Daddy’s Wild Girl (Montana Daddies #16)

Chapter 12

12

“ R ight, when we get inside, what are you going to do?” Corbin asked her as they approached the front door.

They’d just been to the grocery store.

Three days had passed since the skateboard incident and he still felt on edge. He’d been in a panic when he’d seen her go down and not get up.

What he felt toward her hadn’t abated while he’d been avoiding her.

In fact, it only seemed to grow worse with every day that passed.

At least after the skateboarding incident, she’d taken things easy for a day. Well, easy for her. She didn’t seem to stop much.

“Can’t you do it?” she asked him, pouting slightly.

Damn, that was cute.

It didn’t help that she was wearing her hair in two braids and had a pink velvet tracksuit on.

She looked adorable.

However, he couldn’t let that sway him. “Nope. You have to learn to do this yourself.”

“Are you sure you can’t do it for me? This time?”

“This is your security system, girl,” Hayes said in a low rumble. He was getting grouchy. Hayes didn’t like people very much. So, going to the grocery store was torturous for him.

“He’s right, Bebe,” Corbin said firmly. “It’s not difficult.”

“No, but it’s pointless. No one is after me. This has Mommy dearest and her manipulations written all over it.”

“You seriously think your mother would make up these threats?” Hayes asked. “And we’ve seen them; they’re real.”

“You don’t think she could create them herself?” she asked. “Or likely hire someone to make them.”

They were both silent. Did she really think her mother was capable of that?

Bebe let out a long, dramatic sigh. “Sorry. I know that’s too much to process. I have baggage when it comes to my mother.” She turned to the door and unlocked it before stepping inside. Then she disarmed the system.

“Good job,” he told her.

She snorted but didn’t say anything. They followed her inside after she unlocked and opened the door. She shut and locked it.

“Right, now rearm it for home,” he ordered.

Grumbling to herself, she rearmed the system and set it to home.

“See?” he said. “Not that hard.”

“I need a beer.” She stomped into the kitchen.

“Does she really think her mother made those threats?” Hayes asked.

“I think the question is, could Barb have made those threats?”

Hayes grunted. “Surely not. But it’s been proven time and again that people are fucked up. Maybe her mother is. Or maybe Bebe’s just a spoiled, lonely, little rich girl with mommy issues.”

“Jesus, Hayes.” Corbin ran his hand over his face. “You don’t really think that, do you?”

Hayes was silent. Then he shook his head. “Maybe before I met her. Before I got to know her. But she’s too . . . authentic. She works hard. She’s polite to people. She’s never once asked us to do anything for her, even when she fucking well should. So, nah, I don’t think that’s what’s going on. She’s not like they write about her on social media. But who believes that shit anyway?”

“Wait. You read social media?” Corbin gaped at Hayes.

“I’m not completely out of touch with what’s going on in the world, you know. I’m not a dinosaur.”

“Yeah, but you are an antisocial prick who hates most people.”

“What? I am not.”

“You growled at that sweet little old lady who stepped up close to you while you were looking at the cheese today.”

“Yeah, well, she needs to learn about personal space.”

“Uh-huh.” Corbin walked into the kitchen, finding it empty.

Strange. But he guessed Bebe must have gone upstairs to get changed or something.

Maybe she’s just a spoiled, lonely, little rich girl with mommy issues.

Ouch.

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

Bebe paced her bedroom, trying to push those words out of her mind.

But they just wouldn’t leave.

Spoiled.

Lonely.

Mommy issues.

The last one was true. She wouldn’t even bother to deny it. She had deep-rooted mommy issues, and she was certain if they knew about her life growing up with that woman, they wouldn’t blame her for those issues.

But as for the rest . . .

Bebe knew what most of the world thought of her. She’d seen the stuff about her on social media. She knew she shouldn’t look, but it was like a sickness. The more she tried not to look . . .

The harder it became to stop herself.

And once she started reading . . . well, she couldn’t stop.

However, she’d forced herself to build a thick skin. Those people online were strangers. All they knew was what they saw or read. So they couldn’t make an accurate assessment of her as a person.

Only people who knew her could do that.

Which is why it really hurt that Hayes thought that. Sure, they’d only known each other a week. But they were basically living together so it felt like they knew each other.

She hadn’t stuck around to hear anything else after that.

Face it . . . you just didn’t want to hear if Corbin agreed with him.

No. It was one thing for bossy, grouchy Hayes to think that. But it would completely destroy her if Corbin had agreed with him.

So she’d fled through the kitchen, then up the stairs to her bedroom.

There was a knock on her door and she froze. “Yes?”

“Hey, dinner is ready. Are you coming down?” Corbin asked.

Bebe placed her hand over her tummy. “Sorry, I’m not feeling that great.”

“Are you all right? Do you want me to come in and check on you?”

“I’m fine. It’s just a headache. Sometimes, they make me feel nauseous. I think I’ll just lie down and try to have a sleep in the quiet.”

There was silence and she wondered if he’d left.

“Okay,” he said. “Everything’s all right? You’re not seeing double or anything?”

Lord.

He was so nice.

Please don’t let him think those things about me.

Bebe took a steadying breath. “No. I’m fine.”

“And you have painkillers?”

“Yeah, I do. I’m all good, Corbin. I’m a big girl. Been taking care of myself for a long time.”

Such a liar.

It almost hurt to say those words. Because she wanted to wrap herself up in his care. To let him coddle and protect her.

“Just because you can take care of yourself doesn’t mean you always have to. Sometimes, it’s all right to let other people look after you. To just let go.”

Not in her experience.

She hadn’t had much care and attention from her parents when as a child. Or an adult.

Maybe she really was a poor little rich girl.

Then, she’d been so starved for attention that she’d found it in all the wrong places.

And she’d ended up in a bad, bad place.

Don’t think about that.

About him.

Yep. There was the indigestion.

Corbin seemed genuine but trusting people didn’t come easily to her.

“Thanks,” she said. “I appreciate that. But there’s really nothing you can do. I’m just going to lie down in the quiet.”

“All right. Well, if you want some dinner or anything else, you can message me. Or Hayes.”

Yeah, she definitely wouldn’t be messaging Hayes.

Deep breaths.

“Got it,” she called out.

She listened to his footsteps as he walked away. Then she let out the breath she’d been holding in a whoosh, feeling light-headed.

Note to self.

Do not hold your breath too long.

Lying on the bed, she attempted to quiet her mind. But her brain kept playing those words over and over again.

Even worse, other words came back to her.

Strangers commenting on her size, her clothes, her attitude.

Rich brat. Doesn’t live in the real world.

Placing her hands over her eyes, she fought back the tears.

Look at her. So skinny. Obviously has an eating disorder.

Bebe bit down on her lip.

All the money in the world can’t buy class. Or brains.

Crap. Crap. Crap.

You need me, Belle. I’m the only one who loves you. Who will ever love you? Because I’m the only one who understands you. That’s why you need to listen to me.

A sob broke free. She wasn’t going to calm down like this.

Deep breath in. Let it out slowly.

Draw a box in your mind. One. Two. Three. Four.

But it wasn’t working. Nothing was.

No one will ever love you like I do. But you need to behave to keep my affection, Belle.

Asshole. He was an asshole and none of it was true.

You’re being too sensitive.

Why was she letting him do this to her?

You’re being irrational.

He couldn’t hurt her anymore unless she let him.

It’s your fault I did that, Belle. All. Your. Fault.

Nausea bubbled in her stomach. Damn indigestion.

If you were normal, none of this would happen. But you have needs only I can meet. Remember that. No one else would love you if they knew.

Getting up, she raced to the bathroom. Falling to her knees, she leaned over the toilet and vomited up everything in her stomach. Which wasn’t a lot.

After flushing the toilet, she managed to stand and lean against the cabinet. Shakily, she brushed her teeth as she stared at herself in the mirror.

Looking back at her was a woman she didn’t recognize. She seemed gaunt. Pale.

Haunted.

She didn’t want to be that girl again. The one who believed the lies she was told. The web that had been spun around her, designed to trap and manipulate her.

That wasn’t who she was.

But as she continued to stare at herself, that web seemed to tighten, digging into her skin. Tears dripped down her cheeks.

“You’re strong. You’re smart. You are in charge of your life. Control what you can. What is right in front of you.”

It helped a bit.

However, things were still spinning.

She knew there was one thing that would quiet her mind. That would stop that out-of-control feeling.

But she couldn’t do that . . .

However, her feet were turning her without her permission. Leading her out of the bathroom and toward the closet. Opening the door, she crouched and reached toward the back to grab a box.

Pulling it out, she sat back on her ass and opened it.

Inside was a gorgeous, pale, buttery-yellow fluffy blanket, which she immediately drew it up to her face. It felt so soft against her skin and there was a slight scent of lavender. She’d always had trouble sleeping and the lavender helped. She’d place the blanket by her face and breathe it in.

Now, instead of using the blanket, she tried to wear herself out physically instead. Putting the blanket aside, she reached back into the box again and drew out a dress. It was yellow and white gingham. Something she’d never wear in her day-to-day life.

But her Little had loved this dress. So much so that she hadn’t been able to get rid of it.

It was so feminine and sweet. Two things that she didn’t believe she was.

He’d never liked this dress. He’d put her in pants and tops. Overalls. Those were clothes her adult side would pick.

But her Little liked pretty dresses. Cute things.

Bebe couldn’t explain it. That was just the way her brain worked.

He hadn’t liked that.

Something she hadn’t understood at the time, but she now did.

He’d liked to be in control. And if he wasn’t . . . then everyone else was at fault.

Never him .

Nothing was ever his fault.

So she hadn’t worn this dress when she was with him. There were matching bloomers. They were white with ruffles, and the dress was short enough that when she bent over, you could see them.

Yeah, he hadn’t liked that either. Said she was displaying too much of her skin. And he didn’t want others to stare at her.

Staring at what belonged to him.

She shuddered, not wanting to remember what belonging to him had meant.

But she’d never worn this outfit around anyone but him, so she didn’t understand his reasoning.

Right. Like he was ever reasonable.

Putting the dress and bloomers down, she reached into the box once more and drew out her bottle.

Damn.

She really wished she could have a bottle of milk right now. Biting her lower lip, she grabbed her pacifier out next.

That was too much to resist.

Even though she knew she should wash it first, she popped it straight into her mouth.

Immediately, a sense of calm engulfed her.

All of her worries didn’t just disappear, but they were pushed back. It wasn’t like she could fully let go and allow her Little free rein.

The last thing she pulled out of the box was the one that made her nearly cry.

Nutters.

Her squirrel.

She loved Nutters, and it killed her to shove her away in a box in the closet.

Surely . . . surely it would be okay to let Nutters out, right?

Lots of adults who weren’t Littles slept with stuffed toys.

She hugged Nutters tight and knew she couldn’t shut her away again. It wasn’t fair to Nutters.

And it wasn’t like Corbin and Hayes would be in her bedroom. Well, as long as she didn’t have any more nightmares.

In three weeks they’d be gone and she’d be alone again.

And that was a good thing.

Right?

Why had she agreed to this in the first place? She was a grown woman who should be able to tell her Dad no.

But part of her was still that anxious child, searching for her parents’ love and approval.

With a sigh, she put everything away except her blanket, Nutters, and her pacifier. She needed the extra comfort tonight

Heading to the bed, she curled up on her side and placed the blanket by her face.

Hopefully, she’d get some sleep.