Page 20 of Rowan’s Renewal (DKAG Summer Shorts #6)
R owan seems to hit it off with Bear and Anson almost instantly. Even though both guys are significantly younger —especially Bear, who is only in his early twenties— they bond over some of their similarities as Littles.
Bear, who is petite, with a pretty, freckled face framed by a cloud of red, curly hair, is almost perpetually in a Little-to-Middle headspace.
He encourages Ro to join him in a game of Uno, and Ro settles into it as soon as Bear starts openly calling Vince ‘Daddy’.
Then there’s blonde and buff Anson, whose Little space is younger than either of the others, who is quite happy to turn in his seat and tell Drake he needs a diaper change.
“I peed,” he says shamelessly, scrunching his nose. “I is wet , Daddy. Help. I feel yucky.”
Ro blinks, watching wide-eyed as Drake shoulders the backpack they came in with and leads him by the hand to the change rooms. Nobody else bats an eye. In fact, Vince even takes the opportunity to ask Bear if he needs a potty break, though Bear shakes his head and says no.
I think we’re all aware that Anson was making a point, normalizing the entire exchange for Rowan’s benefit, but it doesn’t make Ro any less awed to see it.
He wriggles in his own seat, then looks at me and whispers, “I’m wet, too, Daddy.”
My heart almost bursts with how proud I am of him for being so brave. For not only trusting me, but for trusting my friends as well.
I tell him as much as I change him into a new pullup, and I also ask him if he is proud of himself, too. Because that’s more important to me. I want him to make choices that make him happy. I will be happy regardless.
“I am,” he says quietly, his cheeks flushed red. “It…it feels…I guess it’s nice not to hide it. To…to feel normal.” His voice breaks a little, and his lashes flutter madly. Tilting his head back, he huffs wetly. “God. These are happy tears, Daddy, I swear.”
“It’s okay to be overwhelmed though, honey,” I cuddle him close. “You’ve tried a lot of new things today. It’s confronting and scary.”
“Your friends aren’t scary,” he laughs, brushing away the last of his emotional tears with the back of his hand. “I like them.”
“We like you, too!” Anson’s voice —sounding significantly more mature than he did a few minutes ago— sails over to us from the next stall, followed by Drake’s deep groan and a chagrined, “Sorry!” before the sounds of him reminding his boy that eavesdropping is naughty travel over to us.
Rowan chuckles and leans into me again. “I really like them.”
I grin. “I do, too.”
***
Ro falls asleep on the drive back to my apartment.
It’s been a big day for him, and I imagine it has been emotionally and mentally draining, even if he did seem to enjoy himself.
When we left, he was happy to agree to a playdate with Anson and Bear, and it didn’t feel like he was only doing it for my sake.
As I had hoped, his spirits seemed lifted as he hung out with my friends.
If I had to guess, not having to worry about the stigma of his condition —or of our dynamic— took a weight off his shoulders.
Plus making friends with people with whom he can be completely authentic and not on his guard must feel good, too.
I know it has felt good for me, having people in my circle who not only know that I’m a Daddy, but who get it .
A few months ago, when Jerry broke up with me and I uprooted my entire life, I worried that I would be isolated in a new city.
That it would take time to find my footing and a new circle of kinky friends, let alone a Boy willing to indulge my watersports kink.
The fact that it has all just kind of fallen into my lap without effort feels like a sign from the universe at this point. Like it was meant to be.
I know that my relationship with Rowan is still in its infancy. I know that we will have to work hard to find and maintain a proper balance, and that there will be times where we argue, or where we seemingly go backwards.
But right now, as he snores softly with his forehead against the cool glass of the passenger seat window in my car, my heart is full, and the future looks bright.