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  Getting out, he only stumbled once as he dragged his feet sleepily up the porch steps and opened his front door. I hopped out and opened the back passenger door to unbuckle Peg. He snuggled against my chest, wrapping his right arm around my neck as I gathered my sleepy boy into my arms. I ignored the bags on the back seat, deciding the towels and crap could wait ‘til later. I nudged the door shut with my hip and deftly pressed the button to lock the jeep while balancing Peg then made my way up the path.

  I kissed his pinked forehead and whispered against his ear, “Hungry, Peg?”

  He yawned wide, but didn’t open his eyes, and mumbled, “No.”

  “I got us Panda Express…” I sing-songed. “Bacon Orange Beef… your favorite.” I swallowed a laugh as his eyes flew open.

  “I could eat,” he said, rubbing his eyes with his free hand. He sighed, stared at me for a moment then snuggled back down into my arms.

  “Martin’s gettin’ the food ready. Let’s see iffen he needs any help.” I chuckled as I climbed the porch steps. He nodded, closing his eyes again, as I carried him inside and kicked the front door closed behind me. I sighed heavily and tightened my grip. I was acutely aware of how big he was getting and how, soon, I wouldn’t be able to carry him anymore. And it damn near broke my heart. My little Peg was growing up way too fast for my liking.

  Dinner was filled with subdued chatter from Peg. We were all spent but we ate with gusto. The food seemed to give Peg a boost of energy and he started asking Martin questions about anything and everything that popped into that peapickin’ head of his. Martin fielded the questions honestly and I could see Peg was enjoying the attention Martin gave him. After dinner we watched maybe an hour of TV. I say watched very loosely, because Martin and Peg were asleep most of the time we sat on the couch. My own eyelids were drooping when I gave up fighting my exhaustion. We needed to go to bed.

  I roused the troops and sent Peg to get ready for lights out. He was so exhausted that he didn’t make a fuss. I helped him put on his pajamas and tucked him into his new bed. I quickly kissed him goodnight and backed out of the room, clicking on the nightlight by the door, which I left open a crack as I left.

  The floor creaked under my feet on the way to the master bedroom and I paused for a second, listening for any stirrings from Peg. Satisfied he hadn’t been disturbed, I ducked into the bedroom and closed the door gently. Martin had obviously taken a shower because he padded out of the master bathroom, naked, damp and so tempting. However, tonight was a no sex night. We were both bushed and needed some rest.

  He walked to his dresser and pulled out a pair of boxers. After slipping on a pair, he handed me some. Normally, I sleep naked and since Peg hadn’t crawled into my bed in over a year, so I’d gotten used to sleeping in the nude. Martin had suggested the shorts, just in case Peg might come into our bedroom in the middle of the night. I did the underwear dance, getting my foot into one leg hole. I managed to get the other leg in then pulled them up over my thighs to my waist. Martin had already gotten into bed and I crawled in next to him. He rolled onto his back and touched my face. Dipping my head, I slowly kissed him and his fingers carded through my hair.

  “I love your hair,” he murmured, eyelids drooping. “It’s so soft and smells yummy.” He dusted his nose with a lock and sighed.

  “It’s not too long, is it? I was thinking of cutting a few inches off.” I had contemplated it. It was hot and was getting in my way.

  His blue eyes flew open and he shook his head vehemently. “Don’t you dare!”

  I chuckled and kissed those pouty lips again. “I won’t cut it. Promise.”

  Martin gave me sleepy grin. “I love you, Avery.”

  “Love you too, Martin. ‘Night.”

  “Goodnight.” He turned on his side and scooted over so I could spoon up behind him. His skin smelled of sun and the pineapple/nectarine body wash he favored and I breathed him in. He drifted off quickly but it took me longer to fall asleep, being in a different bed and all. Sleeping with Martin, however was easy. First off, he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Second, he slept like a log. He didn’t toss or turn at all. Third, he like being spooned and would sleep that way all night. And my personal favorite, number four was that I liked to hold Martin’s junk when we slept and he loved it. I savored the scent of his skin and last thing I saw was the digital clock reading 10:38 PM.

  *

  “Daddy?”

  Wha-? Who? My mind was roused from its sleep by my son’s voice. Any good parent sleeps with one eye open anyway. The mere sound of my boy’s voice was all it took and I was awake. And I wasn’t the only one. Martin stirred beside me and craned his head up to see what was going on.

  In the long shadows of the early morning, I could make out Peg at the foot of our bed. He rocked nervously from one foot to the other.

  “Wassamatter, Peg?” My voice was sleep roughened and he came around to my side of the bed. I rolled over onto my back to get better look at my boy.

  “I had a bad dream,” he said on a yawn.

  Peg was going to be eight in a few more months but I was half expecting him to have a nightmare our first night at Martin. I had taken him out of his comfort zone and I knew he wanted to sleep with me because he was scared. But of course I wasn’t alone this time. I had wondered whether this might happen and Martin and I had talked about what to do if Peg woke up in the night. It’s one thing to have your Daddy dating a man, but it’s a whole ‘nother thing to see him sleeping with a man. I had discussed this with Peg several times and I was pleased my preparations had not been in vain, ‘cause he wasn’t freaking out at seeing us in bed together.

  “It was just a dream, Peg,” I said soothingly.

  “Can I sleep with you?” He traced circles on the sheet with his index finger.

  “Peg, Martin and I are sharin’ the bed. I’m not sure there’s room.”

  His lower lip quivered and I had a feeling I would be sleeping in the spare room with Peg when Martin drowsily piped up.

  “Peg, why don’t you get in and snuggle up to your daddy on his side? I’ll scooch over and snuggle him from my side.” Martin’s voice was low and gentle and Peg nodded vigorously.

  “You sure?” I whispered, looking over my shoulder at Martin.

  “’Course I am.” Martin yawned as he reached over and tugged down the covers. He patted the bed beside me and Peg tumbled in.

  “’Night Daddy, ‘night Martin.”

  “Goodnight, Peg.” Martin’s response was a mumble as he started to drift back to sleep. I was still on my back so Martin snuggled closer and tilted me so he could half spoon me. I adjusted the covers over the three of us and Peg snuffled next to me as he fell asleep.

  Martin snored softly beside me and I lay there, contemplating this unexpected turn of events. I inwardly admonished myself to stop. I know I over think things and I am getting better, honest. I yawned wide enough to make my jaw crack and relaxed against the pillows. Morning would be here soon enough.

  *

  The sound of laughter woke me up. I cracked opened my sleep crusted eyes and I squinted against the harsh summer sun blazing through the sheers. I sat up and shook myself awake. My mouth tasted like paper towels and I had a mild headache. I was probably slightly dehydrated. I heard another smattering of giggles and decided I had to investigate. Swinging my legs over the bed, I stood, stumbling briefly. I crossed into the bathroom and did my morning business. I washed the sleep from my eyes and borrowed Martin’s brush. Running it through my hair, I realized how long it had gotten. It was almost to my shoulders. I looked like I was going to try out for the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar. I brushed my hair back and left it loose. A quick run of the brush through my beard was my vain attempt to tame it.

  Who am I kidding? I look like a deranged lumberjack.

  I found some Tylenol in Martin’s medicine cabinet and washed two pills down with a handful of water from the sink faucet. I was still bare-chested in my boxers as I walke
d out of the bedroom in search of the happy noise.

  More laughter reached my ears as I strolled down the hall. It was Peg’s, followed by Martin’s. I smiled, wondering what could be going on. I paused in the kitchen doorway and my heart clenched at the sight of them sitting at the table. Peg chattered away to Martin as he worked on demolishing a stack of pancakes. Syrup dripped down Peg’s chin as he laughed at something Martin said. My shy little boy was all wide-eyed and smiling and Martin was grinning at him, a bite of pancake dangling from his fork. I watched as Peg washed back his mouthful of food with a big gulp of milk, wiped his mouth clean with his napkin and nodded his head in agreement at whatever Martin had said to him. They looked so natural, so right and, damn it if my eyes didn’t get wet.

  “So I told my brother Levi that he better jump ‘cause I was gonna push him in,” Martin said and ate his forkful of pancake.

  “Did you push him?” Peg asked, his eyes like saucers.

  “Didn’t need to. He ran off the edge of the cliff and into the water below,” Martin replied smugly after he swallowed his pancake.

  “Did he get hurt?” Always cautious, Peg fussed like an old woman.

  “Nope. He loved it! We spent the rest of the day at the quarry swimmin’ and divin’ off the cliff.”

  “If I went with you, would you push me?” Peg looked dead serious.

  “No, I wouldn’t. ‘Course, if Poppy comes, she might shove you off the cliff,” Martin answered seriously then laughed. “Don’t worry, Peg, I won’t let her push you.” He lowered his voice and leaned closer to Peg. “Wanna know a secret?” Peg nodded. “If she does try, say you see a bee. They freak her out.”

  “Gotcha Martin.” Peg was all mischievous smiles. He liked knowing a tidbit of gossip about Poppy. Scratching my belly, I padded into the kitchen and Martin broke off his conversation with Peg and sat back in his seat. His red hair stuck up in all directions and his cheeks sported a red gold scruff. He still wore his sleeping shorts but had added a tank top and he looked gorgeous. His shoulders were pink from too much sun and I wanted to kiss every inch of him.

  “Mornin’, Avery.” Martin got up and poured me a cup of coffee. He padded toward me with it and I curled my fingers around the cup. I thanked him and took a tentative sip. The sweet black coffee was a balm to my morning brain so I swallowed a larger mouthful. Without thinking, I leaned in and pecked a kiss to Martin’s mouth. He stared back at me, stunned. I looked over at Peg to gauge his reaction but he was too busy eating his pancakes. If he’d seen Martin and me kissing, it hadn’t fazed him.

  “Mornin’, baby.” I sat down at the table and sipped my coffee while Martin plated me a stack of cakes and pushed them in front of me. Thanking him, I buttered them, added syrup then fell on my breakfast like a school of piranhas. Peg had finished up his and burped in appreciation.

  “Excuse me,” he apologized with a cheeky grin. “Daddy, did you know Martin has two brothers and three sisters?”

  I smiled around my coffee cup. “He might have mentioned it.” Martin sat opposite me.

  I was having a great time. This was so cozy having breakfast with my two best guys.

  “I was tellin’ Peg about my family. Dodie, Graham, Lucy, Nan and Levi.” I nodded to Peg, whose eyes were goggling.

  “Wow! That’s more than you and Uncle Boone and Uncle Cotton.” Peg cleaned his plate. Getting off his chair, he put the plate in the sink without being asked to!

  Is this my son?

  I can’t get him to put his clothes in the hamper, but one visit to Martin’s house and he’s a perfect kid!

  “Daddy, can I go play some games on my IPad?”

  “Sure, Peg,” I replied

  He scampered off to the living room and left us alone in the kitchen. We were a picture of modern domestic bliss. Here we were having morning coffee, eating pancakes, my son is off playing and I’m sitting across from a man who consumes my thoughts, makes my blood boil and who I can see myself spending the rest of my life with.

  After Daisy I didn’t think I would ever find another person I would feel so strongly for. Most men I met were only interested in one night stands and those few who weren’t didn’t want an instant family, because Peg and I were a package deal. Meeting another bisexual dad who shared my values was like finding a needle in a gaystack and I shook my head in disbelief at my own good luck. Adding to my good fortune was the fact that my kid liked Martin. I know we were in a honeymoon phase and Peg’s true colors would show eventually, as well as Poppy’s, but we had time to learn and deal with that eventuality. As long as I had Martin, I could take on anything. He smirked from across the table at me.

  “What’s so funny?” I asked over my coffee cup.

  “We woke up this mornin’ to you snorin’ like a bear.” Martin snickered and patted my arm. “So I motioned to Peg to get up and we decided to make pancakes for breakfast. Peg’s a bright kid, Avery. He’s been askin’ me questions all mornin’.”

  My hand tightened around my cup. “Like what?”

  “He asked me about my parents. I was honest with him and said they were not very nice people,” Martin replied with a shrug. “I also told him my father was dead and I don’t speak to my mother. That bothered him until I said it was okay because my sisters and brothers were my real family. I told him I had two brothers and three sisters, who I love to pieces. He asked me about my job and then about Poppy and her mom and stepdad. He asked me why Jackie and I divorced.”

  “What did you say to that?”

  “I told him Jackie and I are better at bein’ friends than married people. And that, despite not bein’ together, we loved each other and Poppy very much.” He stood up and began tidying up the kitchen. “He asked me if I loved you.”

  I set my mug down and got up and walked over to him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him to me. Nuzzling his neck, I pressed a kiss behind his left ear and said, “And?”

  “I was honest. I told him I was in love with you and he asked me if we were gonna get married, like Poppy’s mom and stepdad. I told him I’d like to marry you one day.” Martin leaned into me and I inhaled his scent. He smelled of maple syrup and coffee.

  “You’d marry me, Martin?” My heart was beating very fast all of a sudden.

  “In a hot minute, Avery.”

  He kissed me again, a kiss of full of promise and passion. Our lips finally parted and I remembered what we had been originally talking about. Martin chuckled softly. “Then, he asked if we were gonna live together.”

  My stomach dropped because I’d wanted to talk to Peg about that myself. “What did you say?”

  “I told him it was up to you and him.” Martin nuzzled my beard and chewed on the corner of my mustache.

  Damn him, he knew me too well. “Thanks, babe. Excuse me for a few minutes; I need to talk to my son.” I kissed his neck then padded out of the kitchen to find Peg. He was sitting on the couch, engrossed in his game. I sat down next to him and coughed to get his attention. Big brown eyes peered up at me.

  “Peg, we need to talk.”

  “Sure, Daddy.” He set his game down and gave me his attention. Damn, he was a good kid. I marveled at times, how I was blessed with such a good child. Peg had a sensitive nature, he got that from Daisy, and like me, he worried if everyone was happy. He and I had a good rapport, and I was honest with him as much as I could be.

  “Peg, Martin told me what you two were talkin’ about.”

  “Uhhuh.” He sat with his hands in his lap, twiddling his fingers.

  “You know I love Martin, right?”

  “Yes.” He absently scratched his head.

  “And Martin and I want to be a couple?”

  “Yes.” He was getting bored. I had better get to the point.

  “What I need to know is how you feel about Martin and me?” My gut clenched anxiously. I wasn’t sure how he felt and I had to know.

  “I like Martin and he makes you smile, Daddy. You didn’t smile like that before.�
�

  Fuck, I won’t get all emotional.

  My son had just called me out. “He does make me smile and I love him, Peg. He makes me happy. I have a question for you though. How would you feel about you and me movin’ in here with Martin, forever?” His face went blank for a minute.

  “You mean leave Grandma and Mawmaw’s house?”

  “Yes, we’d live here with Martin.”

  He face grew anxious. “Would we ever see them ever again?” Ah, there’s the crux and I opened my arms. He crawled into my lap.

  “We would still see them anytime you want, but this would be our home from now on.” If I said I wasn’t sweating bullets, I’d be lying. Peg mulled over the information and I made one more comment. “Martin and I want to make a new family with you here.”

  “Would I have my own room?”

  Ah, there’s my boy.

  I let out the breath I was holding. “Yes, you would.”

  “Oh, I guess that’d be okay. It’s quiet here. Grandma’s house is kinda noisy.” He stopped and leaned into my body. I ruffled his hair and he asked me in a small voice. “Are we movin’ today?”

  “No, Peg. I don’t know when we’ll move, but I’ll make sure I tell you when we do.”

  God, I love my kid.

  “Okay. Is Poppy going to live here, too?” Ah, sibling rivalry rears its ugly head already.

  “No, she lives with her Mommy and stepdaddy. She stays with Martin every other weekend. And before you ask, you won’t have to share a room with her, she has her own.” Kind of ballsy of me to make that assumption, but I figured Martin wouldn’t care about losing his spare room.

  “Good. I like Poppy.” He lowered his voice in a poorly staged whisper. “She’s kinda bossy sometimes.”

  I laughed and he beamed up at me. “Like her daddy.”

  “Everythin’ okay in here?” Martin’s voice broke into our little pow wow. He stood in the doorway, nibbling his lower lip. Peg scrunched up his face for a second and he crawled off my lap. He crossed over to Martin and put his hands on his hips. I smothered a smile at how serious my boy was being.