Fourteen ✨

Nicole 💜

As I approached the parking lot, I spotted daddy's car immediately. His sleek black sedan was hard to miss, and usually, the sight of it sent a thrill of excitement through me. But today, my emotions were all tangled up, and that familiar excitement was nowhere to be found.

I quickened my pace, my eyes darting toward the passenger window where a girl was standing. My heart sank the moment I saw her. She was leaning into the car, wearing practically nothing—her shorts barely covering her thighs and her top showing way too much skin. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I didn’t need to. The flirty smile on her face and the way she leaned in toward Alex told me everything I needed to know. My stomach twisted into knots.

Why was she here? Why was she talking to my Alex? My daddy?

A bitter pang of jealousy shot through me, stronger than I’d ever felt before. My hands clenched around the straps of my backpack as I got closer, and I could feel the warmth of anger rising in my chest. But even more than that, there was this sinking feeling of sadness and insecurity gnawing at me. I hated that girl already, but even more than that, I hated how she was making me feel—like I wasn’t good enough. Like maybe, just maybe, daddy might prefer someone else.

Without a word, I pulled open the passenger door and slid into the seat, my body tense and my heart pounding. I didn’t even glance at daddy. I couldn’t. If I did, I knew I’d break. I could feel his eyes on me, waiting for the usual smile or playful greeting, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not with the memory of that girl fresh in my mind.

The moment I sat down, he reversed out of the parking lot, and we started heading home. The silence between us was thick, almost suffocating. I stared straight ahead, my arms folded tightly across my chest, willing myself not to say anything. I didn’t trust my voice right now. It would probably betray the emotions swirling inside me—anger, jealousy, fear. I hated feeling this way, but I couldn’t help it. The image of that girl flirting with Alex, showing off her body, kept replaying in my mind, and every time it did, the knot in my chest grew tighter.

After what felt like an eternity, daddy finally broke the silence.

“How was your day, baby girl?” His voice was soft, like he was trying to coax me out of my mood, but I wasn’t in the mood to be coaxed.

“Fine,” I replied, my tone sharper than I intended. I could feel his eyes on me, probably confused about why I was being so cold, but I didn’t care. Let him wonder.

He sighed softly, and I could sense his concern growing. Alex always knew when something was off with me. I didn’t have to say much for him to pick up on it. That was one of the things I loved about him—how in tune he was with me. But right now, that closeness felt too much, and I wasn’t ready to open up.

“What’s wrong?” he asked gently, his voice laced with genuine concern. “You’ve been quiet since you got in the car.”

I kept my gaze fixed out the window, watching the blur of trees and buildings pass by, but it wasn’t enough to distract me from the ache in my chest. I didn’t want to answer him. I didn’t want to say the words out loud and make this feeling real. But the longer I sat in silence, the more it built up inside me until I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Nicole…” he pressed, his tone patient, but I could hear the worry creeping in. “Talk to me, baby girl. What’s going on?”

I let out a long, shaky breath, my arms tightening around myself like they could protect me from the vulnerability I was about to expose. Finally, after what felt like forever, I spoke.

“Who was that girl?”

I could hear the jealousy in my own voice, and it embarrassed me. But I couldn’t help it. I needed to know. I needed him to tell me that she didn’t mean anything. That I was the one who mattered to him.

Alex seemed taken aback by the question. “What girl?”

“The one who was all over your car window,” I muttered, the bitterness seeping into my words. I was trying to keep my emotions in check, but it was hard. Too hard.

A small laugh escaped him, and it only fueled my frustration. Was this funny to him? Did he not realize how much this was hurting me?

“Baby girl, that girl means nothing to me,” he said, his voice growing more serious. “She came over, asked for my number, and I told her no. End of story.”

His explanation should have soothed me, but it didn’t. Not completely. The image of that girl, practically throwing herself at him, still burned in my mind. I wasn’t stupid. I knew Alex was attractive—other girls noticed him. But it didn’t make it any easier to deal with. Especially when they were so blatant about it.

“She was practically throwing herself at you,” I muttered, my voice still edged with frustration. “Did you see what she was wearing? And the way she was leaning into your window, trying to show off…”

Alex cut me off gently, his tone firm but loving. “Yeah, I saw. But, princess, none of that matters to me. I didn’t even entertain her for a second. The only person I care about is you. You know that, right?”

I turned to look at him then, my heart aching with a mixture of fear and insecurity. His words were comforting, but deep down, a part of me still wondered. What if he did meet someone else? Someone who wasn’t his step-sister. Someone who could give him everything I couldn’t. What if he realized that there was someone better out there?

“But what if you meet someone else?” I asked quietly, my voice trembling with the vulnerability I hated showing. “Someone who isn’t your step-sister… Someone who’s… better for you?”

Alex’s hand reached out, his fingers gently threading through mine. The warmth of his touch calmed some of the storm brewing inside me, but it didn’t make the fear disappear.

“No one else could ever be better for me,” he said softly, squeezing my hand. “Nicole, you’re it for me. I don’t care what anyone says about us being step-siblings. That doesn’t change how I feel about you. I’m not interested in anyone else, and I never will be. You’re the only one I want.”

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes at his words. I didn’t want to cry, but hearing him say that—hearing the certainty in his voice—made my heart swell. He was so sure, so steady, and I wanted to believe him. I did believe him. But that small, nagging voice in the back of my mind kept whispering doubts, and I hated it.

“I just… I don’t want to lose you, Daddy,” I whispered, my voice cracking as I spoke.

Alex pulled into a quiet side street and parked the car. I felt his full attention shift to me as he turned to face me, reaching up to cup my cheek. His touch was so gentle, so reassuring, that it broke down the last of my defenses. Tears spilled over, and I leaned into his hand, closing my eyes as I soaked in his warmth.

“You’re never going to lose me, baby girl,” he whispered, his voice soft and full of love. “I’m yours, okay? Completely. There’s no one else in the world who could ever take your place.”

I opened my eyes and met his gaze, the intensity of his words sinking deep into my heart. He wasn’t just saying this to make me feel better—he meant it. And finally, for the first time since I got in the car, I felt the tension start to melt away.

“Okay,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I believe you.”

Alex leaned forward and kissed my forehead, then my nose, and finally, my lips. The kiss was soft and full of affection, and when he pulled back, I felt lighter, like the weight of my insecurities had been lifted.

“Now,” he said with a smile, “How about we head home and I make it up to you? Maybe we can watch a movie together, order some pizza… whatever you want.”

I smiled, the warmth of his love filling me completely. “I’d like that, Daddy.”

As we drove away, his hand still holding mine, I knew that no matter what, Alex was mine. He is my daddy and now boyfriend.

When we got home, the first thing I did was head up to my room to get started on my assignments. Alex seemed preoccupied with something, and I could tell by the way he avoided telling me what he was doing that it was a surprise. He had that secretive gleam in his eyes that always made me curious, but I knew better than to ask. If Alex wanted to surprise me, I’d just have to wait.

I kicked off my shoes and settled at my desk, opening my laptop to the assignment I needed to finish. It wasn’t anything too complicated, just a few readings and an essay outline. But my mind kept drifting back to Alex and whatever he was planning. Every now and then, I glanced at the door, half-expecting him to come in and give me a clue.

About an hour passed before the door creaked open. I looked up to see Alex, his tall frame filling the doorway as he leaned against it with a smug smile.

“Brought you some snacks,” he said, stepping into the room. In his hands was a tray filled with all my favorites: a small bowl of popcorn, a handful of chocolate bars, and a glass of lemonade.

I couldn’t help but smile as he placed the tray on my desk. “Thank you, Daddy,” I said, my voice soft.

“You’re welcome, baby girl. How’s the assignment going?” His voice was light, but there was something playful in his tone. He was up to something.

“Almost done,” I replied, eyeing him suspiciously. “What are you planning?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ll see. Just finish your homework, and when you’re done, come find me.”

He gave me a quick kiss on the top of my head before leaving the room, and I sighed, both frustrated and excited. Whatever he was planning, it was going to be good. It always was.

I forced myself to focus on my assignment, but it was hard. My mind kept wandering back to Alex, wondering what he could be up to. Every so often, I’d catch myself daydreaming about it, only to snap back to reality and remember the task in front of me.

Finally, after what felt like forever, I finished my work. I closed my laptop and stretched, feeling the tension in my back from sitting too long. I changed into my nightie, a soft, comfortable one that Alex had bought for me—light pink with tiny polka dots—and went downstairs in search of him.

I found him in the living room, his back to me as he fiddled with something on the coffee table. When he heard me approach, he turned around, his face lighting up when he saw me.

“Ready?” he asked, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

I nodded, my curiosity piqued even more. “Ready for what?”

“Come with me.” He took my hand and led me back up the stairs to our playroom where we usually spent time together.

Inside, he had transformed the room into a cozy fort made of blankets and pillows. The blankets were draped over chairs and couches, creating a small, enclosed space that looked like something out of a fairy tale. Soft string lights twinkled from the corners of the room, casting a warm glow over everything. Inside the fort, there was his laptop set up on a small table, surrounded by piles of snacks—chips, candy, chocolate bars, and a big box of pizza, just like he promised. There were also drinks, a pitcher of lemonade, and two glasses. And right in the middle, sitting comfortably on a pillow, were Mr. Oopa and Gigi.

“Alex,” I whispered, stepping forward in awe. “This is amazing.”

He grinned, looking incredibly pleased with himself. “I wanted to do something special for you. To make up for what happened this afternoon. And I promise to ignore such ladies any time they come near me."

I turned to him, my heart swelling with affection. “You didn’t have to do all this…”

He cupped my face in his hands and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. “Of course I did, baby girl. You’re my priority.”

I leaned into his touch, feeling warmth spread through me. This was more than I ever could have asked for, and Alex always seemed to know exactly what I needed, even when I didn’t realize it myself.

“Let’s have dinner first,” he said, his voice gentle as he guided me toward the small table he had set up in the corner.

I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. We sat down, and he lifted the lids off the dishes to reveal spicy spaghetti, salad, and meatballs, all of which smelled delicious.

“Spaghetti and meatballs,” I said, my eyes wide with delight. “My favorite.”

“I know,” he replied with a smirk, serving me a generous portion. “I made sure to make it extra spicy, just the way you like it.”

I smiled as I took my first bite, the flavors bursting in my mouth. The spice was just right, and the meatballs were perfectly tender. Alex knew me so well. We ate in comfortable silence, the only sounds being the clink of our utensils and the soft hum of the string lights overhead.

Halfway through the meal, Alex looked over at me, his eyes soft. “How’s the food, princess?”

“Perfect,” I said around a mouthful of spaghetti, making him laugh. “Thank you for this, Daddy.”

He reached across the table and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Anything for you, baby girl. You know that.”

We finished dinner, and I felt a contentment settle over me, warm and comfortable. After we cleared the dishes away, Alex took my hand again and led me over to the fort. We crawled inside, and I snuggled up next to him, tucking myself under his arm. Mr. Oopa and Gigi sat on either side of us, watching over our little haven like the guardians they were.

“Now,” Alex said, reaching for the laptop, “we’ll watch a movie. Just one, though, because of your bedtime, okay?”

I nodded, already feeling a little sleepy but happy. “Okay.”

He scrolled through the movie options before settling on one of my favorite movies, Alvin and the chipmunks, I never got tired of it. The movie started, and I leaned my head against his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing.

With every passing minute, my eyelids grew heavier, but I didn’t mind. Being here with Alex, in our little fort with Mr. Oopa and Gigi, was everything I needed. The world outside seemed far away, and in this moment, all that mattered was the two of us.

I felt Alex press a soft kiss to the top of my head, his arm tightening around me protectively. “I love you, baby girl,” he whispered, his voice a soothing lullaby that made me feel safe.

“I love you too, Daddy,” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper as sleep started to claim me.

As the movie played on, I drifted off, feeling completely at peace in the arms of the one person who made me feel like I was his entire world.