Tay had absolutely no intention of napping. It was sweet that Daddy thought that they should, but Daddies didn’t know everything, and they certainly didn’t know that Tays were good at pushing through and keeping on when they were tired. Because that’s what Tay had always had to do.
Only Daddy was really comfy, and she moved Tay’s head to rest against her breast and Tay found themself nuzzling up and just resting their eyes. Only resting their eyes, and then…
CHAPTER 16
Guilia
Sleeping Tay was adorable.
Guilia had always known that Tay was pretty fucking cute, but there was something entirely different about having Little Tay so determined that they didn’t need a nap at all, and then pass out almost as soon as they curled up against Guilia.
She didn’t sleep herself; she’d spent all morning working out the perfect balance of lemon verbena to serve with Hannah’s latest rosemary cake, and her mind was still racing. So instead she lay back, listened to Tay’s snuffly snores and considered how much her life had changed in twenty-four hours.
A week ago, she’d been pining—Guilia was self-aware enough to know that how she’d felt about Tay was pining—for the bubbly Little, and now that she had them?
Guilia wanted to be the best Daddy she could possibly be, and that apparently meant putting her foot down occasionally and insisting on things like naps. Tay had been so good that morning, milking the cow and then prepping the milk to turn into heavy cream, they deserved a reward of some kind.
Carefully, so as not to wake her slumbering Little, Guilia managed to get her phone from her bedside table and shoot offa quick text to reception. Her Little needed some Little time when they weren’t overwhelmed and tired and on the verge of a meltdown.
About fifteen minutes later, Guilia heard a quiet rap on her door and knew that Luna, or whoever was on front desk, was dropping off her request by the door.
Tay, on the other hand, didn’t even rouse for a moment. Guilia glanced down at them, their shorn back and sides keeping their curls off their face so that she could look at Tay properly. Freckles were scattered across their cheeks and dotted their nose. She could play dot-to-dot with them; they were so plentiful she’d be able to make dozens of different designs. Then that cute little upturned nose, and soft lips. Asleep like this Tay seemed more genderless than ever—a pixie-like being who defied the confines of mortal genders.
Her heart swelled and she thought back to the exchange they’d had when Tay was melting down.“Of course I love you.”The words had been instinctive and neither of them had really registered the magnitude of what they were saying at the time, but now…
Guilia loved Tay.
She thought she might have loved Tay from the moment she met them, as ridiculous as that sounded. And it seemed like she might not be the only one feeling such emotions. Tay murmured in their sleep and wriggled up closer, their hand coming up to rest on Guilia’s breast and she couldn’t help but smile.
No matter how they’d gotten here, here was pretty fucking wonderful.
Tay must have slept for about an hour before they awoke, blearily blinking, as if surprised that they’d fallen asleep at all.
“Did I sleep, Daddy?”
Guilia nodded. “Fast asleep; turns out that when Daddy says you need a nap, she knows best.”
Tay pulled a face and grinned sheepishly. “Oh wow, I was really bratty, wasn’t I? I’m sorry for being naughty, Daddy.”
There was something in their voice that caught Guilia’s attention. “Hey, you were tired. Now don’t get me wrong, I’d rather you weren’t cheeky like that, but some allowances have to be made considering how tired you were. And that never makesyounaughty—your actions might be naughty sometimes, but you as a person are not naughty, Tay.”
“No?”
“Absolutely not.” She pulled Tay closer, slipping an arm under their legs until she was able to cradle them in her arms. “You’re my bestest little tesore.”
That made Tay smile shyly. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“You’re welcome, now go check the door. I think someone might have left something out in the corridor for you.”
Tay bounded up with a squeak of excitement and went running toward the door. Guilia heard it open, more squeals, and then they came back, dragging a large, heavy bag with them. “Did you organize this, Daddy?”
“I did! I know that visiting the petting zoo was slightly stressful for you, so I wanted to treat you for doing so good.”
“Thank you!”
The joy on Tay’s face warmed something inside Guilia. If this was what it was like to be a Daddy, she never wanted it to end.
Inside the bag was a small paddling pool, and a very big bag of sand—which was probably what had made the bag so heavy for Tay. Together they blew up the pool and then emptied the sand inside.
