Daddy’s Little Pet | 18+

RENEE

"Yes, Dylan, harder."

"You like it when I do this, right?"

"Oh yesssss… Oh yesssss, Dylan..."

I shut my eyes tightly, a whimper escaping my lips as I tried to block out the haunting memories in my head.

It was clear as day, and even as I closed my eyes now, I was briefly hit with the painful image of Dylan, my longtime boyfriend of almost four years, betraying me with a blonde-haired woman on our bed.

He had been with her on the bed we shared for years in our joint apartment, and the first thing I saw when I stepped into the building some days ago were clothes scattered everywhere in the living room.

Following the trail and picking up the bra and underwear I had seen on the way, I kept trying to persuade myself that my worst nightmare was not just about to happen. But then I froze in my step when suddenly I heard screams and sounds of pleasure coming from inside my room.

Our room... And instantly, the steady pounding of my heartbeat had increased, my chest tightening as a tear found its way down my cheek.

Soft moans drifted through, alongside the small creaky sounds of the rickety bed, as I stood like a statue, unmoving at first.

The shock had my whole body paralyzed, my jaw dropping open, as I stood close to the slightly open door, desperately looking for the courage to peek inside the room.

After a while, my breathing steadied as I inhaled slowly. I placed my hand on the doorknob, and after peeping into the room, I was met with the worst and most shocking scenario.

Dylan hadn’t even noticed my presence, as he had been deeply engrossed in the activity, and as for the woman, she had a hand moving over herself, her moans loud and throaty. She continued to encourage Dylan as he moved with her while I watched.

"Sh*t!" I cursed, the tears at the back of my eyes drying up and my lids opening instantly.

"What the hell was wrong with me?" I pondered.

I was already feeling something I didn't want to, just imagining that forbidden act, and now I was ashamed and embarrassed. The drinks I’d been having ever since I stepped into this bar with Nicole were getting to my head for sure.

I blinked twice, discarding the image of Dylan’s cheating self, and instead, I chugged the whiskey in my glass down my throat, grimacing bitterly at the harsh burn.

I was heartbroken, sad, and feeling conflicted.

Now, I was suddenly hating my meek and reserved lifestyle. If I’d been more carefree, surely, I would have found someone to be with and probably clear my brain of memories of Dylan, but I had no one.

I didn’t have a fling to hook up with at all since I had been faithful to Dylan all these years, and even though I was at a bar now, I wouldn’t say I liked the idea of picking a random stranger who’d treat me roughly and then be out of my life by morning.

I would be labeled as something derogatory, the same words Dylan had said to me when he’d finished with the woman, and they both caught me staring.

Even the slightest bit of remorse hadn’t been on his face, and smirking evilly, he’d told me right to my face that he had done everything on purpose because I did not satisfy him well enough.

What a jerk!

Dressing up casually, and while at it, he had bluntly told me that I’d been neglecting him by working my butt off day and night and not even having time for him.

His words went like this: "I’m sorry you had to see this, Renee, but I did want you to. I’ve been feeling neglected these past few weeks, and you were doing nothing about it despite my complaints, so I had to look for an alternative and satisfy myself. Dare I say she did well, and I hope this teaches you a lesson. I still love you, but I can’t keep going like this when I have a girlfriend who…."

He had continued spewing nonsense, and it had taken all the strength in me not to walk up to him and smack him square and hard on the face, but I composed myself. At first, I didn’t give him the reaction he was expecting, and it looked like a bit of disappointment had flashed in his blue eyes.

As for the woman by his side, she was still lying on the bed, staring at me with a smug look while acting provocatively with her legs wide open.

A tear had finally fallen from my face, and clutching my purse without so much as a word, I whirled around and rushed out of the house, humiliation and disgrace coursing through me.

Now…

“Oh Renee, don’t tell me these tears streaming down your face are still because of that self-centered, egoistic jerk?” Nicole, my best friend, asked, and I just sighed sadly.

I didn’t even know what to say, and while drowning my sorrow with another drink, I mumbled bitterly with my eyes red-rimmed, “I can’t stop thinking about it, Nicole. I loved him. I could see my future with him already and—”

“Oh, stop this, Renee; you’re making me ashamed right now,” Nicole cut in.

I wasn’t done yet, so I continued, “It hurts so much, Nicole, it does. I can’t even fathom being with any other man apart from Dylan. He was my first love, for goodness’ sake! He was my first in everything. We loved each other so much, and—”

“And he still cheated on you? Oh, get your act together, girl. I dragged you here to have fun and not this, please.” Nicole slurred, bubbly laughter escaping her throat, with her mockery intensifying my pain.

I knew she didn’t mean any harm, but the words hurt a bit.

“His reason is just so absurd, you know.” I began to say again after a brief silence descended between us, coughing as I spoke, “He told me he broke up with me because I rarely spent time with him. Can you imagine? He said I wasn’t giving him enough of my time, and… Dylan knows how hard I work to provide for myself and my sick mother. He knows how hard I’ve been looking for a stable job since leaving college and saving up so hard but still, he had to blame me for being—”

I gurgled as Nicole forced a cherry into my mouth, obviously telling me to shut up, so I shot her a bitter look.

“You know what? You can’t keep being like this. It’s been two days since you caught the jerk cheating on you, and you’ve been crying like a kid ever since. He might be with another woman now while you are here bawling your eyes out. Toughen up!”

The thought of Dylan moving on already or even being with another woman brought a bitter taste to my mouth, and I grimaced again.

“I just don’t know what to do and—”

“Oh, I do know the best therapy for you! For us, actually!” Nicole announced, looking like she just remembered something, a smile on her face and her eyes twinkling mischievously.

I slurped, gulping back the vomit that threatened to spill out of my throat. My head felt wobbly and heavy, and my whole body was shaking, but still, I kept on drinking, intent on doing anything that would take my mind off Dylan.

“What do you say about a vacation?”

“A vacation? Nicole, I don’t have that much money to—”

“This one’s completely free, Renee. I got two tickets to a beach festival in Miami some days ago. It’s an expense-paid trip with free rooms, food, and Wi-Fi too. I’ve been keeping it a secret from you, as I wanted to tell you at a very good time, but well, I guess I have to inform you now. What do you think about it?”

For a while, I kept drinking the strong whiskey with my face upturned as I began to think of Nicole’s proposal.

I had so much work to do, so much money I needed to raise for my family and myself too, but then this vacation offer was tempting, and the opportunity wouldn’t even come again. I had to.

“What do you say, Renee? Let’s go on the trip?” Nicole half yelled, raising her voice due to the booming music playing in the bar. I stared at the funny expression on her face and chuckled softly.

“Answer me, Renee, stop keeping me in some goddamn suspense,” Nicole said again, and this time I gave a curt nod.

“I want to hear your answer; come on. Miami is filled with so many fun things, and who knows, you might even meet someone who helps you forget about Dylan and—”

Was I going there to meet someone new or to have some fun? Before Nicole could finish her statement, though, I answered, “Yes! Yes! Let’s go on this trip! Let’s do this!” And then proceeded to vomit uncontrollably on the floor amidst Nicole’s startled scream.

“What the hell did you just do? Renee!!!” Nicole yelled, her hand patting my back as I kept vomiting all over the floor, and she desperately tried to call for help.

I had just made a mess all over this renowned establishment, and I wouldn’t even be surprised if we were thrown out eventually, but then all I could think about was this short vacation to Miami, and a small giddy feeling coursed through me.

“Oh goodness gracious, Renee.” Nicole muttered, calling my name for the umpteenth time this night and dragging me up simultaneously.

As I straightened, I locked gazes with her, and as if on cue, not knowing what came over my best friend, we both began to laugh uncontrollably.

Oh well!

RENEE 

“Apply the sunscreen all over your body. Don’t leave a part dry. We’re staying at the beach all through the afternoon, and we won’t be back till….” 

I rolled my eyes, my hands clumsily massaging my skin while I tried to obey my best friend’s orders. 

Finally, I was having a fun-filled time in Miami. 

With Nicole’s persistence and support, I was able to muster all the courage in me, and going back to the apartment I shared with my cheating ex-boyfriend, I packed all my stuff since he was not at home when I went there; I just left him a goodbye note. 

 I didn’t even care about the money he was supposed to refund since I was not staying all through the rental period and the foodstuffs we had bought together; I left it all for him. 

I was taking on a new leaf, just like Nicole had advised, and I was intent on seeing it through. 

Erasing his contacts, blocking him on all my social media handles, and severely cutting all ties with him, I kn