Page 61 of Daddy's Muse

Bryan:

We need to talk.

You won’t believe what happened to me.

Out of hospital now.

A burning heat curled in my chest.Oh, I knew exactly what happened to him.

I thumbed the screen dark before Colby could notice. Slid the phone face down on the couch, casual as anything. I’d read it later, decide if it was worth dealing with… or worth deleting entirely.

For now, I wasn’t about to let that name steal the look on Colby’s face. Not when he was giggling softly at something on the TV, tongue peeking out in concentration as he filled in a block of color.

He didn’t need to know. He didn’t needanythingexcept what I gave him.

I leaned forward, eyes on him. “Looks good, sweetheart,” I praised.

He beamed, holding up the page so I could see, and I swooned.

Happy with my reaction, he turned and went back to his coloring.

Every so often, he’d reach for a different marker, uncapping it with his teeth. His arm continuously brushed against my shin from where he sat, like he needed the contact even from down there. Every few minutes, he’d twist around and glance up at me, wide-eyed, checking I was still watching. I always was.

His phone buzzed again.

I didn’t move right away. Just sipped my coffee, eyes locked on the top of Colby’s head.

When I picked it up, it was the same name as before. FuckingBryan.

Bryan:

I think someone tried to kill me.

A slow smile pulled at my mouth.

He wasn’t wrong. However, I did wonder why he was going to someone he supposedly hated to talk about something so serious. Did he really think the victim of his bullying would be sympathetic towards him?

Colby let out a delighted little noise, holding up his page for me. “Look, Pappa, it’s a bunny and he has an ice cream on his head!”

I set the phone down face down again and leaned forward, brushing my knuckles over his hair. “Wow, I wonder if he’s cold?”

He giggled, ducking his head, marker squeaking over the page again.

My thoughts were already elsewhere, cold and deliberate under the warmth in my voice. Bryan was a problem thathad somehow lived through the first solution. That wasn’t acceptable. He knew too much. He had Colby’s number. He could—

Colby shifted, pressing back against my leg without looking like it was instinct to stay close.

I curled my hand over his small shoulder. “You thirsty, baby?”

He shook his head, still coloring.

I wasn’t going to let Bryan near him. Not in person, not over text, not even in memory. Colby didn’t need those shadows in his world. He had me now.

And if I had to finish what I started to keep it that way…

Well. I’d already proven I was willing.

“Pappa?” Colby looked up at me with that soft, trusting face that made every dark thought go quiet for just a moment.