CHAPTER 10
SCARLETT
Ilook over at Daddy and grumble. So sure, he’s right that we needed to go to the doctor in town, but I still didn’t like it.
“I don’t want to go back to him,” I grumble once again.
“If anything changes, we will be,” he replies, grabbing my hand.
Daddy has Juniper in his arms as we walk back to the car. The doctor didn’t tell me anything bad but said he wants me to get more rest, and that I’m cleared to have sex.
I don’t see how that is concerning when he practically said I am okay. He did ask me about postpartum depression, and I said I felt fine. He wants me and Daddy to keep an eye on it in case it changes.
“But he just said I need to sleep more.” I look at Daddy.
“And to look out for signs of postpartum depression,” Daddy adds.
“I know, but that doesn’t mean I need to go back to him,” I point out.
“If you stay well, you won’t have to go back to him. Unless you get pregnant again before Aiden is ready.”
“Then we need to wait until Aiden is. I don’t like him. He was so cold and clinical. So weird.” I shudder at the thought of having to go back to him.
Daddy puts Juniper in her car seat before he helps me into the car.
“Do you want to go get some French fries and ice cream?” Daddy asks.
“Please?” My whole face lights up.
Hot French fries sound so delicious right now, especially if some of them are dipped in ice cream.
“Oh, please,” I beg.
“Wow, you’re okay. We’re going to grab some.” He cups my face.
“Sorry, it just sounds so good,” I whisper, looking away.
I don’t know why I feel so bad, but I do. I don’t know why I reacted that way when he asked if I wanted any.
“Little One,” he gently says.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Maybe it’s because he would ask me if I wanted something and I didn’t beg, he wouldn’t give it to me,” I blurt out.
My eyes go wide as I look Daddy in the eyes.
“I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m really sorry. I ruined the whole day. You can take us back to the lodge. I’ll be out of your hair as soon as possible,” I rush out.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I can’t believe I just said that. I can’t believe I just compared Daddy to him. Daddy is nothing like him.
“Scarlett.” His voice is gentle, but I still flinch. “Look at Daddy,” he coos at me.
I shake my head, not wanting to see the wrath on his face. A calm voice normally means a person is pissed off.
“Scarlett, now.” His voice is firm. “I’m not going to ask again.”
I turn my head slightly. He gives me a smile and waits for me to look at him fully.
“Good girl,” he whispers. “My good girl.”
My eyebrows pinch together. Is he not mad at me?
“I’m not mad,” he quietly tells me. “I’m not mad at all.”
“Did I say that out loud?” I ask.
He nods. “You did, and that’s okay. I’m glad you did. I’m not mad at you at all, understand?”
I nod, too, trying my hardest to believe him.
“I know it might take some time for you to believe that I’m not going to get angry at you for every little thing you do, but that’s okay. I’ll happily remind you.” He kisses my forehead. “We’re in this together. I’m not leaving you.”
He’s not leaving me. I don’t know why I needed to hear that, but I did. The relief that flooded over me was huge.
“Such a good girl,” he whispers. “It’s okay to feel things. I know you’ve been through a lot. I’m here if you ever want to talk.”
I smile my agreement and he smiles.
“So pretty. So beautiful.” He cups my face.
“I’m utterly in love with you,” he whispers. “With you and Juniper.”
“I love you, too,” I reply immediately, wanting him to know I truly mean it.
“Now, are you ready for ice cream?”
“Can I get two scoops of ice cream?”
He chuckles. “You can get three or four if you want,” he says as he shuts my door.
I can get three or four? A smile spreads across my face as Daddy climbs into the car.
He takes my hand. “You can’t have five or six. I’m going to have to limit you for today. Four is the max.”
“I totally wanted seven, though.” I giggle.
He kisses the back of my hand. “Not happening, Little One.”
We’re sitting in the corner of the ice cream shop so Daddy can see out. I didn’t realize why until I asked, because there were perfectly good spots in the front.
Daddy told me he wanted both of us absolutely safe, and the only way he could do that was if we sat in the corner so he could see whoever walks through the door.
That made my heart melt and speed up. He is always thinking about our safety. He is always looking out for us.
“We should come in here once a week and sit in this exact spot so people know it’s ours. Then one day, I will have finger fuck you while we eat our ice cream,” Daddy says just as I take a bite of my ice cream.
My eyes go wide as I choke, my spoon hitting the table in front of us. Coughing, I try to get everything up.
“Shit.” He turns, patting my back. “You’re okay. Let a little air out. Such a good girl. You’re okay.”
I follow everything Daddy says, and before I know it, I’ve stopped coughing and can breathe again. Tears prickle in my eyes, but I quickly blink them away.
“That was scary,” I whisper, turning to Daddy.
That’s when I realize everyone is looking at us.
“Is she okay?” one of the servers calls out.
My face heats up, and I bury it in Daddy’s chest. His arms wrap around me protectively.
“She’s all right. Thank you,” Daddy loudly replies. “You’re okay. Everyone has stopped looking,” he gently says so only I can hear him.
I don’t look up, though. I just need to feel safe for a couple more seconds.
“I’ve got you,” he exhales. “Daddy should have made sure you weren’t eating anything when I said that.”
I pull back and nod. “You should have. I could have died,” I exaggerate.
Daddy raises an eyebrow.
“Okay, maybe I wouldn’t have died since you were there, but still.”
“You would not have died. Nothing bad would have happened.” He snuggles me tightly.
I look to my left to see Juniper fast asleep in her car seat. I fed her in the car before getting out for ice cream.
“Do you really want to do that?” I look back at him.
“Yes, if you want to. If it’s a hard limit with people around, then it’s okay. We can recreate it at my cabin.” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“Can I think about it?” I ask, unsure how he is going to react to that.
Daddy kisses my forehead. “Think about it all you want. But don’t think about it too much and talk yourself out of it.”
“I won’t,” I reply.
Which is kind of a lie because that’s what I normally do. Think about things way too much and end up talking myself out of it. It’s hard not to when I’ve second-guessed decision-making for years.
“If you start to, I want you to come to me right away,” he gently says. “And if you want to just talk it out with me, we can do that. You just let me know.”
“Maybe when we get home, we can talk about it more?” I suggest.
I freeze as I stare at him.
Home.
I called his cabin home.
But that’s exactly what it is. It feels like home and has done since the day we arrived.
Daddy kisses my forehead. “Of course we can. And I love that you called it home. Makes me so happy.”
I smile. “Makes me happy, too. It feels like home, really does.”
“I’m glad. Now, let’s finish our ice cream and head home.”