Daddy’s Little Pet

RENEE

“What time are we leaving, Nicole?” I asked softly, dipping my hands in the snack bag and grabbing a bunch of chocolate chip cookies.

“Leaving here?” Nicole asked in response, turning to face me. She snickered as she said again, “At this rate, you might increase your sugar level with how you’ve been eating, and you know that’s not good for your health, right?”

Rolling my eyes, I took another cookie, stuffing the sugary sweet in my mouth and grabbing my nearby can of cola, I sipped helplessly, gurgling at the end.

Binge eating was the only way I could get my mind off Robert. So I’d eat my fill, even if I overstuffed myself.

However, no matter how much I ate or drank, I couldn’t get over him.

His scent filled every inch of my skin, and the last kiss we’d shared before saying farewell was ingrained in me.

If I licked my lips, I could still taste him, which made me more heartbroken.

I’d done the right thing. This decision was best for both of us, right? Besides, there’s no way I would have expected more from him.

Even though I was dying inside, I was trying to justify my actions, and trying to make everything sound right.

“Are you okay, Renee?” Nicole asked, waving her hands in front of me, a puzzled expression on her face and in response, I blinked twice and nodded yes.

“Did you catch what I just said? I was worried for a while because you were lost in your thoughts…”

“I’m fine, Nicole. There’s no problem.” I blurted out, the guilt buried in the depths of my conscience resurfacing and it only encouraged her to question me more.

Since I’d stepped into the motel, asking for some space, she’d obliged. But now the look she gave me told me she was done waiting.

She needed the whole story. She wanted to know what had happened between Robert and me. She wanted all the juicy deets about my escapade, and I’d promised to tell her everything, so now I just had to.

But how could I tell her that I might have hopelessly fallen in love with a stranger? How could I tell her that Robert was twice my age and not someone I could be with long-term? How could I also tell her that Robert had a strange, mysterious personality and that he’d stalked me and gotten some personal information about me? How could I tell her all this? How would I start? What would I say?

“Renee, you better start talking. I have no idea why you’ve been sulking and eating since you returned from that trip with your handsome stranger, but I’ll be damned if I don’t get the full story. Also, we don’t have much time. We’re supposed to leave tomorrow, and we haven’t even packed yet.”

“Yeah, I know. You didn’t answer my question too. What time are we leaving?”

“Early in the morning if we want to catch the train on time. Probably before eight, we’ll be out of here. So we need to pack up and sleep early, but what happened between you and your hot stranger?” Nicole asked again, her brows furrowed as she gave me a wink, and my chest clenched painfully.

The more she reminded me that we had a train to catch tomorrow, the more I became scared of leaving this city.

If I left Miami, I’d be saying goodbye to the memories I’d made here and Robert too.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I’d come to this city to nurse a heartbreak, but I was leaving with a new one. Oh, what an irony!

“Hmmmn…” I sighed slowly.

“Yes? I’m waiting, Renee.”

“I… Honestly, I don’t know how to begin or what to say. I’m… I’m… I’m confused.” I stuttered, a whimper escaping my lips, and that’s when Nicole became worried.

“Renee, what happened?” She asked gently, this time without any trace of mockery.

Instead, she came closer to where I was seated on the bed and pulled me toward her. She embraced me softly and whispered in my ears again, “Talk to me, Renee. What happened? Did he hurt you? Did he… Did he abuse you or…”

“Oh no, Nicole!” I blurted out instantly, a pained chuckle escaping my lips at her last question.

Robert never abused me for once. He did the reverse. He made me feel on top of the world, treating me like a queen and making me realize that I’d lowered my standards to be with Dylan.

From the romantic dinner we’d had, the fantastic out-of-the-world sexcapades, and the way he’d treated me like I was a fragile jewel, Robert had successfully made me fall for him in just these few days.

It sounded so absurd and strange to me. I was a committed person, and I rarely gave myself too easily. I never believed in love at first sight because I was someone who’d get to know a partner well before giving my all… but with Robert?

That first time I’d seen him at the beach, I’d fallen hard without even noticing.

Those gleaming blue orbs had entrapped me. His smile and flirtatious innuendos and what not… How could I not have fallen?

I sniffled quietly as a tear rolled down my cheek, looking away from Nicole’s worried face and off into the distance.

“He was fantastic… My first one-night stand experience, you know…” I began slowly. “He blew my mind…” I paused to chuckle. “He was so nice to me, and I enjoyed every aspect of him… I…”

Not leaving any detail out anymore, I told Nicole everything that happened between Robert and me. All the good times, the hot as fuck sex experience, and Nicole could only stare at me in awe. She refused to believe some of the things I’d told her, but it was the truth.

That said, I told her about our misunderstanding and his age.

“Wow, 43 years old. Not bad. I guess you landed yourself a sugar daddy.” She playfully chimed in and I hissed.

“Don’t tell me you see nothing wrong with his age. He’s twice my age Nicole, twice our age!”

“And so? From what you’ve described, he doesn’t look it, and he sounds like a perfectly nice guy. Forty-three years isn’t that much, and honestly, there’re a lot of girls who’d die to have a DILF fuck em’.”

“How crude, Nicole….” I exclaimed, and she just rolled her eyes.

Sighing, I told Nicole again how he’d stalked me and gotten some personal information that I still had no idea about.

“What? What the fuck? He stalked you? I mean, he ran a background check on you? Like an investigation or something?”

“Yes, and I was so pissed. He fucking invaded my privacy. Like, what’d he expect to find? I have no idea and… oh jeez!”

“Oh, babe. That’s creepy!” Nicole exclaimed by the time I was done talking, and I just nodded.

“I know. I don’t know why he did that. I lashed out and ended it. I cut our yacht trip short, so I’m here. I came back, and now I want to forget about him and try to move on. We’re going to Orlando tomorrow, and I know I’ll always…cherish him deeply but….” My voice cracked at the end and I quickly turned away from Nicole’s shocked face to hide my tears again.

“Honey, I’m sorry…you know I’m only worried about you, and I hope nothing serious has happened between you two. If you’re feeling this way, then….” She trailed off, hugging me again, and trying to comfort me while I sniffed in her arms.

“That’s all that happened, Nicole. I don’t know what to say. He stirred up strange feelings in me and… I almost fell in love. But after what happened reality dawned on me. I don’t know where we stand anymore. It feels like things changed overnight, maybe forever, but it’s for the best.” I replied sadly, staring up at Nicole’s face which was adorned with a comforting expression.

“I understand how you feel, Renee, but please promise me something, alright? Please don’t beat yourself up and get too attached or obsessed about him, okay? Remember, we came here so you could get over that motherfucker. I can’t let you go back home with another heartbreak or whatever this is. You have to be strong and not overthink, okay?” She said softly, caressing my hair gently, “Also, don’t forget this, but you’ve got me. I’m your best friend, and I’m here for you. Alright?” She finished reassuring me and I nodded.

“Good, good, that’s my girl.” She giggled, and softly I joined in with a chuckle.

“Hmmmn, now what do you say about stalking him as payback?” Nicole winked and dragged her laptop to her thighs as she switched it on.

“No way, Nicole! I don’t want to see him or….”

“Come on, babe. Leave this to me, and tell me what’s his name?”

“Nicole…” I drawled, but she didn’t seem to be paying me attention. “Yes, I’m waiting. His full name? You said it’s Robert, right? And he’s rich… if you don’t know his surname, I’ll search till we get it….”

“Oh, Nicole…” I drawled, rubbing my hands on my forehead, and then I said curtly, grimacing as his name flew out my lips, “Robert Clarke. His full name is Robert Clarke.”

“Good! Investigation mode unlocked!” Nicole squealed and got to work while I watched.

Her excitement was contagious, and I couldn’t help but grin. I decided to focus on something else as I didn’t want to know what she had uncovered.

I didn’t want to know any more details about him that might shatter my heart, and most especially, I didn’t want to see the women he’d been linked with in the past. He might even be married, for fuck’s sake… ugh!

I didn’t want to know or see because I might get jealous. My heart tightened at the thought of Robert moving on and finding another fling who he’d spoil and lavish all his attention on.

I didn’t want to know at all. So instead of staring at Nicole’s laptop or asking her if she’d gotten any tangible information, I grabbed my soda and the snacks littered on the bed and continued eating.

I was going to do anything at all to forget about Robert Clarke!