Chapter One
Chase
“Hey, Chase, your pet project is coming tonight.” Galven glances at me with a crooked smile.
I roll my eyes. “She’s not my pet project.” She kind of is though. Everyone knows it. Josie has been coming to the Dungeon for months. She comes every Friday night. She’s shy, incredibly quiet, and always nervous.
She’s adorable.
Have I ever had a conversation with her that lasted more than five seconds? No. Has she let her gaze meet mine? No. Has she ever shown the tiniest interest in pursuing anything with me? Again, no.
“She needs a Daddy,” Galven says as he finishes tying off a bunch of balloons to the low wall around the playroom.
“Are you sure? Some Littles are just happy being Little by themselves. They don’t actually crave the attention of a caregiver.”
Galven leans a hip against the wall and shrugs. “I’ve owned this club for a long time. I’ve watched nearly every member growinto themselves inside these walls. That includes Josie. She may be skittish, but she was far more skittish when she first joined. She has really opened up to the other Littles in the club.”
I run a hand down my face and sigh. “She hasn’t opened up to any Daddies.”
“Maybe the timing wasn’t quite right. Maybe she just needs more time to get to know people than some people do,” Galven suggests.
I have my doubts, but I hope he’s right. I hope I can eventually reach her. Maybe tonight will be the night.
Chapter Two
Josie
I stare at myself in the mirror and force myself to lift my chin and smile. I’ve arranged my unruly brown curls into two buns on the sides of my head. I didn’t do a great job, but it’s not too bad. I’m not good with makeup, so I only have on lip gloss, but my friend Zia says I’m lucky and that with my tanned complexion, dark lashes, and smooth skin, I don’t need makeup.
I’m here for a party. Normal people smile and laugh at parties.
I glance around the locker room. No one is in here but me. The other Littles have all changed into their costumes and rushed to the playroom where the party is already in full swing.
I glance down at my dress. I look like a princess. Iama princess tonight. It’s a costume party. The Dungeon isn’t celebrating any specific holiday or even a birthday party. They simply organized a costume party because Littles like to play dress-up and have fun.
I can have fun too. My dress is pale blue like Cinderella’s. I don’t have glass slippers because that isn’t practical, but I haveclear plastic jellies. They’re like sandals. They’re pinching my toes a little, and I don’t really like them, but they’re pretty, and they make me feel like a princess.
Forcing my smile wider, I clap my hands together and giggle. Sort of giggle. I’m practicing my laugh.
“Go out there and play,” I encourage myself.
Taking a deep breath, I turn around and open the door to step into the main room. I’m instantly assaulted by loud noises and flashing lights. I hate them, but if I keep my head down, I can hurry past that part of the club and get to the playroom.
I squint as I rush. My shoes stick to the floor a bit with every step. It’s getting on my nerves. Finally, I reach the playroom. The party is in full swing. It’s crowded.
For me, it’s a catch-22. I hate crowds. But I like being in my Little space so much that I force myself to endure the wall-to-wall people because Friday nights at the Dungeon are the few hours each week when I feel most comfortable in my skin.
“Josie!” someone yells.
I jerk my attention to the right to find Zia skipping toward me. I force a smile.
“You’re here!” She stops short of giving me a hug. I know she would hug every other Little in the Dungeon to greet them, but somehow she has always sensed I’m not a good hugger.
She looks up and down my body. “I love your princess costume. It’s so pretty.”
“Thank you. I like yours too.” Zia is also a princess tonight, but she has on a green dress.
“We can be princess twins together. Do you want to get some punch?” She points toward the far wall where they’re serving something red from a huge clear bowl.
