Innocence’s Series Bundle (Innocence #1-3)(25)

“I believe I’ve seen people with them all day,” Daddy says to the waiter, and I give him a smirk because I know Daddy’s going to give it to him. One way or another I’ll be getting one.

“I’m sure I can get one in the bar next door, sir.” The waiter shoots me a glare. Sure, like I’m the problem.

Leaning back in my chair, I fold my arms over my chest, shooting him my best ‘suck it’ face. He gives me a once over, like my outfit is the worst thing he’s ever seen.

“Manners, Haley,” Daddy warns, making me gasp.

“He started it!”

He shoots me his ‘drop it’ look, but I’ve had enough. Whatever. I can’t contain my eye roll.

“I have to go potty.” I get up from my chair and stomp through the restaurant. A few people turn to look at me, and it’s then I notice how much I do not fit in here. That was probably why the waiter was giving me the once over. I think this is the nicest restaurant on the resort. The men are all dressed in immaculate suits, and women the women are all in sexy tight dresses. Daddy fits in perfectly, but I stand out like a sore thumb. Why would he bring me here?

When I reach the bathroom, I can’t stop myself from looking in the mirror. I’m wearing a pink sundress that’s tight on my chest but flares out at the waist. It has lace ruffles over my boobs, and the straps are pink ribbons that I tie at the top to keep the dress in place. I even have a matching ribbon that I wear in a bow at my crown. My brown curls hang loose around my shoulders and down my back. I love my hair like this, and this dress is one of my favorites, but now it seems like maybe it wasn’t the best choice.

A woman exits one of the stalls, washes her hands and fixes her make up. I can’t help but compare myself to her. She’s stunning, and everything about her is classy, sleek, and sexy.

I’m curvy, short, and cute.

She is wearing heels that would literally kill me. I remember trying on a pair once, and Daddy just shook his head and led me over to the store’s selection of ballet flats, a pair of which I’m wearing right now. And the only makeup I own is my Dr. Pepper chapstick.

I exit the bathroom in time to see our waiter walk by with my drink, and I snatch it off his tray. He just stands and stares at me for a second, so I make a big to-do of taking a long, slow sip, making him huff at me.

“Don’t you think you’re a little old to be acting like such a brat?” he asks, making my spine go rigid. I love being a brat. It’s what I do best. And I know Daddy loves when I do it too, but suddenly I feel really out of place. Again, I find myself questioning why Daddy brought me here.

My eyes drop to my feet, and I kind of just want the ground to swallow me whole. Thankfully, the waiter walks off, not waiting for a response, and clearly seeing I wasn’t going to give one. I should’ve at least called him a ‘stupid-head’ or something. Maybe even a nice kick to the shin would have felt good.

The far wall of the restaurant is made of glass, and in the distance across the hotel lobby, I see a group of kids my own age hanging by the bar. Some are chatting and others are dancing. I can’t help but wonder if I would fit in better over there.

As I finger my sunglasses pensively, I feel a tug on my hair and I whip around in response.

“Do you want to leave, baby girl?”

Daddy found me, and I wonder if I’m in trouble for storming off.

“They look like they’re having fun,” I say, nodding to the group of teenagers across the way.

Some unnamed emotion flashes across his face, but it’s gone before I can tell what it was. It’s replaced by a soft smile that makes one of his dimples show. “Do you want to go see what they’re up to?”

I hate the dark lighting of this stupid restaurant because I can’t see how truly green his eyes are in here. Nor can I see the dusting of speckled gray his hair has acquired over the past year. Color he says I’ve given him. If he thinks that’s a deterrent for my being a brat, he’s sadly mistaken. Something about the gray is sexy to me.

I want to make Daddy happy so I lie. “No, Daddy, let’s go back to the table.” I should try to fit in because I’m starting to think that’s what he wants. He brought me here, but I find myself slipping my sunglasses on, not caring that it’s night time or that I’m in this stupid fancy restaurant. They are bright pink and make me look totally badass.





7





WILLIAM





Dinner is quiet, and I can tell Haley isn’t feeling it. This restaurant is stuffy and uptight, and if I knew this ahead of time I wouldn’t have brought her here. This kind of place isn’t my thing either, and knowing that she isn’t happy makes it even less enjoyable.

As we walk back along the beach to the bungalow, I decide that maybe Haley needs to spread her wings a bit while we are here. I saw how she looked at the group of young people longingly. They were partying and having a good time, in stark contrast to our restaurant. I know there will be a lot of times in our relationship when we struggle with things. She’s still got so much growing up to do, and what kind of Daddy would I be if I didn't help her navigate that? Giving her a bit of freedom, even if it’s not necessarily total freedom, might help her understand her own desires better.

“Did you know there’s a dance club on the resort?”