Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70558 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70558 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Oh, that sounded very good.
But before I could say anything that might sound like I was assuming sharing might mean something like kissing or sharing toys, the waiter came over and saved the day. But it got even harder to be a good grown-up when Daddy Tate ordered for both of us. He looked so confident and even told the waiter what sauces I wanted—and he’d ordered the big cookie plate too.
By the time the waiter had left to go put our order in, I was squirming again and Daddy was back to looking very proud of himself. “You liked that, didn’t you?”
There didn’t seem to be any reason to deny it, so I nodded. “Yes, regular dates won’t do that because it steps all over my autonomy and they think doing things on my own is wonderful.”
That was baloney and Daddy Tate’s snicker said he thought so too. “Somehow I don’t think being your own island in life is your top goal.”
I would be a very cute little island but only if I had flowers and sandy beaches.
“That would be terrible.” I shivered and made Daddy Tate laugh with my theatrics that time. “But it’s not worth arguing with people when they think they’re being polite.”
I’d rather wait on a rude customer at the restaurant than a date who was confident about all the wrong things.
“I can understand that.” Daddy Tate stretched out his foot under the table so he could nudge mine as he smiled. “But I’m glad you didn’t try to change yourself and settle for someone like that.”
Shrugging, I poked his foot back and tried not to get too distracted. “I’m not very good at pushing away my little side, so it gets too hard pretending to be boring all the time. I do good at work until someone surprises me but not for dates.”
Daddy Tate chuckled. “Do people surprise you a lot? I thought you worked at a nice restaurant.”
“I do but some people are very curious.” I giggled as I remembered one couple. “A few weeks ago, I had one couple who were so cute together, but every time I came over, they were talking about shocking things. It was like one of them was the good half and the other was the naughty one. I wasn’t sure what to say and I just looked silly trying to ignore the naughty stuff I kept hearing.”
Daddy Tate groaned then got a naughty look in his eyes, too. “That would be so hard to deal with but it’s better than naked people answering the door.”
“I’ve never done that.” I’d answered in my pajamas a few times because I’d been tired of wearing real clothes on my day off but at least I’d been covered.
“I’m glad because I’m not sure the mailman or anyone like that needs to see you naked, sunshine, but I have to admit I’ve enjoyed pajama days.” Daddy Tate liked making me squirm because he kept teasing me even though I probably looked silly. “I think the smiling sun pajamas are my favorite.”
Oh, that was why I was Daddy Tate’s sunshine.
“They’re my favorite.” And they were Daddy Tate’s favorites too. “I wear them even when it’s too hot, but I really like them because they’re fuzzy and happy.”
“I think that’s a very good description of them.” Daddy Tate trapped one of my legs with his and wiggled it as I laughed. “And that’s another reason I should’ve guessed you were little.”
Probably.
He shrugged, though, not looking too worried. “But I know now and I’m going to learn what you need from a Daddy.”
Aww.
He was going to learn to be a Daddy just for me.
“You already do lots of Daddy things.” I just hoped he didn’t mind my dresses. “But it’s okay to ask questions and everyone says that we’ll figure out our own way to be Daddy and boy.”
Daddy Tate should’ve nodded and been happy but his head cocked. “Sunshine, can I ask you another question that might be…rude, possibly?”
Oh dear.
“Yes.” I wanted to wiggle, but I made myself sit very still just in case it accidentally hurt my feelings and I needed to hide that from Daddy Tate. “Questions are very important.”
Especially since Daddy Tate was new to everything.
New people asked hard questions sometimes and I had to be prepared for that.
“Okay, but just remember I’m trying to understand.” Daddy Tate sat straighter but didn’t pull his foot away from mine, so I thought that was a good sign. “You mentioned your tiara and your dresses when you were telling me about being little, but I wasn’t sure what pronouns to use when talking about your little side…and now I’m wondering if I should’ve asked that about your grown-up side too.”
Oh, that wasn’t a bad question.
“Don’t scare me, Daddy. I thought it was going to be a hard question.” As I flopped back, Daddy rolled his eyes and mumbled something about me being theatrical again. “I’m a boy, and a man when I’m not a boy.”