Page 17 of Perfect for Her

“I know you think I’m a player and manwhore, and four years ago I would have worn that badge with honor. But the second I met Harlow I changed. I wanted her and only her and that’s why I haven’t brought any women around these last four years because there were none.”

And with that I walk into the house, shutting the door behind me as I make my way upstairs and stopping outside of Luna’s bedroom. No matter how hard my days have been, this little girl puts a smile on my face and I need that right now.

“Unki Mark?” Luna’s small voice filters through my ears as her head pops up from her pillow.

I can tell from the wide eyes that she hasn’t slept a wink since Addison put her down.

“Hey, shooting star, why are you up? You’re supposed to be sleeping,” I whisper, making my way into her room and sitting on the edge of her bed, gently wiping away the stray blonde hair covering her eyes. It’s amazing how much this little girl looks like her mother, Max is going to have some serious heart attacks when she starts dating.

“Monsters,” she whispers, her eyes shifting to the closet and then to the floor beneath my feet.

I smile gently, cupping the side of her face and that small smile lights up the whole room.

“I’m afraid of monsters.”

I make a point to widen my eyes and gasp, causing a small giggle to fall from her lips.

“Monsters? You have monsters here?”

She nods her head aggressively.

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m here then because I’m trained to kill monsters. Did you know that?”

She shakes her head, her small hands pulling at the covers until they’re at her chin. I smile, stand, and head into her toy box where I know there’s a Nerf gun since I bought it for her, even when Max told me not to.

“That kills monsters?” Her eyes widen once more, disbelief clear in her eyes. I smile, shaking my head as I bring it back over to her.

“We need to say the magic words first. Once you say the magic words it becomes magic and helps you kill monsters.”

“Really?” Her small voice tears open my heart and all I want to do is find the kid that told her about them and make sure they know just how badly they fucked up.

“I promise,” I whisper, holding out my pinkie and when her small finger wraps around my own, my heart grows a few sizes before I set the Nerf gun between us. “Now, I want you to hold this in both hands.”

She nods, doing exactly as I say.

“Now repeat after me. Monsters, monsters, go away.”

“Monsters, monsters, go away.” Her voice fills the room as I place my hands over hers. “Protect me from them so I can sleep!” she repeats it again and I hope to God this works because I can’t stand this little girl being afraid of anything. “That’s it?” she asks and I nod.

“You just say those words every night and keep this close.” I point to the Nerf gun I place on her nightstand. “And the monster will know not to bother you because you have the special thing that can kill them.”

Her smile lights up the room right before she flings herself into my arms. Her chest hitting mine before her small arms wrap around my neck.

“Thanks, Unki Mark. Lobe you,” she whispers before kissing my cheek and getting back under the covers.

“I love you too, shooting star,” I whisper right before kissing her forehead and walking toward the door.

“Unki Mark?” Luna asks as I turn, her eyes peeking over her comforter. “What if the monsters aren’t scared of your special gun? What if they come back?”

I smile, walking back toward her and gently tracing her forehead with the tip of my finger.

“Then you tell your daddy to call me and I will come here and kill them all myself.”

She nods as I kiss her forehead once more and head out into the hall, making sure to shut the door behind me.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know,” Addison says as I turn to see her leaning against the wall, knowing she heard every single part of that conversation.

“Yes, I did. No niece of mine will be scared of anything.”

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