Page 10 of Rule 5: Never Crush on the Captain

It could be my imagination.

Everything is groggy.

“Need help here?” Vinnie asks.

“No.”

He nods, then turns.

I hear Vinnie pad around downstairs. I put Stella through the bedtime routine, making sure she brushes her teeth.

“Story time?” Stella asks hopefully.

“Uh—” My head aches, but I only smile. “Sure, sweetie.”

I don’t want to disturb her routine. She’s the best thing in my life, and she deserves everything.

I grab the closest book. It’s thin, which is a big plus.

“Not that one, Daddy,” she pleads.

“Er—right.” I blink at the row of books in the long, cream-colored bookcase. My girl likes to read. “Which one, sweetie?”

Stella grabs a book. “This one.”

Right.

I open the book, blinking.

Then footsteps sound behind me. I turn, and Vinnie is there with my water.

“Ready?” he asks.

“Stella wants me to read to her...”

He frowns. “Your daddy has a headache.”

Stella’s lower lip trembles.

“It’s okay,” I say, grabbing hold of the book.

“Why don’t I read tonight?” Vinnie asks, slipping me the glass of water.

I blink.

Stella blinks.

He turns to Stella, aware he might have said something wrong. “If that’s okay with you?”

She glances at me, and I nod.

She smiles. “Okay.”

“Okay.” Vinnie beams, then begins to read.

Thankfully Stella falls asleep quickly. This has been an exhausting night, but she feels calm.

I realize with a start that I do too.