Chapter 29
PATRICK
Isat in the little shop near a bank of mirrors, waiting for Kylie to try on her fifth outfit.
I loved watching her twirl in dresses and jump around in cute rompers, her arms flailing and her gasping at herself when she caught her reflection in the mirror.
The whole time I wondered how I had gone this long without this in my life.
The joy she showed, the appreciation she exhibited for the smallest things.
The laugh she couldn’t stop herself from emitting when she made fun of herself or, her favorite new pastime, making fun of me.
“Daddy, you know you can’t wear a jacket with this.” She smoothed down the pleats of her tutu attached to a black denim overall-style dress. “It will smush down the bottom.”
“Would you rather have smushed down bottoms or a hot bottom?” I held up the jacket I found for her outfit. She dropped her arms to her side and let out the cutest sigh before stomping over to me. She reluctantly slipped on the cropped jacket, which left the black and grey tulle free to spin.
Kylie skipped back over to the small platform in front of the mirror and jumped up with both feet as if it were five feet tall.
After executing some controlled spins, she came to a stop, looking at the mirrors.
The rustling of the skirt filled the room as she twisted and turned.
Then she paused and looked at me in the mirror.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing, Daddy.” She turned to face me. “I’m just having the best time. Thank you for the clothes. I’ll pay you back for them.”
“No, you won’t, but I appreciate you offering.
” I stood behind her and placed my hands on her hips.
Even with her on the stage, I stood taller than her five-foot five frame.
She reached back for my hand and placed them around her waist. Her white socks ruched like dancers’ leg warmers, and a new pair of sparkly Chuck Taylors completed the look.
“Daddy,” she whined. “You know I get paid since you’re my boss. I can afford it.”
I kissed the side of her face. “When you are with Daddy, Daddy pays.”
“Your offering to pay because you know I may soon be unemployed?” She pouted.
I spun her around and kissed her until she melted into me. “Monday,” I said and patted her on the butt. I stared down at her, shaking my head. “I assure you. I can afford it.”
“Okay.” She spun and leaned back, rocking us back and forth.
I looked at my watch. “Come on, little sneak. We don’t want to be late for the next adventure.”
I dropped Kylie off at her place and ran back to mine to shower and change. I told her I’d be back in thirty minutes to help her get dressed. When I returned, she was sitting in the bathroom at the vanity, frowning. Her shoulders were raised to her ears.
“Hey little girl.” I knelt beside her. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m nervous.” She tapped the hairbrush against her open palm. “Rayna and Tinley will be there tonight. What if they are still mad at me and don’t want me there? I don’t want to ruin their night.”
“You are entitled to enjoy the fun too.” I kissed her cheek, hating that she felt such guilt about what happened with the girls. “Do you want to talk to the girls before we go?”
“Yeah, but–” She slapped the hairbrush again. I took it out of her hand and placed it on the counter. “I don’t want to interrupt their fun, either.”
“Let me check with them.” I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and dialed Kyler’s number. I stood and took the call in the next room, in case Rayna wasn’t receptive to the idea.
“Patrick.”
“Hi Uncle Pat,” she giggled. Kyler had me on speakerphone. “Patrick. Tell Daddy to stop being grumpy.”
“Be careful, Rayn Drop, or you will see who’s grumpier when you have a red bottom.” Kyler laying down the law made me want to watch my mouth.
“Yes, sir.”
Works on Rayna, too, apparently.
“What’s up, Unc?”
“I believe he called me, Little Ninja.”
“Actually, I’d like to speak to you both.
” I started. “Kylie would like to meet with Rayna and Tinley before the party tonight. You have every right to feel how you feel, but Kylie and I have discussed the incident from yesterday, and she would like the opportunity to explain herself and apologize if you and Tinley are open to it.”
Rayna didn’t speak, but she took a deep breath and exhaled.
“She understands she betrayed your trust.” I added.
“Yours too.” She sighed.
“Remember what we talked about, baby.” Kyler said.
“Daddy told me you like Kylie and feel a connection to her, and he’s letting you decide how to deal with her.”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t want to bring anyone into the family that my two best girls didn’t approve of.” I hoped Kyler hadn’t mentioned my threat to leave. He wouldn’t have, because he didn’t do things that upset his little.
“If you trust her and really like her, then we will try.”
“Thank you, Rayna. That’s very mature of you.”
“Well, if I have to be the grown-up in this situation, relatively speaking, I will.” But she giggled, which broke the tension. “Do you really like her? Is she your forever little?”
“I hope so.”
“Then, we will accept her with open arms.” Rayna’s voice turned into a whisper. “But it might be awhile before we can invite her into the clan. Is that okay?”
“That’s perfectly okay and very fair.” I looked at my watch. “I was going to bring her to Quad IV tonight. Should I call Tinley?” I asked.
“I’ll tell her,” Rayna said.
“Josh and Tinley are coming up here for a little pregame before the festivities. Why don’t you bring Kylie up and we can all go together?” Kyler asked. “That way the girls can clear the air.”
“Great.” I walked back into the bathroom. “We’ll be up shortly.” I caught Kylie’s gaze in the mirror. “Rayna said, okay. She will hear you out.”
Kylie had fixed her hair into a sleeked-back bun on the top of her head. She breathed an enormous sigh of relief. I stepped up beside her. “Now let’s get you dressed.”
“Kylie.” I grabbed both my girl’s hands on the elevator ride up and squeezed them. “Everything is going to be okay. Stop fidgeting.”
“I’m trying, but—”
“No buts needed.” I kissed her cheek. “It’s all going to work out. It has to.”
“What do I say to them?”
“Just tell the truth.”
The elevator stopped on the PH floor. I stepped out. Kylie hadn’t moved.
“What’s wrong, little girl?” She stared down the long hallway.
“Daddy.” She wrapped her arms around my waist and squeezed.
Maybe this was too much, too soon for my little girl.
She had spent very little time with other littles.
She didn’t know how loyal and how forgiving they could be, especially Tinley.
But beyond forgiveness, they also had rules.
Rayna and her clan had even more rules than most.
“If this is too much too soon, let me know and we can do this some other time,” I said.
“No, it’s not that.” She squeezed me tighter. I bent down and lifted her in my arms. Her legs wrapped around my waist. Her head rested on my shoulder.
“Tell me what’s on your mind, Kylie.”
“I was just thinking about how much fun I had today.” She lifted her head. “I never felt so open and free and safe to be myself in my entire life. Thank you, Daddy.”
“You are welcome, little girl.” With one arm remaining under her ass, I pressed her against the wall and caressed her cheek.
I placed my lips on hers. She whimpered against my mouth and opened for me to explore.
The spark between us had ignited into a flame.
Still contained, but it could burn uncontrollably in an instant.
I was so lost in the kiss that I didn’t register the elevator’s ding until it was too late.
“Excuse us.” Josh stood there, attempting to cover Tinley’s eyes. “Geez, you two, get a room–you only have five hundred to choose from.”
Tinley was tripping over herself in giggles. Kylie wiped the smeared lip gloss off her lips as I placed her back on her feet.
“Sorry about that.” She covered her mouth and then joined Tinley in giggles.
“What’s so funny?” I growled at them both.
“That’s a pretty shade on you, Uncle Patrick,” Tinley pointed at my mouth.
“Sweet T, it’s not polite to point.” Josh chuckled. “But she’s right. Pink is your color.”
I wiped the lip gloss off my lips.
“You look very pretty, Daddy.”
Everyone laughed. “Keep it up, little sneak.” I hugged Kylie.
Tinley gasped and screamed. We all went on high alert. Kylie and I grabbed for our guns even though neither of us was carrying. We were off duty tonight.
“Tinley, baby, what’s wrong?” Josh asked.
Tinley didn’t speak for a few seconds. I scanned; the hallway was clear.
“You,” she aimed a finger at Kylie, “called him,” she gestured toward me, “Daddy.”
“I–um–” Kylie stammered.
“That’s amazing!” Tinley jumped up and down and then jumped over toward Kylie and hugged her. Then she hugged me. Then she took off down the hall.
“Tinley, stop running!” called Josh. She ignored him and laid her finger on the scanner near the door. Typically, Tinley wouldn’t barge into rooms. She was in the system for her safety, but she was a polite little girl.
“Rayna.” She screamed into the room as if she were calling out fire in a building. “Patrick is a daddy.”
Two seconds later, Rayna stepped into the hallway. I half expected her to grab the door and close it so we couldn’t get in. Kyler appeared next to her.
“Look.” Tinley pointed. “Kylie is his little girl. Isn’t that incredible!
” She grabbed Rayna’s hand and stared into her eyes.
“She’s our very own little bodyguard forever.
” Some nonverbal conversation passed between Rayna and Tinley.
They both turned to Kylie and smiled the widest, toothiest grins.
Their smiles were identical—wide, bright, and unnervingly enthusiastic.
They waved us forward. Kylie gripped my hand harder.
“What have I just agreed to?” Kylie whispered.
“No backing out now.” I chuckled, but held her tight.
“Hi, Mr. Grant. Mr. Burroughs.” She gave them each a crooked smile. “Is it okay for me to speak to Rayna and Tinley for a minute?”
The smiles feel. Both girls looked worried.