In no time, Evie got busy navigating around and over huge foam blocks that acted as climbing toys and slides. A little ball pit sat in one corner with two babies squealing and tossing red, blue, and yellow balls in every direction. More toddlers played on a taller setup on the other side, and parents hovered around chatting.
“We’re the only dads here,” I whispered to Gil. The moment I said it, my mouth snapped shut. I wasn’t Evie’s dad. Something about the term warmed my heart even more. Was this what spontaneous combustion was all about? Sheer joy?
Gil said nothing to deny my words as he glanced around and nudged me, pointing toward the door. “Not anymore.”
Two men came in with a chubby boy in red overalls. The shorter one popped off the baby’s hat, and platinum blond hair flew out like fluff on a dandelion. “He needs product,” the man said, and the other huffed out a laugh. He tried to smooth the hair with his broad hand.
“Two men. Baby. Talking about hair product? I think we found our people.”
The bigger man, totally sporty masc in a roomy hoodie and baseball cap, apparently overheard Gil’s comment, elbowed his partner, and smiled. They signed in with the cutie cub and walked over. Their little one kicked his feet and struggled to get down on the floor to play.
“Okay, okay, Knox. No need to get all riled up.” The blond set the baby down, and he immediately crawled over to a jumble of foam building blocks. The man turned to us. “Hi. I’m Gabe, and this is my husband, Cody. The little one is Knox. Which one’s yours?”
Gil pointed to where Evie was climbing up a ramp and sliding back down while giggling. “Our girl, Evie.”
My heart soared every time Gil said ‘ours’ when it came to his daughter. It felt so right and gave me so much hope. My rational mind knew it made more sense to accept the assumption rather than explain the complicated nature of Evie’s parentage and our relationship, but I still loved hearing it. A man could hope.
Cody nodded. “Cute. You know, it’s usually all moms in here. They either stay far away from us or try to ask him about shoe shopping.”
Gabe elbowed his husband and laughed out loud. “They do not.”
“That one woman did. The one with the twins wearing Burberry. Two hundred dollars for a baby romper that’ll get ruined with spit up, and she’s asking him for fashion advice.”
He shrugged and flipped his long blond hair in a totally dramatic, camp way. “It’s the gay stigma. We’re just so fabulous.”
We all cracked up, and it felt so good to find other people like us. Somehow, spending time with these two fathers made me want that life even more. Gil seemed a bit struck with wonder as we watched and played with the kids. Knox and Evie bopped each other with soft toys and tumbled around on the mats together.
Far too soon, our allotted time ended, and we had to tear a fussy Evie away from the fun. “Hey, we should get together again sometimes,” Gabe said. “Give me your phone.” Since Gil was busy helping Evie into her coat, I unlocked mine and handed it over. He put in his number and sent himself a text. “We’ll definitely be in touch. We have a few other LGBTQ+ parent friends and always have room for more.”
We said our goodbyes, Evie blew them all a kiss, and we headed out into the cold. “Sam,” Gil said once we got in the car and turned it on to warm up. “That was…” He sighed and shook his head. “That’s what I want parenting to be like. Sharing the journey with others, making friends, having playdates and stuff.”
He wrapped his fingers through mine. “I’ve been really lonely, but now I have you, and maybe some new friends. Besides having Evie, meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Could my heart fill up any more without actually bursting? “I understand completely, Gil, because I feel the same way.” I lunged across the console and pressed my chilly lips to his. Warmth far stronger than any the SUV’s vents could pump out filled me up.
“Stay the night, Sam. I want you in my bed tonight, and I want you there when I wake up in the morning.” If my mind filled in the idea of staying there ‘every night’ at the end of that request, who could blame me?
I nodded before he even stopped talking and stole another kiss before he pulled out of the parking spot. “I want that too.” I wanted more. I wanted forever, but I could be patient.
***
Evie fell asleep halfway through a story about giraffes making friends with buzzards on the African Savannah, and Gil carried her into her room. I watched from the doorway, the sappy smile I’d grow used to on my face, and the warmth of a perfect day in my heart. I stepped back as he emerged and pulled her door closed.
Without a word, he wrapped his arms around me and rubbed his soft beard against my cheek. “Today was a perfectday.” As he echoed my thoughts, he pulled back to meet my eyes. “We’ve had a lot of those since you came into our life.” Before I had a chance to respond, he tilted his head toward the bathroom. “Let’s take a shower. The only thing that would make this day better is you all wet and naked.”
With the door closed and water running, we didn’t have to whisper. Over our time together, I’d learned the importance of biting my lips to stay quiet even when Gil took me apart. Evie slept hard, but loud sounds could still wake her up. Nothing taught you to be quiet during sex better than having a child in the next room.
Gil shifted the pink plastic baby tub out of the way and turned on the water. While it warmed up, he focused on peeling my shirt off and pushing down my pants. “Fuck, I love these on you,” he growled as his palm skated down my already hard cock. “These were the first ones I saw you in. That night at the inn with the broken glass.”
The tips of his fingers teased around the ridge and over my ultra-sensitive head. “That was the first time I jerked off to thoughts of you. I couldn’t help it. Just so damn sexy.”
The nearly sheer fabric already darkened with a growing wet spot. I yanked Gil’s shirt off and ran my fingers through his chest hair while he took off his pants and boxer briefs in one quick move. “Shower.” The hot water didn’t last forever at Gil’s apartment.
He watched as I shucked my briefs and stepped under the steamy flow. The scent of shampoo and his sage and lemon bodywash filled the space, but I barely registered the actual bathing process. Everything in me focused on the feel of Gil’s hands skating over my skin, rubbing and pressing exactly the way I liked it.
We shuffled around each other in the small space, soaping up and rinsing off quickly to get back to the good stuff. His lipsmet mine, tongue pushing in, and I met his fervor with my own. I could never get enough of his taste and the hot, wet press of mouths. Whatever gentleness lingered from the sweetest day together disappeared as he pushed me back against the tile.
“I can’t get enough of you, baby.” He tongued my lip before nipping it with his teeth. Hands skated down my hips before reaching out to squeeze my cheeks in a hard grip. Gil knew exactly how to drive me wild. No fumbling trial and error for us. From the start, he fulfilled all my desires. When I dared to bite his lip back, he pulled his hand back and smacked my ass.
