Don't Call Me Daddy

I used to think I had a specific type. Big. Mean. Older. Lawson hits two out of the three, but he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, despite the permanent scowl that drew me in to begin with. He’s a complex man who has experienced much loss, some of it due to his own mistakes, yet there isn’t a hint of cruelty in him. I thought I needed that to pull me into my twisted fantasies. I was wrong. I can experience all of the pleasure

with a little bit of pain. It doesn’t have to go further than that. He dominates my mind more than he dominates my body, and that’s what I needed more than anything else.

“Morning already…” Lawson sighs as he opens his eyes.

“Yeah.” I match his sigh with one of my own.

We don’t say anything for a while. I think we’re both scared to admit what the sun beating down on us actually means. It’s the beginning of the end. Different paths. I want to believe we’ll find our way back to each other again. That we’ll only share a temporary goodbye. I hope it’s the truth. I’m not sure how I’ll recover if it doesn’t. I’ve found more of myself in one weekend than the entirety of my life.

We lay in bed as long as we can, just to avoid the inevitable. We mask it with small talk, but every time we hit on something that involves the future, we sidestep it as quickly as possible. The closest we get to the future is talking about dancing. Apparently, it was something Lawson enjoyed and something I’ve never really tried. We jokingly suggest that we should take a class sometime. The conversation doesn’t feel awkward, just filled with a lot of melancholy. Lawson is the one who finally addresses it point blank.

“Next weekend, right? You’re going to try to get the weekend off?” He reaches for his coffee and takes a sip.

“Yeah, there are plenty of waitresses who prefer to work on the weekend since the tips are good. I should be able to find someone to cover my shift.” I nod.

With those words spoken, there seems to be less gloom hanging in the air. I pack my stuff, lay out my clothes for the day, and Lawson gets the shower ready.

“Are you going to join me?” I walk into the bathroom and begin to remove the robe he let me borrow this morning.

“Do you think I could resist?” He smiles and extends his hand.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t be able to.” I take his hand, and we step into the shower.

We kiss as soon as he pulls the curtain closed. Lawson’s hands move against my skin, and my pussy is wetter than my hair when he finally enters me from behind. It doesn’t take long for either of us to find bliss. Our bodies are hotter than the steam forming around us when we climax. One last trip to paradise before I have to leave. It’s sensual and sweet, but hot enough to make me wish we have more time together than we do.

Our bodies stay entangled. We tease each other. We enjoy the moment until the water starts to chill, and we’re forced to get out. Lawson dries me off, holds me in a wonderful embrace, and we slowly dress for my departure. It seems like we’re both trying to put it off as long as we can, but there are only so many hours of daylight.

“Do you want anything for the road?” Lawson raises an eyebrow. “Red Bull, perhaps?”

“I’ll take one.” I nod in agreement. “I might need that boost before I finally get home.”

“Text me when you get there?” Lawson retrieves a Red Bull from the fridge and hands it to me. “Or call me if you get bored on the way…”

“I’ll definitely call you.” I smile, and he pulls me in for a hug.

“This weekend has been incredible, Ainsley. I really hope I get to see you again next weekend.” The hug lasts longer than it has to, but I don’t mind.

“I’ll do everything I can to make that happen.” I lean back from his embrace and smile. “Walk me to my car?”

“Of course.” He nods and finally lets his hands drop down to my waist.

We walk hand-in-hand as we spend our last minutes together. I feel a little hollower with every step I take, like something is being left behind with my departure. Maybe it’s my heart or maybe it’s just the incredible experiences we shared that I don’t want to be apart from. Nonetheless, it’s an inevitable moment for us both.

“I’m going to miss you, Ainsley Andrews.” Lawson pulls me in for one more kiss once we reach my car.

“I’m going to miss you.” I lean close to his ear after our lips part. “Daddy.”

“Come back next weekend, and you can call me that all you want.” He nods, and I see a hint of sadness in his eyes.

He feels it too. Saying goodbye isn’t easy for either of us.

“Bye…” I sigh as I sit in my car, and Lawson pushes my door closed.

I crank up my car and watch him in the rearview mirror as I pull into the street. We wave at each other one final time, and then he’s out of sight. It hurts. It shouldn’t. Not for a guy that I literally just met, but there’s something special between us. He’s everything I’ve needed and a whole lot more. I want to believe I mean the same thing to him, but I doubt he has tears forming in his eyes like I do. He’s stronger than that.

I call Lawson twice before I make it to Cedar Grove. I get the feeling that we both miss each other right now. I hope the fire continues to burn as the days pass without the kind of physical and emotional contact we shared. It seems so strange to think that I went to the city for anything except meeting him. Destiny and fate were working for me that night—working for us. We found our way to each other like we were being pushed in that direction by something so much larger than two human beings who had lost their way. Now it doesn’t feel like I should be anywhere else but in his arms.

Turning onto my street snaps me out of my daze. It brings me back to reality. My heart sinks into my stomach when I see my mother’s car in the driveway. I know she’s going to have something to say to me as soon as I walk through the door. I was hoping she would be out, and I would have some time to get settled before we talked. It doesn’t look like destiny or fate are working for me right now.