I swung Daddy’s arm as we walked, practically skipping beside him. I was so happy I could have run around the building, but we took the steps and joined the line instead.
Daddy had me stand in front of him and kept an arm around my waist from behind. He didn’t seem to care that some people stared. One middle-aged man sneered at us as he passed us.
“Don’t mind him,” Daddy whispered in my ear. “He can go fuck himself.”
I gasped. ”Daddy.” I wasn’t used to him being so aggressive.
“When I get home, I’ll tell you about homophobic assholes and avoiding them. I don’t want anyone harassing you.”
Hunter paid for our tickets. He always paid for everything I needed. I clung to his hand as we walked toward the concession stand.
“Remember how you got sick last time,” he said. Oh, he knew me so well, knew that I wanted to eat everything.
“That was so long ago.”
“Just a week ago, love. You’re still trying new food, but not everything at once and not too much either. You know I’m monitoring what you eat because I’m looking out for you, right?”
Funnily enough, Mother had said the same thing, but Hunter meant it with no hidden agenda of keeping me skinny. He’d refused to let me weigh like I was used to every week. He’d lifted me up instead, kissed me, and told me he would be my scale from now on… that his numbers read perfectly the way I was.
At the concession stand, I had to choose, which was hard. Hunter knew what I liked though, and bought a tub of popcorn, slushies, candy, and tacos with extra cheese dip.
After he paid, I carried the drinks, and he brought everything else.
“Daddy—” I clapped my hand over my mouth and glanced around us. “Sorry, I forgot not to use it while we’re not alone.”
“It’s okay. Were you going to ask me something?”
“Yes, you always pay for everything for me. Do you want me to find a job and make my own money?”
“What would you do?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“You want to spend your own money?”
I nodded.
“Okay, I have no problem taking care of you. You don’t need to work if you don’t want to, but if you want your own spending money, I can start by giving you an allowance. And you can earn more if you help around the house with chores.”
“And then I get my own money?”
“Yes, you do.”
“And I can spend it on anything I want?”
“Just not all on candy. I’ll teach you how to spend your money wisely.”
“Okay.”
We entered the movie hall where they were showing a horror film I’d picked when Hunter asked me what I wanted to watch.
“Be careful and watch your step.”
I smiled as I followed the steps down, and we turned left to find our seats. The hall was crowded, but we got good seats in the middle. At least, I thought they were good.
“This is so cool,” I whispered, taking in the big screen, the plush chairs, and the low lights.
“I love how excited you get about the things so many people are used to.” He handed me the popcorn. “You sure you want to watch a horror movie? I’ve seen the previews of this one, and it gets gory.”
“Maybe I like gory,” I said cheekily.
“Yeah, right. You can come sit in my lap if you get too scared.”
I just might sit in it anyway.