the TV and watch the hockey game.”
“Mine?” Tay said with a smirk. He must’ve caught on to Dakota’s shifting mood because he was clearly trying to inject some levity back into their afternoon, but his smile didn’t meet his eyes.
“Yeah. Or my brother’s.”
Dakota’s hands went clammy and the lump in his stomach sank to his feet. He’d not shared with anyone except Calder that he’d seen a therapist, and Calder only because he’d needed a babysitter. It wasn’t something he was ashamed of—in fact, he was immensely grateful for the help it’d given him. At the time, he hadn’t wanted to worry his family more than they already were, and since then, there’d never been a point to bringing it up.
He’d given a little piece of himself to Tay by telling him, drawn Tay that much closer into his world . . . and Tay couldn’t reciprocate by telling him even just a little bit about his art? Was this Tay’s way of putting up a wall between them? Was it possible he wasn’t as serious about them as he’d claimed on their date? It hadn’t seemed so earlier when they’d been kissing in the family room or walking side by side through the zoo and exchanging secret smiles.
It was possible Tay didn’t know what he wanted. He was young and talented and so effervescent, with years ahead of him before he needed to think about getting serious with someone. Maybe Tay was having second thoughts about their relationship and beginning to pull back before they both got in too deep.
“Dad!” Andy sped across the lane, dodging other people. Swallowing back disappointment so thick he could chew on it, Dakota spread his thighs, and Andy plowed into him with an oof and a giggle. Chin on Dakota’s chest, he said, “Can I have a snack?”
“Sure.” Hugging him close, Dakota kissed his head and held on for an extra-long moment. “We’ll head back to the house and have some cheese and crackers.”
“And my Paw Patrol yogurt.”
“Of course,” Dakota said, standing. “How could I forget?”
Andy took his hand in his own little one, Tay’s in the other, and walked between them, swinging their arms as they headed out of the zoo and took the lane that led out of the park.
“You’ve got to take off now, right?” Dakota asked, looking at Tay over Andy’s head.
Tay’s smile was strained. He’d definitely picked up that something was going on. “Yeah.”
“Aw.” Andy pouted. “Stay, Tay. You can have one of my Paw Patrol yogurts.”
“Thank you, that’s very sweet. But I’ve got to be at the arena in a couple of hours for the game.”
Which meant Dakota would have to table the conversation he wanted to have with him until Tay had more than the few minutes it took to walk back home. Not to mention Dakota wasn’t comfortable bringing it up in front of Andy.
Andy kept up a running chatter on the way home, weaving a story about how the capybaras and the highland cows would join them in the campervan on the road trip to Grandma and Grandpa’s. Dakota caught Tay sneaking glances at him over the top of Andy’s head the entire time, forcing Dakota to snap himself out of it.
They’d talk, Dakota would make sure of it. But right now, Tay was distracted, and with the game tonight, it wasn’t a good headspace for him to be in.
Setting aside everything else for now, he settled Andy at the breakfast nook with a snack, then met Tay at the door, where he was waiting anxiously.
“Are we okay?” he asked before Dakota could say anything, worry and confusion written all over his face.
Dakota tried on a smile of reassurance. “Yeah.” It must’ve worked because Tay’s shoulders lowered, and a tiny smile lifted his lips as he placed the gentlest of kisses on the corner of Dakota’s mouth. Dakota closed his eyes and breathed Tay in, holding the kiss close.
“See you soon?” Tay asked, a confounding mixture of hope and anxiousness in his gaze.
“Yeah,” Dakota promised, because they were having that conversation sooner rather than later. “Have a good game.”
Tay was gone a moment later with a shouted, “Bye, Andy!” that Andy returned from the kitchen, and a final wave for Dakota.
Dakota didn’t often have anything to decorate on Mondays. His Thursdays to Saturdays were always the busiest. On this Monday, however, he had stroller-, rattle-, and onesie-shaped cookies to decorate in pink and white and yellow for an office baby shower tomorrow.
“You’re going to