"Nice to see you, baby girl."
Like a switch flips, I block Lulu from view, giving her my back and staring my friend down with an intensity only a Daddy who has found their Little can manage. "Don't call her that," I grit out, holding in the curse words I want to throw at him.
Bash smirks, and rubs his jaw like he's thinking. "Alright. I hear you," he promises, immediately settling me. He knows she’s mine.
Silence wraps around us. While Bash probably enjoys watching me squirm, I know Lulu must be terrified. Although, she sure seemed to relax once she knew it wash Bash.
My jealousy takes a backseat as the air shifts and Lulu breezes by me. Her blanket is once again tucked into a ball beneath her arm. A sad representation of her Little's retreat.
"Thank you for the job, Mr. Preston," she whispers and I swear my heart swells at how adorable she sounds. "See you tomorrow."
"Lulu—" She all but rushes out of the room, not allowing me to finish my sentence. I want to tell her she doesn't need to work on the weekends, but she's gone before I can say anything. Fuck, I didn't even get her phone number.
My muscles clench tighter and tighter as I go through all the things I forgot to say, all the information I don't know about her. Not to mention I don't have my eyes on her and she's actively running from me...I'm going to snap.
Bash wants to be my victim it seems. "She's sweet, huh?"
"I'll kill you," I growl and slump into the chair I had vacated.
Tomorrow can't come fast enough.
seven
LULU
I'm cranky. Normally a sleepless night doesn't bother me much. It's the norm.
The one night I need to sleep, I can't. I don't know if it was anxiety or excitement about my first job, but every time I closed my eyes I either thought about all the ways I could mess up on my first day or the usual nightmares came for me.
To top it off, my father destroyed most of everything that resembled an office supply before he left town. I'm incredibly embarrassed about the fact that my "notebook" is a few sheets of paper I found in my mom's nightstand. The pen I dug out from beneath the rusty oven has jabbed me multiple times already too. It should probably be thrown away with the plastic sticking out all over it, but I need supplies.
Reverently, I tuck Mom's old phone into the dirty pink string backpack I've chosen to use for work. I don't remember when I got it, but I've loved it since I knew how to wear it. It's fit for a young girl, but it makes me happy. Especially because it hides my silly paper and pen.
Thankfully, on the drive out of Reclaiming Red yesterday I saw a small parking lot off to the side that said employeeparking. With a confidence that has bolstered my mood, I guide the old truck into the far corner.
At least I know something, right? I should have stayed and asked more questions yesterday but I was quickly running out of the ability to socialize without a complete breakdown.
My cheeks burn and my scalp tingles with self-consciousness I've been trying to ignore since Preston learned I'm a Little. Heck, I've been embarrassed since I screamed in fear at the guard yesterday. I'm a mess.
Today I'm also aphysicalmess. The bags under my eyes are worse, and the sun beating down on me is making me sweaty. I should have gone for a skirt, but jeans felt more professional, though I'm worried about passing out now. I didn't think to fill a bottle with tap water before I left.
Huffing out a breath, I squint into the rising sun. As I glance around I see nobody's out aside from the guard at the gate who gave me a badge yesterday. Something about Preston calling down to give me clearance...I don't know. I'm just grateful I was able to get in without issue and know where to park.
Now I'm a little lost. Preston told me he wants my opinions on how to make this place welcoming and comfortable. I wonder if he meant to sayfor someone like me—a Little, but I bet he was being respectful.
Glancing over to a small clearing beneath a cluster of trees, I decide I'll start there. The outside needs to be my first focus—it's the first thing everyone will see as they enter.
A small rock calls my sleepy self toward it, so I sit and just breathe for a moment. I have a lot of questions and uncertainties about what I'm supposed to do but for now I know a fire pit and some decent chairs would make this small clearing pretty cool.
Oh, and twinkly lights.Always twinkly lights.
There are many reasons my forehead could be hurting but I'm leaning toward the fact I've been frowning since the sun rose. It's so darn bright, I should have grabbed a hat from home. Mom had one but I can't recall the last place I saw it.
I'm convinced father had a fire and destroyed most of her things. Some of mine went with it. Or he took them to pawn off when he left. My frown deepens, nothing we've ever owned has been worth selling.
Blowing out a breath I recenter my thoughts on to the good things. Because those exist now. Everyone has been very sweet and kept their distance all day with their own chores so I've actually found some comfort within the gates of Reclaiming Red.
"Lulu, what in the hell are you doing?!"
