Page 47 of Wishes and Research

“There was something I was going to ask you, wasn’t there?” Something was dancing at the back of my mind but I just couldn’t catch it.

Unburying myself, I wiggled around until I was looking at Daddy, who was back to trying not to laugh. “I forgot something.”

“Yep.” He wasn’t being helpful at all. “You did.”

Daddies were just as frustrating as the internet said they were.

“Um, we did the hike and you led me to that area with the decomposing logs.” He’d done a good job with that. “We chatted and you told me stories. You’re a good trail guide.”

Some people were just boring, and it helped that he spoke a language I could understand.

“Thank you.” Daddy kissed my nose. “Keep going.”

Ugh.

“I…I found my beetles.” Oh. “Um, I got video of them and I took notes.”

I was starting to remember what I’d forgotten.

All the weirdness.

“You found a lot of them.” Daddy didn’t move away but he looked more serious somehow. “It was interesting to watch.”

He’d watched the beetles.

He’d watched the beetles disappear.

He’d watched the beetles disappear without going into shock.

“I’m…I’m going to have to transcribe my notes later.” Swallowing, I stayed focused on the logical parts. “It’s a longer process that way but I make better notes when I talk through it in the field.”

I saw Daddy nod, so he didn’t think it was silly. “I could see that. You were very detailed as you were talking. I caught the notes you made on the habitat and about their behaviors. They’re hard to see, though.”

Oh.

Yeah, he’d seen the weird bits.

“Um, yes. They camouflage very well.” Or something like that. “When we were done for the time being, we walked back and you…well…you were very Daddy.”

I was not going to blush.

I was not going to blush.

I was not going to blush.

Daddies took care of things because they were control freaks who were just very sweet looking.

“I was glad you let me be very Daddy.” He brushed his lips softly against mine, heat and something else close to it in his eyes. “I thought that was very special and I loved that you trusted me so much.”

I could feel the relief flooding through me but I tried not to show it because I didn’t want him to think that I’d been worried about his reaction. I had been worried. But it seemed rude to point that out. “I’m glad.”

Yes, polite and not worried.

Daddy looked like he was trying not to smile. “Good.”

I felt less silly once he gave me another kiss, but I knew we weren’t done with our conversation yet. “You…you got me lots to drink and you made me a big lunch.”

I’d been so full it was wonderful.

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