That was an interesting question.
“I don’t really know. I’ve never . . . she’s just been this urge inside me that I’ve ignored. I’ve always had so much going on. There’s never been a time in my life where I could stop and do something for . . . for fun.”
He looked thoughtful. “We’ll figure it out. You’re still taking naps, you’re exhausted.”
“I am not!”
“What time do you usually go to sleep?”
“I dunno, whenever I fall asleep.”
“Baby girl,” he growled.
“Around one or two, I guess.”
“Which is why you’re exhausted. So, a nap each afternoon and in bed by nine-thirty, asleep by ten-thirty.”
“That’s just crazy,” she muttered.
“Daddy will get your meals for you so I need to know what you don’t like or any allergies.”
“All right, Daddy.”
“You’ll always be respectful. Of me and yourself. No calling yourself names or saying derogatory things.”
That one would suck.
“I’ll try. It’s going to be hard.”
“We’ll work on it together. You already have your touching rule. When you’re Little outside of this room, I’ll be with you.”
“I can’t be Little outside of this room.”
“Why not?”
“Well, I mean, I suppose if it’s just the two of us. But your team lives here too, right?”
“Yes, of course they do. Is that a problem? You don’t want them to live here?”
“No, I mean, yes, they can live here. It’s their home, not mine. But I don’t want them to see me in Little headspace.”
“Why not?”
“B-because I just don’t. Because it’s not normal.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You think they care about what’s normal? They work for me.”
“Well, that’s a good point. But I still can’t . . . I trust you, but that doesn’t extend to them.” Well, maybe Webb. “And some of them don’t even like me.”
“They will. But for now, we can keep Little time to when we’re in here or in my rooms. Actually, maybe we should move you to my rooms. I don’t want you apart from me.”
“Could we . . . could we wait to do that? I just . . . I need some time to catch my breath. To just get used to us. Before I go out there. It feels safe in here. I know that might seem odd but . . .”
“You are safe anywhere in the compound.”
Compound? That was a weird way to put it. Was there more than one building here? Did the others live in a different building? But no, that wasn’t the impression she’d gotten from Webb.
“But I suppose I can give you some time.”