Page 141 of Double Daddies
“Papa is here. Shhhh, you’re okay. You’re at Whiskey Mountain Lodge. You’re safe, baby. Just take a deep breath for us.”
His arms are firmly wrapped around me, giving just enough pressure that it soothes me. I’m safe. I’m at the lodge with Brix and Elijah. My eyes go wide as a light is turned on over my head. I stare at Elijah, and he gives me a small smile.
Did they just call themselves Daddy and Papa?
“You’re okay. Sorry for scaring you. You were having a nightmare as we pulled into our parking spot, and it woke you up.” Elijah takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. “You’re okay, though. Let’s get you inside and feed you something.”
They don’t wait for my reply as Brix turns me around and hauls me into his arms. I wrap my legs around his waist as he walks to the cabin. I try to look at it, but I am met with a faint outline.
“You can see it tomorrow when it’s light,” he gently says. “Promise.”
I lay my head on his warm chest and relax as he walks into a warm cabin. Without moving, I move my eyes to look around, taking in everything or the lack of things. It’s bare…super bare, with the minimum couch, TV, and coffee table. There are no pictures or paintings on the walls as he walks in further.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it.
“Let’s go get some food in your tummy.” Brix pats my back. “Do you want cereal, French toast, chicken, pasta, or some eggs?”
“Milk?” I whisper.
“You need to eat something else with it, baby,” Brix croons, placing me on the counter.
“Chocolate milk?” I look at him.
“You can have chocolate milk, baby, but you need to eat something,” he repeats.
I grumble under my breath, not wanting to eat anything.
“How about some buttered noodles?” Elijah suggests as he walks into the kitchen. “Then you can have chocolate milk as you fall asleep.”
“Otay,” I whisper.
Elijah walks around the kitchen, getting my buttered noodles as Brix stands in front of me, his arms on either side of me, almost like he is making sure I don’t fall off the kitchen counter.
“Are you okay?” I whisper, looking at Brix.
We make eye contact, but I quickly look away. His stare makes me want to tell him everything and anything. Makes me squirm in my seat until he looks away.
Just by us looking each other in the eyes.
“Why do you ask that?” he asks.
“Yo-You are st-standing in front of m-me,” I stutter, getting all nervous.
“Just making sure you’re safe. I don’t know how tired you are, and I don’t want you slipping off.”
I search his face. I was right. He is trying to keep me safe, but why? I’m nothing to him.
“Here you are.” Elijah stands beside Brix, holding a bowl. “Why don’t you feed her while I get the chocolate milk ready?”
Brix takes the noodles, forking some before placing it against his lip. “Just perfect.”
“I would never make it too hot for our little bit,” Elijah mumbles before turning to me. “Do you want it in a cup, sippy cup, or bottle?”
My mouth hangs open as he says bottle. How do they know?
“You said in your application that you are a Little. No need to feel embarrassed. If you want a bottle, you can have one,” Elijah gently says.
“I—” I take a deep breath. I don’t know how to answer him. I’ve never used a bottle before but have always fantasized about using one. It was hard to have any Little things when Mateo or Lainey would come into my apartment at any time. I couldn’t have things lying around anywhere, not when they looked through my cupboards.
