“Don’t get your thong in a twist,” I huff. “That’s just what Colton sees in you.”
“Guess he has a type,” she launches in return.
And the friendly portion of our chat is over.
Fire licks at my skin, preparing to deliver a real message. Talk is too cheap for her expensive taste. A single step slices the distance between us in half. I wonder how hard she’ll cry if I pull her hair a little bit. The thought almost makes me smile.
But then a blur of motion launches at me. I don’t have time to react other than to brace for impact. Fuck, I’m caught off-guard. That never happens. It allowed Bianca’s reinforcements to pummel me. She deserves more credit, but I won’t be the one to admit that.
My body flexes into a weapon as I assess the situation. Except this attack feels… gentle? That can’t be right. A glance down steals the breath from my lungs.
There’s a small child latched onto my legs. I think she’s hugging me. My eyes widen while I slowly lift my hands. Shit, am I surrendering? My heart is pounding too fast. It feels like I’ve been compromised.
I’ve stared down the barrel of a gun more times than I care to count but never flinched. An unexpected hug from this little girl is what’s going to do me in. Instinct tells me to push her away,but that seems unnecessarily cruel. Even for me. My empty gut churns on a feast of nerves. I don’t know what to do.
Another person arrives on the scene, but I can’t look away from this tiny human. She’s gazing at me with such adoration. It’s unsettling but pleasant. Warmth threatens to cradle my frozen heart.
Her pretty face nuzzles my leather pants. “She’s a superhero, Daddy.”
Daddy?Her father must be nearby. Why isn’t he detaching her from me? I’m a stranger, not to mention extremely dangerous.
In my peripheral, I watch a very tall man look me over. “She’s something.”
My breath sputters. What the fuck is happening?
The little girl clings to me like we’re family. Or maybe she’s stuck. There’s a gooey residue on her cheeks and fingers. My upper lip curls. That’s going to leave a stain.
Which must not be permanent enough damage for this small child. She blinks at me, revealing her genuine soul and intentions. “Will you be my mommy?”
Something strange happens to my stomach. Almost like it flips over onto itself. I might be sick. She’s asking me to be her mommy? Is this a joke?
But nobody is laughing. My heart pounds faster as I wait for someone else to react. Nothing happens other than her tiny arms proving their mighty strength. Maybe I’m being tested. I definitely can’t hang around for another shot to be fired.
With more care than I’ve ever given in my life, I pluck the kid off me. A squeak from my biker boots announces my retreat. My shoulders hike around my ears while I disappear into the cheerful crowd. Dammit, I’m never one to flee.
Defeat tries to weigh me down as I rush toward my Harley. Forget the raise. The boss can find someone else to handle that level of dirty work.
Three weeks later…
“Daddy!” Ronnie squeals while rushing down the bus stairs.
I lower to a crouch, spreading my arms wide to welcome my little girl home. “Hey, cupcake. How was school?”
“Amazing! I colored a rainbow and sang a bunch of songs and played with my friends outside.” Her unbridled glee brightens the cloudy autumn afternoon.
“Wow,” I breathe. “You were busy.”
She beams at me. “Uh-huh, kindergarten is awesome.”
I release the uncertainty trapped in my lungs. It’s a good day. Maybe even great. Those have been rare as of late.
Shortly after Ronnie’s fifth birthday, my little girl went from happy and carefree to quiet and withdrawn. The reasons vary depending on who I’ve sought advice from. Some say it’s a phase. Others claim it’s delayed grief. A few are extremely concerned about her mental health. It’s been an emotional challenge, to say the least.
“Ready for a snack?”
Rather than answer, her bottomless green eyes search mine. “Have you seen her?”
And there’s the fucking punch in the gut I’d been expecting.