than this one and my cradle-robbing father.” She points a thumb at me.
“Cradle-robbing? This was my idea!” My protests go unheard.
Mikey leans close to Harper, full of sharp intent. “How old are you?”
Wait. Am I watching a flirtation here? My attention goes back and forth between them, fascinated. When I finally cross gazes with Alba, her expression mirrors my curiosity.
“Eighteen,” says Harper. “You?”
“Twenty-four.”
“See? Six years.” Harper turns to me. “How much of a gap between you and my dad?”
“Oh. Uh…seventeen.”
“So fucking sexy,” Alba says.
Harper grimaces.
I stand. “I’d better go.”
“No way,” Mikey says.
“We want details.”
My eyes fly to Harper. “I don’t think this is—”
It’s Harper’s turn to stand. “I get it. Fine.”
“Wait up, Harper. I’ll walk you out.” Mikey throws me a smirk and follows Harper out onto the sidewalk while I sit down, shaking my head.
“Is Mikey picking her up?”
“Yep,” replies Alba, shaking her head with a grin. She’s got these big, innocent-looking brown eyes—the perfect foil for her deeply kinky soul. I’ve learned more about sex in the months since I met these two than I’d heard in my entire life. Or imagined.
My brows wrinkle as Mikey returns to their seat, smirk still in place.
“You’re not messing around with her, are you?” Alba asks.
“Who, moi?” Mikey’s eyes land on me.
“Seriously, Mikey, that’s the daughter of my…”
They lean forward. “Yes? Please finish that sentence.”
I let my face fall into my palms. “I don’t know what he is, you guys.”
“He’s a fucking daddy, I told you. Big Daddy Karl.”
“Mikey’s right. Stone cold daddy.”
My innards squish again at that word. I dare to look at them through my fingers. “What’s that mean, exactly? Can you two explain? ’Cause he’s not my father.”
“Hell, no, but he could be your daddy. Is he? Is that what this is?”
My mouth drops open. Nothing comes out, which I can tell they both love. Talking sex is kind of their thing. And talking sex with me—whom they call an innocent slut—is their absolute favorite. Shocking and titillating in equal measures.
It’s probably as far from my old life as I can get and it’s wonderful—free, open communication about something that’s always been painfully taboo.
Slut. I get red, just remembering how I used that word last night.
“Look. Can you explain, please? The daddy references?” And tell me why I like it so much?
“It’s a real thing. More or less kinky, depending.”
“On what?”
“Okay.” Alba takes over. “So, you know how we’ve talked about Dominance?”
“Right, you think I’m a secret submissive.”
“Not that secret.”
“Do you agree?” I turn to Mikey, who just shrugs.
I deadpan. “Go on.”
“We haven’t discussed role play, but…” Alba widens her eyes at me, batting those lashes. “Family play is a thing.”
Family play. I mouth the words, then stop, mouth open.
“Methinks she likes it.” Mikey’s voice is low, secretive.
“See?” Alba meets their eyes before looking at me again “So that’s one version of it. But that’s not what I mean about this guy—unless, hey, maybe it’s your thing?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’ll figure it out,” Alba says with a matter-of-fact confidence that I adore. “What we’re talking about is when an older man, you know, maybe tells you what to do? Maybe takes care of you? There’s a lot of potential there. So many ways a daddy kink can pan out. A lot can happen.”
“Oh!” Mikey’s fingers dance at all the possibilities. “Sugar daddies, for example. They take care of their partner, give them money, gifts, in exchange for sex.”
“Oh, no.” I shake my head. “No, no, no. Not my thing.”
Alba’s high-pitched giggle draws people’s attention. “Not a sugar daddy, then.”
Mikey tilts their head, eyes narrowed. “That’s not his vibe, anyway.”
“What kind of da—” I lower my voice, casting a glance around us. “Daddy does he seem like?”
Mikey gets that bright, avid look in their dark eyes. They lean way in, put their forehead on my shoulder, and whisper, “He looks like a take-no-shit-boss of a daddy, who’ll tell you what to do and make you like it.” Pulling back to give me a long, squinty stare, they go on. “Am I right?”
Alba nods, knowingly.
My mouth drops open. “How did you know?”
“Is that a yes?” Mikey asks.
“Maybe.” I draw out the word, holding my smile inside. It’s embarrassed, excited, and a little secret.
“Oh, thank you God.” Alba’s eyes flick heavenward, then back to me. “This is gonna be so good. You don’t do shit halfway, do you, Jerusha? Straight into the deep end.”
“We need details. You asked him out and now you’re, what?” Mikey squints. “A thing? Dating? Fuck buddies? I