Page 20 of Beachy Sweetheart
I finish the nana and the cereal to praise from Daddy.
“All full?”
I nod. Now my hands and face are sticky, and I don’t like it. I raise my hands, not wanting to touch anything.
Daddy gives me a knowing smile. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up, then we can go play with your friends.” Daddy picks me up and walks me to the sink. There’s something about how his hand presses to the small of my back that makes me feel cherished. How strange to feel this way already. He helps me wash my hands, then he’s so gentle as he wipes my face clean. “All clean.” He boops my nose, then drops a kiss to my forehead.
I suck in a breath. His eyes go wide, but I lean forward again, so he knows it’s okay.
“More.” I point to my forehead and he follows through until he has me giggling because it tickles.
“How are you so sweet?” He asks.
“Momma saids she ate lots of chocolates when I was in her tummy.” I poke at mine.
Daddy snorts and pulls me to his side. He’s so warm and cuddly. I wrap my arms around him, wanting to breathe him in. Daddy’s scent is subtle, no strong cologne, which I appreciate. He smells like clean linen and softness.
“Trevor!” Maddie screams and runs to me. I let go of Daddy right when Maddie runs into me and knocks me to the floor.
“Maddie,” her Mommy says, “please don’t break any bones tonight.”
“I’m good!” Maddie says just as she tickles me and I squirm under her. “Trevy is okay. Rights?”
“I okays!” We wrestle until Maddie starfishes beside me.
“I missed you.” She grabs my hand and squeezes. “Come play!” She drags me back to my feet and we join Bel and his Daddy by the ball pit.
“T-wrex is swimming!” Bel says holding his toy before dropping it into the pit. “He needs more fwrends!”
The three of us toss more dinosaurs into the pit.
“Where’s Evan?” Playingaround123abc is a Middle that usually plays with us. He’s supposed to be here.
Maddie shrugs. “Dunno, supposed to be here tonight. He might have gotten in troubles with his Mommy.”
Bel nods. “He was bad.”
“Oh.” My shoulders drop. I hope he’s okay. I’ll have to remember to message him when I’m Big again.
“We here.” Bel shoves on my shoulder.
Maddie tosses a ball at me. Luckily, I catch it before it hits me in the head.
“We play,” Maddie says, and she drags me over to the blocks. Then the Barbies. Then the coloring area. Daddy Andy is perfect and plays with us and checks in with me. He makes sure I stay hydrated and brings me little snackies, too.
The later it gets, the sleepier I get.
I can barely keep my eyes open as I try to color a picture of a raccoon dancing with a chicken. I’m drooling all over my arm when Daddy pats my head.
“Sweetheart, how about we get into one of those rocking chairs and I read you a story?”
“‘kay.” I rub my eyes as I push to my feet and follow Daddy to the story time space. The rocking chairs are oversized and I can sit next to him if I want, but I really want to sit in his lap.
I crawl up beside him and he pats his knee. “I grabbed a story about a raccoon because I think you’ll like it.”
I settle in and sigh against his chest. “Tank you, Daddy. You pwerfect.” My thumb goes to my mouth and I hold Bandit close. My words must have affected Daddy, because he wraps me in a hug. I soak in the affection, needing every touch. “Daddy comfy.”
He kisses the top of my head. I really like that. So much. I nod and pat the top of my head again. He kisses it over and over and over. I think I like this having a Daddy thing.
