Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Maybe there will come a time in the future when I decide I don’t want to do it any longer, but for now, it would be far too stressful for me to also quit my job on top of all my other life changes.
The only thing I’ll need to worry about is being always partially in Little space while I’m working. It’s not something I’ve been able to manage, but I’ve gradually been changing my ways for the past two weeks with Daddy’s help, so I’m confident I can do it.
This is a huge step for me. I’m going way out of my comfort zone. I’m a hermit. So introverted that I’d rather not leave my apartment. For some reason, I’m really good at my job and don’t mind taking and making phone calls even though most introverts would say there’s no way they can talk on the phone.
For me, it’s different. My brain tells me that talking on the phone is not the same as looking someone in the eye. I go into my head and pretend I’m someone entirely different. After all, the patient can’t see me. The phone gives me confidence I don’t ordinarily have. I hide behind the anonymity.
Daddy yanks me out of my musings when he tucks his finger under my chin and tips my head back. “Everything you could possibly need is already on the island, sweet girl. We have Archie in the backpack. You okay?”
I nod quickly. “Yeah. I think so.” I wring my fingers together in front of me. I’m wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and I’m well-aware that the jeans are not going with us. They will stay in Daddy’s car at the port.
No matter how excited I am, it’s also scary and unnerving. I’ve been isolated here with Eli for two weeks. There will be a lot of people at the port, on the ferry, and all over the island. I’m not very good with people, but Daddy is aware. He will do everything in his power to make sure I’m comfortable.
“Ready, Grace?” he asks.
“Yes, Sir.”
He takes my hand and leads me out of the apartment. There’s very little chance anyone will see us on the way to the car because it’s very early in the morning. Plus it’s a weekend. Most people are not out of bed.
Not that I care if anyone sees us. Why would I? The most handsome man who lives in the building is mine. No one knows that because they’ve never seen us together, and if they did, they would do a doubletake. The thought makes me giggle inside. Imagine people in our building seeing us holding hands or kissing. The majority of the people who live here have probably never noticed me a single time. I’m certain all of them have seen Daddy. He walks with his head held high, and he’s memorable. I keep my face down and move like a mouse.
Daddy threads his fingers with mine as we enter the elevator, and he never releases me until he opens the door to his car to help me climb in. He even reaches across to buckle me before putting the backpack behind my seat and rounding to his side.
As he starts the engine, he tells me, “Most Daddies have car seats for their Littles, but I didn’t want you behind me today. I want to be able to hold your hand while I drive.”
He grabs my fingers and squeezes them. “You’re nervous. Let’s talk through what’s got you in a dither on the way, okay?”
I nod. There’s nothing to talk through, really. I just have jitters. It’s normal for me. I’m embarking on something new, and even though I’m fully committed and want to do this, change is hard. It’s scary.
“Ask me every single question that comes to mind, Little one,” he adds while he pulls out of the parking garage.
“I’m mostly worried about the daycare. What if the other Littles don’t like me?”
“Ah, sweetie. You’re the nicest person I know. Everyone will like you. I know you have trouble meeting new people. I’ll be with you every step of the way. I promise I won’t just drop you off at the daycare and walk away. I’ll go in with you and make sure you’re fully acclimated before I leave.”
Daddy offered to set me up on a playdate with his friend Tate’s Little girl, Sophia, but I turned him down. I didn’t want to spend any of the last fourteen days with other people.
“Next question,” he encourages.
“Are you serious that all of the bathrooms on the island are locked?”
“Yep.”
“What if we’re out somewhere, and I need to go number two?”
He glances at me. “If that’s a concern or becomes a problem, I’ll give you a suppository first thing in the morning to clean you out before we ever leave the house.”