Was Jack really as excited about their date as she was? And was it actually a date? Surely not.
“You have something you want to ask,” Athena said. “Go for it.”
After sliding the drawer back in, Iris turned and leaned up against the counter while she looked Athena in the eyes. “Do you think tonight is… you know… a date?”
“I do. Again, I’ve never seen Jack take any other Little out for ice cream.”
“But he doesn’t want to take me out on a date. He’s just being nice,” Iris countered.
“What makes you say that?”
“Because I’m, you know, the poor, homeless girl.”
“You’re not homeless. You live here. And do you think the amount of money you have determines your worth?”
A lump formed in Iris’s throat, and she did her best to choke it down before answering. “I don’t know. I guess I figured thathe—or any man—would think I’m not worth it. No one wants a project or a fixer-upper.”
Auntie shook her head. “You’re not a house, honey.”
“I know. But Jack won’t want to?—”
“I won't want to what?” he asked.
Iris jumped, yelping as she looked across the kitchen to see Jack had walked in. Instead of using the back door as he had that morning, he must have entered through the mansion’s main entrance.
How much of their conversation had he heard?
Based on his question, not too much. Or was he just pretending? Either way, Iris felt more than a tad embarrassed.
“You won’t want to stay out too late tonight,” Auntie Athena said without missing a beat. “Not with work tomorrow and all.”
Jack nodded. “Yeah. But I can’t go to bed very early. I’d much rather be around a cutie, eating ice cream, than laying by myself, tossing and turning.”
Iris blushed, averting her eyes and fighting a giggle.
She’d love to lay in bed with him. They wouldn’t be tossing and turning, either. Or sleeping.
She kept that desire to herself. But still, she couldn’t stop grinning at the thought.
“That reminds me,” Jack said. “Do you know of any cuties wanting to eat ice cream tonight?” He made a show of looking around.
Now Iris was in the throes of a giggling fit.
“Hmm. Seems like I’ve seen one around here somewhere,” Athena replied, tapping her chin. “But where is she…” She gasped and leveled a finger. “There she is! Right there!”
“Perfect,” Jack said. “Because I think she’s the cutest cutie around.” After looking her up and down, he said, “Sweetie, as much as I love seeing you in that short dress and that bulkydiaper, you should probably change into some big girl clothes since we’re going out into the boringreal world.”
Auntie Athena looped the dishtowel she’d been holding through a drawer handle nearby and then looked at Iris. “Come on, cute stuff. Auntie will help you get changed.”
“Do I need to take my diaper off?” Iris asked, her voice sounding oh so Little.
“Nope. No one will notice what you have on under your clothes and I don’t want you having an accident tonight.” She chuckled. “I know how you Littles can be when you get excited.”
Iris blushed again. Chancing a glance at Jack, she saw that he was grinning, clearly enjoying the thought of her wearing that bulky nappy during their date.
If that’s what Jack wanted, then that’s what Jack would get, she thought.
Because Iris was eager to please Daddy.
