Page 28 of Stars Like Confetti

The ease in which he calmed once he latched on battled the insecurity whirling inside of me and in spite of the heat, I built a blanket wall around us in case someone peeked through the screen door.

“Sometimes,” came Kaylee’s answer. “Sometimes it’s the only way I can get Dakota to sleep. Is that something you’re interested in?”

“Uh, yeah, I’d say so. I don’t know what came over me earlier.”

"What happened?"

And I spilled the entire story. Kaylee wrapped her arms around my shoulders and rubbed my upper arms. Damn it, the gesture was so comforting that it brought tears to my eyes. Perhaps I should have been having this conversation with Shea. Sometimes even Doms needed help, whether that help came from their Little—or another caregiver. As annoying and insufferable as they could sometimes be, Jordan and Kaylee always knew what to say. Kaylee especially when it came to being born female. Even without what she said when I finished speaking, I knew exactly what my intentions were when I undressed for Shea earlier.

“You were scared. Your Little was hurt, and you couldn’t do anything to fix it for him. I think you needed that comfort as much as he did.”

I blinked away blurry vision, picking Shea out in the sea of Littles surrounding the campfire. No one else may have been able to, but I was drawn to his presence like a moth to a flame.

He’d allowed me to diaper him again before he left and even opted for a short snap-crotch romper instead of other clothes. He sat next to Tyler and to my relief, both boys were smiling. Tyler had already been in a sensitive state with his hangover, and Shea’s allergic reaction had scared the poor boy into tears. As reluctant as I was to let go of Shea after that, he needed this time with his friend. And as much as I hated to admit it, I needed time with mine. I needed time to be vulnerable with myself before I let Shea see me that way.

Again.

"Sorry," I murmured, scrubbing my eyes dry.

"Oh, shut up." Kaylee leaned around me, dabbing at my eyes with a tissue she seemed to have produced from nowhere. She pressed it into my hand. "Blow your nose, you hot mess."

"Aw, you think I'm hot? Sorry, love I'm—ow!"

"Don't be pedantic because you're feeling exposed, Theo Brealey."

The door behind us creaked open and a new plastic cup was handed over my shoulder. Looking up, I accepted the drink, condensation already beading up across the walls of the cup. "Thanks," I said to Jordan.

He sat next to Kaylee. "Did you fix it?" he asked, gesturing vaguely in my direction.

"I don't appreciate being referred to as 'it.'"

"I think so."

"I'll fire you both."

We all knew I wouldn't, so I finally took a sip of the Dr. Pepper and spiced rum that Jordan had brought me. I thanked my lucky stars that he hadn't brought me one of his over the top, complicated drinks. I didn't need to be trying to pick out the individual flavors in a cocktail right now. The simplicity of the drink forced me to take a step back, to stop trying to make sense of all the chaos whirling around in my mind.

The three of us fell silent. Jordan went back inside, Kaylee stayed in her spot, rubbing my arms, and I flickered my attention between Shea and the stars scattered across the sky like confetti.

Things were so much simpler than my roiling thoughts made them out to be.

Shea was mine again—signed, sealed, delivered. I didn't need to worry about what it meant. He was here, and he wanted me. I rested against Kaylee's chest, slowly sipping at my drink. By the time it was halfway gone, my mind was made up: I wasn't wasting anymore time. Shea and I had been separated long enough.

"Uh oh," Kaylee said. "I know that look. What are you scheming?"

"I'm going to ask Shea to move in with me."

"You sound certain."

"I am. It's been long enough. And we’ve wasted too much time already. Why should we feel like we have to start over? Being with him is familiar; comforting. He's like… walking into a house and knowing you're home."

"So when should I expect my wedding invite?"

I snickered and checked my invisible watch. "In about five minutes if he'll have me."

Kaylee planted a messy kiss to my cheek, lip gloss sticking and smearing across my skin. I resisted the urge to wipe it away, knowing she would just do it again—and worse. "Remember I look good in pink."

"How could I forget?" I lifted a hand and captured a rogue curl that had slipped free of her messy bun. I had no qualms about being affectionate with my friends. Shea wasn't the jealous type. He never had been. He was just… perfect.