Page 39 of Stripping Little Seraphina
“Of course.” I leaned down, brushing a kiss against her temple. “Now get changed. I want you warm and comfortable before bed.”
She slipped into the bathroom to change, and when she came back out—in her new pajamas, her feet swallowed by the slippers—I had to take a slow breath. She was radiant. Mine.
We climbed into bed, her pressed into my side, our legs tangled together. The talking started small, little things—her favorite snacks, the books she wanted to read from the shelf, whether or not she could keep the slippers on forever. But it grew deeper as the hours passed. Fears. Hopes. The fragile trust she was placing in me piece by piece.
I held her through every word, answering honestly, never letting go.
Eventually her voice softened, then slurred, then faded completely. Her breaths evened out against my chest.
I glanced at the clock. Exactly her bedtime.
A chuckle rumbled through me, quiet so I wouldn’t wake her. “Even when you think you’re fighting it, babygirl… you’re already mine.”
I kissed the crown of her head, pulled the blankets higher around her shoulders, and let myself relax into sleep with her right there in my arms.
Chapter Sixteen
Seraphina
The weekends for the next month had become my favorite part of life. The rhythm was perfect: schoolwork during the week, my assignments, structure. Then weekends with her. With Daddy. She called them “our time,” and they were—safe and warm and full of things I’d never let myself want before. She gave me rules. She gave me freedom inside of them. She gave me her bed at night. And she took me on dates.
But all of that cracked the second she told me she had to leave.
“I’ll only be gone two nights, little one,” she’d said, her thumb brushing under my chin. “It’s an emergency with Emerson. You’re safe here. I’ll be back before you know it. You can stay in the cabin so you can feel more of my presence while I’m away. Because I’ll miss our time together, you can stay over Monday and Tuesday to make up for it.”
I nodded like it was fine. Smiled like it didn’t matter. Pretended like I wasn’t already unraveling inside.
Because two nights might as well have been two months. I held it together when she left. She gave me extra cuddles, kisses, and even dressed me in one of her t-shirts to wear forthe day. It was a little snug, but that didn’t matter to me at all. It still smelled like her. So did her bathrobe that I’d wrapped myself in–burrito style. I had a bad feeling that something would happen while she was away, so I’d been trying to keep busy. Daddy left me a schedule, but I’d done most of it all ready.
The call came Sunday afternoon while I was journaling in my clubhouse–that’s what I’d deemed the room that Daddy had made for me.
“Seraphina,” Mom said, like she was already disappointed. “We need to talk about setting a date with Evan. He’s been asking, and it’s getting embarrassing to keep putting him off.”
The sound of his name made my stomach roil. “I don’t want to set a date.”
I stood up and exited the clubhouse and sat down in the middle of our bed. I pulled the blanket around me and held on to my new stuffy that Daddy got for me. His name was Vee.
Her sigh was sharp enough to cut me. “You’re not getting any younger. Evan is a good man. You’ll have security, family. Don’t be foolish.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek, heart pounding. “Mom, I told you before, I don’t want this.”
“Don’t start, Seraphina. Stop acting like a child. You’ll do your duty to this family.”
“Duty?” What was this about?
“Yes! Your father and I aren’t getting any younger and we want grandchildren. Your sister is working on her career and you’re just doodling around with your life as if you’ll be this young forever. It’s time that you do something meaningful. Seraphina, I don’t know if you’ll do much better than him on your own. He won’t care that you don’t take anything seriously. As long as you’ll carry his babies and be a good wife, I’m sure you’ll make him happy.” She firmed. “When will you be backfrom this silly little trip of yours so we can get on with the rest of your life?”
So WEcan get on with the rest of MY life? How dare she!
The pressure in my chest exploded. “I can’t. Because I’m lesbian. I have no interest in Eric or any other man.”
“Evan. His name is Evan.”
“Whatever, Mom. That’s not the point. I’m only interested in women and I’m currently seeing someone. There won’t be any blind dates, especially with Evan.”
Silence. For a heartbeat, I thought maybe she’d soften. Maybe she’d surprise me.
Then she laughed.Laughed.“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re only saying that because you don’t want to marry Evan. This is childish rebellion. You’ll regret it.”
