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They were sitting at the table in the breakfast nook. Auntie had listened to the story with an obvious mix of amusement and sympathy on her face. Raising her lemonade to her lips, she took a drink, pursed her lips, and then placed the glass back on the table.

“Oh my,” she finally said.

“Yeah,” Tessa said. “That about sums it up.” She drank some of her own lemonade as she thought about the events of the day. “Things got kind of awkward after that. We went to pick out a dress for the Oscars, but… well… now things are just weird.”

More silence followed.

“I think the worst part is that Lissa was there. She was super jealous. It was obvious. But… I guess that’s what we wanted. Right?”

Athena just gave her an understanding smile as she reached over and patted her hand.

“You warned me not to get too attached to him.”

Athena shook her head. “This isn’t about I-told-you-so, honey. I don’t want to see you hurting.”

“Do you think Damon is the type to just… you know… sleep with every woman he goes out with?”

Athena took another sip of lemonade. “No. He isn’t a player, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Tessa laughed. “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that if everyone involved has the same understanding. But I’m just wondering if I’m the next one on his list. Like, who will it be next week? Know what I mean?”

A nod indicated Athena did know what she meant, but it took her a few moments to respond. “I don’t think Damon is like that. But I do think he’s confused. He’s been head over heels for Lissa. At least, he thought he was. I still stand by the theory that he loved the idea of her more than her.” She shrugged. “But I might be wrong, it’s possible. How did you two leave things?”

Tessa slowly rolled her glass’s bottom between both hands, watching the half-full lemonade move inside it.

“He said he was sorry.”

“Oh, how romantic.”

Tessa chuckled. “Sort of my thought too. But he explained that he wasn’t trying to use me and… well, was confused about things with Lissa and…” She waved off the rest of her words, letting that serve as the end of the explanation.

Athena’s gaze was empathetic but direct. “And what do you want? Like, if this situation could end any way you wanted it to, what would it look like?”

Tessa busied herself with the glass again, moving it across the table and watching the rings of condensation it left. Picking up a paper napkin, she dried the spots and put the glass back on a nearby placemat. “I want to be with Damon. He’s my Daddy. I’m his Little. I feel it in my soul.”

Athena reached across and patted her hand. “Follow your heart.”

“He loves Lissa.”

“I don’t think he does.”

Tessa turned it all over as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. “I need to think about it. I don’t even know what’s going to happen tomorrow night. I’m supposed to go to the awards and everything and the afterparty. But… I don’t know. He probably doesn’t need me for that. I figure if Lissa’s going to get jealous, then she already is! Since she saw us… you know…” She sighed and leaned her head back, looking at the ceiling. “Ugh. I just need to figure it all out!”

“Of course. Do you want company?”

Tessa smiled. “Always, Auntie!”

“Tell you what, I have some cookie dough in the fridge. I’ll pop some in the oven, and we’ll binge your favorite show with cookies and milk. And wine.”

“Littles can have wine?” Tessa asked with an amused smirk.

“Of course. You’re a grown woman, after all. Wear the diaper. Drink the wine. Life’s short; do whatever you want.”

“Ooh, I like your line of thinking,” Tessa replied.

And with that, the girls’ night commenced.

But a certain actor was never far from Tessa’s mind as she tried to figure out what their future together might be, if they had one at all…