Chapter 13

Maddy

Daddy Colin. It was exciting to think of him that way. He was my daddy now. He had said so. I felt it strongly in my bones. I hoped he had the same opinion of me.

I was pretty sure he did. He had walked with me hand in hand to deliver me to the littles room. And he had gotten me juice. Only daddies did that.

Now he'd just texted me, worrying I might get tired. I loved being looked after like this. I loved that he cared. Plus, he'd gotten me into the club for free. I'd been worried about how I'd pay for it. I had made some tips at work, but I needed those for gas and food until my next paycheck.

My coloring was beautiful tonight. I didn't color like a baby. I wasn't feeling all that baby-ish at the moment. I found a great picture of a lion and I blended all sorts of colors into his mane. Gold. Green. Red. Brown. When I put my mind to it, I could make pretty nice pictures in my empty books at home. I had always loved drawing. I did it all with crayon because I couldn't afford expensive pencils and pastels. Surprisingly, I made it work. It was my art.

"That's pwetty!" The boy to my right could not keep his coloring within the lines. He held his crayon awkwardly.

"Thank you."

"I wanna learn to be that good when I'm bigger."

"You can. Just be patient," I said.

"I a little boy. I not growed up yet."

"That's okay." I smiled at him. He was in diapers which explained a lot.

"My name is James." He pointed so hard at himself he hit himself in the chest with his finger.

"Hi, James. I'm Maddy."

"Hi, Maddy."

James was rather cute with gold curls falling over his eyes. He kept sticking out his tongue as he scribbled furiously with his crayons.

"I a good boy. Daddy say so. But I still have to wear diapers."

"You should probably do what your daddy says."

"I do. I good. I like when Daddy lies on top of me and tells me so."

I couldn't help but giggle. James joined in.

"Where your daddy?" James asked.

"He works here. We're going out after the club closes."

James nodded his understanding. "My daddy is here, too, but not here-here. He went to watch growed-up stuff I not allowed to watch."

"Well, we can stick together until our daddies come back."

"'kay."

It was hard to concentrate. I kept thinking of Colin and how much I wanted to be with him. I wanted to see him. Watch him work. The time passed slowly. I wasn't complaining, but I felt anxious, like I just wanted to see him so badly right now that it almost hurt.

There was a lot of stuff in the room to occupy me. A lot of toys and books. Games. Puzzles. A TV on the wall showed endless cartoons. I watched some of those for a while. They were fun.

But Colin wasn't at my side. It felt wrong and empty. Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. I got out my phone and texted him.

Maddy:Do you have a break coming? Can I spend your break with you?

Colin:Of course. I have a half hour lunch break and our break room has a full kitchen. But I thought I'd order some appetizers from the bar. Would you like that?

Maddy:Yes. I can't wait.

I didn't wantto make him think he had to provide everything for me. Yet, that was what a daddy did, and Colin had said he was a daddy who liked to take care of everything.

I started to rock back and forth on the beanbag chair where I sat watching the TV. I was both nervous and excited. Too excited to sit still. Fifteen minutes wasn't a long time to wait, but it seemed like forever.

Finally, Colin walked through the door, one hand holding a couple of food boxes. I could smell it from here. I nearly squealed as I jumped up to greet him. I ran to hug him, carefully navigating beneath the boxes and under his free arm.

"I'm happy to see you, too," he said.

He led me to the employee lounge, saying it was fine for him to have a guest there. He got me a soda and revealed the food. Hot wings and mini quesadillas and spinach dip. Yummy.

I'd come straight from work and hadn't eaten. I was starving. After Colin got us sodas, I curled up next to Colin on the couch and dug in.

There were only two other employees in the lounge, and they left us to ourselves, both involved in their phones.

Colin put his arm around me as we ate. He kept saying, "Here, try this one." And feeding me bites of food.

"Are you testing me out to see if I like to be fed?"

"Maybe."

"I do."

He laughed and then fed me the rest of whatever I asked for.

"Wing!"

He brought the wing to my lips. His fingers were covered in sauce. I didn't want to miss a drop, so I licked his fingers before every bite.

"Baby, you will be my undoing."

I loved the compliment. We hadn't even kissed yet, but the intimacy with Colin was growing, and I wanted more.

Later, he took me back to the littles room well fed and happy.

My skin was warm all over as I sat in front of the TV. It was all I could do. The littles and daddies around me had become a low mumble. I didn't hear or see them clearly. All I could think of was Colin.

The time passed quickly as I daydreamed. I may have even dozed off because before I knew it, a hand rested on the top of my head. I wasn't startled. I knew who it was.

"Time to go, baby," Colin said.

I got up and grabbed Kornie to my chest. I took his hand with my other hand.

On the way out, men were still hanging around. The club would not close for another hour or so.

"Are you tired, baby?" Colin asked when we got to my car.

I shook my head.

"Are you hungry?"

I really wasn't. "Can we go for coffee?"

"Of course, we can."

We drove with me following Colin to an all-night diner.

Every minute we talked at the diner, and I told him about my life and my feelings and how I thought I was alone in my discovery that I liked little things, I felt closer to him. We sat and talked non-stop until the sun started to come up.

"It's so late. Or early. You need to get your sleep before your own shift, baby."

"Yeah. But I don't want to leave you."

"I promise I'll text you tomorrow, okay?"

I nodded.

Then he leaned down and kissed me right on the lips. It made my body feel light and my mind dizzy.

I felt like I was floating as I drove home. I wondered when I would get invited to his house. It couldn't be soon enough.