Page 24 of Good Girl

That’s how group homes worked. You kept your shit hidden or broken, so no one else would ever want it.

To Derek’s credit, he doesn’t push me, just holds me, his palm slowly running circles on my lower back. I focus on him, on his heartbeat beneath my ear. I can do this. I can accept this gift—no, this reward. I’ve earned them. And I don’t need to pick afancy one. Just something I can text and make calls on. Maybe scroll some social media. It doesn’t need to be expensive.

It’s not until I reply that I notice that my hand has clenched into a tight fist in his button-up shirt. Fuck. I try to smooth it out, but he gives a squeeze around my waist. Swallowing, I look up at him.

Expression softer than I’ve ever seen it before, he asks his question again. “So, what’s it going to be, baby? Brand new or replace the broken parts?”

I swallow at his words. The symmetry between his request and the plans for my life is way too close for comfort.

Balls to the wall, I remind myself and try to sink back into the role I’m supposed to be playing and give him what he wants. If he wants to get me a new phone, who am I to stop him?

“New phone, please, Daddy.”

He smiles like I just made his day. “What my baby asks for, my baby gets.”

Just over forty minutes later, I’m fighting back tears as I hold the latest iPhone in my hand, with a crazy, silver bejeweled case, phone protector, and a fluffy pink pom pom hanging off the corner. My sim card was transferred over, the phone unlocks with my face, and I can play games on it. Plus, the battery apparently lasts all day before needing to be charged.

Derek leads me over to where the guys are sitting at the same café where I had hot chocolate. When they see us coming, Darcy pats his knee for me to sit, and Derek takes the spare seat next to Hudson. Xavier follows us out of the store with a purchase of his own.

“How’d you do, princess? Show me what Daddy Derek got you.”

Still in a little shock, I proudly show Darcy my phone. He oohs and aahs over it like he’s never seen a smart phone before, and I giggle at him.

“That’s two rewards down, four to go. Think you can handle more?”

I hold my phone against my chest and nod, wondering what else I can handle more of.

Chapter 13

Emery

Staring at the store, I’m wondering if I really want to go in there. I’ve seen the ads for this place and always thought their products were stunning but ultimately not for me. At least, not the previous version of me.

But this new version of me—can she have nice things?

With my brand-new sparkly phone in my hand and my pristine white backpack on my back, I decide, yes, I can have nice things. I don’t need to keep borrowing from Oakley. I can walk into this store and buy a sundress or two. Some cute belts. Maybe even one of those floppy sunhats that look irritating as fuck but seem to be what all the hot chicks wear on TV.

“Are we going in, princess?”

Darcy is at my side, our fingers once again laced together. He and Derek are passing me between the two of them, with Hudson and Xavier mostly watching on. I’m not sure how I feel about it, to be honest. I know we are in public, and I look like I could be one of their daughters, but . . .

I sigh at myself.

When did I become this wimpy, whiny version of myself? These men are turning me inside out. I’m finally feeling like I’m catching up with them, but I have no doubt that they will turn the tables on me again soon.

And all the casual touching is driving me crazy. Who knew hand holding could be so erotic? Darcy keeps tucking his thumb between our hands and drawing circles on my palm. And Derek’s hand on my back, so low that he’s almost caressing the swell of my ass? Fuck. Me.

I kind of want to just go into this store and get the shopping over with so that we can go back to the apartment and let them split me open again.

“Princess?”

I jump, totally lost in the idea of the five of us on that giant bed, arms and legs all tangled together. “Ah, yeah. I mean, yes, Daddy.”

He gives my hand a squeeze and we walk into the store. It’s one of those fancy places where you have to push the glass door open, the ambience of the space completely separate from the mall itself.

“How may I—oh, well, hello. Do you need some assistance?” The saleslady’s eyes drop to our joined hands, then shoot up over my shoulder as Derek, Hudson, and Xavier all walk in.

“Um, no, thanks. I just want to look around, is that okay?”

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