Page 47 of Spencer's Satisfaction
I think I might like that.
Chapter Seventeen - Spencer
Tony seems settled in and comfortable by the time Charlie, Ash, Cherie and Kate arrive at Ted’s. I know he was anxious about meeting so many people at once, and I would have been happy to take him home if it proved too overwhelming. I’m still selfishly relieved that he pushed through his nerves, and also incredibly proud of him.
Pre-warned of his anxiety, the guys have been on their best behavior. I didn’t expect them to be dicks because they are good people, but they can be a boisterous, nosy bunch, especially all together.
Josh does startle Tony when the remaining members of our little gang arrive, though. He shouts his greeting to his brother and brother-in-law, shoving back his chair in his enthusiasm to bound over and hug them. The chair clatters to the ground, and I rub Tony’s arm when he jumps at the unexpected noise.
“Sorry, Tones,” Josh says, righting the chair. He gestures towards the group who have just entered and performs a quick round of introductions.
Tony gives the newcomers a shy little wave.
“You’re a Little, right?” Ash asks as he pulls up a seat across from me: a far cry from the kid who had a panic attack the first time the guys met him.
Chance once told me that Ash could pass as my little brother, and I don’t think he’s wrong. Sure, his hair is closer to ringlets where mine is wavier, but we both tend to wear our mops a little wildly around our heads. He’s significantly shorter than me, but has a similar body shape, nonetheless.
Ash is a sweet kid, though. Sensitive and appreciative of the found family we’ve all built together, but also one of the first people to reach out to anyone he thinks might be lonely or hurting. Considering his past, I can understand why he’s so determined to welcome everyone with open arms.
It’s funny, but I can kind of see parallels between him and Tony, now that I think of it.
Still, ignoring that, it has been good to see Ash come out of his shell over the past few years. He and Charlie are so good for each other, and their relationship is one I can privately admit to being mildly jealous of.
But now that I’ve been with Tony for a little while, that jealousy seems to have melted away. I suppose there’s no reason to be jealous anymore seeing as I appear to have found my own special connection with someone.
“Asher,” Charlie warns his husband with a hint of a sigh. “We talked about this. You can’t just ask him-”
“It’s fine,” Tony interjects, though he does lean closer into me while he smiles timidly at the newcomers. His face is turning pink again now that he’s noticed that everyone’s attention is on him. “I…Iama Little. It’s very new, but it feels right.”
Ash, bless him, bounces excitedly in his seat, then babbles, “Charlie was my first Daddy, too. I mean, I knew I was into age play before I met him, but I’d never tried with anyone until him. And then it was life changing. Like…” he cranes his neck around to beam at Charlie, “…like having a Daddy wasexactlywhat I needed. It completed me.” The couple share a quick, sweet kiss before Ash turns back to grin at Tony, holding his left hand up and wiggling his fingers. “And now we’remarried.”
Tony’s not quite sure what to make of Ash, I can tell. Even though Zephyr’s been hovering on the edge of little space, seeing Ash behaving like a hyperactive child is something else. Ash isn’t exactly little right now, but he’s closer to that than big. Just as I did with Emma, Charlie has always advocated for Ash to be fluid in his headspaces, and the rest of our group are more than happy to support that and go with the flow. Never knowing which version of Ash we’re going to get is highly entertaining.
“That’s awesome,” Tony replies after only a slight hesitation. “How’d you meet?”
Charlie and Ash exchange glances before Ash nods at his husband and turns back to Tony. His smile is dimmed slightly, and he comes back into an adult headspace as he replies, “My Dad found my stash of Little stuff and kicked me out. Josh found me trying to live on the college campus while I looked for a new place, worked out I was a Little, and brought me to Charlie instead of a shelter.”
“I’m so sorry,” Tony frowns and pulls away from my side, leaning over the table with a hand outstretched towards Ash, surprising me because he’s not usually comfortable touching strangers. “It’s not the same thing, but my Nonna told me that once I graduated high school, I had to move out. She didn’t approve of me being gay. But I had warning, and time to save up money and make a plan. Plus I had Tanya, my sister,” he adds by way of explanation, “so I wasn’t alone, but I can only imagine how scary your situation must have been.”
Ash takes his hand and they share a moment of silence, acknowledging their mutual trauma. My heart breaks for both of them and a quick glance around the table sees my feelings mirrored on the rest of my friends’ faces.
Then Ash seems to notice the quiet that has descended and, because he’s no stranger to anxiety, immediately perks back up and distracts Tony by asking, “Would you ever wanna have a play date?”
* * *
“Your boy is ten kinds of adorable,” Cherie tells me, jerking her chin towards the stretch of yard beside the pool area, where the Littles are having an impromptu romp around the grass.
The get-together has been a success and, with Ash, Zephyr and Katie all slipping easily into their Little personas, Tony took me by surprise by following suit. He’s not as little as he gets when we’re in private, but he’s currently playing tag with the others, squealing and giggling as though he doesn’t have a care in the world.
I can’t help grinning goofily, my eyes still following Tony as he races away from Zephyr’s outstretched hand. “He is, isn’t he?”
“He knows he can come by the Center anytime, right?” She asks. “We’ve got counsellors on staff now, and I’m sure Ash would be more than happy to sit and answer any questions he has about exploring his Little side.”
Nodding, I tear my gaze away from my boy so I can smile at my friend. “You don’t have to do PR here, Cher,” I tease. “Charlie’s not paying you overtime.”
Cherie rolls her eyes and tucks an escaping lock of honey-blonde hair behind her ear. “I know you know what we do, but I also know that you want to keep that sweet, innocent creature all wrapped up in cotton wool and bubble wrap, right?”
Oh, she’s got my number, for sure. I can’t even deny her assessment.
