Page 16 of Stars Like Confetti

He looked absolutely precious. Pink-cheeked, the fluffy edge of his diaper poking out from his jeans. They were still unbuttoned, and I rubbed at his belly, no doubt sore from holding his bladder for so long. He hummed his contentment, scrubbing at his tired eyes. “Looks like you could use a nap anyway,” I said softly. I did up his jeans, then helped him put his socks and shoes back on. “Would you like some help?”

Shea’s deep blue eyes widened briefly. “You’d help me with my injection?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Unless you don’t want me to.”

“I hate doing it.”

“Go on ahead of me. I need to sort something out and I’ll be right there.”

I brushed my lips across Shea’s cheek, hearing his breath hitch as I did. He trembled, his hands clenching onto my shirt. They tugged, almost as if they wanted to haul me closer but my instruction earlier for him to wait stopped him from doing so. “Go on, sweetheart,” I encouraged him. “I’ll meet you there soon.”

“Okay.” Shea’s response was nearly inaudible, his warm breath washing across my cheek. I helped him down from the table and sent him on his way while I tidied the room and made sure nothing needed restocked.

I found myself grateful for the silence and though I tried not to linger too long, I took a moment to catch my breath. The amount of trust that Shea was placing in my hands was almost overwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, it was everything I’d ever dreamed of, but there was something about fantasy versus reality that made me want toa… pause.

Was I dreaming? Was this all just some figment of my imagination? Would I wake up in my townhouse in Atlanta, drool on my chin and wondering what day it was?

Shaking my head to clear it, I replaced the cover on the changing table and went in search of Jordan. Or Kaylee. Out of all the volunteer counselors, they were the two I trusted the most to run things in my absence. I had a plan and no matter which way it went, I didn’t want any interruptions.

I found Kaylee in one of the picnic areas, overseeing an origami workshop for some of the Middles. Her—now three—Littlest ones sat to the side, crowded around a movie playing on an iPad propped on the table. Sienna was in the middle, with Shane to one side and Dakota to the other. Dakota had one arm around the girl, with Sienna’s head resting on their shoulder. It warmed my heart to see the touch-averse Little getting close to someone.

“Benji, those aren’t swans.” I followed the sound of Kaylee’s laughter to a table in the corner. There, a blond boy sat in front of a pile of frankly what looked like balled up paper.

“They’re abstract!” he said proudly. He got to work on another one, tongue poking out of the side of his mouth as he focused.

"What's with all the holes?"

"… spicy abstract."

“That’s right, Benji,” I praised. The boy’s cheeks deepened beneath the attention. “Don’t let anyone squash your creativity.”

Kaylee looked up at me, smiling. She silently nudged her head toward her group of Littles, not wanting to ruin the intimate moment between them.

“I saw. That’s amazing.”

“I can’t believe it,” Kaylee said. “They hardly let me touch them. What do you need?”

“How do you know I’m going to ask for something?”

Kaylee pinned me with that look—the one that could unravel my stubbornness faster than anything. I was far from Little, but Kaylee could see through every ounce of bullshit I fed her.

“Fine,” I relented. “Can you take charge on…” I glanced around the room. Most of the Littles were busy, but Benji’s bratty little eyes were trained on me. I couldn’t let the surprise slip. “Tonight?”

Thankfully, Kaylee knew what I meant. “Of course I can. Is everything okay?”

I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. I was really looking forward to having some alone time with Shea. Sure, the camp was full of adults with their own free will, but it had been difficult to find a moment where something on the admin side wasn’t calling my attention, or Shea wasn’t crossing things off of his list.

“Oh,” Kaylee sang knowingly when I didn’t respond right away. “I get it.”

Benji snickered next to me, catching my attention. “Don’t eavesdrop, Benji.”

“You’re not my Daddy.”

“No, but I can find you one and I promise you won’t like my choice.”

Cheeks on fire, Benji returned to… whatever he was doing to those poor swans.

“You two have fun tonight,” Kaylee said. “I’ve got it covered.”