Page 27 of Brighton

Not long after, we were curled up under the blanket Brighton got me for Christmas chanting the countdown together. I couldn’t think of a single better way to ring in a New Year and one where my hopes and dreams had the chance to become reality.

“Ten.”

“Nine.”

“Eight.”

“Seven.”

“Six.”

“Five.”

“Four.”

“Three.”

“Two.”

“One.”

“Happy New Year!” We grabbed each other and kissed through our smiles, it was all teeth and so very us. When we broke apart, I blurted out my New Year’s wish.

“Move in with me, Brighton.”

“What?”

Chapter Thirteen

Brighton

Three months later

“Daddy, my furniture is new. I don’t want to get rid of it.” I stomped my feet for effect though it was wasted. Daddy hadn’t asked me to let go of any of it, he had only asked where I wanted to place the items.

“Honey, then don’t. Honestly, your couch will fit perfectly in my home office. There is room for all of it but the bed, which we can keep in storage if you’re okay with that?” Daddy always did his best to appease me, even when I was a brat. Like now…

“Sorry, Daddy. I don’t know why I’m so edgy.” I did, though. I hadn’t slept in a week after pushing to stay at my apartment and then I stayed up well after my normal bedtime each night to pack. How I accumulated as much crap as I had in the six months since I’d moved in was insane. Not to mention the fact that I never should’ve slept away from my Daddy, that never boded well for either of us and it was selfish of me to have done that. Daddy deserved better.

“You’re tired, my love. I get it. Though I may still spank you later,” he winked.

“Lies, all lies!” I chanted as I ran around the room. No clue as to why that scene from a movie I loved popped into my head. My feet just moved that way and off I went. “I want to color.”

“Wow, that was an abrupt turn.” Daddy shook his head and pulled my new coloring book and crayons from the drawer he kept them in. “Have at it, my boy.”

“Thanks, Daddy.” Maleficent and Ursula were curled up on the couch behind me. I’d scooted to the floor to use the coffee table as a desk. “I think you need more art for your fridge.”

“Our fridge, and yes we do.” Daddy returned to breaking down the boxes I’d emptied earlier. Most of my kitchen stuff I got from a secondhand store, so we re-donated it. I liked the idea of it being there for someone else in need without a lot of funds to buy new stuff with. “Daddy, do you think we should find a shelter or a charity to donate my bed to?”

“I think that is a wonderful, thoughtful idea but that decision is yours to make.” Ugh, my earlier tantrum made Daddy react this way and I felt foolish for having acted out as I had.

“Let’s do it. I’ll find a shelter or family in need and get it to them.” Couldn’t be that hard, right? I loved my apartment but something about Daddy’s house, our house now, felt more like home. I could be myself here, whatever that was, and Daddy didn’t balk or tease. He loved me for who I was no matter what mood struck me.

Springtime was gorgeous here. The ground was thawing, and the snow was nearly gone. Still too cold to eat outside but I looked forward to when it would be warm enough. Daddy said I could plant flowers or veggies, whatever I wanted, when the time was right. Oh, I wondered if we could get an above ground pool. Maybe a small plastic one for Simon to lie in on hot summer days.

Moving in with Daddy took away the ability to walk to work but it added the option to carpool. Now, Daddy and I worked the same hours and Simon got to come along with us. There were days when we cooked together, others where Daddy insisted on doing it, and occasional ones where we ordered delivery. My favorite was going to be the ones where we barbequed and ate outside.

“Here, Daddy.” I handed him the picture that I colored with a big red fire truck and a dog riding on it. I mostly stayed inside the lines though there were a couple of rogue bumps.

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