Chapter Nineteen

Evander

The hours it takes for school to finish up feel like forever.

I hadn’t realized how empty the house would feel without my babygirl by my side.

She’s only been here a few days, and already I’m addicted to her.

Her scent, her laugh, the endless questions she fires off when something new and exciting comes her way.

My brothers are already waiting outside the school when I arrive, and they turn to greet me as one. A weight I hadn’t even realized I was still carrying lifts when Jasper flashes his usual boy-next-door smile as I join the group.

“We’re taking bets on how school went today,” he explains, his grin widening. “Do you think Natalie put up a fuss over using her diaper?”

“Hmm. Probably not. She doesn’t love it, but she doesn’t usually fight me all that hard on it, either.”

“It’s different when it’s someone else changing her, though,” Maxwell points out. “Juliet struggled with it a good bit at first.”

“Still does, if I’m being honest.” Shaking his head with an over-dramatic sigh, Jasper presses a hand to his chest. “My poor little princess. Such a hard life she lives.”

Laughter ripples through the group as the front doors swing open and our Little ones come racing out, heading straight for us with happy squeals. Crouching, I open my arms to catch Natalie as she flings herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“Daddy! I had the best day. Miss Evelyn taught us all about the alphabet, but with naughty words and then she read us a story and then we got to color in a spaceship! And then we had chicken tenders and French fries for lunch, but the fries were kinda weird and Miss Evelyn said it was cuz they’re made with sweet potatoes cuz they’re healthier but I don’t think I believe her.

And after our nap we had dance class with Izzy and Tori and Juju got to spin around a lot but I’m not ready yet so I just watched but it was still the best day ever! ”

My head is spinning a bit by the time she finishes her rundown, and I can’t help but laugh at her exuberance. “It sounds like a very fun day. Were you a good girl for Miss Evelyn?”

“She was.” Their teacher is all but beaming as she looks around at her chargers. “In fact, they were all on their best behavior today. I didn’t even have to put anyone in timeout.”

Judging by the looks on my brothers’ faces, this is rather unexpected news.

“Really?” Jasper asks, clearly the most surprised of all. “Nobody got in any trouble at all?”

“Nope. There was a bit of tension this morning but it passed quickly and if I’m being honest, I think they were all too busy having fun to misbehave.”

Maxwell grins, an expression I’m still getting used to seeing on his face in the months since he brought Victoria to the island. “Well, that seems like a cause for celebration. How about a trip to the toy store for our very good girls?”

A joy I’ve never seen before lights Natalie’s eyes. “Oh, Daddy, can we go? Please, please, please?”

She has more than enough toys at home. But there is absolutely no way I can refuse her, not when she’s looking at me with those wide, hopeful eyes. “Of course we can, kitten. And if you want, we can get ice cream after.”

Squealing with happiness, she wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes. “Best. Day. Ever .”

Nelly

The toy store isn’t the largest I’ve ever seen, but it comes pretty freaking close. And there’s even a whole section dedicated to stuffed animals that’s almost like its own store.

That’s where I find myself, Tori by my side as I stare open-mouthed at the rows and rows of stuffies. Every animal you could imagine seems to line the walls, and I have no idea how I’m supposed to pick just one.

When I relay my concerns to Tori, she just giggles. “Then ask your Daddy if you can have more than one. I bet he’d say yes. Uncle Evan likes spoiling you.”

“Don’t all the Daddies like spoiling us?”

“Yes, but your Daddy is the nicest of all of them. Which is funny cuz when I first met him I thought he was kinda scary.”

“He looks scary. But he isn’t, not really. Well, except when I’m naughty, then he’s pretty scary.”

Looking around as if to make sure we aren’t overheard, Tori drops her voice, excitement sparkling in her eyes. “But it’s kinda fun sometimes, isn’t it? Getting in trouble, I mean. I swear Juju lives for her Daddy’s spankings.”

“Oh my god, I thought I was just weird!” Pressing a hand to my forehead, I slump against her in a dramatic show of relief as Tori’s giggles fill the air. “The night he caught me sneaking out of bed and he, um, punished me inside my bottom…”

“Daddy only does that when I’ve been super, super naughty. I hate knowing I’ve disappointed him, but at the same time…” Red floods her cheeks as she shrugs. “I swear I came so hard the last time he did it that I almost blacked out.”

“What are you two naughty girls talking about in here?”

At the sound of my Daddy’s voice, I whip around, praying the heat in my face doesn’t give me away. “Tori’s helping me pick out a stuffie friend!”

“That’s very nice of her, indeed. Have you decided on anything, kitten?”

“No.” I sigh, making the sound extra dramatic for his benefit and behind me Tori giggles again. “There’s so many . How am I supposed to choose just one?”

The look he gives me clearly says he knows exactly what I’m doing and my tummy does a funny sort of roll. Not like it does when I’m in big trouble, but more a sense of excited anticipation.

“Why don’t we see what we can do to narrow things down a bit?” he says, plucking me off the ground and settling me on his hip as he walks toward the wall of stuffies. “Your favorite animal is a giraffe, isn’t it?”

“How did you… never mind. Daddy knows everything,” I mutter with a roll of my eyes.

“Exactly right, little one. So, a giraffe, maybe. Or perhaps something more whimsical. Tori is partial to unicorns.”

“I like unicorns. They can stab people.”

Behind us, Tori gasps and when I turn my head to look at her, she’s glaring at me with all the indignation of a toddler being told “No”. “A unicorn would never!”

“I bet they would. If it was a really mean person.”

Tilting her head to the side, she seems to consider this. “Okay, yeah, maybe if they were really mean.”

“My bloodthirsty little kitten,” Daddy whispers with a chuckle. “I know exactly which stuffie you should get.”

Carrying me down the row, he reaches for a giant stuffed lion that’s nearly as large as I am. “A fierce protector for my fierce little kitten.”

“He’s perfect!” Even more so because Daddy picked him out for me. Taking the stuffie from him, I bury my face in his soft mane. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome, little one. Now, let’s go see what your friends have gotten into.”

Once all of us have picked out a brand-new toy—two for me, because when we found Juju in the aisle with all the dolls I fell head over heels in love with one that I absolutely had to have—the Daddies take us across the street to the ice-cream parlor.

Where my Daddy proceeds to prove he is, once again, the best at spoiling Little girls when he agrees to let me have three whole toppings on my ice-cream sundae instead of the one topping the other Daddies insist on for their Littles.

The resulting outcry from my friends forces their Daddies to relent and allow them two additional toppings, though it’s clear from the looks they keep sending Daddy’s way they aren’t all too happy about it.

Oh, well. Someone needs to get the sticks out of their asses, and my Daddy is clearly the man for the job.

We’re halfway through our sundaes when Daddy pulls his phone from his pocket, his lips turning down in a frown as he hits the buttons to answer the call. “Hello? Yes, Millie, it’s Mr. Hawthorne.”

Millie? From Doctor D’s office?

Silence falls over our group and worry churns in my gut as he listens to whatever Millie has to say. “I see. Does he have the medicine there or do we need to have it shipped in? All right, we’ll be over as soon as we finish our ice cream. Thank you, Millie.”

“What’s wrong? Is Nelly sick?” Tears sparkle in Tori’s eyes as she looks from her Daddy to mine. “Is she gonna be okay?”

Daddy sends her a reassuring smile before turning to me. “It’s nothing bad, kitten. Just the low iron we talked about during your appointment. Doctor D has some supplements at his office and he’s going to order us some more, as well. Nothing to be worried about, little one.”

“But I feel fine. I don’t even feel tired or anything.”

“And that’s good, but we need to make sure you stay nice and healthy and strong, so you’re going to take the supplements Doctor D prescribes.”

“But—”

“End of discussion, little girl. One more word about it and you’ll be finishing your ice cream with a sore bottom.”

I’m painfully aware of our family watching, but I can’t seem to stop myself from arguing. “That’s not fair! You can’t just tell me to shut up about my own health!”

“I’m not,” he says, his tone surprisingly patient. “I’m telling you that your health matters too much for me to argue about it with you. Doctor D says you need the supplements, so you will take the supplements. There’s nothing more to discuss.”

Hearing him say out loud how much my health means to him goes a long way toward soothing my annoyance with the situation. “What if there’s side effects? What if they make me sicker? What if?—”

“Then we’ll address those issues as they arise. For now, you are going to sit and eat your ice cream, and then we are going to walk over to Doctor D’s office and pick up your supplements.”

“Fine.”

But before I can reach for my ice cream, Daddy sighs and plucks me out of my chair.

Fear races up my spine, but instead of putting me over his knee like I expect him to, he settles me on his lap, cupping my cheek in his large hand.

When his eyes meet mine, the depth of emotion swirling in those dark depths takes my breath away.

“You don’t have to like it, little one, but you will obey me on this. I will not compromise where your health or safety is concerned. Can you understand that?”

How am I supposed to argue with that? I can’t, so I nod miserably. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m just scared. I don’t like medicine.”

“Ah. Well, that’s understandable, kitten. But this isn’t really medicine, it’s more like a vitamin from what Millie was telling me. It’s nothing to be scared of. And besides, you have your new lion friend to protect you from anything scary, remember?”

“That’s true.” An idea pops into my head and I grin up at him. “Think he’d protect me from Doctor D?”

“I bet he would.”

“Then I want a lion, too!” Izzy says, breaking the silence that has surrounded us. “Anything to keep Doctor Dreadful away from me!”

“Doctor Dreadful?” A giggle bubbles up in my throat. “That’s the perfect name for him!”

“We know!” the other Littles chorus before bursting into laughter themselves.

Shaking his head, Daddy picks up my partially melted ice cream and scoops some up for me to eat. “You better not let him hear you call him that, or I have no doubt you’ll all find out exactly how dreadful he can really be.”

Giggling, I nod my head in agreement, even though I’m secretly planning on just the right moment to drop that particular bomb. “Okay, Daddy.”

“Good girl. Finish your ice cream so we can get your medicine and get home.” Dropping his voice, he leans in, his breath tickling my ear as he speaks. “Daddy is hungry for something, and it’s not ice cream.”

Hell yes, Daddy.