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Taking a small step forward, Solene lowers her arms. “Being Little is its own kind of freedom, don’t you think? There’s nobody to impress, no catty, backstabbing bitches to look out for. You don’t even have to work. You just get to… be. You really want to give all of that up just to go back to pretending you actually like the people you’re forced to talk to at every boring event you’re forced to attend?”
As her words land, I let them seep in. “No… I guess I don’t. But agreeing to stay here feels like, I don’t know. Like giving up who I am to be who Jasper wants me to be.”
“Trust me, I get that. I had to decide if I was more interested in being famous or being happy. Are you happy here?”
“Yeah. Well, when I’m not getting my ass busted for one thing or another. And Victoria may be the first real friend I’ve ever had.”
“Well… maybe if you stay, you could have two real friends.”
Raising my head, I smile up at her. “Really?”
“As long as you promise not to be bitchy New York Juliet. I like this Juliet a lot better.”
“Trust me, I don’t think my Daddy would let me be bitchy New York Juliet even if I wanted to. And I don’t really want to. I think I like this version of me better, too.”
The bedroom door opens, and Myra comes sweeping out, her fur-trimmed robe swirling around her. “Well, you didn’t kill eachother while I was gone, so that’s something I suppose.” Turning, she pins me with a stern look. “Your Daddy is on his way, and he said to let you know that you won’t sit for a month by the time he’s through with you.”
“I kinda figured that.”
A sly smile replaces the stern expression on her face. “In the meantime, however, who wants chocolate milk?”
“Me, me, me!” Bouncing in place like Victoria so often does, Solene claps her hands together. “Thank you, Mommy!”
“Chocolate milk sounds great. Thank you, um…”
“Miss Myra,” she says with a wink. “And you’re welcome, honey.”
She disappears into the kitchen and returns a few minutes later with a bottle and a sippy cup, both full of chocolate milk. Handing me the sippy cup with a warning to be careful and not to spill—which I’m pretty sure is impossible with the cup she gave me anyway—she settles into an oversized armchair and pulls Solene down into her lap.
I watch, a little bit in awe as Solene curls up in her Mommy’s arms, her eyes fluttering closed as she sucks on the bottle. Lifting my cup to my lips, I take a tentative sip, humming loudly as the sweet milk floods my mouth.
“This is delicious. Is it… you know. Real milk or…?”
Laughing, Miss Myra pats Solene’s hip with her free hand, rocking her gently as she drinks. “It’s my milk. Found a recipe online for making chocolate milk out of breast milk and now I’m afraid my little elf is a bit addicted to it.”
I sip again, and we sit in silence for a bit before I have to ask the question nagging at me. “Did my Daddy sound really mad?”
“Mostly relieved, I think. But you are definitely in a lot of trouble, little girl. What on earth possessed you to go wandering around the island in the middle of the night?”
“I’m an idiot, I guess.”
Miss Myra’s expression hardens again. “Talking poorly about yourself is a spankable offense in this house, Juliet. Do I need to go get my hairbrush?”
Heat rushes to my cheeks as I shake my head emphatically. “No, Ma’am. I’m sorry.”
“Good girl.” She cocks her head to the side. “I think I just heard a car pull up. I’m betting that’s your Daddy.”
Sure enough, next comes the sound of the front door opening, then Jasper’s footsteps running up the stairs. He stops at the top of the stairs, looking around frantically until his gaze lands on me.
“Juliet.” The relief is clear in his tone as he rushes over to the couch, scooping me up into a hug so tight it threatens to cut off my oxygen. “I was so fucking worried about you, princess. How did you even get here? What were you thinking? I swear to god I’m tempted to bend you over and whip your bare bottom right here until you never eventhinkof sneaking out of the house again.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I wasn’t… I don’t know…” Unable to explain myself, I burst into tears, clinging to him for all I’m worth.
“I think that’s our cue to give you both some privacy.” With a grace I can’t help but admire, Miss Myra rises to her feet with Solene still in her arms. “Just lock the front door behind you when you leave, please.”
She carries Solene into what I assume is their bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
Daddy pulls away, his expression fierce, and suddenly I am feeling very small. Exactly like a naughty Little girl caught doing something she shouldn’t. “Hi, Daddy.”