Page 18 of Lost Little Boy (Pride Camp 2025 #5)

I put the orange racing track in the case and began to stand when Wex’s hand was extended to me.

I let him help me up and put the track case on the shelf, before turning to face the two of them.

“I’m not saying I would or wouldn’t pursue education as a career.

I need to know more about it, plus, I’m not formally an employee of the center yet.

Cinderella’s gotta go home from the ball.

” I tried to make a joke out of it, but I was immediately saddened that I wouldn’t get to play with the kids again as I had that afternoon.

“Well, gentlemen, I need to get going. I have plans tonight.” Daphne went into the office and came back with her purse.

“I need to get my coveralls to wash over the weekend,” I said.

Wex nodded. “I’ll come with you since I’m giving you a ride. Daphne, have a great weekend. ”

She gave me a hug. “We’ll talk on Monday. Thank you for all your help today. You were great.”

I went to the supply closet to get my coveralls, expecting Wex to wait for me outside the small space, but when I turned, he had closed the door and was standing in front of it, hands on his hips. “So, can I have a kiss, sweet boy?”

I didn’t hesitate to wrap my arms around his shoulders and invade his mouth with my tongue. He’d been so patient with me, and it was time I showed him that I adored him.

When I broke the kiss, he smirked. “I knew you were into me. I wondered how long it would take you to admit it.”

I put my rough hands on both sides of his face and pecked his lips before I stepped back to stuff my coveralls in my backpack.

“I think you had a hand in what happened today, but I don’t want to know what you did.

I prefer to think Lady Luck is finally smiling on me.

” I fished my keys out of the coverall pocket to lock the closet door, and I turned off the lights.

“As adorable as you are, I can’t imagine how Lady Luck doesn’t smile on you all the time. Did you eat lunch today? You didn’t answer me when I asked in my text, and I didn’t want to badger you. ”

“Uh, I had some cheese and peanut butter crackers. I didn’t have time to make lunch this morning. Now, can we talk about the apartment?”

I locked the door and shoved my keys into my shorts pocket as we walked to the stairway leading to the parking garage. Wex put his hand at the small of my back before he lifted the bottom of my untucked T-shirt and put his warm palm on my bare skin. I didn’t pull away. It felt special.

“I missed having lunch with you. I got a tuna sandwich from the shop across the street and ended up giving it to Barbara, my dad’s assistant, because she had to work through her lunch hour on stuff for Dad.

Wanna stop for something on the way home?

We can go to Social and get something to eat and a drink if you want.

” I glanced at him seeing how hopeful he looked.

I stopped on the stairs. “We need to make some rules, Daddy. I want to try this, but there have to be some boundaries, right?”

He gave me a toothy grin. “Yes, sweet boy, there need to be rules. We can talk about them while we eat.”

We dropped my backpack off inside his car… Huh? “Where’s the truck?”

“Nance drove my car to work, so I ran your things over to the corporate apartment and we traded vehicles when she was ready to leave for the day. I’m thinking of flying up to New York and driving my other car down to trade for an SUV.

The apartment has two parking spaces, so maybe it’s not a bad idea.

We’ll need an SUV to go to Luray for camp anyway.

You wanna fly up to New York and drive back with me? ”

He took my hand as we walked up the ramp of the parking garage and crossed the street to go to Courthaus Social, the beer garden and German food restaurant across the street. He twined our fingers together as we came out of the garage, and my heart pounded.

I glanced around to see nobody was staring at us.

I didn’t go to clubs to know what people thought of seeing two men holding hands or showing affection.

I’d read many scary stories on social media of men being harassed for being gay, and that’s pretty much what I expected.

Surprisingly, the people we walked by didn’t give us a second glance.

“Can we sit outside, Daddy,” I asked as we approached the entrance.

There were a bunch of tables outside the restaurant under a canopy, and a band was setting up, too.

On a few warm Fridays after work, I’d stopped to watch the band as I headed to the bus stop.

In the winter, there were large heaters to warm the patio, so the tables were used year-round unless it was snowing heavily.

“Sure, sweet boy. Did I tell you how cute you look? You have nice legs.” Wex leaned forward and kissed my forehead as we waited in line to be seated by the host.

I glanced down to see my knobby knees, slouched tube socks, and old black Vans that I found at a thrift store.

They were barely worn, and I could use them for work.

I saved my running shoes for when I had time to get some exercise.

Mr. Warrick suggested I get a pair of steel-toe boots because of the nature of my job, but I was yet to run into a task that put my feet in danger.

“You’re making fun of my knees.” I was teasing him, but I wasn’t offended. I had scars on both knees from falling and crawling on gravel or concrete when I was a kid. I didn’t have nice legs; he was just being sweet.

“I would never make fun of one inch of you.” He turned to the host and smiled. “Table for two, please. Can we sit on the patio?” Wex wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and smiled down at me, making my breath hitch.

For the first time in my life, I felt like someone cared about me. I was Wex’s boy, and I’d be the best boy I could because I was falling in love with my Daddy.