Page 35 of XOXO, Daddy
“Don’t move a muscle. Daddy will be right there, princess. Wait for me, okay?” The urgency in his voice was clear, as was his command.
“Okay…” I muttered.
He stayed with me on the phone as he drove over, giving me little words of praise and gentle commands to help keep me calm. He was such an incredibly good Daddy. Which made it even worse, feeling like this.
A knock sounded on the door a few moments later, and Daddy’s voice beckoned through the phone.
“I’m here, princess. Let Daddy in.” With a press on the app on my phone, the front door unlocked, letting him into my apartment. Loud footsteps rang through the space until he was there, standing in my doorway.
My knight in shining armor.
His arms wrapped around me, holding me close as I cried.
“Come with me to my car. Let Daddy take you home.” My tears ran anew at the words.
Let Daddy take you home.
It was true — too true. I felt at home with him. The idea of home being with him and not in this cold apartment only made me long for what I truly felt I could not have. How could home be with him, and this all still remain a secret?
I pushed away from his chest, wiping the tears from my cheeks as I tried to regain control of my breathing.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lost it like that. I’m okay, really. You don’t need—” But he pressed his fingers against my lips, halting my words.
“In this dynamic, you are not the one who tells me what I do or do not need to do. So, you have two options, princess. You can either come with me right now and walk to the car, or I will put you over my shoulder and carry you there myself. I don’t care which option you choose, but one will happen. Make your choice.”
I scoffed and rolled my eyes.
“You aren’t seriously going to — Jeepers!” I screeched as he did as he had promised. Lifting me clear up off the bed andtossing me up over his shoulder, he walked us both through my apartment, to my utter embarrassment.
“Put me down! I can walk! Daddy!” I hammered my fists over his back, lightly, mind you. But he paid me no attention. He carried me out of my apartment, checking my purse for my keys before just grabbing my purse like it was his own, and carrying me down the hall to the elevators.
Praying to whatever God existed that no one walked out of their apartments at that particular moment, I covered my face with my hands. As the elevator doors opened, he finally set me down. Keeping a hand at the small of my back, he guided me through the complex and out to the car.
The silent support brought me to tears again; the very thought of losing this, of losingus, was nearly unbearable.
Street lights shone brightly through the windows of Daddy’s car as we drove through the dark streets towards his house. I watched as the homes went from modest, one-story structures to massive, expensive homes as we drew closer to his neighborhood.
Not a word was spoken, but the way his hands gripped the steer wheel told me all I needed to know.
Daddy was not happy.
Tears slid down my cheeks as I turned to look out the window once more, my chin perched on my hand. He said nothing as tears began to run like rivers down my cheeks, my shoulders shaking as I silently cried.
I hadn’t even noticed we had arrived until he threw the car in park, not even bothering to park in the garage. He was out of the car in a flash, racing around the front and opening my door. His arms pulled me from the car, unbuckling me deftly.
I paid no attention. All I knew was Daddy’s arms were around me, and I was safe. At least for now. Without warning, he lifted me into his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist as hecarried me up the front steps and into the house, not even caring if anyone saw. What a luxury that must be.
Setting me on the sofa in the living room, I refused to let go. My arms held on around his neck with a vise-like grip.
“What happened? I’m right here,” he murmured against my hair, his hands running soothing circles over my back.
“It’s too much,” I managed to mutter with shaky, sob-wracked breaths.
“What’s too much?” Leaning back, he brushed my hair behind my ears, his thumbs gently brushing away the tears that streamed down my face.
“Everything,” I nearly wailed.
“Do you need help fixing things or do you need to let go for a little while?” he asked me, his brow furrowed somberly. My eyes popped open. The idea of letting it all go for a while was too good an offer to refuse.
