Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Sydney
The sun was already high when Sydney finally opened her eyes. The thick curtains in the guest room let in just enough light to make the space glow softly. For a few long seconds, she just lay there, curled beneath a soft fleece blanket someone had tucked around her after she’d fallen asleep.
The smell of lavender still clung faintly to her skin from the bath she’d been ordered to take.
Not that Sydney had even thought about arguing.
She’d barely had the energy to thank Erika before sliding into the deep tub and sinking under the bubbles.
The sweet Erika had brought pizza, too. Comfort food, and something that Sydney could have easily gotten at home, so it didn’t make her feel even more homesick than she’d been feeling since the drama at the gate.
It was exactly what was needed. She ate until the ache in her stomach settled, and then fell asleep.
Slept and slept and slept.
She should have gotten up. Should have gotten dressed, found someone, anyone, to ask about Greg, about what came next. But instead opted to stay curled under the blanket, clutching Banana, like a lifeline. The fear was still there, the anxiety a constant presence in the room with her.
She was almost thirty years old, but at the moment had no interest in being anything other than the five-year-old she liked to be when...
Crud. When her Daddy video called her, so she could play.
A knock sounded on the door, stopping her spiral into the heartache she’d been hiding from. If a knock could be chipper... this one certainly was. Before Sydney could sit up fully, it opened and in bounced…
Well, the visitor could only be described as sunshine.
Long, loose brown hair, oversized pink hoodie with a glittery unicorn on the front, mismatched socks and bunny slippers. The girl in the doorway looked younger than Sydney, but she wasn’t convinced she was.
“Hi there, sleepy head,” she said grinning. “I’m Sadie! You must be Sydney!”
Sydney blinked. “Um... yes?”
Sadie was already halfway across the room before Sydney could decide whether to be nervous. Her smile was contagious, though, warm and mischievous, like she was constantly up to something and daring you to find out what it was.
“I would’ve come last night, but Daddy wouldn’t have it. He said you needed to rest,” she explained, plopping herself at the foot of my bed without waiting for an invitation. “But I wanted to meet you first thing today!”
Sydney sat up slowly, hugging her knees under the blanket. “Derek is your Daddy?”
“Uh-huh. But you better call him Master Derek if you don’t want a spanking or a good ten minutes in the corner thinking about respecting the Dominants on the Ranch!” she warned with a friendly wink.
A laugh escaped Sydney before she could stop it. Sadie beamed like her new friend had passed some kind of test.
“See? That’s already much better. You looked like a little storm cloud when I first walked in.
” Her voice softened slightly. “You don’t have to talk if you’re not ready, okay?
Or not at all if that’s not your thing. But you shouldn’t hide in here all day.
It’ll make your head go all twisty and no one wants that. ”
“I know,” Sydney admitted, brushing hair from her face. “I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do, or where to go, and going out there and figuring it out was just a bit too scary for early morning Sydney to do.”
“Well,” the young brunette said, standing suddenly and offering her hand to Sydney. “You’re supposed to come have breakfast with me. And where you’re doing that is at the cafeteria. And what you’re going to do is meet some of the sweetest, loudest, most chaotic Littles in the world.”
Sydney hesitated.
“Also,” Sadie added, eyes wide and dramatic, “they will lose their minds over your accent. Just warning you.”
Sydney’s cheeks flamed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s nothing special.”
Sadie gasped. “It’s gorgeous! Oh my gosh, say ‘tomato’.”
“Tomato?” she responded cautiously.
Sadie squealed like Sydney had just recited Shakespeare. “See? I love it! You sound like a fancy princess!”
Sydney was giggling now. Her new friend had given her no choice. And somehow she’d made it safe to giggle.
And so, five minutes later, she found herself in soft cotton leggings, one of her favorite hoodies, padding behind Sadie down the hallway.
She had Banana tucked under one arm, glad to be able to keep her treasured bunny close because even though she had managed a few giggles with a new friend, her heart was still feeling mighty bruised.
The cafeteria was bigger than Sydney expected, and noisier, too. Laughter echoed off the walls, mingling with the clatter of trays, the hum of conversation, and the occasional “no” commanded by a patient Daddy as a Little one tried to sneak a third helping of fruity loops or something sweet.
Normally, all the noise and people would have overwhelmed Sydney. But not this time.
This time she felt... like she’d come home.
Sadie didn’t even pause as they entered, grabbing Sydney’s hand and towing her straight toward a table near the windows where a small collection of Littles were already gathered.
“Everybody, this is Sydney!” Sadie announced, as if she were unveiling a shiny new toy on Christmas morning. “She’s brand new, from...” There was a dramatic pause before Sadie continued, “South Africa! Can you believe it?”
That got everyone’s attention.
A girl with wildly curly red hair gasped so loudly she almost choked on her cereal. “Like the actual South Africa where they have like zebras walking in the street?”
Sydney blinked. “Um... Yes. But they don’t actually do that.”
The redhead slapped the table. “Chloe,” she said, pointing to herself. “You just became my favorite person here. So no zebras. What about lions?”
“I mean,” Sydney began, her brow furrowing, “There are places—”
“I knew it!” Chloe turned to the others, triumphant.
“Chloe,” said another girl with long black braids, who looked adorable and was swinging her legs under the bench. “Stop yelling. You’re going to scare her.”
“That’s Nat,” Sadie said in a loud whisper.
A dramatic sigh came from across the table. “Honestly, if someone doesn’t offer Sydney some pancakes right now, I’m going to throw myself on the floor and cry. She’s probably starving!”
“And that’s Chastity,” Sadie explained with a grin.
“Starving is a bit of an exaggeration,” Sydney offered, amused. “I did get something to eat last night.”
Chastity beamed at her. “What did you have?”
“Pizza.”
An immediate chorus of approval went up around the table.
“Okay, that’s a good start to your holiday,” said a sweet brunette girl seated next to Chloe.
“I’m Megan. I’m just visiting for the day; we live over on the Ridge.
My Daddy is teaching an art class later.
But it’s super nice to meet you, and we have to get you some real American food before you leave. ”
“Ranch dressing,” Chloe said firmly, eyes wide. “I heard somewhere you don’t have it in South Africa. Please save the day and tell me you’ve had some.”
Sydney wrinkled her nose slightly. “Nope.”
The table fell silent.
Nat dropped her spoon. Megan covered her mouth. A small boy in a dinosaur onesie who’d been quietly coloring until that moment, looked up like she’d just confessed to never breathing air.
“You’ve never had ranch dressing?” Chloe whispered cautiously.
“You poor, sweet, sheltered angel,” Chastity said, reaching out like she might actually cry. “Someone get the ranch. Stat.”
Sadie was laughing so hard she nearly fell off her seat. “You’re all being silly. Sydney can’t have ranch with her pancakes! Ranch is for everything but pancakes. Like pretzels, chicken nuggies, carrot sticks, french fries—”
“—pizza,” Chloe added. “Try it on pizza. It will change your life.”
Sydney covered her face with her hands, cheeks burning but her smile was wide. “You lot are nuts!”
“And your accent is divine,” Megan giggled.
“Told you so,” Sadie sing-songed to Sydney before nudging her with her elbow. “Now, do you want to tell me why the big bad Master Levi and his very sexy boyfriend Roland are eyeing you like they want to have you for breakfast?”