Page 97 of A Little Bit Naughty

Izzy didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Was it good for you, too?” Daddy asked.

“Best in my life, too.” He’d never felt so cherished. So affirmed. So perfectly in tune with someone.

“That’s because you’re my cupcake.” Daddy nuzzled against his nose.

Izzy nuzzled back. He wanted this. Every day for the rest of his life. He could feel deep in his bones that Daddy wanted that, too.

So he just ignored the part where Daddy was going bye-bye tomorrow. Right now, he was a cupcake.

21

Remi

Remi leaned back in the hard folding chair, watching Isaac in the dappled light of the sukkah. They’d just had the perfect birthday meal of Thai food, just as Tommy had suggested. After spending most of the day as little Izzy, Isaac had decided that he wanted to be big for his birthday dinner.

He’d still bounced in his seat when he’d seen the chocolate cupcakes from the deli and made a wish before blowing out his candles. Remi had originally ordered a more elegant chocolate cake… but after this morning, he just wanted to see Isaac swirling his tongue through the thick cupcake frosting. Isaac had given him the naughtiest grins over each bite.

Now they were lazing around, watching the sunset. Remi was so stuffed that he didn’t want to move.

Not just from his chair, but anywhere else at all.

It seemed impossible that he was flying out tomorrow. The thought made his stomach drop. He still hadn’t talked with Isaac about what was happening next, but he had to face it sooner or later. “Isaac?” he asked.

“Yes, Daddy?” Little or big, Isaac always said those words with the most joyful expression.

“I have to go back home tomorrow.”

Isaac’s eyes went faraway and sad. “I know.”

“So I wanted to talk about what happens next.”

Isaac crept around onto the cement floor of the roof and settled between Remi’s legs. When that wasn’t close enough, he wrapped his arms around Remi’s waist and rested his cheek against his thigh.

Remi stroked his hair, not wanting to miss a moment of their closeness either.

“So what do you want to do?” Isaac asked.

Remi wasn’t even sure where to start. He had a million ideas, but they all depended on the sweet boy in his arms. “The most important thing I want is to do what’s right for you.”

“I’m not even sure what that is any more.” Isaac was looking away, toward the billowing curtain walls of the sukkah, so Remi couldn’t see his face. He’d been hoping that Isaac would announce his desires.

But instead, it looked like it was up to him. Now he just needed to strike the right balance between giving Isaac options and pleading for the future he wanted more than anything.

“This weekend has been magical for me.” He continued combing gentle fingers through Isaac’s soft blond hair. “But not just this weekend. Every single dinner we shared and every conversation we had. I don’t know how much I told you about this, but I’d almost given up on finding my boy before this. I’d thought that I might never find a boyfriend who I could converse with endlessly, and also a baby boy who needed just the type of Daddy I am. So I guess I’ll put it out there and say, you are that boy. And I don’t want this to end.”

When Isaac didn’t answer, Remi felt his lungs freeze up. He’d thought they were on the same page. And, honestly, he’d mostly expected to have an excited boy covering him with kisses right now.

Isaac’s arms tightened around his waist. That was the only response he got, like Isaac was seeking courage from him.

Finally Isaac blew out a shaky breath. “I don’t want this to end, either.”

“Good, baby. Good!” He tried to keep the relief out of his voice, but he didn’t think he hid it well. “Whatever you need to do to make that work, we can figure it out together.” Now his whole list came out in a rush. “I think I can fly out every six weeks or so, and I can pay for you to visit me on the longer school breaks. I want to revisit the idea of long-distance age play, but only if you want that. I’ve been reading up on so many ideas for how to be your Daddy every day. I’d send you little treats in the mail all the time, and I’d love to have our next dinner with my little boy and tuck him into bed.”

Isaac finally turned his sunny face up. “You really think we could make it work?”

“Baby, I know we could make it work. I mean, one of my worries with a long-distance relationship is that I wouldn’t be able to have enough time with you. But our dinner dates have become the joy of my week. It’s not the same, but I feel like I’m with you. I was thinking that maybe we could add phone or video calls when I tuck you into bed. Even if I’m with family or friends, I’d want to step out to tuck you in.”