“You’re cute,” I told him. “But do you want to get home and have something to eat before I give you the gift?”
He scoffed, shaking his head. “No way, I’m not going to be able to even think about eating until I get my present.” Shaking with excitement, I wanted to bottle the emotion up, not because it needed bottling, but because I wanted to carry that energy around with me everywhere I went.
“Then it looks like you’re getting two gifts,” I told him.
“Two?”
“Well, if you’re not going to go home and eat, I’ll have to make you something myself,” I said. I’d been planning on doing things that allowed for me to take on more of that Daddy caretaker role he’d been leaning into.
His brow furrowed and twitched. “I’m not sure what you mean, because you do not have anything good in to make me. Unless—”
“Unless?”
“Unless you bought something today.”
And there he went, spoiling a fun surprise. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
I had bought some novelty animal shaped spaghetti the stuff in tomato sauce that was only meant for kids who hadn’t developed a proper palette yet, and of course, for littles like Jace.
When we got back to the house, Jace nearly fell out of his boots to get to the present in the living room. He knelt by the box, looking up at me as I took my time to remove my boots.
“Can I open it?” he asked.
“You wanna get yourself in something a bit more comfortable first?” A hint at what the gift might’ve been.
He nodded, giving the top of the box a pat and giggling. “I think I know what it is.”
“Get changed and you’ll find out,” I said, giving his ass a little smack as he rushed by me to get to the bedroom.
It didn’t take Jace long to get dressed in one of the onesies he’d left here. He sat in front of the gift, waiting for permission to open it. I just stared at him as his fingers caressed the sides of the paper wrapping, desperately to tear into it.
“Open it,” I said.
The wooden set and animals all spilled out with the force he tore the paper. I sat back and watched from the sofa. He screamed internally, glowing red at the sight of all the different wooden animals.
“I love it, I love it,” he said. “Oh my god, I love it.” His hands shaking as he plucked two of the animals from the collection and raised them above his head. “How did you know this is what I wanted?”
“I was guided,” I admitted. “But I’m glad you like it.”
“Sore thighs and riding Mary were worth it.” He let out another little squeal.
Watching in awe of his happiness, it had all been worth it. As Jace was obsessing over the playset and toys, I snuck out of the lounge into the kitchen. I wasn’t a whizz in the kitchen, but I could provide for a little. I knew they needed a varied diet, so I made sure to accommodate.
His dinner, at least, the one I was making for him would be catering to the little side I was attempting to coax out little by little. Each little was different, some liked to involve their partner, some liked to be in their space alone. Some used it sexually, and others never put their little space into their adultactivities. I was still trying to really figure out where Jace stood with it all.
Spaghetti shapes and small Vienna sausages. It wasn’t a substantial meal by any means. It was paired with an apple juice box. I would’ve added some bread, but I wasn’t allowed to buy bread since he’d told me he wanted to make some fresh.
“This is the best thing I’ve ever received,” he said as I walked into the living room. “I made you something to eat. But you’ll have to come eat at the dining table.”
His eyes widened, glancing from me, back to his new toys. He hauled a bunch of them into his arms and carried them with him to the dining table. I’d also made myself a similar plate to his with the addition of a fried egg on my plate.
“I don’t want you eating too much,” I told him. “Your mom might get suspicious if you’re going home without an appetite.”
Jace didn’t take any of the words in, just nodding and smacking his lips. “It’s been forever since I had spaghetti shapes. Oh my god, they’re my favorite ones as well. The wildlife ones!” He began rummaging around on the plate with a spoon and fork to try and separate the shapes to figure out which animals were there.
After all the stress today had brought him and the vomiting earlier, it was nice to see him in a state of relaxation now. It was almost like everything earlier hadn’t happened, all that commotion had dripped away, leaving behind a big, smiley-faced Jace.
He devoured his food, leaving behind an orange stain ring around his mouth. I reached out with napkin tissues, wiping it for him. He leaned into my touch, rubbing his face against the napkin and then smiling when I pulled away.
