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Shane’s phone lit up with a call. The name Lily flashing across his screen. Why was Daddy calling him? Ilya was supposed to be on his way over; had something happened?
“Hello?” Shane asked as soon as the call connected.
“Would you eat sorbet?” Ilya responded without any other greeting whatsoever.
“What the fuck is sir-be-yet?”
“Like the ice cream, Shane. But fruit for your stupid diet. Do you not know word because you do not eat?”
“Do you mean sorbet?” Shane laughed.
“No. What is this sore-bay? There is a T, Shane. Is same in Russia, I know how to pronounce sorbet.” Ilya said, using the Russian pronunciation again.
“I thought you were supposed to be coming over. Why are we debating frozen desserts?”
“Ugh, you are so boring. Marly wanted ice cream after our win. I’m not going to say no to hot fudge sundae with delicious cherries on top, Shane. Do you want me to bring you boring fruit version or no?”
Shane couldn’t help but smile. He typically avoided desserts, but Daddy had taken the time to find something that fit inside his strict eating parameters. It was so thoughtful, and he hadn’t had a sweet treat in quite a while.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll take the raspberry sorbet,” Shane responded, emphasizing the two syllables of the English pronunciation. “And can you also ask…”
“Ask what?”
“Nothing. Nevermind.”
“Shane… What do you want? Is okay, I ask for it.”
“It’s silly,” Shane said shyly. He had never meant to start this conversation in the first place.
“Ah, so something adorable that I will love. Please tell me.”
“Daddy…” Shane sighed. “You’re gonna laugh.”
“No. Won’t laugh. Promise—with pinkies.”
“You can’t promise with pinkies if I’m not there.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not like we can lock pinkies through the phone!” Shane reminded him.
His phone dinged with a text message. A quick glance showed it was a picture message from Lily. Opening it up, Shane sees a selfie of Ilya with his pinky held up in front of his face.
“There, now you see pinky,” he heard Ilya say through the speakers. “Happy?”
“Fine,” Shane groaned, clearly defeated. “Can you ask for a sample of one of the flavors… and bring the sample spoon they give you?”
The other end of the line was quiet. Well, at least he wasn’t met with laughter.
“You want the little spoon?”
“Yeah,” Shane could feel his cheeks heating with a blush at the admission. “I’ve always liked eating my ice cream with it… Just… Nevermind. I said it was silly.”
“No. No, not silly. Adorable, just as I thought it would be. I will get you little spoon for your sorbet.” Ilya sounded downright giddy at this proclamation. “Be there soon.”
Ilya was ecstatic! For one, Shane’s schedule aligned with his finally to allow them to meet up in Boston for a couple of days. For two, Ilya was certain he could introduce the little utensil set to Shane without much fuss, as his boy liked the small sample spoons for ice cream. For three, if it went well, Ilya may be able to get out the cute little animal plates he had bought as well, with the ears or paws being separate sections for the food.
His mind wandered toward the bibs, but he shut that down quickly, knowing it would be too much at once for Shane. Baby steps.
They quickly fell into their usual pattern when Shane arrived. Sex, shower, drop, eat.
Ilya had dressed Shane in a slightly oversized gray hoodie and a pair of blue cotton shorts that he had quickly taken a liking to. His little boy was now sitting on the counter, looking all cute, kicking his socked feet against the cabinets and sucking on his hoodie strings while Ilya cut up the chicken nuggets and veggies for Shane’s plate. Ilya should probably replace the strings with a soska, but it wouldn’t be too much longer, and Shane didn’t always want to give the paci up once it was in his mouth.
“Daddy, I has juice, please?”
“Of course, malysh,” Ilya said now moving to get a sippy cup for his boy. He filled it with Shane’s favorite kale and carrot juice and handed it over for Shane to hold, while Ilya carried him to his seat at the table. Once Shane was settled in his chair, he went back to grab their plates, also bringing the little hockey-themed fork and spoon he had planned to introduce during this visit.
Shane picked up the fork cautiously as Ilya took his own seat, studying the pattern of hockey sticks and pucks carefully. Ilya hoped he looked nonchalant about everything and not like the ball of nerves he currently was. The last round of little item intros led to a lot of corner time for his boy, and he hoped they could avoid that this visit. The corners of Shane’s lips lifted in a small smile, and the fork came careening towards Ilya’s face.
“Daddy, look! Hockey stuffs!”
“Da, is why Daddy got for you. You like?”
“Uh-huh! Can I show Biscuit? It’s got pucks—like him—same!”
“After dinner, malysh. Stuffies are having ‘Post Game Interviews’ right now.”
Shane gave a small pout but acquiesced, fisting the fork in one hand to stab a bite of broccoli. Ilya tried so hard not to stare but most likely failed. His little boy looked so adorable right now that Ilya wanted to bite him. If he wasn’t careful, he’d spend the whole meal just watching Shane eat instead of eating himself.
It didn’t take long for Ilya to scarf down his food so he could enjoy the show that was his little boy being delectable. Ilya watched Shane take two more little bites before his hand paused halfway to his mouth, a look of sadness crossing his features.
“All done, Daddy,” Shane stated, putting his fork back on his plate, the chicken piece uneaten.
“You full?” Ilya questioned, confused by the sudden change in demeanor.
“Um… Uh-huh.”
Shane was a really bad liar when big, and downright horrible at it when little. But what Ilya couldn’t figure out was why he was lying.
“Hmm, I think you may still have some room in your tummy. Do you want something else for it?”
Tears streaked down Shane’s cheeks without warning as Shane shook his head. Oh no.
“Okay. How about a few more bites of your nuggets and then we can be done?” Ilya tried again, hoping to get Shane to at least finish protein on his plate.
“Can I has big fork?” Shane asked through the sniffles. Ilya is dumbfounded. What changed?
“Of course, malysh,” Ilya wouldn’t deny him one even if he hated it. “Can Daddy ask why, though? I thought you liked your new fork?”
“I eated too slow with it.” A fresh wave of tears came with this statement. What is happening?
“What makes you say that? You’re not eating too slow?”
“But you’re already done, Daddy.”
That’s what this is about? Oh, his sweet boy. Ilya’s heart was breaking a little bit about the fact Shane thought this was a problem. He could sit here for hours while Shane ate if that’s how long he took.
Ilya opened his arms, backing his chair away from the table—his boy moving into his embrace without a second thought. Settling Shane in his lap and running a soothing hand up and down his back, Ilya racked his brain to come up with something to say to fix this situation.
“That doesn’t mean you’re eating too slow, malysh. It probably means Daddy is just eating too fast,” he tried to joke, but it didn’t seem to land with Shane in his current state. “Daddy being done first, doesn’t mean you can’t keep eating, okay. It just means Daddy can now help too if you want.” Ilya tried again, and this seemed to get Shane’s attention.
“Daddy help?”
“Mm-hmm,” Ilya hummed affirmatively, pulling Shane’s plate over toward them. He picked up the fork with the discarded chicken nugget bite, bringing it up to Shane’s mouth. He opened obediently, letting Ilya feed him. “Do you want another bite?” Shane nodded eagerly, opening his mouth wide.
So. Adorable.
Shane cleared his plate one little bite at a time, taking the fork back from Ilya about halfway through but staying firmly planted in his lap.
“Do you want more, malysh?” Ilya asked as Shane chewed the last bite of broccoli.
“No thank you,” Shane said with his mouth full. “All done, Daddy. Can I show Biscuit my fork now?”
Ilya laughed, grateful a full meltdown had been bypassed. “Da, you can show Biscuit now.”
Shane leaped from Ilya’s lap, rushing toward the guest room where his stuffies currently resided. “Biscuit!” Shane hollered as he went. “You gos’ta see my new fork! Same as you!”
Ilya’s certain Shane’s cuteness will kill him one day. He’s perfectly happy with that fate.