Page 11 of Stars Like Confetti

“What do you mean?”

“Me asking questions about something I’m unfamiliar with.”

Oh, we weren’t talking about allergies anymore Bashful, I turned my attention to my plate, picking apart one of my muffins. Tyler continued. “You can ask me anything, Shea. I mean it. Are you new to being a Little?”

“Not really, but I’ve only ever done temporary scenes. I’ve never had a caregiver long term.”

“Which makes diapers tricky.”

“Exactly.” I wasn’t sure if I’d ever adjust to being able to talk about age play without checking the space around me. I still found myself scanning the dining hall. Some people sat on their own, some in their caregivers’ laps. Most fed themselves, others had someone doing it for them, and the act tugged at something in my chest. Occasionally, I’d see someone’s shirt ride up, and the edge of their diaper would poke free. “How did…” The question on the tip of my tongue was a bold one, and not something I’d find myself asking in everyday life. But Tyler watched me expectantly, and the kindness in his dark eyes gave me confidence. “How did you end up actually using the diapers? How did you…”

“Un-potty train myself? The first time was an accident—literally. My Daddy at the time was really into the desperation, and I didn’t mind it. A long road trip combined with putting my favorite juice in front of me--I’m sure you can guess what happened. I tried to fight it but… the act itself was… freeing, and I didn’t have to worry about making it to the bathroom or even getting my clothes off. Plus, the aftercare was incredible. Being taken care of like that really helps me slip into my Little space. Learning to take care of myself was harder after the breakup, which is why places like this and Playhouse are so amazing. You’re surrounded by caregivers, Shea. Now is the perfect time to learn about these things.”

A familiar laugh caught my attention, settling in my belly and warming through my veins. My eyes instinctively searched for the sound, and they landed on Theo who’d just walked in the door. They knelt by Kaylee, letting a girl feed them bites of her yogurt. Only, the girl missed and Theo now wore a drop on their nose.

“Or maybe,” Tyler said, “one specific caregiver.”

“Is it that obvious?”

Tyler gave me a deadpan look. Of course, it was that obvious. I’d woken up in the middle of the night crying their name—and not for the reasons I might have imagined. But there were a lot of years between us. Years where we’d led different lives, become different people. There were… so many things that Theo needed to know, and that conversation was going to be one of the most painful ones of my life

A warm hand on my back jolted me out of my thoughts. “Hey, sweetheart.”

My heart leapt into my throat. I looked to my right, where Theo was kneeling beside me now. They smiled up at me, the sun reflecting off their beautiful brown eyes, highlighting the flecks of gold sprinkled into their irises. “Did you take your meds?”

“Mhm,” I said softly, nodding.

“Good. Are you feeling better?” Another nod. “Did you want to talk about anything that happened last night?”

I wasn’t sure how Theo expected me to speak at all with their warm palm across my lower back, and especially with their thumb slipping beneath the hem of my shirt and stroking the skin there. Their touch lit up sparks across my body, ones that zapped right through me and seemed to short-circuit my brain. “N-not right now,” I managed.

“That’s okay.” They rose to their full height, turning their attention to my plate and pointing to my fruit. “Make sure you eat that. You know you need more than sweets on your meds.”

I nodded, and Theo ruffled my hair. “You too, Tyler,” they added as they walked away.

“Yes, Theo.”

Returning my attention to my food, I pointedly ignored the shit-eating grin that Tyler was giving me. I didn’t need to look up to see it—I could feel it. “Shut up.”

“I will get that story out of you—one way or the other.”

I crooked a brow at him. “What story?”

With a chunk of muffin in his hand and blueberry smeared across his face, Tyler gestured between me and Theo, who was at the table behind us talking to someone else. “There’s more there than just a crush, and I’m determined to figure it out.”

My stomach flipped. Yeah, I’d say there was much more than a crush between me and Theo. I kept my head down, resisting the urge to seek them out again. The feelings I had for Theo had never faded—ever. They lingered, dormant, in the deepest parts of my head, waiting and biding their time until something brought them out of their hiding place. But nothing in my wildest dreams could have measured up to the real thing. Seeing Theo now, and recognizing that tattoo, it felt like something in the universe just clicked right into place.

My feelings for Theo weren’t just a teenage infatuation, well beyond affection and crushing desire in their footsteps. Having Theo back in my arms was a raw, visceral need.

One that wasn’t going to be satiated easily, and one that I would go to the ends of the earth to fulfill.

Chapter Six

Theo

I spent my day wandering around the camp, checking that the first day of events was operating smoothly. Other organizers of such an event might want to interact more, but I was happy to observe. I wanted to see firsthand that my efforts weren’t for nothing. I went to the dining hall first, where I was able to sneak in a brief interaction with Shea before I had to move onto other things. At first, I said it was because I didn’t want him to be uncomfortable—but he hardly seemed as much. Then I tried to reason that I didn’t want to seem suspicious… but that was reaching. What did it matter that I connected with one of the campers? Especially if that connection happened long before the camp and the club ever existed.

By the time my morning tasks were done, I decided to indulge myself. If I knew Shea, he would be glued to the lake at every possible opportunity. He loved the water, found serenity in it. That’s where I found him—sitting at the water’s edge beside Tyler. Both their shoes were off, and they giggled as they kicked their toes in the water. I sat at one of the picnic tables nearby, not even bothering to hide the grin that painted itself across my face.