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I was always blurting out things I probably shouldn't — my autism probably had something to do with how little time there sometimes was between a thought appearing in my brain and it coming out of my mouth. Max went even redder but nodded.

"Dude, that's so cool," I said. "If I wasn't a teacher, I'd totally want to start a page. I mean, if Daddy let me," I added, glancing at him.

Daddy laughed and kissed me on the mouth.

"I'm a bit of an exhibitionist. The more people watching my delicious boy, the better," he said. "And it's even better knowing they can look, but I'm the only one who gets to own him."

"I could never be like that," Esteban said. "I go insane with jealousy if anyone even tries to get close to Rick."

"I love that you do that," Rick said.

They kissed.

"You guys think it'll be a problem with Dominic if I have an OnlyFans?" Max asked.

"Kiddo, that's your first lesson in kink: don't let anyone change you into someone you don't want to be," Daddy said. He really was so wise. "If Dominic doesn't like it, that just means the two of you aren't compatible, and that's normal. It happens. It doesn't mean you have to stop. It means you need someone who accepts who you are and what you choose to do."

Max's eyes filled with tears. "I'm not really used to having relationships where people accept me, and I end up with some really bad guys because of it."

"Don't worry, we'll look out for you," I said, proud. "Right, Daddy?"

He nodded.

"And the more you come to The Hearth, the more you'll get used to what a healthy community can look like," Daddy explained. "We take safety seriously there, and people who repeatedly violate boundaries or put others at risk don't get to stay."

And that was true, and it was exactly why The Hearth was the only place I felt completely comfortable staying at. Every other club I'd ever visited had been kind of a horror show.

Max smiled. "Thanks, everyone. I don't even know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything, little guy," Daddy said. "And by the way, if you don't want me calling you that, tell me — that's your right too. Another thing to remember: always talk. Communicate as much as you can about everything. That's the most important thing."

He nodded. "I'm going to try really hard to be a good, responsible member of The Hearth, like you guys."

"You're so cute," I told him. If he were one of my brothers, I'd definitely be squeezing his cheeks right now, probably getting smacked for it if it were Sawyer, and getting cute little giggles if it were Mikey.

When we finished, Daddy paid for our part of the bill, and we said our goodbyes.

"So I'll see you guys next Saturday," Max said, and I got stupidly excited. We exchanged phone numbers so we wouldn't lose touch again.

And now I was sure I'd made a new friend.

Chapter 17. JJ

Saturday came, and I was really excited, as always — and this time I wasn't even trying that hard not to show it. We'd just finished getting ready to go. Mikey was wearing his baby onesie because it was pajama night for the littles. I was wearing blue pajama shorts and a plain white T-shirt. Sawyer was in regular clothes because, according to him, he wasn't a baby and wasn't participating in pajama night.

"I'm just going to be playing video games with my friends," he said.

Daddy gave him a look, like he was saying Sawyer hadn't actually been given permission to decide that for himself, but he didn't say anything. We always obeyed anyway, and if Daddy told him no, he'd respect it. He was way more obedient than me — just not more than Mikey.

Daddy was, as always, in a button-down and jeans. He looked really handsome.

"All right, if everyone's ready, let's go," he said.

And we headed to the car.

"You think Max is actually going to show?" I asked him. "What if he forgot? I mean, I texted him and he said he's coming, but I'm scared he's going to bail at the last minute."

"He'll be there, sweetheart, I'm sure," Daddy said, with that endless patience of his.