Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70558 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70558 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“You…you set up my tools in your garage. I have to come and see them too, you’re right.” Starting to pet my chest, he nuzzled against me. “And you already said that I can come home as often as I want.”
He’d started calling it home as soon as he’d brought over the first load of end tables and pillows, and it hadn’t stopped since. This was home and college was college. I wasn’t sure when we’d gone through the let’s live together conversation, but I decided it was entirely possible we’d done it first thing one morning and I just couldn’t remember.
His brain worked entirely too well at an ungodly hour.
“I even have a desk to do my homework.” He pulled away just long enough to look over at his pretty desk before curling back into me. “I’ll have to come visit you lots.”
“That’s right.” Rubbing his back, I sank deeper into the couch so we could relax. “And you have a key to get in whenever you want. If you’re just lonely, you can come over, or if there’s a nugget emergency, you can come over. We’re going to have pizza and cookie night every Friday. Unless…”
He sighed but the theatrical sound wasn’t as stressed as it had been a few minutes ago. “Unless I get invited to do something fun with my new friends. You love me a lot but you know that me having friends will make me a happier sunshine.”
That sounded almost painful to get out, but he did it, so I kissed his head. “That’s right. Good job.”
He wanted to pout or huff, but my praise got a giggle out of him. “You’re so silly.”
If he wanted to think so, I wasn’t going to argue with him. “This silly Daddy thinks we’ve done so much work, we deserve the afternoon off.”
I’d have said that even if we hadn’t gotten much done, but luckily for me, a panicked Addison buzzed from project to project trying to stay distracted. We had everything for the dorm apartment ready to go and every possession in the house had found their new home.
Hell, he’d even finished cleaning out the house he’d been renting yesterday and that sparkled from top to bottom. It would’ve been exhausting just watching him but he’d kept me busy as well. So now that everything was done, it was time for Daddy to bring out the distractions.
“Should we watch cartoons?” Petting my chest, Addison rubbed his face against my shoulder. He didn’t seem enthusiastic about that idea, but that might’ve been because of how stressed he was in general.
“I have lots of surprises waiting for you, but this time, I’m going to let you choose between two.” That little tease had him going still, but I pretended to ignore it. “Do you want a pretty surprise for playing or a snuggly surprise for a little little Addison?”
I also had food surprises and several other fun toys and silly things hidden around the house, but I was going to save those for days when he needed a smaller pick-me-up.
Some of the advice for parents of new college students hadn’t exactly been applicable to us—I wasn’t trying to figure out how to make him more independent for one thing—but I’d found a few that made sense for our situation.
“Lots of surprises, Daddy?” Quickly sliding into little mode as he sat up and gave me a curious smile, he wiggled and I could see his brain whirling in a happier direction. “Lots?”
Nodding, I leaned closer and rested my forehead against his to make him giggle. “Lots. But you don’t get them all at once. I have to make sure I have good reasons for you to keep coming home.”
The fact that I had about ninety percent of his toys and costumes and furniture would probably help with that goal, but I figured extra ammunition couldn’t hurt.
Yep, excited greed flashed in his eyes as he wiggled again. “I like surprises.”
The look in his eyes said leaving him alone without supervision would be dangerous.
“I know you do.” He liked toys and fun bribes too. “But for this afternoon, do you want a pretty surprise for playing or a snuggly surprise for a little little sunshine?”
He’d like either one, but exhaustion was peeking out around the edges of his greedy smile, so I was hoping he picked the second option.
Addison gave me an exaggerated frown and seemed to be channeling what he thought a very disappointed little should look like. “Daddy, I’m not being theatrical, but…but I’ve been big worried so…so maybe I get both? That would make me very happy. Picking is so hard and you give the best surprises.”
I must not have looked willing enough to go along with his plan because he kissed my cheek and tried looking sweeter. “You pick the best restaurants and you make the best cookies and you did such a good job with making the house prettier. I was very proud of you.”