Page 8

TREVOR

My alarm blares and I pop up, but it’s not my alarm. My phone rings and vibrates from the nightstand, and I glare at it. I planned on sleeping in since I’m off the weekend from both jobs.

MOM flashes across my screen and I answer it.

“Hey?”

“I need you to come in and work. I know?—”

“No.” My hands sweat and I shake.

“Claire, Bobby, and Ronald all called in. I need someone on clean-up crew, you know?—”

“I asked for this weekend off. I’m not?—”

Mom huffs. “It’s just until 4:30. Then Kim said she can come in. Liam said your thing doesn’t even start until tonight, so you can work.”

“Liam doesn’t know anything. I have plans, mother. I’m not coming in.”

“It’s just until 4:30! I need you Trevor. I called everyone else first.”

“No.” I’m more forceful than intended and I’m tempted to hang up on her.

“You’re so damn irresponsible. I need you and you’re running off to who knows what?”

My stomach twists. I’m not irresponsible. My face heats. I lick my lips and swallow back the irritation. “Fine, but I’m leaving at exactly 4:30, whether Kim shows up or not.”

“Thanks. See you shortly. Trash is already piling up.” She huffs out a noise before hanging up on me.

I flop back and stare at the ceiling. Why can’t I just stand my ground with her? She knows how to press all my buttons and I hate it.

My phone says it’s 9am, so technically I did get to sleep, but not as much as I had wanted. I wanted to sleep until at least noon. What luxury? But it’s not for me, apparently.

We planned dinner for 5:00pm and leaving the carnival at 4:30, I’ll never make it there in time.

I’ll need a shower before heading out because no one wants to smell me after sweating in the heat for hours.

Then it’ll take an hour to get out there.

By then, it’ll be time to get ready and meet up at Playful Pleasures.

I pull up the forum on my phone and type up the saddest words.

RaccoonBandit: ::cries:: I can’t make it to dinner. BUT I WILL BE THERE TO PLAY!!!

MaddieBaby: WHAT?! NOOOOOOoooooOOOOooooOOOoo.

RaccoonBandit: Sorry :(

MaddieBaby: You said yes to something your mom asked you to do, didn’t you?

RaccoonBandit: guilty

My phone rings, and Maddy’s face smiles out. Against my better judgement, I answer.

“Just tell her no. Or don’t show up!” Her cheery voice makes me smile despite the ache in my heart.

“You know I can’t do that. I have a responsibility.”

“Not to be her lapdog. Ugh. I love you. You need to grow a backbone against her.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. “I know,” I whisper. “Sorry.”

She sighs on the other end. “I’m worried about you. You haven’t been to Playful Pleasures for like ever. I miss your cute face.”

“I miss you too. I miss everyone.” Tears burn my eyes, and I rub them away with the back of my free hand. “Sorry. I have to get ready.”

“See you tonight or I’m going to drive over there and kidnap you.”

I snort laugh because she totally would. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Kisses!”

“Hugs!”

We end the call and I stare at my closet full of the neon colors of my carnival work shirts. My Little clothes only take up a small fraction of my wardrobe. One day I’ll have more onesies and footie pajamas.

I take a quick shower, then dress in a neon orange shirt with my khakis and head out into the dreaded summer heat, when all I wanted was some extra sleep before being with my friends all night long.

My stomach grumbles, but I don’t get a lunch break for another thirty minutes. Luckily, despite the carnival being busy, there’s a lull in the day, and I look around before I check the forum.

MaddieBaby: I have the perfect outfit picked out! Have you decided on something yet, Trevor? You have so many cute outfits.

RaccoonBandit: I can’t decide ;__; I need a Daddy to pick something out and I’m Daddyless.

Why the hell did I just type that?

DaddyAttyAndy: I’m happy to be your Daddy tonight if you’d like.

I blink back at my phone screen and swallow.

Andy, the sweet man I’m pretty sure has been flirting with me in private messages, just publicly said he’d be my weekend Daddy.

We might not know what each other looks like, but I’m drawn to him and his messages.

It’s been ‘good morning Trevor’ for several days now, and no one from the club has ever done that for me.

I nibble my bottom lip.

RaccoonBandit: I’ve never had a Daddy all my own.

MaddieBaby: SAY YESSSSS! Or my Mommy said she’ll help you pick something out.

I switch over to texting Maddie.

Trevor: I’m freaking out!!

Maddie: I can telllllll. Just say yes! You talk about having a Daddy, this is your chance to have that full experience.

Trevor: I know!! I knowwwwww!! Gahhhh!!

1 new private message.

Trevor: Oh no! He’s PMing me!!!

Maddie: ANSWER HIMMMM!!!

I switch over to my private message inbox and grin at the message.

DaddyAttyAndy: I didn’t mean to put you on the spot there. But if you’re interested, so am I.

I squeal and hug my phone.

RaccoonBandit: Yes, please and thank you.

I’ll send pics of my outfit choices when I get off.

If that’s okay? I can’t really send pics right now.

I’m elbows deep in trash. Okay, not right right now, but I have been.

I’ll be here until 4:30, then I’m booking it home for a shower and speeding my way to the club.

I swallow back fear as I wait for his reply. He’s always been so nice in our chats I don’t expect problems, but?—

DaddyAttyAndy: Please do not break any laws to get to the club. I’d like to meet you all in one piece ;)

If it weren’t for the winking smiley face, I’d think he was upset with me.

RaccoonBandit: I’ll be good. Promise! Probs be easier via phones though? Here’s my number.

Holy chicken strips. I just gave him my number.

Trevor: I lost my mind! I gave him my number ;__;

Maddie: OMG YAYYYY!!! Send him a selfie!

Trevor: No omg omg omg I can’t do that!

Maddie: Gah you are way too cute for your own good. It’s probably more romantic to just meet for the first time in person and not know what each other looks like until then.

Trevor: You know this isn’t really a romance thing for me.

But I don’t think I’d mind if it turned romantic.

I just need the release Little play gives me.

It lets me get out of my head and away from my responsibilities in a fun way.

I can just be a kid, something I wasn’t allowed to be much in actual childhood.

I was “ so cute ” I had to be front and center at the ticket booth of the carnival to help sell tickets.

Now that I’m older, I think mom still uses me for my looks. I can draw in girls and their friends like no one else. I know because mom told me about the marketing experiments. At twenty-three, I’m young enough to kind of still relate to high schoolers and old enough to pull in the college kids.

Speaking of people. I shove my phone into my pocket, still waiting for Daddy Andy to answer me. Three people approach me. One holding their wrist strangely. The other two have weird smiles on their faces. All three are in bikini tops and mesh over shirts.

“Hi,” the only brunette of the three says,“I’m Mallory and this is June and Petra.”

“Hi.” I tip my head and give them each a glance. “Can I help you with something?”

I give them a smile, but I wonder why they’re talking to me, of all people. I’m surrounded by trash and I’m not sure what the heck I have down the front of my shirt, but I’m thinking slushie. I’m more than a little self-conscious about it.

“If you could direct us to the first aid, we’d appreciate it. June tripped and caught herself, but we think she sprained her wrist or something. Wanted to get it looked at.”

I bob my head and wave. “Probably better if I take you there. It’s a bit of a maze to find it.”

All three giggle and I suppress the eye roll. I leave my trash bin, but bring the bag with me. “Are you getting enough water? Sunscreen? We have complimentary of both in the first aid trailer if you need them.”

“What’s your name?” Petra asks as if I don’t wear a name tag.

“Trevor and he/him.”

They all giggle and Petra says, “We’re all she/hers.” She wiggles her shoulders. Her breasts shimmy and I look back down the path.

“Awe, he’s shy.” Mallory reaches out to touch my forearm, but I side step away.

My pocket vibrates and I give thanks to whoever it is on the other side that saved me.

“Sorry, ladies.” I pull my phone from my pocket and wave it around.

“Just got called to barf clean up. You’re almost to first aid.

Go past the Scrambler, then behind the balloon dart game, and you’re right there.

” I point in the general direction and turn on my heel to speed walk away.

Before I get turned around, I notice June drops her wrist and I have to wonder if it was all an act to talk to me.

“Dang, he’s probably gay,” Mallory says loud enough I’m sure she meant for me to hear it.

My ears burn because that’s what everyone thought.

Until I dated a chick in high school. I’m bisexual, thank you very much!

I like he, she, theys, and more, but I really dislike getting hit on at my job.

Not to mention I hate randos touching me, or trying to touch me.

I love cuddles with the right person, though.

I glance at my phone.

Unknown Number: This is Andy.

I burst out laughing.

Trevor: You just saved me from being groped by a group of college chicks lmao

Andy: What?!

Trevor: I used your text as a distraction to get away. I was about to get touched and I hate that.

Trevor: I hate being touched by people that assume it’s okay to touch me. Or assume they CAN touch me. Sorry.

Andy: Don’t be sorry! No one should ever touch anyone without permission.

My heart melts.

Trevor: I do like cuddles though. :3

Andy: So do I.

Trevor: Sorry, gotta go back to the grind. Three more hours left.

Andy: I look forward to tonight.

Trevor: Same.

Maybe we can cuddle. I could really use some cuddles, but then I might pass out.

I yawn and stretch. I wish I had time for at least a little nap before I head to the club. As it is, I’ll probably be late. My shoulders drop. Maybe I should just cancel and try again next month. At least the Littles night will correspond with my week off then.