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"So," I said, drying my hands on a towel, "what's the plan for today?"
"I need to talk to the guys. I'd like you to walk over with me."
I nodded and lifted my chin. He smiled slightly, a flash of pride in his eyes that made my heart flutter. "Then let's get ready."
As I headed to the bedroom to get dressed, I really wanted Daddy to come and do it or even pick out my clothes for me. I sighed and picked up Patches. Why was this so hard?
Chapter sixteen
Matty
Two days later Iwas struggling with everything because we still didn't have any answers, and worse, I couldn’t hide in Daddy’s cabin today.
I found myself standing in front of the closet, staring at my options with growing anxiety. On one side hung the plain t-shirts and jeans I'd brought from my apartment—adult clothes, practical and unremarkable. On the other side, the colorful t-shirts with dinosaurs and superheroes that Daddy had ordered for me—clothes that made my Little side feel safe and happy.
My fingers brushed against a soft blue t-shirt with a cartoon T-Rex wearing sunglasses. Just touching it made something in my chest loosen, a small bubble of joy rising despite my anxiety.
"Everything okay in here?" Daddy's deep voice came from the doorway.
I snatched my hand back from the shirt, embarrassed to be caught. "Just...trying to decide what to wear."
Daddy came to stand beside me, his eyes taking in my internal struggle without judgment. "The barbecue is just club members and their families," he said carefully. "No one who isn't safe."
"I know," I replied, still staring at the clothing options. "It's just..."
"Just what, little one?" The endearment slipped out naturally, and I found I didn't mind it.
"What if they laugh at me?" I finally admitted, the fear that had been gnawing at me all morning finally spoken aloud. "If I wear...those." I gestured to the Little clothes.
Daddy's expression hardened slightly. "No one will laugh at you. Not if they want to keep their teeth."
Despite my anxiety, I snorted. "You can't threaten everyone who might think I'm weird."
"Watch me," he said with such calm certainty that I actually believed him. His expression softened as he reached past me, pulling out the dinosaur shirt I'd been eyeing and a pair of comfortable khaki shorts. "Wear what makes you happy, Matty. The club accepts you either way."
I took the clothes from him, running my fingers over the soft fabric. "You're sure?"
"I'm sure," he confirmed. "And if it helps, Annabel will be there too. Bolt texted earlier."
That did help, actually. Knowing there would be another Little present made the idea of embracing that side of myself in public less terrifying.
"Okay," I decided, setting the clothes on the bed. "I'll wear these."
Daddy smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling in a way that made my heart do a little flip. "Good choice. The T-Rex matches your fierce spirit." Daddy calmly slipped the bathrobe off my shoulders. He hadn’texactlybeen a Daddy this morning. He’d helped me shower, but we’d gone in together and that had been utterly amazing. It never ceased to amaze me just how strong he was, but he could hold me up in there easily, as he’d demonstrated this morning. Then he hadn’t exactly been a Daddy at breakfast. Sure he’d cooked, and we’d shared the same plate, but as he pointed out, if we were eating the same thing why dirty two? He used the same argument with the fork, and then because there was only one, he’d fed me.
I got my own glass of milk, though.
I felt my lower lip stick out a bit at that. It had been a plain glass, and I knew for a fact that there’d been dinosaur ones in the cupboard. There was this really cool one where the T-rex’s head and neck were the straw. But that had stayed in the cupboard.
Probably because when Daddy asked me if I wanted it, I’d said no. But he hadn’t asked me about sitting on his lap while he fed me, so why did he make me chose a grown-up glass? It was mean and I could easily sulk if I didn’t have these new clothes to put on.
When we were ready, Daddy turned me so I was standing in front of the mirror examining my reflection. The shirt was comfortable, and the dinosaur design was cute. It was a picture of a baby dinosaur sitting in a teacup with the words Tea-Rex underneath. The shorts fit perfectly, and I realized Daddy must have paid attention to my sizing when ordering them. I glanced at Daddy. He hadn’t put his shirt on yet, and not that I minded looking at Daddy’s muscles, but I wasn’t thrilled about Sophie seeing them, assuming she would be there.
“What are you wearing?” If he was going in his usual black t-shirt then I was taking mine off. Daddy grinned.
“Didn’t want you having all the fun.” He reached into his closet and yanked a t-shirt off a hanger—yep, black—but then slid it over his head and arms and turned around.
I gaped.