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Ollie

“Oliver Kieth,” my dad yells over the phone. “What is the meaning of this?”

“What is the meaning of what, dad?” I sigh.

“I just received notice that my internet is getting shut off.”

Oh, that.

“I can’t afford your bills anymore,” I tell him softly. “I’m barely able to keep myself alive.”

“You ungrateful bastard,” he screams. “I spent all of my money raising you, and you can’t take care of your old man when he’s down on his luck?”

I don’t remind him that he spent all of his money on beer and not on raising me. I pretty much raised myself. Even had to get a job when I was nine just to buy food. I can mow a yard better than the best of them.

“Sorry,” I mumble. “If I get extra money, I’ll send it to you. Right now, all I have is fifty dollars, and that’s to get some groceries.”

“You’re fat enough. Send me the money. Now.”

I look down at my too-slim body and feel the tears forming. I know I’m not fat. I’m looking at the outline of my ribs. But his words still cause me pain. Which was his plan.

“Alright,” I whisper. “I’m sending it to your account now.”

“Damn right, you are.”

The line goes dead, and I open my bank app and transfer the last of my funds.

As soon as I get the notification that the transfer went through, my stomach growls.

Looks like I’m having crackers and ketchup for dinner.

Again.

Even though I quit my job at the Inn, I still had to work in order to survive. So now I’m working from home as an editor.

Books are my escape from reality. I read so much that most of the time, I’m not even Ollie. I’m someone else.

Those worlds, those Baby/Daddy books that I get lost in, make living in the real world even more difficult. But I can’t stop because I’d rather be anyone other than me.

I learned a few years ago that I was really good at editing. Not just fixing words and commas. But finding holes in the author’s stories and fixing them.

I make decent money, but with my bills and my dad’s, the money never lasts.

I could stop paying dad’s bills, but I know exactly how that will end.

And I don’t have the energy to deal with it.

I could cancel my membership at Oasis. But it’s only sixty dollars a year. Well, unless you’re a Dom who likes to scene. From what I understand, they have to pay to use the equipment and for their drinks. But, in the Little’s room, we’re pretty much just paying for the snacks and drinks the Daddy’s and Mommy’s give their Little’s. Most of us bring our own things, but the rooms there are stocked with things like bottles, sippies, diapers, and toys.

My favorite spot is the adult baby bed in the nap room. But I’ve never been in it. It’s cute, but I want one of my own.

Even when I was with Brad, I never had one. It’s far too expensive.

My cell rings, pulling me from my thoughts.

Knox.

“Hey,” I answer.

“Ollie, want to come to Oasis with me?”

“It’s closed today, silly,” I smile, adding some ketchup on top of four crackers. “I’m pretty sure it would be too scary to go when it’s empty and dark.”

“Agreed,” he says, a shiver in his voice. “But Steel, Blaze, and Papa will be there, too. Please, come with me. They’re talking business and I don’t want to sit there for hours all by myself. I’d die of boredom.”

So dramatic.

“Alright,” I agree. “What time?”

“Five.”

“Knox, that’s in twenty minutes,” I say, looking at the clock on my wall.

“I know,” he says. “That’s why you need to hurry. Want us to come pick you up?”

I don’t drive, and he knows I’ll have to take the bus.

“Never mind,” he says. “Papa says you don’t have a choice. We’ll be there in ten minutes. Bye, Ollie.”

I glance down at my worn jeans and the faded dinosaur T-shirt I’ve been wearing all day. There’s no time to change, but it doesn’t really matter. Nobody at Oasis cares what I wear, least of all Knox.

Still, my stomach twists at the thought of showing up with barely anything to eat today. My reflection in the small mirror on the wall shows tired eyes and a thin face. The idea of being surrounded by Steel, Blaze, and Taylor, all intimidating, makes my anxiety spike. Not out of fear. They would never hurt me. Just out of acceptance that I’m not anything important to my very own powerful Dom.

The honk of a horn outside breaks my thoughts. Ten minutes, my butt.

I quickly eat the crackers, grab my bag, and rush out the door, locking it behind me. A sleek black SUV waits by the curb, Knox waving enthusiastically from the backseat.

“Get in!” he chirps as the door swings open.

I slide into the seat next to him, offering a small smile. Taylor is at the wheel, a calm but imposing figure.

Knox leans close, grinning. “Thanks for coming. I thought I was going to die of boredom if I had to sit there alone.”

“You’re so dramatic,” I tease, though my voice is soft.

“True, but you still love me,” he says with a wink, and for a moment, I forget my worries. Knox has that effect on me. Lighthearted and carefree, like the polar opposite of my life.

We pull up to Oasis fifteen minutes later. The parking lot is empty except for a few scattered bikes and cars. The sight of the club, usually bustling with energy, feels eerie in the fading daylight.

As we step inside, the familiar scent of leather and wood greets me. The main lounge is dimly lit, the absence of people amplifying the quiet.

We make our way to the main office, where Steel is sitting at his desk, and Blaze is relaxing on one of the comfy-looking couches.

“Hey, Ollie,” Blaze smiles. “I didn’t know you were coming. Glad to see you.”

“Do you two want to play in the Little’s room?” Steel asks. “I’ve already turned the air on.”

“Without supervision?” I ask, suddenly terrified. Even though I don’t regress much anymore, that room is a place where I know there are safety measures all around. Not to mention, Knox has this uncanny ability to get us into trouble.

“We’ll be watching,” Blaze smiles, pointing a remote to the large TV. With a click of a button, the Little’s room shows on the screen.

Good.

“We had this installed for days just like this,” Blaze smiles. “But this camera is never active during club hours.”

I get it. There are people that come here that don’t want the world to know they have a Little kink. One of those people being our ex-mayor.

“See?” Knox says, pulling my arm as he races out of the room. “This would have been miserable without you.”

Knox pulls me down the hallway, his energy as relentless as ever. My nerves ease with every step. Oasis has always been my escape. A place where I can let the weight of the world roll off my shoulders, even if it’s just for a little while.

He shoves open the door to the room, and I take in the familiar sight. The pastel walls and soft, oversized furniture greet me like an old friend. Toys are scattered across the floor that weren’t cleaned up, and the faint smell of baby powder and lavender fills the air. For the first time today, my chest doesn’t feel so tight.

Knox doesn’t waste a second, darting to the corner where a stack of colorful blocks is waiting. “Race you to build the tallest tower!” he calls, already stacking with lightning speed.

I linger near the doorway, my eyes drawn to the nap room where I know the oversized baby bed sits. My fingers twitch at my sides as I imagine curling up in it and letting the world disappear, just for a moment.

“Ollie!” Knox snaps me out of my thoughts. “Don’t make me win by default. That’s no fun.”

I let out a soft laugh and join him on the floor. Knox’s energy is contagious, and for a moment, I forget the ache in my stomach and the hollowness in my chest. We stack blocks together, Knox deliberately making his tower wobbly just to see how long it’ll stay standing.

“What’s eating at you?” he asks casually, not even looking at me as he balances another block.

I freeze, the block in my hand feeling heavier than it should. “What do you mean?” I ask, trying to sound light.

“You’re quieter than usual,” he says, glancing over at me. “And considering you’re always quiet, it’s scary. And you’re not even trying to beat me. You always try to beat me.”

I shrug, keeping my eyes on the tower. “Just life. Same old stuff.”

Knox doesn’t push, but I can feel him watching me. “Well, life sucks sometimes,” he finally says, knocking over his own tower just for fun. “That’s why we come here. To make it suck less.”

Before I can respond, the door opens, and Steel steps in, holding a tray with two cups of juice. He looks every bit the intimidating figure he always does, but his expression softens when he glances between us.

“Thought you might want something to drink,” he says, setting the tray down on the low table. “Blaze is grabbing snacks. You two doing okay?”

Knox grins. “We’re awesome. I’m totally winning.”

Steel chuckles, but his sharp eyes linger on me. “How about you, Ollie? You doing okay?”

I nod quickly, avoiding his gaze. My throat feels too tight to speak. Steel doesn’t press. Instead, he gives me a small nod, like he understands, before heading back to the door.

“Let me know if you need anything,” he says, smirking as he adds, “And try not to destroy the place.”

As soon as he’s gone, Knox nudges me with his elbow. “See? I told you it wouldn’t be boring.”

I give him a small smile, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself relax.

Just a little.

Here, in this room, surrounded by softness and safety, it’s easy to pretend that everything might actually be okay.

I’m good at pretending.