Innocence's Series Bundle (1-3)(29)

She is wearing heels that would literally kill me. I remember trying on a pair once, and Daddy just shook his head and led me over to the store’s selection of ballet flats, a pair of which I’m wearing right now. And the only makeup I own is my Dr. Pepper chapstick.

I exit the bathroom in time to see our waiter walk by with my drink, and I snatch it off his tray. He just stands and stares at me for a second, so I make a big to-do of taking a long, slow sip, making him huff at me.

“Don’t you think you’re a little old to be acting like such a brat?” he asks, making my spine go rigid. I love being a brat. It’s what I do best. And I know Daddy loves when I do it too, but suddenly I feel really out of place. Again, I find myself questioning why Daddy brought me here.

My eyes drop to my feet, and I kind of just want the ground to swallow me whole. Thankfully, the waiter walks off, not waiting for a response, and clearly seeing I wasn’t going to give one. I should’ve at least called him a ‘stupid-head’ or something. Maybe even a nice kick to the shin would have felt good.

The far wall of the restaurant is made of glass, and in the distance across the hotel lobby, I see a group of kids my own age hanging by the bar. Some are chatting and others are dancing. I can’t help but wonder if I would fit in better over there.

As I finger my sunglasses pensively, I feel a tug on my hair and I whip around in response.

“Do you want to leave, baby girl?”

Daddy found me, and I wonder if I’m in trouble for storming off.

“They look like they’re having fun,” I say, nodding to the group of teenagers across the way.

Some unnamed emotion flashes across his face, but it’s gone before I can tell what it was. It’s replaced by a soft smile that makes one of his dimples show. “Do you want to go see what they’re up to?”

I hate the dark lighting of this stupid restaurant because I can’t see how truly green his eyes are in here. Nor can I see the dusting of speckled gray his hair has acquired over the past year. Color he says I’ve given him. If he thinks that’s a deterrent for my being a brat, he’s sadly mistaken. Something about the gray is sexy to me.

I want to make Daddy happy so I lie. “No, Daddy, let’s go back to the table.” I should try to fit in because I’m starting to think that’s what he wants. He brought me here, but I find myself slipping my sunglasses on, not caring that it’s night time or that I’m in this stupid fancy restaurant. They are bright pink and make me look totally badass.





7





WILLIAM





Dinner is quiet, and I can tell Haley isn’t feeling it. This restaurant is stuffy and uptight, and if I knew this ahead of time I wouldn’t have brought her here. This kind of place isn’t my thing either, and knowing that she isn’t happy makes it even less enjoyable.

As we walk back along the beach to the bungalow, I decide that maybe Haley needs to spread her wings a bit while we are here. I saw how she looked at the group of young people longingly. They were partying and having a good time, in stark contrast to our restaurant. I know there will be a lot of times in our relationship when we struggle with things. She’s still got so much growing up to do, and what kind of Daddy would I be if I didn't help her navigate that? Giving her a bit of freedom, even if it’s not necessarily total freedom, might help her understand her own desires better.

“Did you know there’s a dance club on the resort?”

She looks at me excitedly. “Really? That sounds like fun! Do you want to go?”

“Well, tomorrow is teen night. Maybe you could go check it out and see what you think. On Saturday it’s open for everyone, and if you like it, we can go together then.”

“You don’t want to wait and go together?”

I stop walking along the sand and pull her to me, cupping her chin.

“I want to do everything with you, baby girl. But I’ve planned this entire trip, and I think it would be nice if you made a decision and decided what we do one night. I know tonight's dinner wasn’t especially exciting for you, and I realize you may have different ideas of what your vacation should be. I can hang out at the bungalow for an hour while you go scope it out. It’s on resort property, and it’s teen night so they won’t be serving alcohol. I trust you.”

She looks at me, a little unsure, but I can see the gears turning as she thinks it over. After a moment she nods her head.

“I think I can handle that. Sounds like it could be fun.” She has big smile on her face as she stretches to kiss me.

I deepen the kiss and pull her to me, lifting her up and carrying her back to our little love nest on the sea.