Page 96 of Their Forever Daddy

“I wanted it to be a surprise!” Bottom lip trembling, Jesse sent a pleading look Edie’s way. “It wasn’t even meant to be a prank! We just… wanted to help.”

“And I appreciate that. But these animals are my responsibility. I’m the one being trusted with them, so if anything had gone wrong, it would be on me.”

“We’re really sorry,” Carly chimed in, looking as miserable as her friends. Even Noelle and Ginny looked a good bit more contrite than they had back in the barn.

“Oh, you’re certainly about to be. Rex, I trust you have your pocketknife on you?”

“Always.” Looking every bit the leather-clad bad boy, Rex pulled a switchblade from his jeans and popped it open. “Come on, princess. I’ve been meaning to show you how to pick a switch, anyway.”

Two by two, they filed out of the living room to the back of the house, where there were plenty of trees to choose from. Only Jesse hung back, tears sparkling on her lashes as she stood in place, obviously waiting for something.

“Something you want to ask me, babygirl?”

“Are you really mad?” she blurted out. “Like, really, really mad?”

Though she was enjoying playing the hardass, it wasn’t fair to keep her girl in such emotional turmoil. “No, baby. I understand what you were trying to do, and I appreciate the effort. So much. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t getting your naughty bottom switched along with your friends.”

Relief flashed over Jesse’s face and the tension eased from her shoulders. “I can handle that. I just don’t want you to hate me.”

“Babygirl, I…” Edie pressed her lips together. She couldn’t truthfully say she could never hate her, because she’d spent nearly a quarter of her life doing exactly that. “It’s going to take a lot more than a couple silly pranks to make me hate you. Come here.”

Opening her arms, she waited for Jesse to rush over, pressing herself against Edie so tightly it was a wonder she could breathe. “I don’t hate you. And I’m not mad. But I do need you to learn when it’s okay to surprise me with things and when it isn’t. Okay?”

“Yes, Ma’am. I’m really sorry I caused so much trouble. I didn’t mean to.”

“I know, baby.”

They were still wrapped up in each other when Grant stepped into the living room, both his brows raising. “Did I miss the big event?”

“No,” Edie assured him. “We were just clearing some things up before we went out to cut those switches.”

“Wait!” Yanking back, Jesse stared at her with her mouth slightly open. “Switches? As in plural?”

“Of course, babygirl. We need backups in case you pick a flimsy one and it breaks.”

“Oh man,” Jesse groaned. “This is gonna suck.”

Jesse

* * *

Cutting switches was much harder than she’d expected. Not only was the physical act of cutting a fresh branch from a tree more effort than she’d anticipated, just choosing one to cut was mentally exhausting. Some were definitely too big and scary, others were so thin she had a feeling they’d snap on the first impact. And Edie had made it clear that if the three she chose didn’t last as long as Edie wanted them to, they’d start the process all over again.

After what seemed like hours, they all had three switches cut and trimmed to Edie’s specifications. Now they were standing in a line, each holding their doom in their hands while the Daddies and Edie discussed what order everyone should go in.

In the end, Daddy retrieved a set of dice from one of Edie’s board games and it was decided they’d roll for it. Largest number first, smallest number last.

Jesse rolled a two.

Fucking snake eyes.

Not that she was all that anxious to experience her first switching. She knew what a skinny cane felt like, and she couldn’t imagine this would be much better.

“All right, Taylor Grace.” Edie held out her hand for Taylor’s switches. “You’re up first.”

Sighing heavily, Taylor stepped forward and handed Edie the thin branches. “We’re really, really sorry, Edie.”

“Thank you for the apology, honey. Bend over, hands on your knees, and try not to move out of position or put your hands back. I can promise that’s going to hurt you a lot more than either of us want it to if you do.”

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