Thirty minutes later, Samantha was with Monica in the backyard, on the swing set.
Both were wearing only their shirts and diapers.
Samantha was thankful she could cover up that much, at least. If she would have undressed completely, she would have just left. Her fake boobs being revealed would blow her whole cover!
“I can’t believe Marissa just left,” Monica said.
“Did you think about it?” Samantha asked her as they continued to swing.
A moment passed. “Yeah. Did you?”
“Yeah.”
They went on in silence for a moment, the squeaking of their swings the only sound as they went forward and then back.
All the other Littles were inside now, watching a holiday movie. She and Monica had talked about joining them and might in a few minutes. But first, Samantha had to drop the big news.
She didn’t really know how to say it. Perhaps it didn’t matter. It wasn’t as if they were really close. They’d really just connected over their snobbery. Monica really was rich. She thought Tonya was.
“I’m leaving.”
“Like, you’re leaving the nursery so you don’t have to wear that diaper?”
Samantha shook her head. “I’m moving to New York City.”
“Seriously? Why?”
“I met a guy.”
“Is it a Daddy?”
“Yeah.”
Silence settled over them as they continued to swing. Finally, Monica brought herself to a stop, hopped off, and said, “Well, I hope it works out for you. I bet you’ll love New York. Lots of good shopping and stuff.”
With that, she walked into the mansion.
Samantha was surprised by the woman’s reaction. But she shouldn’t be, she realized. Again, it wasn’t like they were true friends. Their common bond had simply been that they were both brats. Monica wouldn’t miss her when she “moved to New York.”
Not wanting to be alone, Samantha brought her own swing to a stop but didn’t get off. Instead, she sat there, barely swaying, contemplating what to do.
If she went inside, that would mean she was around Iris and the group from the Daddy Guard mansion. That would be problematic for several reasons. One, she felt extremely guilty about what she’d done earlier. The weight of their gazes might be more than she could bear right now.
Two, being around them would give them more chances to recognize her later tonight. Maybe it was best just to go ahead and leave the nursery. Tonya didn’t really need to tell anyone goodbye. No one would be sad she was gone.
That made her a little sad. But she also was self-aware enough to know she’d made her own bed. There was no one to blame but Tonya.
Or Samantha.
That thought was difficult, too. In her mind, she’d always done pretty well at separating the two personas. Samantha never felt too guilty about what Tonya did. And Tonya never dwelled too much on Samantha’s conscience.
Things were different now. Why was that? Was it a result of just her short—and it had been extremely short—time knowing Kendrick?
She was still contemplating what to do when she heard the back door open again. Shifting in her swing, she saw the last person on earth she expected to.
Kendrick.
And he was walking straight toward her.
