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Paddy placed a hand over his mouth to hold in a gasp. Too late. Jamie saw him standing at the door and caught the little prick red-handed. Jamie stopped doing what he was doing to stare wide-eyed at Paddy, mouth hanging open.
Both were stuck in a staring contest.
It took Paddy a good minute to realise who was in charge between the two of them. He was still getting used to this situation, and it was difficult to remember his old mate at Man City wasn't his usual self when at home.
When he agreed to move in with Roy a month ago, he ultimately agreed to take care of Jamie when he entered his small headspace. And Jamie liked staying small when he was home, safe from everything that stressed him behind their front door. Paddy was okay with that. He loved Roy, he cared for Jamie, and he (kind of) liked this situation with the three of them. Jamie was strictly platonic in the relationship, leaving Paddy and Roy to fulfill their desires with one another.
But Paddy didn't like what he was seeing because what the fuck was he supposed to do in this situation where discipline was needed without Roy? Paddy refused outright to do it, personally afraid to hurt anyone, let alone Jamie when he was… small.
“Jamie,” Paddy spoke up, slowly walking into Roy's office. He came in here to grab some paper for the printer and instead found Jamie doing something that was going to get Roy seeing red.
“Are you pissing on Madonna?”
Paddy rubbed his face to make sure the scene was real: his eyes were better than Roy's and could clearly see the lad holding his wee one over the poor fern. The same fern Paddy gifted Roy when he moved in and named Madonna. It symbolised their growing relationship and here was Jamie, pissing over it.
Jamie put his stick away and moved back, his eyes never leaving Paddy. He couldn’t run away, nor could he deny what he had just done.
“No.” Jamie shrugged casually.
What a brave lad for trying anyway.
“Jamie. Really?”
“Didn't do anything!”
“That fern would tell me otherwise,” Paddy chuckled and stopped, reminding himself he needed to be stern when Jamie went small. “You're grounded until dinner because I'm nice and don’t want you to starve. D-Daddy's going to hear about this!” It was easy to say the word Daddy in the bedroom where he and Roy got naughty, tumbling and wrestling under the sheets. But here, standing as a paternal figure to a grown man pissing in a potted plant, it was difficult to say it with a straight-laced face.
Jamie gave Paddy a mean pout and dashed right by him and into his room, slamming the door hard to really shake the walls.
Paddy sighed heavily into the office. He checked the fern and made a face. The poor soil was drenched in piss and the smell was unpleasant. Leaving the paper for now, Paddy took the plant outside and let it air out for the time being.
Taking out his phone, Paddy dialed Roy’s number, hesitating. Roy had gone to a conference for just coaches with Beard and Nate— really, it was a party for them to let loose and drink — and would be home late. Paddy didn't want to ruin his man's fun, but he was strictly told to call if anything about Jamie arose.
Dialing the last few numbers, it took a few rings before Roy answered. “Hello? Paddy?”
Roy sounded joyful among the bustle and hustle of the noise in the background. Paddy could hear the laughter of what sounded like Disco in the back. Beard's voice was distant in the back along with Nate's — did Paddy hear Pep?
“Hey, babe. Just calling to check in on you,” Paddy said, eyes going up to the windows of the house. He held in a laugh when he saw Jamie peeking between the blinds like a cat watching, holed up in his room.
“It's going well. Beard and Nate say hello,” Roy chuckled and Paddy could practically smell the alcohol through the speaker — Roy only chuckled openly when he was near buzzed. He drove there too, that fucking wanker.
“Gods, don't drink too much! I need that arse of yers straight and proper tonight!”
“Paddy, love, I can fuck you sober or drunk—”
Paddy shouted into the phone, flustered at his lover's bluntness, “Christ, Roy, not that!” His face was red and he could see Jamie making faces at him from the window. “It's about Jamie.”
“Jamie? Is he okay?” The drop of the seductive tone to worry was quick. Paddy would have spared Jamie if the lad wasn't pissing him off with his crude hand gestures. Seriously, what'd Paddy ever do to his best friend slash little one?! Even when Jamie was big he’d ignore Paddy around the house. They exchanged pleasantries at the table and played video games — all with an awkward tension between them.
“He's fine, Roy. He just misbehaved.”
“Okay. Thank fucking God.”
Paddy could practically feel the sigh of relief whoosh through the phone. But that relief was gone and it was a stern tone thundering through the speaker, “What the fuck did he do?”
“Um. Well.” Paddy wasn't sure how he would phrase this properly. It was a rip-off-of-the-bandaid type of situation. There was no other way to put it. “He, um, was in yer office.”
“Okay…” Roy was listening, waiting for the news that would make him leave the conference (party) early.
“I caught him…” Paddy took a breath, “Pissing on Madonna,” he continued, trailing off in a small voice. Maybe he should have worded that differently.
There was silence on Roy's end. Paddy could hear the deep breaths of Roy trying to keep his anger under control. The last thing they both needed was Roy getting barred from attending future conferences.
“I'll be home in an hour.” Roy didn’t sound as angry as Paddy expected, but the tension in his voice was unmistakable. Jamie was going to get it the moment Roy walked through the door for pissing on the fern.
“Don't drive if you’re still feeling it.”
“Of course. I'll see you then. Love you.”
“Love you too, Roy.”
Roy hung up. Paddy pocketed his phone and stared back up at Jamie's window.
The two eyes were still glaring through the crack of the blinds.
Paddy cautiously waved. Jamie left the window to return with a handwritten note. He held it up and made the letters large and legible for Paddy.
Snitch!
Paddy was speechless and pointed to himself, confused. Jamie nodded and stuck his tongue out at him. The disrespect this little prick was giving Paddy!
With a slow shake of his head, Paddy made his way inside to continue the task at hand: getting the paper for the printer.
Paddy stirred the pot of macaroni cheese because he couldn’t bother with the oven — not when he burned a tray of snickerdoodles accidentally. The steak was done, the salad was done, and the table was set. It was past the hour Roy said he'd be home, and it got Paddy wondering where he was. There wasn't a text nor did Roy call to tell him. Paddy assumed Roy was staying longer at the conference and good for him. That wanker of his needed to go out more with friends and enjoy life.
And Paddy himself decided to get dinner started and make little Jamie's favourite and Roy's most hated dish. Score some brownie points with the lad and try to bond.
“Jamie! Dinner!” Paddy called out and made Jamie’s plate. He added extra cheese, cut his steak, and added a side of salted crackers and salad. Paddy sat at his usual spot and waited.
There were footsteps walking around above him. They stopped at the stairs for a moment, to run back to what Paddy assumed was Jamie's room.
Disappointed and feeling dejected, Paddy ate by himself. Three spoonfuls in and Paddy lit up to the sound of keys jingling nearby.
Making hid ways towards the front, he watched Roy stumble in through the front door with a loud crinkle of plastic. He cursed about Jamie's fucking trainers blocking the front door again and kicked them to the side. He slammed the door shut, red eyes looking over at Paddy standing in the hall.
Paddy grinned sheepishly at Roy. “Sorry, that was me earlier sorting through the shoes. Forgot to place them back.” Paddy took the blame for this one. Jamie was already in hot water and Roy looked a bit scowlier than usual. He could see how tense Roy was from his balled-up fist to his jaw grinding. He held something in his hand that was the cause of the crinkling.
“Is that why you took over an hour?” Paddy grabbed at what Roy held to inspect it closer through the flimsy clear plastic.
“Yes. The house needed one eventually," Roy grumbled, kicking off his shoes. “Where is he?”
“In his room,” responded Paddy, removing the smooth, miniature paddle from the plastic bagging. There was a carving in the wood that read, “For naughty boys.”
“Cute,” Paddy chuckled, his cheeks dusting pink and a finger running over the deep grooves of the words. If he were naughty, would Roy use this on him as well? He would hope so. Never before was Paddy into this lifestyle. Being with Roy changed Paddy’s perspective on many, many things.
“I thought so too,” Roy said, making his way past Paddy and up the stairs to get Jamie. Paddy followed behind with the paddle in hand. Both kept quiet, their steps light and breaths held in.
At Jamie’s door, Roy didn’t bother to knock. He barged in with force and a startled gasp broke out. Paddy walked in and stayed by the door, watching the scene unravel before him.
“Jamie!” Roy shouted sternly to the lump in the bed, walking over. Jamie sat up quickly from under the covers, his hair messy and rubbing his eyes. It seemed he was taking a nap and woke up with a fright.
When Jamie realised it was Roy standing above him, he smiled brightly and tore the blankets off himself. The lad was only in his shirt and boxers, which mildly surprised Paddy a bit because often Jamie slept with nothing on.
Jamie wrapped his arms around Roy’s waist, hugging him in a bear-tight grip. ”Dadd'eh! Welcome home!” Jamie said happily, too happy for someone about to be punished for pissing in a fern. That nap must have erased the lad’s memory of his dastardly deed and the joy of seeing Roy overrode everything else.
”Jamie. Daddy is not happy,” Roy growled, but his face was twitching to come undone of its anger to something much softer and tender. He hugged Jamie back, just as tight and loving. “Papa tells me you’ve done something bad today to Madonna. I am not fucking happy.”
Jamie pulled away, glaring at Paddy. “No! Paddy is a liar. Didn't do anything! Just watering Madonna!”
Paddy scoffed. “Are you saying I lied to Daddy, little man? Because if so, that’s two lies you’ve told Daddy in one sentence." He gave Jamie the eye and held up the paddle, giving it a twirl. Jamie’s eyes slowly widened to scrunch up fearfully with a wrinkle of his nose.
”Is Papa correct? Did you try to lie just now?” Roy asked firmly, expecting a straight answer for something he already knew.
Jamie remained quiet, eyes on the paddle in Paddy's hand. Roy gripped Jamie’s chin and forced him to look up at his scowling face.
“Answer me.”
“Yes,” Jamie said quickly, eyes avoidant. “Sorr'eh.”
“Why did you piss in the fern, little boy? If it isn't the correct answer, it's double the swats on that bottom with that,” he said and forced Jamie to look at the paddle. Jamie swallowed audibly, his skin starting to shine from the sweat pouring out from his pores.
“B-because.” Jamie's eyes welled up. He broke out of Roy's grip to bury his face into his stomach, muffling his response. “Had to go!”
“Had to go?” Roy repeated slowly and angrily. Neither Roy nor Paddy believed that. There was certainly more than needing to go at the moment. Jamie's small space definitely knew how to hold it in and use the bathroom. “There was a bathroom right across the hall, Jamie. I'll give you one more try to answer properly.”
Jamie whined, his neck going red. He peeked up at Roy and grumbled the truth for this madness, “Mad at you fer leaving me with a fucking snitch. I dun't like him! He's a… cunt!”
“Ouch.” Paddy wouldn't even be a snitch if Jamie didn't do what he did to that poor fern. It was a crime against plants and Paddy personally. And to hear his old best friend didn't like him… Paddy wasn't sure if that was small subspace talk or Jamie genuinely didn't like him anymore. When Jamie was back to being big, he would avoid Paddy and make small talk at the dinner table.
Roy yanked Jamie off the bed and dragged him towards the office by his arm. The lad struggled, whining and holding onto things to pull himself away from the inevitable. He even grabbed onto Paddy, pulling him along. Roy paused to give Jamie a firm swat at the side of his thigh, forcing him to let go.
“Jamie, don't fucking dare fight this,” Roy's voice warned, steel edged and cold. “Pissed in the fucking fern that Papa gave us, lied, and called Papa a cunt?’ Roy listed off each thing Jamie’s done as if charges were being laid out. “And I had to leave the conference early because of your fucking arse! They had an open bar, Jamie!” Roy pulled into the office where the crime was committed — though Roy seemed more upset about leaving behind the open bar than anything.
Roy sat on the red velvet sofa in the office, pulling down Jamie's boxers and placing him over his lap. It was a sight Paddy had seen a handful of times. He'd be lying if the first few occurrences didn't make him uncomfortable when he first moved in. Watching Jamie’s backside get warmed by Roy's unforgiving hand tickled that instinct in Paddy to intervene, as much as the prick deserved it. But over time, their odd relationship situation had certainly grown on Paddy and he was coming to enjoy the disciplinary lifestyle the two shared.
Roy held a hand out towards Paddy, “The paddle, please.”
Paddy slowly walked over, eyes on Jamie's squirming figure.
“Sorr'eh!” Jamie cried out desperately, whipping his head at Paddy walking up with the punisher. “I'm sorr'eh, dadd'eh!”
“You're sorry?” Roy took the miniature paddle from Paddy, giving him a nod in thanks. “You'll only be forgiven after this. And I want you to properly apologise to Papa after.”
“No! Hate Paddy!”
Paddy dramatically gasped, taking a few steps back and placing a hand over his chest. “You’re killing me here, kiddo,” Paddy joked, but it did hurt to hear a little.
“What did you say?” Roy growled, not taking it lightly as Paddy was. “You hate Papa?”
“Yes!” Jamie kicked his legs and hit the cushions childishly, throwing a tantrum over Roy's lap. “Took Dadd'eh away from meh!”
“Bloody hell. Are you jealous?” Roy and Paddy caught each other's eye, both surprised at the revelation. It was quite obvious now that it was said out loud. Jamie wasn’t part of the romantic or sexual relationship of their dynamic, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t feel left behind.
“N-no!” Jamie stuttered bashfully, covering his eyes with his hands.
Roy placed a hand on Jamie's tailbone, pressing down. “Don't be shy now. Speak up unless you want the soap.”
Jamie shook his head. He could be just as stubborn as Roy.
“Fine. You want to be naughty and disrespectful? This is what happens to naughty boys.”
The paddle went down without mercy. Paddy flinched while Jamie went taut over Roy's lap from one swat. The whining and squirming were no more and it was a silent surrender to Roy's anger. The sharp slaps of the paddle meeting skin cut through the pounding of Paddy's heart in his ears. Each hit made him breathless as it did Jamie.
The lad took it silently, save for the hiss of air escaping through his clenched teeth. His eyes were shut tight and fists were shaking from holding in the cries. Roy's swinging arm went down fast, faster than what Paddy could keep up with. He lost count when he blinked the dryness away, leaving his eyes moist. Jamie, no longer to keep in his cries, let them out at his thighs being swatted next.
“You dun't colour or play with meh!” Jamie cried out in surrender, jerking forward from each swat. “Always w-with stupid Paddy! Not fair! I want to go out with Dadd’eh, too! Miss parks and movies! Not fucking fair!”
“I too take you out to the park and movies!” Roy shot back with a hard slap of the paddle.
“No you dun’t!” Jamie shouted back in protest, his voice tightening when tears welled up in his eyes. “Never play with me! I hate Paddy!”
Paddy swallowed down the guilt. He did admit him and Roy spent way more time together than they did with Jamie. Roy only took Jamie out once a week at most, less when they were working and now that Paddy lived with them. Roy probably didn’t see that because he was so distracted with everything going on in his life. Jamie acting out the way he did told Paddy the lad was feeling lonely and rejected in this relationship. And worse, the poor lad couldn’t go small unless he had someone supervising him.
“And you use that as an excuse for what you did and said? You tell us how you feel and Papa is here to sta. You will respect him!" Roy shouted over Jamie's cries without stopping the paddle in hand. “You think you can piss on fucking plant because you can’t tell us how you’re feeling?!”
“N-no!” Jamie cried harder. “Sorr’eh! M’sorr’eh, Dadd’eh!”
“Ease up, Roy. He’s sorry.” Paddy didn't like it when Jamie looked to be in pain. He could see the tears threatening to spill at the corners of Jamie's eyes and the beads glued to his lashes.
“Paddy, he’d rather piss in a fucking plant than tell us he’s fucking lonely. A plant you gave us.”
“You’re being defensive, babe. It’s not that fucking simple.” Paddy put his foot down. If Roy ever dealt with an actual child then he’d understand — and he had a fucking niece! “He’s small and it’s Jamie. He didn’t tell us about his torn nail a few weeks back. What makes you think he’ll tell us he’s feeling left out in our relationship?”
Roy sighed. “You’re right. Both of you. But I’m not done warming this bottom because regardless of his feelings. He did something bad. Very fucking bad. Madonna didn’t deserve that. I think she might fucking die.”
“Just a little piss, Roy,” Paddy mumbled under his breath and kept his lips shut after. Roy was right about Jamie misbehaving and he was in charge. He knew what Jamie needed and Jamie agreed to this from the beginning, way before Paddy showed up and inserted himself into their lives. This was a dynamic that was still new to him and he had to follow through with these moments when someone misbehaved.
But fuck all he was going to let Jamie be punished for expressing himself in the only way he could alone.
Slowly, Paddy inched back towards them and nervously placed a hand on Jamie's head. He ran his fingers through the smooth, silky threads of his hair, trying to bring a little comfort. Jamie sniffled, bringing his head up into Paddy's hand, whimpering for more of the comfort.
“You were a naughty boy, Jamie,” Paddy whispered with a disappointing frown. “Madonna didn't do anything to you. I didn't do anything to you. Purposefully, that is.” Paddy didn’t mean to take all of Roy’s attention. He couldn’t imagine what it would feel like if Roy took on another lover and left Paddy to the side. With Jamie, regardless if they were in a platonic relationship with him, it wasn’t fair to leave him behind when they had romantic outings.
Jamie looked up at Paddy, his eyes trusting and loving. That's all Paddy ever wanted from this little prick.
“H-hurts!” Jamie cried to Paddy, his hands going over to Paddy's sweats and yanking him close. Paddy let the tug move him without resisting. His knees bumped up to Jamie’s face and he could feel the press of Jamie’s nose between the gaps of his legs. The spots where Jamie's eyes rested began to soak through his joggers, making the skin itch beneath the starchy fabric.
“I know, baby. But you've been naughty,” Paddy cooed, with his hand splaying across the back of Jamie's head. Jamie's cries tugged at Paddy's heart and made his eyes water a bit. Jamie really did sound so much smaller than his usual tone. “Daddy's almost done. Right, Roy?”
Paddy gave Roy a pointed look — the look if Roy didn’t stop anytime soon, there was no loving on Paddy’s end for the weeks to come. Jamie had enough and Paddy still wanted them at the dinner table to eat, including Jamie. He made a whole fucking pot of macaroni cheese and it was going to get fucking eaten tonight. God forbid he wanted Jamie to have an arse to sit on for at least thirty minutes. Roy rolled his eyes and eased on his swings. The paddle came down gentler and the cries stopped. It didn't take long for Roy to wrap it up and give the throbbing arse one last hard hit.
“All done. Will you behave and tell us when you’re upset?” Roy set the paddle aside and let Jamie ride through the pain.
“Y-yes,” Jamie sniffled, rubbing his face on Paddy’s knees. He lay there for a few minutes before he attempted to get up with wobbly legs. The lad was tough and always walked off his sore bottom.
Paddy and Roy helped Jamie to his feet and put back on his boxers. They let him lean onto them as support. Paddy could feel Jamie trembling against him, gradually relaxing as the tension left his body. He was tempted to give Jamie a kiss on his forehead but held off. It was that parental instinct kicking in again.
“You're all right, baby,” Paddy said with a rub to Jamie's back and a wipe of his eyes. “The plant society and Madonna will forgive you. And I forgive you.”
“Pft. He didn't even apologise to you properly,” Roy said matter-of-factly, but it was to pull their leg rather than being rude.
“Zip it, mister,” Paddy growled playfully and looked back at Jamie. “I made your favourite, Jamie. Macaroni cheese. Sorry it’s not baked and just done on the stovetop. You must be hungry, right?”
Jamie perked up at the mention and nodded, his lips tightly shut and stomach rumbling. He couldn’t look at Paddy, a bit embarrassed and shy at what he witnessed, but wrapped an arm around Paddy. Paddy smiled at the closeness and both caretakers led Jamie out to the hall and toward the kitchen.
Roy made a face at the mention of their dinner. “I hate Ted for introducing him to that.”
”It’s good!” Jamie pouted, his mood coming back up. “I’m hungry! I wants the macaroni cheese!”
”It’s not too bad,” Paddy chuckled. It wasn’t a dish he would make for himself, but he was happy to make it for Jamie and hoped the lad would enjoy his version. “I made steak and salad too.”
”Thank God.” Roy looked happy to avoid eating the dish he found ridiculous. Paddy was not going to let Roy go that easy…
In the kitchen, they set Jamie down carefully. He hissed when his bottom met with the hard wood, unable to get comfortable. Trying to get up with a whine, Roy growled hard and shoved Jamie back down onto his spot.
“Stay. Your arse isn’t moving from this seat until that plate is empty.” Roy pointed to the plate Paddy made earlier, cold yet made of love and care. Jamie whimpered but didn’t attempt to get up again and forced himself to stay put.
“Let me heat this up quickly in the microwave,” Paddy offered. Jamie nodded, hating cold macaroni cheese. He would throw a tantrum without meaning to, its texture too much for him to handle. Paddy found that the hard way when he first moved in… He took Jamie’s plate and reheated it while Roy sat at the table and waited to be served — lazy wanker. Paddy made Roy’s as he waited for Jamie’s and filled it up with salad, two steaks, and a scoopful of macaroni cheese. When Roy got his food, he glared up at Paddy from the sight of the yellow on his plate.
”Seriously?” Roy grumbled, having no choice but to eat the damn thing since it was on his plate. The rule was, everything had to be eaten off the plate or else they slept at the table until it was cleared. That rule included Roy. Paddy smirked at him with a wink and got Jamie’s plate when the ding went off.
Jamie excitedly tapped his utensils on the table, trying not to wiggle in his spot to avoid rubbing his sore bottom. The moment the plate was placed in front of him, Jamie went downtown. He shovelled the food into his mouth, humming happily. Paddy smiled, happy to see Jamie was enjoying his food. He sat back down, uncaring if his food was cold, and resumed eating. Roy ate around the macaroni cheese, enjoying the steak.
“How’s the food?” Paddy asked the table, but was looking at Jamie as he said it. Roy usually cooked while Paddy often prepped the food and cleaned. Jamie would help, big or small, and did small tasks like set the table, wash the dishes, or help Paddy prep in silence.
“Good!” Jamie chimed with glee and it made Paddy’s heart swell. He was worried that the spices he added to give it a bit of kick would be too much for the lad. It seemed quite the opposite when Jamie’s plate was almost empty. “S’good, Papa!”
Paddy went pink. He wasn’t sure about being a Papa, let alone to Jamie Tartt, but it brought a smile to his face when he succeeded in getting through to him.
“It’s delicious, love.” Roy chewed through the steak thoroughly before swallowing. ”And I better see that bowl empty too,” Roy piped up when Jamie wasn’t touching his salad. Jamie groaned softly, picking at the green leaves. Big Jamie loved salads with extra cherry tomatoes and black olives, but funny enough, little Jamie despised all things green. And after what he did today, it was fair to assume he was afraid to choke on the greens that might be out for revenge.
”Mhm. Goes for you too, babe,” Paddy made a point to look at the untouched macaroni cheese on Roy’s plate. “Right, Jamie?”
”Mhm!” Jamie said smugly. “Clean yer plate, Dadd’eh!”
Roy grumbled and scooped up the macaroni cheese. He shuddered when it touched his lips. Reluctantly, Roy chewed the warm pasta and cheese. Paddy and Jamie looked at one another, smirking.
“Good?” Paddy teased with a graze of his foot to Roy’s ankle.
“Not bad when you make it,” Roy said truthfully. Seeing Daddy eat what he didn’t like, Jamie ate his salad. The three continued to eat and chat, with Roy talking about his conference and utter shame of leaving the open bar — he had mainly drunk and spoken to a few coaches that he had to watch out for the upcoming season. Jamie talked about his day, up until he pissed in the fern, and went quiet. Roy had a chuckle at Jamie’s red face when Paddy brought it up when it was his turn to share.
With their plates cleaned, they began to clear the table. Roy gave them both a kiss and headed out to take the trash. Jamie helped Paddy with the dishes by drying what Paddy washed and rinsed. The two of them stood side by side, in a silence that wasn’t awkward or comfortable. It was what it was.
”I’m glad you enjoyed the food,” Paddy said, finishing off the plate. Jamie took it and dried it off carefully. “Feeling okay?”
”Yes… Papa,” Jamie quietly said, keeping his eyes on the plate in his hands. “T-thank you… fer sticking up fer me. Dadd’eh dun’t understand. Miss him.”
“I know. Daddy can be a hard head sometimes. But he loves you and that won’t change.” Paddy made a mental note to himself that he’d talk to Roy about having more outings with Jamie. “I promise we’ll take you out to see that new movie you wanted to watch.”
Jamie’s eyes sparkled. “The Amazing Digital Circus?”
Paddy didn’t know what the fuck that was but it was something Jamie wanted to see and it’d be nice for the three to spend some time outside together.
“Anything for you, kiddo. What’s it about?”
Jamie just blushed and went back to wiping the plate in hand. It seemed he was too embarrassed or afraid to talk about it. This was the most they have said to each other in the month Paddy moved in. Paddy wasn’t sure what else to say after the conversation died down. The awkwardness was creeping in and he wanted to avoid that. They bonded today, in a way, and he wanted to keep building that trust with his old friend, small or big. Scrubbing the pot, something came up.
”Are you still… small?” he asked Jamie, unsure. It was hard to tell sometimes because Jamie acted the same around him; standoffish, childish and nervous. Some days he could tell. Like when Jamie’s crude mouth bellowed through the halls about something ridiculous — his shampoo running out or that there was a (nonexistent) pimple on his forehead. When he held a toy in his arms or had a dummy in his mouth, Paddy knew right away who he was dealing with.
When Jamie wanted to see a movie, go to the park, or stayed quiet like now, Paddy found it difficult to tell whether he was still small or simply being himself.
Jamie paused and stared at Paddy. “Y-yeah…”
Paddy quirked the corner of his lip. “Want me to read you a bedtime story?”
”Yeah!” Jamie jumped in his spot, almost dropping the plate. With that energy of his, it was impossible to tell he was paddled earlier. “Peter Rabbit, Papa!”
”Okay, okay! Let’s hurry then and I’ll tuck you in.”
Jamie gave a yippee, his exuberant energy wiping off on Paddy. The two worked through the rest of the dishes together with smiles on their faces. This wasn’t so bad, Paddy thought. It was still something he had to get used to, but moments like these made it easier.