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“I’m not well versed in Addison’s and don’t take all of this at face value, but it can be.

Physical activity like that, if done right–” He wiggles his eyebrows and it makes me smile.

“Will have you sweating and that will cause a drop in your electrolytes. You need to make sure if you’re engaging in those activities you have supplies readily available during and after to avoid a crash. ”

“I don’t know what some of those words are, or what the supplies are, but at least I know that’s not an every time thing.”

“Was that your first time having sex?” Brandt asks. He doesn’t ask judgingly, more out of curiosity. I nod my head, feeling embarrassed all over again.

“And, uh, you helping me with the whole bathroom situation was kind of only the second time someone else has ever… touched me.”

His face drains of color. “I’m sorry, Tyler. I didn’t know. I was just trying to help you.”

“No, I get it.” I cut him off quickly. “And I appreciate it because I probably would have made a mess doing that myself. I didn’t think that was a normal reaction but wasn’t sure if that was just me or not.”

“You’ll need to make sure whoever you’re with understands, to a point, that you need some extra care during and after. You can still have sex, just be careful to not overdo it.”

I look down at my lap and scrunch my eyebrows together. Even though I asked, I did not plan for this to be the topic of conversation when I came over. He doesn’t seem fazed by it though.

A timer starts going off and Brandt stands up and heads to the kitchen.

I take the chance to look around at the small details.

The apartment is spacious for one. There’s an entertainment center with a TV sitting on the mantle.

I can see a gaming console in the window of one door, but I don’t play enough to know the specifics.

There are pictures hanging up, both hand drawn and photographs.

It looks like a small child doing some finger painting art and I wonder if he has a kid.

He never mentioned it in the time we’ve known each other.

He has one of those wax melts in the shape of a cat. It’s cute and the smell is something tropical.

“I hope you’re hungry,” Brandt says as he walks back into the room.

He’s carrying a plate in one hand and two bottled waters in the other.

I take one of the waters from him. The plate has the quesadilla triangles already cut up, surrounded by a small bowl of what looks like chipotle sauce and another with sour cream.

“I also have a fruit salad in the fridge. I looked it up to make sure it’s fruit that is good for you, so don’t worry. ”

“You didn’t have to do all of that,” I say. “I appreciate it, though.”

“I’m not going to invite you over and not adjust to your needs, Tyler. It’s not a big deal.”

It is a big deal because I don’t know a lot of people that would do that. My mom was overbearing for the one and a half days, but she’s already gone back to fussing over my brother by Wednesday.

We eat in relative silence. Brandt asks if I want to watch a movie and I nod.

It’s better than me blurting out more sex questions or telling him I’m practically inexperienced and him holding my dick was something I’ll remember.

I mean, I won’t remember it. It was just a nurse doing his job.

I’m not about to make it any more weird tonight.

“Tyler?” Brandt’s hand on my knee and soft voice brings me out of my thoughts. I didn’t realize I had closed my eyes. “You okay? I wasn’t sure if you were falling asleep or not.”

“No, sorry. I was just thinking.” I shift how I’m sitting. I tuck my feet up underneath me and smile at him.

“You can ask me more questions if you want,” he says. “Also, please make sure you’re drinking the water.”

I nod, reaching for the water on the coffee table.

I take a couple of gulps before setting it back down.

Brandt smiles. “I’m okay for now. I’m just enjoying the calm here.

At my place, it’s usually my dad watching TV way too loud in the living room or my brother blasting his music or video games.

We share a wall so I can hear just about everything. ”

“I get that every now and then with the apartment above, but for the most part it’s calm like this.” Brandt turns to face me. “After being at the hospital for ten plus hours, I like my quiet.”

“This isn’t a bad place to live,” I say. “I’m going to look at an apartment Saturday. From the pictures, it’s similar to this one but about ten minutes in the other direction of Shade Grown.”

“You’re moving out?”

“Moving back out,” I correct. “I was living with Amir for a year, but then he went off to college and I ended up staying here. I couldn’t afford the rent so I moved back home. I want to get my own place again.”

I can see the hesitance on his face. He wants to say something, but he’s holding back. I wait for him to continue. He lowers the volume on the TV after a moment.

“Were you and Amir together?” That’s not what I was expecting to hear. It catches me off guard and I laugh.

“Oh god, no. We’re just good friends. Not like that, ever.” I shake my head. Just the thought of being with Amir like that is comical to me.

“Oh, so… Your ex was someone I didn't know then?”

“Yes,” I say. I guess we’re having this conversation. “He was a friend of a friend I met. We were only together for a couple months. Just broke up on Monday, actually.” I drop my hands to my lap and nod, mostly to myself. I’m still coming to terms with it. It’s been a lot this week.

“I’m sorry,” he says quietly. His hand is on my ankle, the closest part of me to him. “Are you okay with that?”

“I’ll deal,” I say with a shrug. “It was for the best. I wasn’t what he was looking for. Not with everything going on. I’m pretty sure I freaked him out when I got sick that time and then I kept having to cancel plans.”

“That wasn’t your fault though.” I hold up a hand to stop him.

“Honestly, Brandt, it’s fine. I liked him, but it wasn’t like I loved him or anything. I’ll survive.”

His hand disappears from my foot and he reaches for his drink. I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs with each gulp. He finishes it off before recapping it and laying it on the empty plate.

“Would it be in bad taste for me to ask you out then?”

I choke on air at the question. I was not expecting that. There has to be some legality to that, doesn’t there? “What?”

Brandt shrugs like it isn’t a big deal. “I thought you were with Amir at first so I didn’t say anything, then you were sick and I was working at the hospital where you would come in so the ethics were against it.

Now, I’ve decided I’m too invested in you as a person to be on your care team.

I like you, Tyler. I’d like to get to know you more. If you want that too.”

I don’t know what to say. How would that look if I went right back to dating someone else? I mean, not that we would be dating, but hanging out?

“There’s something else that you should know about me, before you decide if you really want to go on a date.”

Brandt waits silently. I don’t know how to say it, or how to explain the lifestyle. If Brandt isn’t kinky in that way, or at all, this might just push him away.

“My ex, uh… He was part of a lifestyle that I’ve grown to love. Nothing scary or illegal, but niche. He’s… a Daddy and I was his Boy. I am a Boy, a Little, to be exact.”

“And a Little is…?” Brandt doesn’t seem put off by it, but I can tell he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.

“It’s considered a kink,” I explain. I roll the water bottle between my palms for something to do while I say this.

I’m still new to this, of course, but what I’ve experienced so far I’ve liked.

“It’s also called age regression. I like to slip into a younger mindset sometimes and be taken care of.

I like having my meals made, someone else to dress me, to make the harder day-to-day decisions, and so on. ”

“And that’s what a… Daddy does?”

I nod. “I know it isn’t for everyone and I totally get it if that puts you off. It’s a part of me, though, so I figured you should know now instead of later.”