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After holding me hostage for twenty seconds, she breathes out in the world’s sweetest voice, “Daddy.”

My eyes roll back in my head as my abs clench, and I cum in ropes all over my phone and the bed sheet. “Good girl. Daddy’s good girl,” I moan in bliss without thinking. “Thank—”

She hangs up on me.

When I get cleaned up and throw a towel over my sheet so I don’t have to sleep on my cum, I text her:

Me:I’m sorry.

Honey Baby:For what?

Me:I shouldn’t have called you or asked you to say that.

Me:But thank you.

Honey Baby:Fuck you.

Honey Baby:Don’t call me again if you’re just going to regret it.

Me:I’m sorry.

She doesn’t respond.

More. Fucking. Penance.

Chapter 14

Goldie - 3 weeks later

I thumbs up a text message from Davis when he sends me an angry face emoji after I reject another one of his calls, further pissing him off, I’m sure. I shouldn’t have answered his first call three weeks ago because now he won’t stop. I don’t want to hear any more of his meaningless apologies. And I don’t want to listen to him masturbating again, in case that’s why he’s calling, since it will lead to more apologies and regret, which I hate. I don’t understand why he can’t just leave me alone.

I want to scream when he callsyet again, and I’m about to throw my phone across the room when I stop short. It’s Dad’s name flashing on my screen, not Davis’s.

My hand shakes as I swipe to answer it. “What do you want?”

“Marigold…Hi.” There’s a long pause as my mind whirls. “Thanks for answering the phone.” Another long pause where I give him nothing. “So, uh, how’s it going, kid?”

I contemplate hanging up, but the little girl in me still clings to a tiny bit of hope that her daddy—herrealdaddy—loves her. “It’s fine,” I lie, scuffing my big toe against the kitchen tiles, which need sweeping. I twist to lean back against the countertop next to the sink, happy for the excuse to continue putting off doing the dishes piling up for a little while longer. When neitherof us says anything, I sigh with annoyance, the little girl within me shrinking back. “Why are you calling me?”

He curses under his breath, and I can imagine him sitting back on his nasty couch and scrubbing his hands through his thin gray hair the way Davis does when he gets frustrated. “Listen, I wanted to apologize for how things turned out.”

Oh great, another man apologizing for his shitty behavior, hoping it will fix everything. Just what I always wanted, I think to myself sarcastically.

“Alright.” Another awkward pause. “Well, if that’s all, then I’ll be going now.”

“No, no. Hang on a minute.” He sighs. “I was wondering…would you be willing to come by? So I can apologize in person?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say quietly.

“Please, Marigold. I know I ain’t got no right to ask, but I gotta see you. See my granddaughter.” I turn that over in my mind, warning bells chiming when I feel childish hope surging once more. “I cleaned up the apartment, and I stopped smoking inside for good. Got the place all nice and tidy for you.”

“Dad…”

“Come on. Make an old man happy,” he says with a pleading edge, a complete one-eighty from the last time I saw him.

I ignore the warning and give in. “Fine.”

“That’s my girl.”