“Who’s this special friend? They look really well loved.” Trish said, kneeling by the playpen.
Keeley hurried over in distress, ready to defend Gordo. She still didn’t trust this babysitter that her nannies had forced on her. Trish was only looking at the stuffies though, she hadn’t picked up Gordo or anything.
“That’s Gordo.” Keeley said, snatching up her rat and cuddling him next to the whale.
“He’s been your friend for a long time, hasn’t he?” Trish said with a smile.
“I didn’t see him for a while.” Keeley said, sniffling.
“Oh, was he lost?” Trish asked.
“Kinda.” Keeley dug a hole in the carpet with her toe. She couldn’t explain her mom putting Gordo away without explaining stuff about the game that Trish didn’t need to know.
“Well, I’m really glad he’s back.” Trish said. “You can introduce him to your new friend now.”
“I don’t have a name for her yet.” Keeley said.
“The whale?” Trish said. When Keeley nodded, she chewed on her lip. “Hmm, a whale should have a big sounding name. How about Bertha?”
Keeley considered, looking at the whale. It was a weird name, but it was a weird whale. She set Bertha facing Gordo and said, “Bertha, this is Gordo. Gordo, this is Bertha.”
“Perfect.” Trish giggled. “Okay, I have some activities planned, but maybe you could show me your stuff first. Your nannies told me that you do a lot of art stuff.”
“They did?” Keeley asked curiously.
“Yeah, Ms. Galvez was really proud of you when she was talking about it.”
Dominika had been proud of her? So proud that she’d told a random teenager? Keeley blushed and beamed at the same time. She couldn’t tell if she wanted to wiggle, dance, or hide her face in her stuffies.
“Oh, and one other thing while we’re getting started.” Trish said.
Keeley was about to ask what that thing was, when Trish lifted her skirt and patted her diaper’s front and back. It happened too quickly for Keeley to make a fuss or dodge out of the way. Plus, she was dry, there was nothing to talk about.
Deciding to pretend that never happened, Keeley scurried to the toy shelves to grab her coloring book and brought it back to Trish. Her babysitter sat next to her on the couch and opened the book.
“Oh wow! You don’t just color, you make a whole new picture!” Trish said. She sounded genuinely impressed.
“I wanted to make the faeries underwater ones.” Keeley said. “So, I added the coral and stuff.”
“You did more than that, you totally changed their outfits.” Trish said. “This is really cool. Did you do these after going to the Sea Witch?”
“Yeah.” Keeley said. “Plus, I made splinter-people on the beach, so I was thinking about ocean stuff a lot.”
“Aww, I guess I made an impression huh? I was kind of worried you didn’t like me, with the reaction I got when I arrived.”
“It’s not you.” Keeley said, pouting and scooting away from Trish. “It’s just, I don’t know you and I’m – I have all this baby stuff and…”
“Hey, Keeley?” Trish said in a gentle voice. “I think you’re a really cute, really special girl. You make really cool pictures, but even if you didn’t, you’re fun to be around.”
“I am?” Keeley asked.
“Yeah. You’re super sweet. I’m really glad I got asked to babysit you.”
“You’ve been really nice to me.” Keeley mumbled bashfully.
“Keeley, can I give you a hug?” Trish asked.
Of course, she wanted a hug. But Trish was a stranger. Any minute she could realize how ridiculous the baby thing was and laugh at Keeley. Or take pictures and share them. Or yell at her. Or – sit on her phone and ignore the stupid baby.
“It’s okay if the answer is no.” Trish said. “The offer is open.”
Before she could give herself more reasons not to, Keeley lunged across the gap between them and grabbed Trish. There were a terrifying few moments while Trish was caught off guard; and Keeley was just holding someone who was sitting there like a lump. Then Trish’s arms wrapped around her, gentle and full of way more caring than Keeley would ever expect from a stranger.
In the process of working her way into a proper snuggle, Keeley ended up on Trish’s lap. They were about the same size, but Trish didn’t seem to mind. She even nuzzled Keeley’s cheek. At that moment Keeley decided that Trish wasn’t just an acceptable babysitter, but a really good one. Not that she planned to tell Trish that. The afternoon would be way more fun if Trish still thought she had to go all-out to win Keeley over.
“You’re adorable. I could sit like this for a long time. You let me know when you want to play, okay?” Trish said.
Keeley nodded. It wasn’t time to end the snuggle yet. Not while Trish was warm, holding her tightly, and stroking her hair.
Eventually though, Keeley felt the wiggles return. She hopped off of Trish’s lap. Her stuffies had been launched when she’d gone in for the hug. Keeley set them on the couch side by side, snuggling and looked expectantly at Trish. Her babysitter looked a little dazed and pink cheeked. Maybe Trish had gotten overheated during the snuggles.
“Okay, what games are we going to do?” Keeley asked.
“I was going to do hide and seek, but we’re not supposed to go down to the beach.” Trish said. When Keeley pouted, Trish nodded back. “Don’t you worry, I’m the most popular babysitter in town!”
Trish dragged the coffee table away from the couch and started working the couch more into the middle of the living room.
“You are not.” Keeley teased. “Everybody does hide and seek.”
“You doubt my powers?” Trish said with a grin. “Then get ready for – balloon tennis!”
Trish opened the bag she’d left by the front door. It was a good-sized duffel. Out of the bag came a pair of toy plastic racquets and a bag of balloons.
“Balloon tennis?” Keeley asked curiously. It seemed pretty straightforward, but it there was potential for fun.
“That’s right.” Trish said. “Can you blow up a balloon on your own?”
“Course I can!” Keeley declared. Trish handed her a trio of balloons and she set to blowing them up.
Trish blew up three balloons as well and bounced one of them on her racquet. “Rules are simple. You have to get the balloon over the couch. We start out with just one. Every time a balloon touches the floor the person on that side has to pick it up as fast as they can and serve it back over the couch. While they’re doing that, the other person grabs a new balloon and serves that one.”
“And then we get a point when we put in a new balloon?” Keeley asked, confused.
“No points, just fun!” Trish said, gently lobbing the first balloon at Keeley. “Coming at ya!”
Keeley giggled and batted the balloon back. They made it to three volleys before Keeley missed. She had hardly gotten the balloon picked up and back in the game, when another one was coming at her face. Giggling, she swatted it back hard. Hard as a balloon could fly anyway.
Eventually the game devolved into picking up balloons and swatting them across the couch. Neither Trish nor Keeley could keep up with six balloons in the air. They were both giggling and breathless.
Keeley felt an annoying pressure in her bladder and let go so she could concentrate on the three balloons Trish had rapid-fired across the couch. She’d swatted them back and added a fourth when she realized what she’d done.
Everything had been so much fun, but now she was a stupid baby with a wet diaper. Trish was going to check her diaper again eventually and find out. Wetting herself twice in front of Trish, meant the younger girl would think that Keeley wasn’t potty trained at all.
Two of the four balloons came back over the couch. Keeley let them drift past her. The hot feeling behind her eyes was back. She was too disappointed to resist the tears. Playing with Trish had made her too little to even cry quietly.
“Keeley, are you okay?” Trish asked, stupidly, when Keeley started bawling.
Of course she wasn’t okay. Keeley dropped her racket and pressed her hands to the front of her skirt.
“Hey, what’s the matter?” Trish asked, putting her arms around Keeley gently. “What happened.”
“I hu-hu-had an a-accident.” Keeley sobbed.
It was true too. She hadn’t been paying attention and had peed her pants, even though she didn’t want to in front of Trish. There wasn’t anything else to call it. Somehow it was easier to admit to Trish than it would have been to her nannies. Probably because she wouldn’t see Trish again after this weekend.
That only made Keeley sadder. She didn’t want to never see Trish again. It was stupid, and crazy, and weird, but she really liked Trish. Even as a babysitter. Especially as a babysitter. The reasons to cry just kept piling on. She shouldn’t want to have a babysitter, not in her late 20s!
“That’s okay hon, it’s not the first time.” Trish said gently. “You had one when we met. Your nannies told me all about it, it’s totally okay. I’m not upset, and I don’t think you’re bad.”
“I was gonna be a big girl for you!” Keeley howled. “I was going to show you that I don’t have accidents.”
“Oh darling.” Trish hugged Keeley lightly, resting the crying girl’s face on her shoulder. “That’s really sweet, thank you. It means a lot to me that you tried that, even if it didn’t work out.”
“You don’t have to say stuff like that.” Keeley sniffled. “I know it’s dumb and weird for a girl my age to have accidents.”
“I don’t think you’re dumb and weird.” Trish said. “But I bet you worry about that a lot with people. This is a safe space, okay?”
“What do you mean?” Keeley broke out of her funk enough to return Trish’s hug.
“It’s okay for you to be a baby girl here, okay?” Trish patted Keeley’s back. “This doesn’t change anything. You’re still the cool, pretty, talented girl I’ve been babysitting.”
“I’m not pretty.” Keeley said, knowing it was true with her face tear-streaked and snotty.
“We’ll just have to disagree on that.” Trish said. “Come on Keeley, let’s get you changed so we can go back to playing.”
Head down in defeat, Keeley let Trish lead her to the changing room. She climbed up without protest. There wasn’t a lot to protest about being diapered now. That first time her nannies had had to put her in bondage cuffs, to get a diaper on her, seemed really far away now.
Trish gave Keeley some tissues and tore the tapes off her diaper. There was a final moment of anxiety when Trish peeled it away and exposed Keeley. She shredded the tissue in her hand, hoping Trish wouldn’t get weird somehow.
The gentle, soothing wipe-job that Trish did helped calm the knot in Keeley’s tummy. There were lots of soft caresses as her babysitter got a new diaper under her and powdered Keeley up. When the diaper’s tapes were secured, Trish sat Keeley up and wordlessly wiped the girl’s face. She even held a new tissue to Keeley’s nose.
“Blow.” Trish said, in an oddly quiet voice.
Trish was blushing again. It had probably been weird to change someone as old as Keeley. Obediently, Keeley blew her nose. It took a couple of tries to get it all out. What a wreck she was. This couldn’t be fun for Trish at all.
“I’m sorry.” Keeley said miserably. “I’m sorry that was gross and weird.”
“Huh?” Trish said, looking genuinely confused. “What are you talking about?”
“Changing me. You had to get all up in my – stuff.” Keeley said. “Plus, I’m all gross and snotty. I’m sorry.”
“Uh, Keeley.” Trish rubbed the back of her head. “That was uh – kind of amazing.”
“Huh?”
“This is embarrassing for me to say.” Trish said with a sigh. “But that was really intimate and special. I liked being able to share that with you.”
“That’s why you’re blushing?” Keeley asked, not quite believing her babysitter.
“I am?” Trish doubled, maybe even tripled down on the blush. “Oh uh – wow I didn’t realize that uh – hrm! That’s a different thing. Yeah.”
“Tell me.” Keeley said petulantly. She’d just been about as vulnerable as a person could be, Trish didn’t get to keep secrets. First came the secrets, then she got made fun of.
“Shit uh – look, this isn’t the kind of thing I should tell you as uh, your babysitter.” Trish said. Faced with Keeley’s demanding frown, she sighed. “Okay, okay. I told you that I think you’re pretty.”
“Yeah, but what does that have to do with – oh.” Keeley’s eyes widened. She blushed as well.
“I’m sorry for bringing it up!” Trish said hastily. “I mean, you sort of brought it up but it’s super unprofessional of me. You don’t have to worry about anything like that, promise.”
“I have a boyfriend.” Keeley said defensively. “And I’ve had – girlfriends. It’s not like I don’t do that kind of stuff.”
“Oh.” Trish said. That information snapped her fading blush back to life. “Wow um – that’s cool.”
“You really think I’m pretty?” Keeley asked. “Like, hot pretty. Even – like this?”
“Yes.” Trish said. It was her turn to look away in embarrassment. She fidgeted.
Trish was pretty cute herself. Especially when she was fidgeting and didn’t know what to do. Trish’s fidgets gave Keeley enough space to feel like she could take control of the direction for a bit. She reached over and grabbed the baby powder, dumping it all over the front of her shirt and dress.
“Keeley!” Trish said in alarm. “What are you doing?”
“Oops!” Keeley giggled. “I got my clothes all dirty. I guess my babysitter is going to have to change me into a new outfit.”
Trish swallowed hard. Her eyes dilated and her breath sped up. “Did you just…”
“My nannies showed you where the spare clothes are, right?” Keeley asked, faux innocently.
“Yeah.” Trish licked her lips. “I uh – I’m kind of confused though. Not about you flirting with me. That’s like – super clear. But you have a boyfriend.”
“This weekend is kinda to get me away from him.” Keeley said sadly, kicking her legs. She had to turn away from Trish to say the next part. “He’s sorta – a drug addict. Not even sorta. It’s bad.”
“Oh.” Trish squirmed. “I still feel kind of weird – uh – because I’m responsible for you right now.”
“I’m not asking to uh, have sex.” Keeley said softly. “But if you want you can change my clothes and – see the rest of me.”
Keeley bit her lip and whispered. “And if I’m a really good girl maybe I would get a kiss.”
Trish broke into a broad grin. She stepped in and hugged Keeley tightly. “You are a super good girl. Even when you’re a messy one. Let’s get your clothes changed.”
Keeley skipped along with Trish to her bedroom. It had been a long time since she’d had a good opportunity to skip. The tension hanging between her, and Trish felt like a magic spell. She was careful to stay inside the boundaries of the magic.
While undressing, she let Trish do everything for her. She didn’t baby-talk though, in case it would make Trish feel weird. She made sure to keep her eyes on Trish and let her smiles show through to her face, so it’d be obvious that this was something she wanted.
Standing naked in front of Trish – well, in a diaper only, Keeley clasped her hands behind her back shyly. “Am I still pretty?”
“You’re beautiful.” Trish said. Her hand was trembling, stuck reaching halfway to Keeley.
“You can touch me.” Keeley said softly.
Reverently, Trish put her hand on Keeley’s side and gently stroked her skin. Her hand slid up and tenderly cupped Keeley’s breast. It was surprisingly sexy. Way more intense than Keeley had expected. Standing in a diaper in front of her babysitter, being a good girl for Trish was hot in a way that Keeley couldn’t have imagined before.
Trish swallowed hard and pulled her hand back. “I think I need to get you dressed.”
“Okay Trish.” Keeley said, momentarily feeling like she really was the good girl she had been pretending to be. “What do you want me to wear? There’s the dresses and stuff, but also the baby clothes.”
“Lots of choices.” Trish said nervously.
“I’ll wear anything you want.” Keeley said sincerely. “I’d even play in just my diaper for you.”
“I don’t think I can handle that.” Trish said with a chuckle. “But you wouldn’t mind if I put you in a onesie? It wouldn’t be weird now?”
“It wouldn’t be weird.” Keeley said. It was true, she realized. It probably should be weird, but it wasn’t. Not for either of them. Trish had said this was a safe space. She was the babysitter, so she should know.
“Did you like me in one?” Keeley asked. “When we met?”
“Uh, yeah. It was cute. And hot.” Trish blushed.
Keeley grinned. “I like that you think I’m hot. Can you pick me out a pretty one?”
“You got it, baby girl.” Trish spent a while investigating the onesies, finally coming back with a tie-dye onesie that looked like a well used paint-palette.
“This one?” Keeley asked curiously. It had a chaotic, messy look. All the rest were soft and babyish.
“It makes me think of you doing art.” Trish said.
“Then it’s perfect!” Keeley held her arms up.
As soon as Trish had her in the onesie with the crotch snapped tight, Keeley leaned coyly against her crib. She batted her eyes shamelessly at Trish.
“Am I a super extra awesome good girl?”
Trish laughed. “You’re kind of a brat. But you’re a good girl too. A super good girl.”
Trish leaned in. Keeley closed her eyes and parted her lips. The kiss was sweet and soft. They brushed tongues tentatively. It felt like starting an adventure, the newness of it sparked across Keeley’s lips.
They stood together after quietly, Trish pressed lightly up against Keeley, who herself was backed up against the crib.
“Am I your good girl?” Keeley asked, in a voice that was barely a breath.
“For right now? Yes.” Trish said. “Otherwise – you’re leaving right?”
“I could give you my phone number.” Keeley said. “You don’t have to use it though.”
“I’ll probably send you dumb stuff from Insta.” Trish said with a smile.
“If it makes me laugh, I’d like that.” Keeley said.
“We should probably get back to more uh – regular babysitting.” Trish said.
“But I like this.” Keeley said, leaning into Trish.
“Me too.” Trish kissed Keeley on the cheek and stepped back. “It’s super hard to keep my hands off you though.”
“Cause I’m pretty?” Keeley asked with a grin.
“And hot.” Trish said happily.
“So are you.” Keeley said. “I like you – especially because you’re my babysitter.”
“Oh y-yeah?” Trish asked, her voice cracking a little.
“Do you like it?” Keeley asked, sinking down to the floor. “When I’m a little girl? With my big, cool babysitter in charge?”
“Hot damn.” Trish said, flushed all the way down her neck.
“Better catch me before I get into something then!” Keeley said with a wild cackle.
She crawl-dashed for the door, surprising Trish and herself at the speed she could manage. All that crawling practice had paid off.
Trish caught her in the living room. They giggled on the floor together for a while. The rest of the time they spent eating cookies, drinking soda, and coloring. When the door opened, Keeley could hardly believe that it had already been hours.
“Nana!” Keeley shouted, holding out her arms. “I missed you!”
“Wow, this is a much happier baby than the one we left.” Vidette said to Trish. “Where did you find her, and what did you do with Keeley?”
Trish laughed nervously. Keeley giggled.
“Nana Vi, gimme hug!” She demanded.
In short order she’d gotten hugs from both her nannies. Trish was standing by, looking pretty awkward. Keeley grinned at her in the hopes that Trish would realize that she wasn’t going to tell.
“Hey uh – Ms. Galvez, Ms. Marroquin, there’s something I should tell you.” Trish said.
“Hmm?” Dominika arched a brow. Trish’s guilty body language had Nika tense immediately.
“Keeley and I – kissed.” Trish said.
“Because I asked her to!” Keeley said immediately.
“Oh?” Vidette asked, exchanging a look with Dominika. They both looked a little unsure.
“I wasn’t planning on doing that when I came here.” Trish said. “I want to be honest with you about it.”
“She thinks I’m pretty.” Keeley said, talking right over Dominika’s attempt to speak. “I think she’s pretty. She was really nice, and respectful. I asked her for a kiss, and she kissed me. She didn’t do anything I didn’t want her to do. She didn’t even do all the things I did want.”
Trish blushed and bit her lip at that last bit.
Vidette chuckled. After a moment Dominika joined her.
“I guess it’s okay.” Dominika said. “It sounds like nobody got hurt.”
“Thanks.” Trish said. “I know it wasn’t super professional.”
“Ugh!” Keeley shouted. Everyone looked at her in surprise. “Trish is a good babysitter, okay? I like her. We had fun and she was kind to me.”
“I thought you didn’t like the idea of a babysitter at all.” Vidette said in surprise.
“It’s okay if it’s Trish.” Keeley said. “Or you and nana Nika.”
“Yeah?” Dominika said, pleased. “You really had a good time, baby girl?”
“Yes Nana!” Keeley said happily.
She was deep in the game and loving it. She didn’t know how she’d feel about this later and she didn’t care to worry. For now, Keeley was baby. Smol. Precious. All that fun stuff that she wasn’t normally allowed to enjoy.
Dominika paid Trish in cash. Keeley got anxious again watching Trish clean up her balloons and racquets. It was suddenly very real that Trish was going to leave.
“Nanas, can Trish stay? For dinner at least? Maybe overnight?” Keeley begged.
“Aww kiddo.” Trish said. “I’m going to miss you too. I have to get to work though.”
“You could skip it!” Keeley insisted. “Nana Nika could just pay you more.”
“It doesn’t really work that way.” Trish said, chuckling. “Gimme a hug?”
Keeley crushed Trish in a hug. They hugged again when the balloon tennis stuff was put away. During the last hug at the door, Keeley refused to let go. It took Vidette and Trish both to peel her off and make her wave goodbye.
Her nannies were obviously touched at how sad she when Trish left. Keeley was ready to milk that for all it was worth. Chicken nuggets, chocolate milk, and ice-cream for dinner helped pave over the Trish-shaped hole in the evening.
It took threatening to cry, as well as begging while she was being changed into her nighttime diaper, but Keeley managed to get Vidette to agree that they could share a bed. She still had an earlier bedtime than her nanny, of course. Meditating kept her awake until Vidette came to bed, so she could fall asleep with her nanny’s arms around her.
In the morning, Keeley’s heart was at peace. She was doubly warm under the covers with her nanny. The waves and wind were making their soothing sounds. She felt safe. Keeley even dared to feel loved.
Vidette shifted as she woke up. Keeley took advantage of her nanny’s stretch to put her head on Vidette’s chest.
“Good morning snuggle-bug.” Vidette said. “How’d you sleep?”
“Perfect.” Keeley said with a soft sigh.
“You are such a cute baby like that.” Vidette said. “How’s my baby’s diaper?”
Keeley didn’t see any reason to stop snuggling while Vidette squeezed her diaper. She didn’t have to pee too urgently this morning, so the snuggles could last a while.
“Uh oh, looks like somebody had an accident while she was sleeping.” Vidette said.
“Nuh uh, that’s from last night.” Keeley said.
“I don’t think so hon.” Vidette said gently. “I checked you when I came to bed, and you were still dry. You got your nighttime diaper right before bed last night.”
“Oh well, I just went when I woke up.” Keeley said.
“Is that so?” Vidette asked. “I’m not sure. It’s not warm and it’s all absorbed.”
“I didn’t wet the bed.” Keeley said, starting to grump about it.
“Not thanks to your diaper you didn’t.” Vidette said, chuckling.
“I didn’t pee in my sleep.” Keeley insisted.
It just wasn’t possible. She must have woken up early, peed because she didn’t want to stop snuggling, and then dozed. That made way more sense than wetting overnight. Obviously.
“If you say so, baby girl.” Vidette sat up despite Keeley’s protests. “Let’s get you changed and dressed for the day, okay?”
“Can’t we snuggle some more, nana? Please?” Keeley wheedled.
“Sorry, little girl. It’s time to get up. A little past time, actually.”
Yawning, Keeley followed her nanny to the bathroom. It was easy to let Vidette take care of her. It was funny how fast she could get used to something, Keeley thought while she lay on the changing table.
Vidette put her in a smaller diaper than usual. While Keeley was wondering about that, she was confronted by a bigger question. Vidette was putting her in leggings and an adult skirt.
“Why am I wearing adult clothes?” Keeley asked, popping her head through the fuzzy sweater Vidette was putting on her. She was even wearing a bra. That felt weird after a couple days of not.
“The long weekend is over sweetie. We’re going home.”
“Oh.” Keeley sat on the changing table and looked down at her knees. It was a sad thing to hear. Even though at first she’d wanted nothing more than for the game to end.
They weren’t going to be her nannies anymore. There weren’t going to be any more snuggles, or hanging out together, or playing silly games without having to worry about being teased for it. She had plenty of servants at home to take care of her, but nobody was going to tuck her in, or tell her not to eat too many cookies, or even care if Zach came over.
“Baby girl, it’s going to be okay.” Vidette said. She wiped the tears gently off Keeley’s cheeks and pulled her in for a hug. “You’re really going to miss our game?”
“I liked being taken care of.” Keeley said. She could do without the diapers. Though to be honest, she hadn’t hated them so much at the end. It was going to be really lonely at home. Zach would be recovering from whatever he’d done over the weekend, she wouldn’t see him for a week at least.
“We liked taking care of you.” Dominika said from the door. “You know you can call us or text us whenever, right?”
“I guess.” Keeley said.
“You have your little friend too.” Vidette said. “You gave Trish your phone number, right?”
“Yeah, but she lives far away.” Keeley said. “Plus, I’m sure she has her own friends and stuff.”
“Don’t give up on her before you even leave town.” Dominika said.
“Wait.” Keeley said in confusion. “If we’re going home, how come I’m wearing a diaper?”
“To protect my car seats. You got pretty used to using them this weekend.” Vidette said. “And you wet the bed last night.”
“Did not!” Keeley protested.
“So you say. Anyway, it’s just a little extra protection for my baby girl on the ride home.”
“Fine.” Keeley said. What was a couple more hours in a diaper after a whole weekend?
“You going to be okay, little girl?” Dominika asked.
“Is it really okay if I call or text?” Keeley asked sadly. “I know you’re both really busy.”
“We are.” Dominika said. “We have work, and alumni activities for our sorority, Vidette does some volunteering, and I’m starting my own company soon.”
Keeley sighed and nodded.
“You can still call or text us any time. I might not always be able to answer when you call, but I’ll call back.” Dominika said.
“Really?” Keeley asked, looking up at her nannies with tears shining in her eyes.
“Really darling.” Vidette said. “The same goes for me. If I can’t respond right away, I will get back to you. Promise.”
“Okay.” Keeley smiled softly. “Well, maybe if we were still playing on the drive home, that wouldn’t be so terrible.”
“We can do that.” Vidette said. “I’m glad you liked the game so much.”
“Great!” Keeley said, hopping off the changing table. “I’ll let my nannies take care of my bags then.”
“What?” Vidette asked.
Dominika laughed. “Oh she got you Vi!”
“Don’t worry, I got my stuffies!” Keeley said, flouncing out to the living room.
It would take a couple of hours to drive back to Ardenthill. Back to her parents’ big, empty house. She could put off the lonely feelings for that long at least.
While her nannies were packing up the cars, they gave Keeley her phone back. She had a billion text messages and missed calls, of course. Keeley couldn’t remember the last time she’d been away from her phone for days.
One message from a new number stood out. It was a selfie of Trish. The text below said, “Put a silly Insta filter on this and use it for my contact pic!” Keeley giggled and found the weirdest clown filter she could.
She sent back a selfie of herself in the front seat of Vidette’s car, holding Gordo and both her stuffies from the Sea Witch.
After the pic she texted, “I have to be a big girl again. I’ll text you stuff. You can tell me if it gets annoying.”
By the time Vidette had pulled out onto the main highway, Keeley had a reply. “No U.” It was followed by a torrent of silly animal memes and funny Tik-Tok clips.
Keeley giggled and spammed her new friend right back.