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Instead of pulling away, he leaned closer. "Can I... can I wait for you? Don't wanna be alone."
"Of course you can," I said, leading him to the bathroom. "You can sit right here while I get cleaned up, okay?"
He nodded, perching on the closed toilet lid while I turned on the shower. As steam began to fill the room, I noticed him eyeing Patches, who sat on a shelf. I wondered how he’d gotten in the bathroom, but assumed Matty had put him there earlier.
"Would you like Patches?" I asked, already reaching for the stuffed dog.
Matty hesitated, conflict clear on his face. Part of him—the adult part—was fighting the need. But as I held out the worn stuffie, his desire for comfort won.
"Yes, please," he whispered, accepting Patches with careful hands and hugging him close.
"I'll be quick," I promised, stepping into the shower.
True to my word, I washed efficiently, rinsing away the smoke and grime. Through the shower curtain, I could see Matty's silhouette, still seated, head bent over Patches as he whispered something to the stuffed dog. The sight made my chest tighten with an emotion I couldn't quite name.
When I stepped out, towel wrapped around my waist, Matty looked up with heavy-lidded eyes. The adrenaline that had kept him awake was clearly wearing off.
"Sleepy?" I asked, grabbing another towel to dry my hair.
He nodded, yawning widely. "Patches is tired too."
"Then let's get you both to bed," I said, pulling on clean boxers and a t-shirt.
I held out my hand again, and Matty took it without hesitation, allowing me to lead him back to the bedroom. He climbed into bed, Patches tucked securely under his chin, watching me with those wide, trusting eyes that made my protective instincts surge.
"Will you stay?" he asked, his voice small and uncertain.
"Of course," I assured him, sliding under the covers beside him. "I'm not going anywhere."
Matty immediately curled against me, his body fitting perfectly against mine. I wrapped an arm around him, holding him close as his breathing began to even out.
"Daddy?" he whispered, the word slipping out as sleep began to claim him.
"Yes, little one?"
"Don't let the bad man hurt anyone else."
My arms tightened around him. "I won't," I promised, pressing a kiss to his hair. "I'll keep everyone safe."
I just didn't know exactly how.
Matty
I woke up slowly, warmth surrounding me and the comforting weight of Daddy's arm draped across my waist. The events of last night filtered back—the fire, Daddy coming home smelling of smoke, the way I'd... slipped again.
Shame flooded through me. I'd promised myself I wouldn't do that anymore, wouldn't be a burden when Daddy—no whenNovoalready had so much to deal with. And now Harold had burned down his business because of me.
I carefully extracted myself from Novo's embrace, sliding out of bed without waking him. Patches tumbled to the floor, and I stared at the stuffed dog for a long moment, torn between the urge to snatch him up and the need to prove I could be an adult.
In the end, I left him there and padded quietly to the bathroom, closing the door before leaning heavily against it. My reflection in the mirror looked tired, younger than my twenty-seven years. I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the lingering fog of Little space.
"Get it together," I whispered to myself. "He needs a partner, not another problem."
After brushing my teeth, I headed to the kitchen, determined to be useful. I started coffee brewing and rummaged through the refrigerator, pulling out eggs and vegetables for an omelet. The least I could do was make breakfast.
As I chopped peppers and onions, my mind wandered to the night before. The thought of people being hurt because of me sent a flutter of anxiety through my stomach, but I pushed it away, focusing on the steady rhythm of the knife against the cutting board.
"Morning," Novo's deep voice came from behind me.