Page 44 of Taking Her Medicine

“I’ll have to remember you told me to eat candy!” Zoelle squeezed my hand. “I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, princess.” I looped an arm around her shoulder just as a new round of tears began streaming down her rosy cheeks. I wiped her tears away with the back of my hand. “What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing, Daddy. I’m just so happy right now.” She stuffed the rest of the second brownie into her mouth, pushed the blanket off her shoulders, and drank down some more water. “You’re the bestest thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“I feel the same way about you, Zoelle. I’m sorry it took Daddy so long to spend time with you. You are very special to me, little girl.”

“Can I, um, stay here with you tonight?” She worked her bottom lip in and out between her teeth. “My head is a tiny bit dizzy, and I’m really tired now.”

“Yes, I was going to ask you to stay so I can keep an eye on you. Let’s watch your favorite show.”

“Oh, no!” Her lower lip trembled. “I made dinner, but I forgot to put it away since we were going to eat it.”

“Do you want me to warm up the macaroni? It smelled delicious, and I’ve got my appetite back.”

“Yeah, I’m kinda hungry. But no salad.” She scrunched up her nose. “I don’t feel like rabbit food right now.”

“All right, baby girl.” I tapped her nose. “I’ll heat up some food for us.”

“Were you really sad tonight because of the yucky things I saw on television today, Daddy?”

“Yes, Zoelle. I see a lot of sad things, sometimes every day, but it doesn’t make me any less sad. Thank you for surprising me tonight, and for trusting me.”

“I wanted to do something special.”

“Youaresomething special, little girl. Now relax and watch your show. I’ll be in the kitchen.” I kissed her forehead and cupped her cheek. Her eyes shone brightly up at me, and her pupils had returned to normal. I liked this other side of her; it almost seemed like the hormone rush had pushed her to act younger than ever before.

Her little had the sweetest disposition, and I couldn’t wait to play more with her. She trusted me to push her limits tonight, and I had. I pushed against at least one soft limit—bordering on a hard one—by strapping all four of her limbs down at the same time. There would be time to deconstruct it later.

Something else played on repeat in my mind: Zoelle Davis had said three magic words—well, four—and my heart had become a big pile of mush. I wasn’t typically a softie, not after the way I’d grown up, but her insistence melted my resolve into goo.

My adorable kitten had broken through my barriers not like a wrecking ball, but subtly chipped away at them piece by piece until they crumbled completely.

And it surprised the hell out of me.

* * *

Zoelle

I stretched my arms out on either side of me without opening my eyes and hit something solid.

Crap!

I glanced to my right, where Aaron held my fist in his hand. “Sorry, Daddy. I wasn’t trying to fight you.”

“Coffee, then talk.” He kissed my wrist and released it.

“Can we talk about last night?”

“Yeah, but coffee first.”

“Daddy—”

Aaron tugged me sideways and landed a harsh slap against my bottom. “No, kitten,” he whispered against my ear. “Coffee first.”

“Sorry!” I climbed out of his bed, tucking the blankets around him.

He grabbed my arm, wrenching me sideways. “Come back with coffee.” He kissed my forehead. “Please?”

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