“Yeah. It just didn’t seem right to watch it without you.”
Her arms tighten around me and her chest shakes in a way that tells me she’s fighting back tears. And I have to close my eyes against my own swell of emotion. I’ve missed her, missedthisso fucking much.
How am I supposed to walk away from it again?
But then Auntie Gray clears her throat and the moment is lost. “It’s time for Little girls to potty and then we need to get to sleep.”
My eyes lock with Lanie’s and I see my own apprehension reflected there. Tilting her head up, Lanie gives Auntie Gray the biggest, roundest puppy-dog eyes I have ever seen. “Can we please use the bathroom just this once, Auntie Gray? Pretty please?”
“Don’t be silly, little one. You know Little girls only use their diapers.”
Red floods Lanie’s face, and I can feel the same embarrassment heating my own cheeks. Rebellion rises up inside me, and I’m tempted to tell Auntie Gray to fuck off, that we aren’t Little girls, we’reBiggirls and we should be allowed to pee on a toilet like anyone else.
But I already know how that will end: With us getting our bare bottoms spanked, not only by Auntie Gray but likely by our Daddies as well.
My resignation is reflected in Lanie’s eyes as she sighs. “Yes, Auntie Gray.”
“Good girl.” Turning her head, Auntie Gray pins me with a stern look that clearly says she isn’t going to tolerate any arguing. “You too, Josie.”
“What if I can’t?” I whisper, horrified to feel tears filling my eyes. “What if it’s too hard?”
“Do you need Auntie Gray to help you, sweet girl?”
No. I need you to let me use the bathroom like a fucking adult.
Whether I’m just scared of the punishment that response will earn me or I’m still feeling sentimental after our movie, I’m not sure. Either way, I don’t argue, I simply nod.
“Okay. Lie back, honey and Auntie Gray will help.”
Shifting down on the pillows, I lie down and close my eyes, trying to imagine I’m off in some far-away land, riding horseback with my long-lost love instead of trapped in this cabin in the mountains of Colorado. But even in my imagination, my prince wears my Daddy’s face and even though I can’t feel it, I know the thick cotton of my diaper is wedged between us on the saddle.
Auntie Gray presses down on my bladder, and it takes a shockingly short amount of time for me to relax enough to fill my diaper. I’m not really sure what that means—just that my bladder was exceedingly full, or I’m actually getting used to living as a baby.
“Such a good Little girl you are!” Auntie Gray praises as she strips the diaper from me and wipes me clean.
Surprisingly, her words do ease some of the humiliation threatening to consume me whole. And again, I’m not sure what that says about me and my current mental state.
Once Lanie and I are both cleaned up, Auntie Gray tucks us both into our makeshift beds, with her snuggled between us. Despite her promises to our Daddies, we do stay up too late,sharing stories from our old lives with Lanie while she regales me with tales of her exploits here at the cabin.
And when Auntie Gray finally puts her foot down and tells us it’s time for sleep, we don’t argue. Curled up with my old best friend and my new best friend, I fall asleep wondering if maybe staying here wouldn’t be the worst fate in the world after all.
CHAPTER 19
JOSIE
Daddy and Uncle Axel are waiting for us downstairs when we finally wake from our blanket-fort sleepover. Lanie goes running into her Daddy’s arms with a happy squeal and he swings her around as her giggles pepper the air.
“Morning, my little lovebug,” Daddy says as he scoops me up and settles me on his hip. “Did you have fun with your Auntie Gray?”
“Uh-huh. We watchedThe Princess Brideand ateallthe goodies Uncle Eli made for us.”
Daddy and Uncle Axel both turn toward a smirking Auntie Gray. “What? It was asleepover. And besides, Eli’s the one who made the snacks.”
Though it’s clear he’s trying not to smile, Uncle Axel shakes his head. “Fine, but when they’re both acting like spoiled brats because Auntie Gray lets them do whatever they want,youcan deal with them.”
“You leave Auntie Gray alone!” Lanie’s face scrunches up in a glower. “She’s the best auntie in the whole world.”
“Yeah!” I chime in, adding my own glare to the mix. “Leave her alone!”
