Page 29 of Lost Little Boy
“Does that offer of a beer still stand?” I glanced over my shoulder to where Perry stood at the doorway.
I put my glass on the table and stood, stepping closer to him. “Yes, sweet boy. I’ll get you one. Do you want to come sit outside with me?”
He gave me a sheepish nod, so I went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of beer, opening it and walking outside. He was sitting in the chair across from me, but that wouldn’t do. I took his hand and gently pulled him to sit on my lap so we could talk. I hoped if I held him while we discussed what happened earlier, things might go smoother.
I wrapped my left arm around his waist and put my hand on his thigh before I kissed his temple. “Can we talk now?”
Perry sniffed. “I’m sorry. There are things I don’t like to think about that happened in my life. You need to know some stuff about me, but it’s hard for me to get the words out.” His voice was soft, and I could feel him trembling in my arms.
I gave him a gentle squeeze. “Sweet boy, we all have baggage. I’ve done some shit I’m not proud of, but it’s all part of growing up. We make mistakes and we learn from them. I can wait until you’re ready to tell me, but please, don’t shut me out.”
Perry put his bottle on the table and rested his head on my shoulder. “When I aged out of the foster system, I waskicked out of the boys’ home. No explanation or assistance in any way. I didn’t have much stuff, a few clothes and a little money I’d made working as a janitor at a homeless shelter in Nashville. I’d saved enough to buy a bus ticket to Bristol, Virginia. From there I hitchhiked to get to DC, and sometimes I had to give favors to the truck drivers who gave me rides.”
He glanced at me from the corner of his eye, so I kissed his cheek. “Okay. I get it, but honey, you were doing what you had to do to get where you needed to go. That’s nothing to be ashamed of, sweet boy.”
“I didn’t stop doing it when I got here. I worked the streets in DC until I got a job at a little coffee shop and one of my coworkers told me about an employment agency that helped sex workers get off the streets. That was how I got connected with a job as a janitor at Howard University.
“I shared an apartment with the other guy who worked there until he moved to Baltimore. It goes on from there, but long story short, I did it off and on until I got the job with Grassley. Thankfully, I’ve been paid enough as a janitor to be able to take care of myself. I can pay my own rent, and I can buy my own food. I don’t need your money, Daddy. I just need you.”
He wrapped his arms around my neck and when I felt the moisture on my skin, I held him as tightly as I could. “Baby boy, you’ve got me, but I’m afraid there’s money I want to spend on you, so please, don’t be mad at me. I have no greater desire than to take care of you. I would go to the end of the earth for you, Perry. I don’t think this is something we can’t work through, okay?”
I kissed his temple as we sat together quietly. My sweet boy needed to know his worth, and I’d be damned if I wasn’t the man to teach it to him. In my heart, I had the feeling we could help each other, because at the end of the day, I believed I was as lost as my boy.
I was able to convince Perry to share my bed, though nothing happened except a few kisses and lots of cuddles. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to do more because I damn well did. Perry reasoned that it would be best if he had another round of testing before we were intimate, and I could see he felt strongly about it by the squint of his eyes and the tightness of his mouth, so I didn’t push him.
“I’m scheduled to get tested when we get back from camp, but I have my results from March that I’m disease and virus free. I will admit that when I was going to business school, I caught crabs from a stranger I met while on spring break in Nassau. It was cliché that I hooked up with some rando in a bar, but back then, I threw caution to the wind more than I should have. I don’t do that anymore, I swear.”
Perry laughed before he shivered. “God, my little brother got head lice once, and then we all got it. I can still remember the itching on my scalp before Dad shaved all our heads. I can only guess how much torture it was to have something that itched as muchdown there.” I joined him in laughing. It had been hell.
“Let’s go to bed. Those kids wore me out.” We finished our drinks and went inside, each taking a bathroom to get ready for bed.
We climbed in, and I held him in my arms. “So, are you going to move into the apartment? Those roommates of yours screwed you, but please let me make it right. It takes nothing away from your ability to take care of yourself, sweet boy.” I kissed his neck as I played the part of the big spoon. We were both in our boxer briefs, which was a damn shame.
At least, I convinced him not to wear his T-shirt to bed. His skin was warm, and he smelled like every good thing I’d ever smelled, along with a little antiseptic. It was likely a hazard of his job.
“Thank you, Daddy. I might still fight you on some things, but I appreciate that you care.”
He rolled in my arms and tucked himself under my chin, which was fucking perfect. “We have a long way to go,sweet boy. Let’s just keep talking, okay? I think we’ll be good together. Sweet dreams.”
“What would you like to do today, sweet boy?” I poured two cups of coffee and put them on the little table in the apartment as Perry came into the kitchen area rubbing his eyes. He looked so fucking adorable.
I was still in my boxer briefs, though I had put on a T-shirt because I’d ordered breakfast and was waiting for the delivery.
“You said you wanted to go to New York to get your car, so could we do that? I’ve never been to New York.”
I stared at him for a moment, not sure what to say. “You’ll go with me to New York?”
“I, uh, yeah. If you want me to go with you, I’d love to go. I know I was a brat last night—”
I reached for him and kissed his mouth to shut him up. “You were a sweet boy who was upset, and you’re allowed. Yes, I want you to go with me. We can get a flight up, go for dinner and maybe see a show if you want, or we can just do some sightseeing around the city. It won’t be theonly time I go back to New York. I have stuff to handle there, and I’d love it if you’d come with me.”
Perry grinned. “If you want me to come with you, I’d love to. I’ve never been on a plane, but I’d be happy to do whatever you want.”
I nodded. “If you’re going to allow me to plan things for us, you have to accept the way I do them, okay?”
“Yes, Daddy. We need to keep talking, and I promise I’ll be honest with you.” He leaned over me and kissed my cheek. That was all I needed.
Four hours later, Perry and I were on a shuttle flight from Reagan National to LaGuardia. We hadn’t checked any bags, so we strolled through the airport and got into a taxi without a problem.
