I stare at him in shock. This is the first time he has kissed my lips, and it was just a quick peck in front of his friend. Wh…what?
“You may answer.” He smiles.
I continue to stare at him, not knowing how to function. And by the smile he is giving me, he knows exactly what he did.
“Adryn?” Chale gets my attention.
“I’m good,” I whisper, still looking at Daddy.
It was so quick, but I could still feel the little sparks dancing across my lips. Am I just imagining them? Probably, but right now I don’t care. I want to kiss him back, but I hold myself off, not wanting to do it in front of his friend.
“Now, will you answer my question from before?” Daddy raises an eyebrow.
My eyebrows scrunch together as I tilt my head to the side. What is he talking about?
“If you still feel anxious when you aren’t near me,” Daddy reminds me.
“Oh,” I mumble. “Um.”
I look at Chale before looking back at Daddy. Does he really want me to answer in front of his coworker?
“Don’t worry about Chale. He knows about medical stuff and won’t tell anyone what you say.” Daddy gently rubs his thumb across my cheek.
Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes for a couple of seconds before looking back at Daddy.
“Yes,” I whisper and suck in a breath, waiting for Daddy to tell me he’s going to leave me for several minutes or hours at a time so I get over this.
It’s that or him giving me medicine when he does leave. But I know even if he gives me medicine, I’m still going to feel it.
“Does she get anxious often?” Chale asks.
Daddy said he wouldn’t pay any attention to what we are saying.
“I think it’s just when she isn’t close to me, or are there other times?” Daddy looks at me.
I immediately flick my eyes away from him.
“Little companion.” Daddy guides my face back to him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
I shrug my shoulders and keep my mouth shut. Why did Chale have to say something like that to Daddy? Everything was perfectly fine without him saying anything.
“Answer me,” Daddy commands.
I let out a breath. “Just when I’m not near you.” It’s partially true.
He raises an eyebrow, and I know I’ve been caught.
“Do you feel this way when he is in the same room as you but isn’t close?” Chale asks.
“Shhh,” I look over at Chale, pleading with my eyes to stop asking these questions.
He chuckles and shakes his head. “I’m going to take that as a yes.”
I lean my head into Daddy’s chest, taking a deep breath. This is all a huge mess.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Daddy asks, rubbing his hand up and down my back. “Why didn’t you let me know you were feeling anxious? I could have given you medicine.”
“I don’t want you to punish me by leaving and not giving me any medicine!” I raise my voice and pull away from him.
