Page 75 of Pooh

“We didn’t use a condom, Pippa. I’m clean. I was tested…”

“No worries. I trust you and I’m on birth control. I’m clean too. I’d rather we don’t use condoms. I like feeling you instead,” she replies in a tired voice.

“Same here. Sweet dreams, baby.”

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I’m awakened when something heavy lands on my stomach and I bolt upright disoriented for a second. Pippa had pulled the curtains closed before we went to bed and it’s pitch black in here because of that. Before I can react to whatever is on me, it scurries off and pushes itself between my and Pippa’s bodies. I’m relieved that Pippa donned panties and a t-shirt and I put on my boxer briefs before going to sleep since Craig just unceremoniously joined us.

“Craig? What’s wrong, buddy?” I ask as I pull the covers out from under him and then back over all of us. I feel around and find him on his back up tight to Pippa. I lift his head and slide my pillow over enough that he can use part of it. With my hand still on his head, I notice he’s shaking.

“Bad dream, Craig?” I try again.

“Yeah,” he whispers.

I lie down and turn on my side towards him.

“What was it about, little man?”

“It was scary, Pooh. My dad got out of jail and he hurt Pippa. I don’t want her to get hurt again,” he barely whispers out.

“We’ll keep her safe, Craig. Me, you, Tammy and the club.”

“If my mom comes back, do I have to leave you and Pippa?”

“I don’t know, buddy. I hope not. I don’t think Pippa…”

“No, Craig. I’m not letting anyone take you from me,” Pippa interrupts to say as she shifts around so she is on her side and we have Craig nestled between us.

“I’ve had a few bad dreams lately. Dreams about me getting taken away from you. They scared me,” Craig admits. “But they’re not as bad as the ones where you get hurt again.”

“Oh, baby. I’m doing fine and you’re not going anywhere.”

“I feel better at New Horizons when one of the guys is there. I like them and I know you’re safer with them there. Now that Axel is mad at me, does that mean the guys won’t be there anymore?” he asks in a small voice.

“Axel got over being mad at you when he was done hollering. That’s just the way he is. He was the first guy to offer to stay at New Horizons and that won’t change, Craig. Don’t worry about that at all. You’ll be seeing one of us every day,” I answer.

“Good. Can I sleep in here tonight?”

“Absolutely. Get some sleep, baby, you’re safe,” Pippa tells him as she cuddles him close.

I stretch my arm out and lay it across both of them and drift off to sleep knowing this is where I want to be every night.

Pippa

I wake up slowly and instantly realize I have a furnace in bed with me. I turn my head to the side and see Craig’s sleeping face next to me. He’s cuddled into my side with his arm over my stomach and he’s out cold. He’s generating enough heat that I have to slide out of bed or pass out. I gently lift his arm and carefully leave the bed. I reach down and hold my hand on his forehead to make sure he doesn’t have a fever and I’m alarmed to find that he’s hot all over.

I’ve never dealt with a sick kid before, so I start to have a mini panic attack. I notice that Pooh and his clothes are gone as I race out of the bedroom and down the hallway. As I’m flying into the kitchen, the door opens and in walks Pooh with a couple of bags in his hands. I skid to a stop in front of him and shout, “Craig’s sick! He has a fever! I don’t know what the hell to give him or what to do!”

Pooh calmly sets the bags on the countertop and grins at me as he starts emptying them. While I’m ready to dial 911, he’s putting groceries away. What the hell?

“I noticed he was too warm when I woke up, so I ran to the store to get him some meds for the fever. Calm down, Pips. Little kids get sick sometimes. They also bounce back quickly,” Pooh says, rationally.

I push both my hands into my hair at my forehead and stare at him. After holding my breath for a few beats too long, I exhale and drop my hands. He’s right and I need to calm the hell down.

“If you want to go take his temperature, I’ll start breakfast. The pharmacist showed me what to buy for him and we’ll get a dose down him when he comes out to eat. Yeah?” Pooh says while handing me a digital ear thermometer. I take it and proceed to look it over like it’s a dangerous object. I hear Pooh chuckle and shoot my eyes to his.

“Babe, I’ll get your coffee going right away. Take his temp and then park your ass at the counter and I’ll get you caffeinated and fed. Give me your mouth first, Pips.”

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