Page 24 of Smoke
I pulled off the Daddies Ink shirt I was wearing and draped it around Ashley’s shoulders. She pulled it to her face too. Bending, I kissed her head, and swallowed my guilt.
“We’ll be back in no time,” Bash said, patting me on the shoulder before going and giving his own Little one goodbye kisses.
“I know it’s hard, but it will get easier for her,” Blade added after giving Eloise a hug and kiss.
Sighing, I nodded. I fucking hoped it got easier, because at the moment it fucking sucked.
***
Ashley
Auntie Kay patted my back as I hiccuped into her shoulder. Dawson had been gone about half an hour and I had finally started to calm down.
“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling more like my adult self.
“You don’t have to be sorry, Little one. I know it was very hard when Daddy left, and you had to be so brave,” Kay said.
I shook my head. “He’s not my Daddy.”
Kay grinned. “Yet. He’s not your Daddy yet. That man is crazy about you, Little one, and as soon as you're ready, he’s going to take those next steps.”
I hoped that would be soon.
“Can I go get you some juice, sweetie? You cried so hard and I bet you’re very thirsty,” Kay said.
Nodding, I climbed off her lap.
“Is your arm feeling okay? You can have some more medicine in fifteen minutes.”
I nodded. “Is not so super bad.”
She kissed my forehead again before going to get my juice.
“Are you feeling a little bit better now?” Eloise asked, looking up from the puzzle she and Ally were working on.
I moved from the couch to sit beside them. “Yeah. I’m sorry I cried.”
“It’s okay to feel your feelings. I still cry when Daddy leaves to help his...” Allyson trailed off.
“To help Leland?” I filled in for her.
She and Eloise shared a look and my tummy felt like it dropped six stories. “He’s not helping Leland, is he?” I asked. I think I already suspected that. The shop was closed, and the phone that Dawson had answered wasn't even his.
“We aren’t supposed to lie,” Eloise said, talking to Allyson.
Ally nodded. “She’s our friend. She won’t tell.”
“Neither of our Daddies told us to keep it from her,” Eloise added.
Their words made my tummy hurt. Was Dawson doing something illegal? Bile rose in the back of my throat. “Is… is it drugs?” I asked. Did I have it all wrong? Had Dawson relapsed?
“No! No! Nothing like that,” Allyson promised, moving to sit closer to me and taking my hand.
“No! It’s not bad,” Eloise said. “Well, I mean…”
“Please just tell me. I’m so scared.” My heart felt like it was playing the beat for Thousand by Moby in my chest. It was definitely keeping par with his 1,015 beats per minute.
“Do you know what a mercenary is?” Allyson asked.
