"I invited Wallace Avery over to spend some time with us." Somehow the word "sleepover" didn't seem as appropriate as I'd expected. I'd rehearsed what to say the whole drive over, still warm and puddly from the excellent makeout and sex session with Wallace in my own bed.
That had been amazing. Although I'd have liked to take about three times as long, with more foreplay, more after-sex cuddling, and maybe even some talking in there as well. I was already greedy for more.
He'd looked just right in my bed, as I'd known he would. When I left he was still naked, splayed out lazy and released, his eyes hooded and half asleep. He'd seemed calm, which was good. He'd trusted me for the sex, and he'd enjoyed himself a lot. That was a good sign.
I'd left him like that to clean up and go get Eli. When I'd left, Wallace had promised to be showered and "decent" by the time we got back.
In the back seat, Eli grew still. "The fox?" He'd stopped kicking his seat.
"Yes. Do you mind?"
Eli thought. I could see him thinking. He had a lot going on inside. Sometimes, I wished he'd share more of it with me. Sometimes, it hurt like hell when he did.
Then he smiled, big and real, with one missing tooth. "Cool! Can he help me with my homework? Just the hard stuff."
"If he agrees, and you don't try to get him to do it all for you."
"Okay!" He kicked the seat and bounced. Then he stopped suddenly, frowning. "But still groceries, right?"
"Still groceries," I confirmed.
"And I still get to pick supper?"
"You still get to pick supper," I confirmed.
It was something I let him do a lot. It gave him confidence and structure and he ate well when he got a say in what he ate. The kid had a lot of nutritional deficiencies to make up for, so eating was more important than not being picky. The grocery-shopping trip where he chose a new thing to try every week (at least) handled the variety factor.
"All right!"
I was grinning now, too. My kid was such a happy camper right now.
He was really stoked about Wallace, and once again I marveled that my boyfriend had been able to get my kid to become his fan in only one visit, without apparently aiming for that at all. He'd just talked to Eli and the kid had been riveted...and sold on him ever since.
When we got home, he bolted out of the car and ran inside, eager to see Avery.
I heard the surprised greeting before I could join them.
"Hi!" said Wallace. "It's nice to see you, Eli." He sounded like he meant it, and I hoped he did.
I joined them. My kid was just standing there shyly, smiling up at Wallace. "Dad said you're staying?"
"For today," said Wallace. "As long as you're okay with that?" He looked questioning and sweetly police.
Eli nodded. "Mm-hm. Can you help with homework?"
Wallace shrugged. "I can try. Maybe not the math, though…"
"Daddy helps me with math." Eli looked like he wanted to hug Wallace, which surprised me. (He didn't do it.)
"So, what's on the menu, kiddo?" I asked. Wallace was prepared for this part, and he didn't so much as twitch an eyelid when Eli declared a supper of spaghetti and cucumbers.
"And then we go grocery shopping," Eli informed Wallace seriously. He asked me, "Can he come along?"
"Let's see. What does the fox say?" I gave Eli a wink.
He groaned. "Daddy, that's not even athinganymore!"
Wallace looked vaguely confused, but not offended. Dang. He'd never gotten the joke, had he? He'd never reacted, so I shouldn't be surprised.
