Page 48 of The Rogue

He nods.

“We were in traffic and she kept closing her eyes. We almost hit another car. I think she fell asleep.”

I release a breath and pull him against my side. “You alright?” I rasp.

He nods but I can tell he feels guilty. “Thanks for letting me know, buddy.”

I cover Tessa’s legs with the other blanket and lower the volume as we finish the movie.

Later, I tuck him in and change into a sleep shirt and shorts before returning downstairs.

She hasn’t moved. The family room is dark, the only light illuminating her face are the porch lights we always keep on.

I set a pillow across from her on the couch and sit against it, staring like a therapist observing his patient.

Trying to understand her.

She put my kid in danger today. And God knows who else around her.

Who the hell wakes up at four in the morning each day?

Enough is enough. If she’s going to have my kid in her care, she’s getting some goddamn sleep.

Even if I have to lose some myself to ensure it.

That is if I don’t fire her for making my kid lie to me.

I hear little steps coming down. “Dad?”

I sit up. “Hey, what’s going on? Thought you were asleep.”

He’s got his dolphin light when he comes around to me. “Tessa bought me this today.”

“Charlie brought you that a few weeks ago.”

“I know. But Tessa told me she’s afraid of the dark too.” He places the dolphin light next to her. “Now we’re nightlight buddies.”

I rub his back. “That’s really sweet of you.”

“And she doesn’t like to sleep with closed doors. So good idea to let her stay down here.” He looks down at her with a small smile. “Told you he’ll keep you safe.”

I swallow a hard lump in my throat. All I ever wanted was for him to feel that. That I’d always keep him safe and loved. It took Tessa coming around for him to let me know that he does. I stand. “Come on, let’s get you back upstairs.”

“I’m okay, Dad. You stay here.”

“You sure?”

He nods and says goodnight.

I don’t know how long I stay up looking at her, wondering what the hell I’m going to do with the information she tried to hide.

But eventually, my eyelids fall heavy and I give in.

Faint whimpering in the darkness reaches my ears. My eyes fly open finding Tessa still asleep but disturbed. Her lips part with a breathy “No.”

I’m over to the edge of the couch in a flash. “Tess.”

Her eyes are shut, her body restless as she shifts in place, moving backward like she’s stuck. “No.”

---