When I finally quit seeing red and could hear something other than my pulse pounding in my ears, I realized Everest was laughing.
Atlas was too, but he regrouped first. “They’re not the kind of sub I want to be a Daddy for.”
Penny’s eyes lit up. “Oh, so youarea Daddy?”
Atlas paused, flinching almost imperceptibly. “Not like a Mommy and Daddy for Littles. Unless you’re… uh…” He stumbled on his words.
“Whatdoyou mean?” Everest couldn’t stop cracking up. “Are you a confused Daddy?”
“Fuck off, man. You know, like a Sugar Daddy—only not just based on money. But I have plenty of that. I’m not just a stall mucker…”
It was uncanny seeing Atlas lose control like this. He needed to shut up. I elbowed him.
He jabbed me back, grumbled, then asked Penny, “Do you want a Sugar Daddy?”
Penny took his question seriously. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about that.”
I would have preferred to be the one talking to Penny but loved watching Atlas’ discomfort as he tried to explain himself.
Continuing to flounder, Atlas stumbled a few more false starts to explain then said, “More likewho’s your Daddy? You know, wink, wink.”
Ducking her chin, she looked at him from under her lashes. Damn, she wanted a Daddy and Atlas had offered.
Where did that leave me?
“Bonfire,” somebody yelled in the distance and squeals broke out.
“Shall we?” Everest asked.
Penny shrunk back into her cabin slightly. What was wrong? She’d said she wanted to go? Surveying the situation around the bonfire, everyone gathering, I remembered what Everest had told us.
“Too many people?”
She nodded then said, “But I knew there would be. I planned for this. I just have to take a bite.”
Before any of us could ask what she meant, she explained, “Don’t worry. I know better than to bite bonfires.Taking a biteis how I think about trying new things. Take a bite, see if I like it, then decide how to proceed.”
My heart melted for her a little more. She was so adorable. I wanted to be by her side, holding her hand, helping her stay safe in a world that could be overwhelming.
More squeals erupted beside us as a girl jumped on a guy’s back for a piggyback ride.
Perfect way to get closer to Penny. I stepped past Atlas, turned slightly, and pointed to my back. “Wanna ride?”
“I’ve never done that.” Hesitation tinged her words, while her eyes revealed excitement.
“All you have to do is jump on, or one of them can help you.” I questioned my sanity for including my brothers but wanted to remove any obstacles. “I’ll do the rest.”
“I can walk.”
“You could, but I’d rather carry you. I could cradle you in front if that’s more your style?” I held out my arms.
Please, universe, cut me some slack, let her say yes to something.
Then I remembered her verbiage and that she was going to need encouragement. “Just take a bite. If you don’t like it, I’ll set you down.”
She nodded slowly. “Okay, give me a second.”
She closed the door, leaving me and my brothers to stare at each other. My anticipation hung in limbo.
