Page 88 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast

“But you wouldn't mind coming here, Dad?” Lily asked.

“Not at all.” He yawned.

“Dad, if you’re getting tired, don’t feel you have to stay on and talk to us.”

Another, larger, yawn escaped Morris’s mouth. “I had trouble sleeping last night. I think I’ll rest now. Jaxon, it was nice to see you again. Lily, I love you.”

“I love you, too, Dad.” She blew him a kiss and waved until he disconnected the call.

Lily placed the phone down on her vanity. After a moment’s hesitation, she threw herself into my arms. Her head lay against my chest while I rubbed her back, not speaking, but letting her know I was there for her.

She sniffed. “So the offer to bring my dad here ... You really mean it?” Her voice sounded so small and sad, my heart hurt for her.

“I did. It was nice to talk to your father.” The Morris I’d met was intelligent and had a gentleness about him. I couldn’t imagine how hard it was to know there were moments not only you weren’t yourself, but you couldn’t remember the time that had passed.

“I miss talking to him like that.” She let out a broken cry. Her arms tightened around me as she sobbed. I held her until her unsteady breath evened out, continuing to rub her back and whisper soothing words.

“I’m sorry for crying and snotting all over you.” Her gaze stayed fixed on the damp spot her tears had created, making the blue of my shirt darker.

I tucked my fingers under her chin and lifted her face to meet mine. “You have nothing to be sorry about. I’m here for you.”

She sighed.

"You didn’t sign up for this drama, though. You shouldn’t have to deal with it.”

I stared into her eyes, wanting her to know how sincere I was being. “No, but I like you Lilybelle, and I hate seeing you struggle.”

She groaned.

“No to Lilybelle?”

She shook her head and smiled. “Only Dad calls me that. I prefer Lily.”

I brushed her hair behind her ear. “You doing okay?”

“I feel better just having you here. Thank you. I didn’t realize how much I needed to let that out.” After squeezing me one last time, she turned to check her reflection in the mirror. “Oh geez, I’m a mess.”

I grabbed her by the waist, pulled her to me, and nuzzled the base of her neck. “You could never be a mess. You’re beautiful all the time.”

A peel of laughter shook her body. “You’re a smooth talker, Dr. Beast.” She turned in my arms. “Is everyone almost ready to go?”

I nodded. “Davie got here a little while ago, but take your time. We’ll leave when you’re ready.”

“I’ll only be a minute.”

She sat at the vanity and got to work freshening up. Watching her brush her hair and reapply makeup had me thinking I could watch her do this all the time. The absolute normalcy of the moment spoke to me and I wondered if I was falling for Lily, if at the end of the summer, I’d even be able to let her go.

My internal sense of guilt tugged at me. If that was going to happen, I needed to be honest with her.

Abouteverything.