Page 39 of Daddy's Little Surprise

It just took over, and she needed to find some sort of comfort.

“It’s okay. Everyone has a preference for how they want things. I can see you’re stressed, so if it helps you, that’s fine.”

Rainey looked at her, not really believing a word she said. “You aren’t going to make fun of me?”

“Make fun of you for dishing everything out? Absolutely not. We aren’t judgy girls. We won’t judge you for something you like to do.”

“I don’t think it was dishing it out. I think it was making everything even, which is perfectly fine. I like even numbers,” Echo said.

“Y-you like even numbers as well?” Rainey asked.

“I mean, probably not to the extent that you like even numbers. I can breathe when I don’t get an even number of things. It’s just a preference, but I think for you it’s more, which is totally fine. If it helps you become less stressed, then do it. Don’t pay attention to what others are trying to do or say about what you like. Life is too short for you to worry about that.”

Rainey didn’t know what to say. She had honestly expected to be made fun of. She wasn’t expecting them to be so welcoming and accepting of what was wrong with her.

Not wrong with you.She could hear Daddy’s voice in her head.

He was trying to remind her of that every day. There was nothing wrong with her, but she had been made fun of so many times because she needed things to be in even numbers. It was going to take a while for her to get used to not being made fun of and people supporting her.

“So, what made you want to move here and open a coffee shop?” Janie asked. “And when are you due?”

Rainey started to rub her belly again. “I’m due in less than three months. I needed a change of scenery and had always wanted to open one. When I saw that this used to be a coffee shop, I took the opportunity to make it mine.”

She really didn’t want to go into details about her ex-boyfriend. She had just met them and had already made a fool out of herself earlier with the even numbers. While they accepted that with open arms, she wasn’t sure they were going to accept the ex-boyfriend part.

“Well, when you get closer, let us know. We can bring you guys food to put in the freezer or eat that week so you can just rest and not have to cook. We’ll talk to our Daddies to coordinate it with your Daddy.”

Tears pooled in her eyes. She hadn’t even thought about that, and here they were, talking about making meals for her and Daddy when she had the baby. Was this what it felt like to have people in her corner?

“It’s okay. I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Janie said.

Rainey waved her hand in the air. “I’m sorry. Just, I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be sorry. Everyone has gone through something in their life that shapes them into who they are now. You’re okay,” Monroe gently said as she placed a hand on top of Rainey’s.

“On a lighter note, we hang out at the club at least once a week, and sometimes we hang out outside the club if our jobs permit. We have a group chat we can add you to,” Charlotte excitedly said. “You should join us when we go to the club or hang out outside it. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s a good way to make friends. But it’s ultimately up to you and what you’re comfortable with.”

“Yeah, to piggyback off Charlotte, if you get overwhelmed by all this, you don’t have to come. And if you need to bring Dane or your Daddy, you can. We’re not going to judge you for that. Everyone has a different level of comfort with new people,” Janie whispered toward the end.

“It’s also pretty intimidating because we all know each other, right?” Hedda asked.

Rainey nodded and tried to keep her best smile. It definitely was intimidating, knowing they were all good friends. Could they make or break Daddy and hers relationship? Did she have to get along with them so her relationship would survive?

She didn’t think it would because Daddy didn’t talk about it. She figured if it were a big deal to him, he would bring it up and make her aware. Maybe he would do that after she talked to them and got to know them.

“And if you only hang out with us once or twice a month,we’re fine with that, too. We’re not going to be mad if your social meter will only allow that. We also won’t be mad if you don’t like us. We know we can be a lot when we’re together. We aren’t going to hold it against you. Would we like to get to know you and hang out? Absolutely, but we also want to be respectful to you and what you are comfortable with,” Echo said.

“To change the subject. Let us know when you need help moving your things into his house. We’ll gladly help.” Monroe took a sip of her drink.

Rainey started to get anxious from her question.

“Um, well, he’s just letting me stay there temporarily,” she lied. “So, I just have some clothes and other essentials I brought with me. I don’t need any of the other stuff, so I’m okay. It… it really is just temporary, I think. We just met, and I don’t know if it will last, so we’re not moving my things in.”

Rainey felt awful for lying, but she didn’t want them to know she was living in her office, twenty feet from where they were sitting. It would be embarrassing, and she didn’t need the people she hired to know she lived in her office.

“Honey, he’s already staked his claim on you. He’s not going anywhere.” Monroe patted her back.

She looked to her right, out of the window. Everything was getting just a tad too much. They were all nice, but they were also very nosy. Was it normal for a group of girls who wanted to be friends to be like this?

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