Later

After work, John picked Elodie up at her summer daycare which also had day camp activities to keep her busy and stimulated. They stopped at the grocery store for that night's dinner and El's bag lunches John insisted on packing. At home he made the girl change her clothes and play while he prepared dinner. For a father daughter treat, the twosome made a large batch of soft and gooey chocolate chip cookies

"You ready, El?"

"Yup!" They left the house and walked over to their grumpy neighbor's house. Randy answered the door and almost smiled. John could tell. "We brought you cookies, Mr. Randy."

"You did?"

"Uh-huh."

"Am I allowed to have cookies?"

"Sure. You can eat what you want. I filled your teeth with composite which immediately hardened under that light, not that old silver amalgam." Randy took the covered plate

"Where did you get them?"

"Me and daddy baked."

"That was very nice. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"I hope you enjoy those and that my peace offering worked." Randy narrowed his eyes

"I suppose."

"Oh good. Enjoy."

"Daddy." Elodie said with her arms raised. John picked her up and carried them home

Weeks Later

That morning Elodie had woken up and slowly made her way downstairs taking the steps one at a time then found her way into John's room. She attempted to climb onto his bed but it was just too high so she pulled at the blankets

"Daddy, wake up."

"What's the matter, El?"

"Nothing. It's morning and I get to go swim today." John groaned as he picked the girl up and plopped her on the bed

"We're not going right now, baby."

"When can we go?"

"When daddy gets more sleep."

"But it's 12:30 already."

"What!?" He shot up and grabbed his phone checking the time. "El…it's only 8." She shrugged

"I can't tell time."

"No, you can't." He commented pulling her into his arms. Elodie cuddled against her dad's chest and just as John was about to fall into a deep sleep, El spoke up

"Can I watch TV?" Taking a deep breath John reached for the remote and turned the television on. Realizing that there was no way he'd get anymore sleep, John threw the blankets back and left the bed. Before stepping into the en suite bathroom he saw Elodie nice and comfortable in his bed and laughed to himself

….

John was outside loading El's bag and things into his car when Randy jogged by. They waved to each other then the taller man back tracked

"You're actually outside today. Odd for your Saturday." John said once the other man had pulled an earbud out

"Had to get my run in before it got too hot. I'll be going in shortly."

"Working today?"

"Of course."

"You work too hard or maybe you don't and that's why you work so much. Work smarter, not harder."

"How are you just going to sum up my work ethic because I also work on a Saturday?"

"I mean I could be wrong."

"You are wrong thank you very much." John laughed

"I'm messing with you. I saw the write up about you in the paper. Congratulations."

"You're a thorn."

"Elodie starts her swimming lessons today. You should come and cheer her on."

"That's cool…and a relief. I find myself checking the backyard whenever it's in my line of sight just to make sure she isn't back there."

"I appreciate that but she listens well. Generally when I tell her not to do something, she won't do it again. Hopefully that lasts well into her teenage years. I'm going to tell her not to date and that boys are bad except daddy."

"Good luck with that."

"With what? Her not dating or convincing her that boys are bad?"

"Both."

"A man can try." John said closing the back of his Range Rover. "And I will." Randy laughed

"Text me the address and time."

"Alright." He jogged the short distance to his house while John walked into his. "Are you finished with your snack, Elodie?"

"Not all my strawberries." John popped the few extra berries in his mouth. "Daddy!" Elodie whined

"What?"

"You ate my strawberries!"

"We have more. It'll be fine." She started to pout. "Elodie Sophia, you better cut it out. There are plenty of strawberries left in the refrigerator. Do you want to go swimming or to time out because you're cranky?"

"I want to swim." She muttered

"Then let's go put your bathing suit on."

Goldfish Swim School

Randy walked into the facility and was instantly hit with the smell of chlorine and the sounds of kids having a good time and one being tortured he assumed by the yelling. He followed the sounds of splashing and found the pools and saw John seated on the lower level of the bleachers

"You made it."

"I made it. Can I be honest with you about something?"

"Um, I think so. You can be honest with me about anything actually."

"I hate kids." For the second time since meeting, John turned his head sharply toward the other. "Well hate is a strong word: I don't like them."

"Then why are you here?"

"I like Elodie. She's four but if she weren't so short you couldn't tell." John laughed

"Everyone is short compared to you."

"That's true. But yea, she's just a cool kid and doesn't annoy me…even when she Ocean's Eleven-ed her way into my backyard." John laughed

"Oh, I get it. I'm a dad but I don't really care for kids other than my little Elodie."

"So my feelings are normal then? Because for a while I felt bad coming to your house and hanging with the two of you but not liking kids."

"As long as you like my kid and are nice to her I don't care if you don't like other people's children."

"Oh good." Randy said on a sigh. John took out his phone and recorded El as it was her turn. "Has she been in a pool before?"

"Yes but I would hold her the entire time. She never put her head underwater which is why she's a junior in the class."

"She'll get there."

"She better for what I have to pay. My little clown fish." Randy looked at the other man when he heard him suck his teeth. He watched him type rapidly, and somewhat angrily, in response. He glanced down at the screen and was taken back by what he saw

"Are you okay?" He asked

"I'm fine. You ever have an ex just contact you out of nowhere and not even a good ex that you wouldn't mind talking to?" Now Randy was even more shocked. Ex?

"Unfortunately."

"Like, I have no desire to talk to him." Randy took a steadying breath. Did John just admit that he was gay? But he has an ex-wife. Is he bisexual? He had so many questions that had no answers

"Him?"

"Yea."

"Are you,"

"Daddy! I'm all done!" John took a towel over to his daughter. "Did you see me swim? Hi Mr. Randy."

"Hi Elodie."

"Mmhm, you did a wonderful job. Do you want to come back next week?"

"Uh-huh." They walked over to the locker rooms and waited their turn before going in where John helped El change into a colorful striped romper with pink flip flops

Zen Asian Grill & Sushi

"I am absolutely starving." Randy commented while browsing the restaurant's menu

"When's the last time you ate?"

"This morning after my run but I only had yogurt and a banana."

"You're huge. That is not enough food for you. Are you starving yourself?"

"Geez, dad," El laughed as she colored. "No I'm not starving myself. It was my mid-morning snack. It's a good thing swim lessons are only 30 minutes."

"I have snacks in the car. You would have been alright."

"Why do you have snacks in your car?"

"I like to eat snacks." Elodie chimed in

"El likes snacks."

"Are you coming to my birthday, Mr. Randy?"

"I don't know when it is."

"Um," Elodie looked at John. "Daddy."

"July 16th."

"Are you having a party?"

"Yes."

"Well if you're having a party and I'm invited then I'll be there."

"Hold on," John said. "Other kids will be there. Just so you know."

"I forgot. Shit." The little girl gasped

"Bad word."

"Let's give him a break, baby." Elodie reached across the table and took back the one crayon she had given Randy so he could color. His eyes widened

"I'm hurt."

"You said a bad word."

"But she took my crayon."

"You didn't even color with it." When their food arrived, Randy watched John take the BBQ beef skewers off their skewers and cut them into pieces on the extra plate he'd asked for. Then he took some salad that was in a bowl and put that on the plate and slid it over to Elodie. He smiled

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Can I have that?"

"No. It has shrimp in it and you don't like shrimp."

"How can she not like shrimp?"

"Um, well, she's four. I know you forget that because of her stimulating conversation but it's true."

"Shut up." Randy mouthed. John chuckled

….

"Why do you keep checking your watch?" Randy asked

"I have guys from Home Depot coming to set up her playset."

"Today!?" El squealed

"Yes."

"Can I play on it?!"

"After your nap."

"But I'm not tired."

"Okay."

"Is it a birthday gift?"

"No. We had one at our old house and I promised her she would have one at the house now."

That Evening

John was cleaning up the dishes from dinner while Elodie explored her playset. When he finished, John poured himself a cup of wine. He never drank from a wine glass with his daughter around. Just as he was poised to exit through the backdoor the doorbell rang

"I saw the trucks before I left. How does she like it?" John laughed

"I thought I would need to call you for back up when I had to drag her in for dinner. The girl plowed through her food and back out she went. Did you eat?"

"Yea. I went out with some friends."

"And you're back already? It's barely 8."

"They wanted to go out and really party. I didn't."

"You opted to come back home and hang with me and my kid who is actually getting ready for bed in fifteen minutes?"

"Sad life, I know."

"Not really. El and I are cool. Want a drink? It's got to go in a plastic cup."

"Sure. What are you drinking?" John handed over his cup. "That's good but can you mix wine and beer? Because I had beer earlier."

"We can find out."

"Ah, fuck it. I'll have some."

….

"That was quick." Randy stated

"She was exhausted just as I'd planned. I'm hoping she sleeps until at least 8:30 or 9 tomorrow."

"Well have a seat." He said pushing another chair out with his foot

"Actually – would you mind hanging out here by yourself for about ten minutes? I want to take a shower."

"Oh, you're totally going to sleep."

"I'm not."

"Mmhm. I'll hang out but inside where there are no mosquitos."

"You can chill in my room." John said grabbing the bottle of wine off the counter. Randy made himself comfortable on the stuffed chair John had in the corner of his room and sipped his wine while the man showered. He really wanted to ask the other man about the text to Adam earlier and the fact that it was definitely a he. The bathroom door opened and John stepped out with just a towel around his waist. He opened the closet door and grabbed something before ducking back into the bathroom. That towel left little to Randy's vivid imagination so he gulped down the rest of his wine and poured more

"Uuggh!" John moaned flopping onto his bed

"Feeling better?"

"Much."

"What are the two of you doing tomorrow?"

"I wanted to plant some herbs for the greenhouse out there but I'm tired and don't want to do anything…maybe some laundry but that's it. Why?"

"Just asking."

"Mm." He grunted rolling over to his back

"Can we finish our conversation from earlier?"

"We were having a conversation earlier?"

"Yes. At the swim lesson." John tried to remember but could not

"…okay."

"Are you bisexual or homosexual?"

"Oh. That. Well," He said rolling to his stomach. "My sexuality has always been a strange thing. When I was younger I'm sure I was definitely hetero. I had women upon women and I loved it but then I met Elodie's mom and she settled me down. While I was with her though, I found myself attracted to men. Not all men but some and only on a few occasions as I still found women and their curves the most beautiful thing. However, after Dani left I began dating guys. Exclusively. It's different and almost seems less complicated than being with women but I know it's not."

"Oh." Randy responded curtly

"Why? You trying to get at me now?" He laughed

"I'm going to plead the fifth on that one." It was John's turn to laugh. "Admittedly, I was a little nosey earlier and saw your texts to that guy and was curious. Elli finished before I could even ask you about it."

"Well there you have it. Not much of a story."

"I think that was much of a story, John. Does El know?"

"I tried to explain to her as best I could without it being traumatizing. Although she doesn't really remember her mom, she knows that she doesn't have one and that's enough for a kid her age. I want her to remain as pure and innocent as she is for as long as possible."

"Okay, since we're getting everything out in the open I have to say that when you talk about being a dad or do dad things, like cutting up El's food today, it turns me on." John guffawed. "I mean, you're really good-looking so that helps. I don't have a dad fetish, I swear."

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

"I don't!"

"Look, Randy, if you have a fetish then it is what it is. There is no judgment from me. It's okay if instead of imagining me naked you think about me putting Elodie's clothes away."

"Please – with that ass, of course I've imagined you naked. I should have known you were gay."

"Yea, my big ass is like my Bat signal." The shorter man spoke through a yawn

"Should I go? You're tired." John checked the clock

"I am but I refuse to go to bed at 9:30 on a Saturday night."

"Can we turn the TV on at least? I need a distraction."

"You know I'm going to milk this, right?" John said turning on the television

"Well of course you are."

"Come sit over here." He said maneuvering around on the bed

"Why's this chair here if you can't see the TV from it?"

"It's for reading and I angled it so that I couldn't see the TV."

"What a nerd." Randy replied getting comfortable on the bed. John gave him a side-eye. "What does Elodie want for her birthday?"

"From me? For her big gift she wants a puppy. All the pictures she brings me from daycare have been puppies or have featured them."

"Are you going to get one?"

"I'm not sure. I don't think she's ready for a dog but it's the only thing she's asked for."

"What kind of dog does she want?"

"Why? Do you know a guy?" Randy chuckled

"No. I wish I did so that I could help you. Have you thought about a shelter?"

"Yes. It would be a good lesson for her too."

"What should I get her? I don't know what kids like."

"You don't have to get her anything."

"Now how would it look if I showed up with no gift for the birthday girl? Five is a big deal…I think."

"She likes books, Hello Kitty, things that are purple…I'm getting her a play oven so you could buy more food for it because it doesn't come with much."

"Does she like Frozen?"

"No, hell no, thank God."

"What about a dollhouse? Does she have one of those?"

"You know, she doesn't actually. She used to but not anymore."

"I'll get her one of those then."

"The good ones are expensive."

"That's okay. I think I'm good for it." John laughed

"Smartass."

….

John woke up, looked around and saw that Randy was lying next to him sleeping. The thought of allowing the man to just sleep the rest of the night crossed his mind but Elodie waking up and seeing that man sleeping in bed with her daddy also crossed his mind

"Randy."

"Yea?" The tall man groaned

"Wake up."

"I am awake obviously."

"You have to get up and go home."

"Why? I haven't tried anything." John shook his head

"I don't want El to possibly walk in here in the morning and see us sleeping in bed together." Randy looked at him. "Look, I'm not even against you sleeping in bed with me but…,"

"You don't need to explain. I agree to not traumatizing Elodie."

"Thank you."

"Don't even worry about it. But I do have to say this."

"What?"

"With your bedroom being on the first floor you need to know that I'm not above sneaking over here at night."

"Goodnight Randy." John laughed as he opened the door

"Goodnight."

Weeks Later

John had made sure his afternoon was clear so he'd have time to check on a gift for El's birthday while she was still at daycare. He pulled into a parking space right next to Randy's Mercedes GLS450 sport utility vehicle

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"No but here we are." They walked inside of the Maryland puppy rescue and John introduced himself, telling them what he was there for. He and Randy were taken to the back where they met a litter of abandoned scruffy puppies

"Well aren't these cute?" Randy commented

"They are cute. Aww, look at that one." John cooed stooping down. Before actually looking at the puppy, the taller man took a look at John's butt

"He's got some chest hair." John guffawed

"It does look like chest hair and it matches the different color on his legs. Elodie would love him…is this a boy?" He asked looking up at the employee

"He is. We've named him Buster for the time being."

"How old is he?"

"Around three months and he's eight pounds. Buster's very friendly and affectionate."

"Do you know how he is around children? My daughter wants a puppy for her birthday and she would be devastated if he were mean or if I had to bring him back."

"Oh, he's wonderful with kids…with everyone really, even cats."

"How big will he get?"

"Medium…40-45 pounds." He nodded

"Do you think El will like him?"

"I think she will love him. Hell, I like this dog. He needs a gold chain to rest against the chest hair."

"Randy. If I want him can I make a deposit and pick him up later?"

"Yes. When would you want to pick him up?"

"That's part of my problem. I want her to have him at her party."

"So pick him up the day before and bring him to my house. You can grab him sometime during the party."

"You wouldn't mind a puppy that isn't house broken being in your house."

"I would and I can't believe I just said that." Randy sighed. "I'll do it for Elodie."

"For real?"

"Yes." John smiled bright

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." The other man responded as he tried to keep his cool. There was something so adorable about John's smile especially when he played coy. Before leaving John sorted out the detail about when the dog would be picked up as well as putting a deposit down

"Thank you again…so much. You don't know how much I appreciate your help."

"You really don't need to thank me, John."

"Elodie's going to be so excited." Randy chuckled at the other man

"And about you appreciating my help,"

"Uh-oh,"

"Why uh-oh?"

"I don't know what you're about to say but I'm afraid."

"Would your mom be able to watch Elli tonight?"

"She could I'm sure but why would she need to?"

"I want to make you dinner…in like a date-like sort of way." John rubbed his cheeks to stop the blush

"Um, okay, sure. I'll see if my mom can just come over."

"Yea, and I'll make sure it's early enough so you, and your mom, can get back home at a decent hour."

"Alright. Text me what time to be over and I'll be there…should I bring anything?"

"Other than yourself? No." On his way to Elodie's daycare, John called his mom and asked if she would babysit El for a few hours that night. Of course she agreed since she was always telling her son that he needed to get out and that she was more than willing to watch her granddaughter

Later: John's Room

"Wear that shirt, daddy. You'll look pretty."

"Elodie's right, John." John lowered the shirt and looked at his mother and daughter who were both on their bellies on his bed

"Do I need to look pretty?"

"Yes."

"Neni's right." John slipped the shirt on but not because he wanted to look pretty he told himself

"I think I look handsome, not pretty."

"Okay Johnny." His mother spoke. El giggled

"You need to go to bed, little girl."

"I got my jammies on but neni said I could stay up."

"Elodie!" Mrs. Cena gasped

"She straight snitched on you."

"She did. I thought we were better than that."

"Apparently not." John gave his daughter a bunch of kisses along with a few tickles before kissing his mom. "I'll see you two later. Elodie, neni said that you could stay up a little longer but your little butt better be sleeping by the time I get home."

"Okay, daddy."

"I love you."

"I love you too!" John walked slowly over to Randy's house and knocked on the door. Inside Randy heard the soft rap on the door and answered it

"Hey." He said. "You know that my door is never locked."

"Yea, I know but I didn't want to barge in. You could have been in the middle of something."

"Nope. Just making dinner…fully clothed." John wouldn't mind walking in on Randy partially clothed

"Do you need any help?"

"I don't actually but thanks for the offer. You can just have this glass of wine here and make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you." John said taking a sip. "Oh, wow, that's good." He took another

"I may or may not have browsed your wine collection and saw that in there."

"You just happen to pick one of my most favorite wines?"

"I guess so." The tall man said with a smile. "I mean I didn't know it was a most favorite but I'm glad." John took a seat at the table under the kitchen window and sipped his wine as he watched the other man put the finishing touches on their dinner

"What are we having?" He asked

"I wanted to do fish but I never asked if you liked fish so we're having chicken because everyone loves chicken…please tell me that you like chicken."

"Not only do I like chicken but I also like fish. All types."

"Damn it."

"It's fine. If tonight goes well you'll have plenty of opportunities to make it for me." John could see Randy smiling to himself as he stirred something in a pot

"Hopefully." The other man muttered

"Is that Elodie's drawing?" John asked finally noticing the paper on the fridge

"Yes."

"I can't believe you kept it…stuck it on your refrigerator no less or did you bust it out because I was coming over?"

"No," Randy said with a chuckle. "It's been there since you dropped it off."

"Aww."