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Not that there was anything to discuss.
Thankfully, the gift of being told he should ask for ice cream distracted him from the vague teasing and the wicked gleam in Bishop’s eyes. My naughty pup was ready to play, but not in the innocent way Ian was talking about.
“With sprinkles, Daddy?” Ian leaned closer to the phone like it would help him talk Bishop into more goodies. “Uncle Cohen said we should have cookies too.”
I had?
Our memories of that conversation were clearly different, but I had a feeling we would be going with his version of events.
“Uncle Cohen is very generous.” Bishop raised one eyebrow and gave me a very Daddy glare. “He didn’t even make you have vegetables.”
Ian giggled but bounced his head side to side as he thought. “The pizza had onions and the green pepper kind of peppers, not the ones that bite your mouth, and the sauce is a veggie, right, Uncle Cohen?”
I liked the way he saw the world.
“Yes, it was. We had lots of veggies.” Because we’d consumed a ridiculous amount of pizza.
Bishop sighed. “Clearly, I can’t leave you two alone.”
Ian’s nod was nearly frantic he was so enthusiastic about that idea. “Nope. Daddy has to stay or we all have to go. New rule. It’s my turn to make one.”
Hmm…he might’ve been right about that.
Were we taking turns, though?
Bishop was more focused on how sweet the idea was and easily melted. “Yes, cutie. I think that’s a very good rule.”
If we ended up never being able to go to the grocery store by ourselves, it was going to be his fault. There was just something nearly maniacal about Ian’s expression, and I had a feeling he was hiding how stressful he was finding having his Daddy gone.
“And another good rule would be that you have to eat some vegetables tomorrow or get some exercise.” Bishop’s lighthearted tone made Ian pout.
“Pancakes can have fruit in them. Uncle Cohen said so.” Happily throwing me under the bus, Ian settled back against my chest. “I was very good and said we needed lots of fruits, Daddy.”
That was so unbelievable even Bishop rolled his eyes. “Of course you did, cutie.”
“I’m being very good for Uncle Cohen.” Ian smiled, wiggling on my lap and looking very proud of himself as he tortured me. “We’re going to read stories and watch cartoons.”
“That sounds like so much fun.” Bishop gave him a beaming smile. “Are you going to get your jammies on first?”
“Oh.” Ian looked around the room like one of his stuffed animals might tell him the right answer to that question. “I have to. And I don’t have my bunny.”
This seemed to be an issue because he looked at Bishop. “One, two, three, Daddy.”
Huh?
Bishop magically translated the simple sentence. “Yes, you can hurry and be back in just a few seconds. Then Uncle Cohen will help you get ready for book time.”
“You?” Ian’s question stumped me again, but Bishop must’ve been expecting some of the questions because he shook his head.
“Just for another minute. But I want you to call me in the morning. Alright?” Bishop tried to play up the excitement as he smiled at Ian. “Some kind of monster is eating my cell phone signal.”
Ian growled, clearly enjoying the monster idea, and nodded. “Bad.”
“It’s a bad monster, but we’ll fight it again in the morning.” Bishop’s eyes took us both in as a faint sigh escaped. “How about you call me when you’re cuddled up with Uncle Cohen?”
So I was sleeping over?
Had we really decided that?
We’d talked around it but had we ever made the decision?
Ian’s nod said it’d been handled at some point. “Sleepover.”
All right.
We were having a sleepover.
“Zoom.” Ian blew Bishop a kiss and nearly jumped off my lap, flying toward his playroom.
As soon as he was out of view, Bishop raised an eyebrow and whispered softly. “Is he gone?”
Speaking just as quietly, I nodded as I leaned toward the phone. “Yes, I think he went to get his pajamas.”
“Okay, good.” Radiating a mix of sadness and something sweet but happy, he smiled. “He’s going to bring you his pajamas and then he’s going to get very little very quickly. One, two, three and all that. Just do your best and when in doubt give him something to pick from or put him to bed once he starts yawning.”
I must’ve looked slightly overwhelmed because the brat gave me a cheeky grin. “You’ll do fine, Uncle Cohen.”
Winking, he sighed and the screen froze for a second before it started to move again. “I’m really going to lose signal any second. Remember he doesn’t think of anything sexual when he’s little, so just change his clothes and ignore his dick, and you can send him to the bathroom by himself, but the diapers mean he probably wouldn’t be too weirded out even if you help him. So I’ll leave that up to you.”
