Page 45 of Jasper

Soft rugs. Twinkly lights. Cozy corners and bins overflowing with plush animals and puzzles. I walk slowly, fingers trailing along the backs of wooden toys and velvet pillows.

It doesn’t take long.

Being around Ember and Rowie makes it easy to let go. To stop overthinking. Toplay like I’ve never gotten to before.

Soon, the three of us are on the floor surrounded by blocks, building towers and knocking them over, our laughter echoing through the room.

Little Space comes on soft and steady.

It feelsgood.

“How old is your Little side?” Ember asks.

She has a pacifier attached to her dress, and when she was bent over earlier, I got a glimpse of her panties, which had ruffles all over the bottom. They were adorable. The three of us have never talked about it, but I suspect both of them go really Little at times. Just like me.

I balance a red block on the top of our tower and think about it. I’ve never defined my Little side by an age. “I guess, maybe two? Sometimes maybe younger, and sometimes older. I can’t say for sure, though, since I’ve never had a Daddy to experiment with. I’ve always had to take care of myself even when in Little Space.”

Rowie bobs her head. “Yeah. Same for me. I mean, my brothers are kind of my caretakers, I guess, but like, they kind of go with whatever headspace I’m in. They don’t push me or take care of me too intimately or anything.”

“I never had a Daddy take care of me like mine does,” Ember replies. “He’s super controlling, and he loves it when I regress really small. I think if I went full baby mode all the time, he’d love it. I like to keep him on his toes, though.”

We giggle and nod because she’s right, Cage is super controlling, and if he could do everything for her, he would. It’s actually pretty sweet, and I think I’d probably enjoy that sort of attention too.

“Have you ever had a Daddy?” I ask Rowie.

Her face pales, and she quickly shakes her head. Before she can answer, Theo appears in the doorway. “Okay, girls. Time for pajamas.”

We all groan dramatically, but when he shoots us a serious stare, we quickly put the blocks away and stand.

“We can watch a movie once you’re all changed.” Theo nods toward the living room. “I’ll make popcorn and meet you on the couch.”

Rowie and Ember link their pinkies with each of mine as we go upstairs together. When I reach the room I’m staying in, I freeze.

A pair of brand-new pajamas are folded neatly on the bed.

Soft, pale yellow with tiny rainbows printed all over the fabric.

I run my fingers across them, heart fluttering. Did Jasper pick these? Or was it someone else? Either way, I change into them, my cheeks warm as I pull on the matching shorts and top.

Downstairs, Ember and Rowie are already settling on the couch with blankets, stuffies, and each of them also has a pacifier clipped to their pajamas. Theo comes from the kitchen minutes later with three bowls of popcorn and hands them out to us, then drops down in an open spot near me.

I curl up, feeling warm and small in the best kind of way. I wish I had my pacifier too, but Jasper is the only person I’ve used it in front of, and even that is still a bit embarrassing.

Rowie is on Theo’s other side, already humming along to the opening song. I lose myself in the colors of the movie, the music, the feeling of Ember leaning against me as she seems to grow sleepier by the minute.

About halfway through, Theo reaches over for a handful of my popcorn. He doesn’t ask or even look, just casually dips his fingers in like we’ve done this a million times.

Without thinking, my hand lashes out.

Smack.

Right across his wrist.

He freezes.

So do I.

My eyes go wide. “Oh my God—I’msosorry.”

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