getting thirsty, Byron, Mitch’s Daddy, came over to pass out drinks. Avery and Hayley both got sippy cups, Caleb received a sparkling purple bottle with a squeeze top, and Mitch was handed a plastic cup with a long spiral straw.
Four boys that were the best of friends but each of them was different than the other.
Littles, middles, boys, it didn’t matter between friends. They could have a fun evening playing with toys and no one there judged them for what they liked. This was the best type of friend group. This was family. And Avery wouldn’t trade them for anything in the whole entire world.
CHAPTER THREE
Avery
“I’m all clean, Daddy!” He held up his fingers as Jace dried his body with a towel. Avery hadn’t wanted to get out of the bath since the dolphins still wanted to play but Jace had reminded him that Avery had to work the next day.
“You’re all clean because I cleaned you,” Jace agreed.
Avery giggled. “You clean me good, Daddy.”
Jace snorted. “I know when my boy wants something.”
He totally did. “Special touches?” he asked sweetly.
“You played with your friends for over an hour, made your own pizza, ate two pieces of cake, had a bath, and you still think that you need special touches?”
“I was a very good boy,” Avery said. “You told me so!”
“You did listen to me,” Jace agreed. “Mostly.”
