Page 89 of Off-Limits Daddy
“No,” I said, feigning innocence as I crossed my arms. “Just making sure you’re strong enough to throw me over your shoulder again.”
He paused mid-chew.
I let my gaze drop deliberately, then dragged it back up. “You know... when you’re feeling better.”
Daddy’s eyes narrowed. That look—the one that saidyou’re trouble and I wouldn’t trade you for anything—sparked in his face.
“Boy.”
I grinned. “Just trying to motivate your recovery, Daddy.”
He shook his head and let out a low, breathy chuckle, setting his fork aside. “You’re gonna be the death of me.”
But then his expression softened—some of the playful edge easing into something quieter. He reached for my wrist, fingersbrushing lightly against the inside like he just needed to touch, to tether.
“I had a kid at camp tell me my nose was crooked,” I said after a beat. “She gave me a sticker to feel better.”
Daddy blinked, hand still lightly on me. “What?”
“She gave me a sticker to feel better,” I added, lips twitching.
He stared. “Was it at least a good sticker?”
“Glitter unicorn,” I said. “I’m keeping it forever.”
His grin tilted, lazy and fond. “Bet you’re killing it over there.”
“Mostly I’m being roasted by children under ten.”
He swallowed, then set the fork down. “I’m proud of you, Ari.”
The words hit harder than I expected. I blinked. “For getting verbally destroyed by six-year-olds?”
“For everything.” His gaze caught mine and didn’t let go. “For putting your heart in your art again. For showing up. For doing this.”
My chest tightened. I didn’t want to cry. Not over French toast and glitter unicorns. But his voice was so soft—hisfacewas so open—it made something shift in me all over again.
Daddy moved like he was about to sit up straighter.
I rushed in. “Uh, what are you doing?”
“Stretching.”
“You arenotstretching. You are plotting. Get back down.”
“I feel fine.”
“Youdon’tlook fine.”
“I look like a man being held hostage in his own bed.”
“Hostage with cinnamon vanilla French toast and fresh-squeezed juice.”
“That juice came from a carton.”
I leaned in, eyes narrowed. “Lie again and I’ll glue you to this mattress.”
His lips twitched. “You’re sexy when you’re mad.”
