Page 37

We're up the hill at the parking lot now. Deana puts Vivian down and instead of going to Brandt like I expect, she wraps her arms around my leg. She tilts her head back to look at me, squinting against the sun.

"Can you please bring me one?" She is adorable and I can't say no. Those big eyes and sweet face, with the curls falling across her forehead, is too much to resist.

"I pinky promise," I say. She must know what that is because she immediately holds out her pinky and I lock mine with hers. She squeals and then moves to say bye to Brandt before her dad puts her in the car seat.

It isn't until we get back into the car that Brandt starts laughing. He takes a couple of seconds to compose himself before looking over at me. "What is that about?"

"You now understand the power of the puppy dog eyes and adorable face." He reaches across and holds my chin between his fingers and thumb. He pulls me closer and kisses me. "There was no chance you were saying no to her."

"I wouldn't have said no anyway." I shrug. Then I get an idea and turn on my own puppy eyes. "Does that mean I could maybe convince you to stop by the ice cream parlor on the way home?"

Brandt stares at me for a second. I pout my bottom lip and open my eyes a little wider. He still doesn't say anything. I double down. I really want some ice cream. I reach out and lay my hand on his thigh.

"Please, Daddy?"

It's still a few more seconds before he sighs and rolls his eyes. "Fine, but just a single scoop okay? We're going to be having dinner soon enough."

"Yay, thank you! I'm going to get the rainbow ice cream."

We order the ice cream, but sit in the car to eat it.

I snap a picture of us with our cones and send it to the group chat.

I caption it with 'best ice cream ever' and send the picture.

My phone starts dinging with incoming pictures from the others.

Everyone is doing something different today.

Brandt's phone buzzes just as I'm finishing my ice cream.

He opens it, is quiet for a second, and then laughs.

I'm about to ask him what's funny, but he tilts his phone to me.

Three texts saying that Aussie, Quinton, and Luke are now asking for ice cream. A text from Garrett pops up that Orion would probably be asking for some too if he wasn't taking a nap.

"Oops." I don't mean it and both of us laugh.

"Let's get home and get your medicine. Then we can spend the rest of the day inside where it's cool."

"Sounds like a plan to me," I say. "I had fun today with your family. Your brother is nice."

"He is," Brandt says. We're both quiet for a few minutes while he drives. I'm enjoying being in the cool air of the car. It’s almost lulling me to sleep. Brandt reaches over and squeezes my leg. "Have you talked to your family recently?"

"I haven't," I say. "Dad texted me a couple days ago just asking how moving in has been. Mom and my brother haven't though."

"Did you respond to your dad?"

I nod. "It was a short conversation. He asked how I was, I said doing good, asked about work, nothing serious."

"Do you want to talk to them again?" Brandt glances over at me and smiles, knowing this is a touchy subject.

"They're still my family," I start. I told him about what happened that day and Brandt was mad.

He wanted to go lecture my mom about the seriousness of the whole situation.

"I know she feels bad about it, but I also am a bit upset that she hasn't reached out.

I'm sure my brother is loving being the only kid in the house again. "

"I'm not going to push you to see them if you don't want to," Brandt says. "But if you decide you do, I'll be right there."

"I appreciate it." I want to change the subject for now. We're almost to the apartment. "How are we going to handle having your family over at the apartment? If Vivian does come over on Tuesday, what about my room with all my stuff?"

I don't feel right having an actual kid play with my toys. Especially if I’m not there.

I hear Brandt snicker and turn to look at him.

"Baby, I won't share your toys with her.

Those are yours alone. We can just lock your door when we have company over.

Vivian is really good at listening to rules, unlike someone I know. "

I smile, knowing that he's talking about me. The closer we get to being in the apartment, the more I can feel that itch to slip into my Little side. I've been playing all day, but not in my Little headspace. I'm looking forward to getting some time in.

"Are you still okay with me doing that?" I know I've been throwing tantrums and not listening to his rules here and there, but I want to make sure that he's still enjoying it.

I definitely still like when he gets all stern.

Now that we've had sex, I'm hoping that some of those punishments will be a bit more naughty.

"Of course," he says easily. He parks the car in his designated spot. My car is three down, in the opposite row. "I love that you're pushing the right buttons too, and not fighting me on the important things. I appreciate that."

He lifts his hand while he says the last bit and tucks a strand of hair back behind my ear. I lean my head into his touch, brushing my cheek against his palm. "I like it, too. Stern Daddy is my favorite."

"Really?" He pulls his hand back. It's no secret. I've told him this before. "Well, how about stern Daddy tells you that he wants you to go upstairs and take a shower? Then we can play for a bit before dinner and watch a movie?"

"Can I take a bath?" I ask quickly. "I want to play with my boats."

"As long as you promise to keep the water in the bathtub."

"I… Can't keep that promise." I'm being honest. Daddy opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. He nods once and it makes me laugh.

"Try not to get too much water on the floor," he says finally. He leans over the console and kisses me before we get out of the car. "I'll get your bath started and you take your medicine, okay?"

"Got it!"

He grabs the small cooler we brought and we head toward the elevator. I get hit with a sudden wave of tiredness and lean my head against Brandt's shoulder. I close my eyes for just a moment. At least I think it's a moment, but then the doors are opening.

"Ty, are you okay?" Brandt is right beside me, but his voice sounds far away. I nod. "Tyler, look at me."

I lift my head up and focus my eyes on him. "I'm okay. Just a long day."

"Baby, you don't get drops like that that quickly."

“I’m just sleepy, Daddy.” I smile up at him as he unlocks the door to the apartment. “Bath and bed, please.”