Chapter Eleven
The next morning, I wake to my phone buzzing.
Lily: What's the emergency???
Madison: Holly's bringing her man.
Chloe: WHAT!
Amber: THIS IS NOT A DRILL!
I groan. "Madison's staging an ambush."
Justin, already awake and reading something on his phone, glances over. "What kind of ambush?"
"Book club wants to meet you. Tonight, we’re having a zoom meeting."
"Okay."
I blink. "Just okay?"
"I told you I wanted to meet them." He sets down his phone. "So let's do it."
"They're going to grill you."
"I expect nothing less."
"Madison's going to ask inappropriate questions."
"I can handle Madison."
"Chloe's going to analyze our dynamic."
"Good. She should."
I stare at him. "You're really not nervous?"
"Should I be?"
"Most guys would be terrified."
"I'm not most guys." He pulls me on top of him, hands settling on my hips. "And I'm not afraid of people who love you. I want to know them. I want them to know I'm serious about you."
My chest tightens. "You're sure?"
"Completely." He grins. "Besides, how bad can a zoom meeting full of littles be?"
"Oh, you sweet summer child."
That evening, I sit on Justin’s couch, my laptop open on the table in front of us, trying not to hyperventilate.
"They're going to eat you alive," I warn him.
"Then I'll rise from the ashes." He takes my hand. "Stop worrying."
"Easy for you to say."
He kisses me softly. "I've faced down shareholders, difficult employees, and angry guests. I think I can handle your book club."
"Those were amateurs compared to this."
He laughs, and the sound makes me smile despite my nerves.
Madison’s face is the first to pop up on the screen. She's dressed up—which for Madison means she's wearing lipstick and her good jeans—and her eyes go wide when she sees Justin.
"Holy shit," she breathes. "The pictures did not do you justice."
"Madison!" I hiss.
"What? I'm just saying. Everyone else should be on in a second.” Within a minute, Lily, Chloe, Amber, Maya, and Emily are all on my screen and looking at Justin like he's a specimen under glass.
"Everyone," I say nervously. "This is Justin. Justin, this is... everyone."
"Ladies," Justin says, completely at ease. "Holly's told me a lot about you. Thank you for taking care of her."
Smooth. Very smooth.
“We have questions,” Madison starts.
"I expected nothing less."
We settle back on the couch together, Justin's hand squeezing mine in reassurance. The weight of six pairs of eyes studying us is almost physical.
Lily speaks first. "So. You're the boss."
"I am."
"And you're dating our Holly."
"I am."
"That doesn't concern you? The power dynamic?"
"It concerns me greatly. Which is why we disclosed it properly through HR, established clear boundaries at work, and reassigned Holly's reporting line." He says it calmly, matter-of-factly. "I take the ethics of the situation very seriously."
Chloe leans forward, staring into the camera intensely. "And the other dynamic? The one that's not about work?"
My face flames. "Chloe—"
"It's okay," Justin says. "Yes. We have a Daddy Dom/little girl dynamic. It's consensual, discussed extensively, and built on trust and communication. Holly has a safe word that she can use at any time, for any reason."
It’s dead silent.
Then Amber grins. "I like him."
"Okay, but let's get to the important stuff," Madison says. "What are your intentions?"
"My intentions?"
"With Holly. Are you serious about her or is this a fling?"
Justin's hand tightens on mine. "This is the most serious I've ever been about anything that isn't the park. Holly is it for me."
"It?" Maya asks.
"The person I choose. The person I want to build a life with." He looks at me when he says it, and my heart stops. "I know it's fast. But I know what I want. And I want her."
Emily dabs at her eyes dramatically. "That's beautiful."
"Hold on," Chloe says. "Holly. How do you feel about all this?"
I take a breath. "Terrified. Happy. Overwhelmed. But mostly... sure. For the first time in my life, I'm sure about something."
"Even with the age gap?" Lily asks.
"Especially with it. He has his life together. He knows what he wants. He's not playing games."
"And you're okay with him being in charge? I know you, Holly. And sometimes…" Madison's tone is careful.
"I'm more than okay with it. I need it. The structure, the care—it, no he, makes me feel safe." I look at my friends. "I know it's not for everyone. But it's right for me."
"That's all we needed to hear," Chloe says softly.
The interrogation continues for another hour.
They ask about his family, his work, his plans for the park's expansion.
They ask about my decision to stay at the park instead of pursuing a job elsewhere and of course about our relationship—how we handle conflict, what we do for fun, whether we've talked about the future. The big book club would never, but these girls? They are all littles, like me and they are my village, my people. I’m okay with this. If they like him? It's confirmation.
Justin answers everything honestly, patiently, never getting defensive even when Madison asks pointed questions about whether he's taking advantage of my age or inexperience.
"If anything," he says, "Holly's the one who changed me. She made me remember why the park matters. She made me want to be better."
"Okay," Madison finally says. "You pass."
"Pass?"
"The friend test. You can keep her."
Justin's mouth curves. "I appreciate the approval."
"But hurt her," Amber adds, "and we know how to hide a body."
"Noted."
Emily speaks next, "He's good, Holly. Really good."
"I know."
One by one, my friends warm to him. By the end of the night, they're laughing at his stories, asking about the park, making plans to visit.
After we close the lid of the computer, Justin turns to me, "that wasn't so bad."
"They liked you."
"Did they?"
"They loved you. Madison doesn't approve easily."
"Good to know." He brings my hand to his mouth, kisses my knuckles. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For letting me into your life. All of it. Your work, your friends, your heart."
"Thank you for wanting in."