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She kept talking to the bear as she turned to the side for a different view. “We’ve been here less than a week! And we’ve met movie stars and made lots of new friends. Plus, I’m going to start my new job in a few days. It’s amazing!”

Satisfied that she looked as good as she was going to, she turned to face the plush animal who rested on her bed. “We couldn’t ask for things to work out any better.”

Buttercup smiled at her as Tessa snatched the bear up and gave her a tight hug.

“I’ll leave you in the nursery today, so you can talk to the other stuffies while I’m gone.”

With a happy giggle, Tessa skipped down the hall, deposited her bear among the others, and then said, “I’ll be back later. Have fun!”

Tessa was just as happy when she skipped back into the hallway.

“Someone’s in a good mood,” Auntie Athena said, coming out of her bedroom.

Tessa stopped and giggled. “Yeah. I guess it’s just a beautiful, sunny day here in Southern California.”

Auntie’s eyes held a knowing twinkle.

“What?” Tessa pressed.

“I think you’re excited about hanging out with Damon.”

“Oh. Well… maybe a little.” She shrugged. “I don’t even know what we’re doing today. I’m sure it involves going wherever Lissa is and trying to make her jealous.” She followed the statement with a little laugh.

“Probably,” Athena said, though it didn’t sound as if she absolutely agreed.

Tessa wasn’t sure she agreed either. And there was something else. “Hey, Auntie, can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

It took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Yesterday, at the store, when you talked to Lissa, you didn’t seem as… happy… to see her as you are other people. Don’t get me wrong, you were polite. Just not the way you are with some of us here at the nursery.”

Thankfully, it didn’t seem as if Athena took the observation harshly, because she smiled. “You noticed, huh?”

Tessa nodded.

“Well, it’s not that I dislike Lissa, per se… and I don’t like talking bad about people. But Lissa and I aren’t exactly close. She… tries my patience, we’ll say.”

Tessa waited to hear more.

“You see, I was friends with Damon first. I’d met Lissa a few times. She was pretty active in the local ageplay community even before they hooked up. I saw her go from guy to guy. Sort of appeared to be climbing the ladder, if that makes any sense, until she caught a Daddy who was a famous movie star.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “That lasted until she got a Daddy who is a big-time studio exec.” Athena sighed. “See what I mean?”

Tessa groaned. “I do. That was what I was worried about. For some reason, I got those vibes. I don’t want her to hurt Damon.”

“I’m afraid she already has. It made me lose a little respect for her. I’m not naïve. Sometimes relationships need to end. I don’t hold that against anyone. But I’ll say this—I think Damon was way more into her than she was him.”

Athena fell silent, but Tessa got the impression she wasn’t finished talking.

So she waited.

A moment later, Athena continued.

“Let me say I think he’s more into the idea of her. My opinion is they never seemed right for each other. But he’s enamored with the idea of having his forever babygirl. That man was born to be a Daddy. But patience has never been his strong point. I’ve watched him make some rash decisions. And I’ve worried he’d get hurt. End up with a broken heart. Now, I think he has.”

All of this confirmed some things Tessa was already suspecting.

It didn’t make her like Lissa any more, either.

Should she even help Damon get her back? Would it ultimately hurt him worse?