I really shouldn’t find that nickname so affectionate but it’s the way he says it that makes my heart melt. I carefully nod my head. “Your asshole.”
I can feel Christian cringe and I can’t stop grinning. “I hate that. Never again. Putting the ‘your’ in front of it made it so much worse.”
We’re careful to keep our giggling as quiet as possible, not wanting to wake up Maribel. I lean up on my elbow just enough to get my mouth on Christian. We trade barely there, soft kisses until I have to break apart in order to yawn.
“Get some sleep,” Christian whispers, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. “I promise I’ll be here in the morning.”
“You better be or I’ll kick your ass.”
Christian snorts so loud that Maribel startles. We both freeze, waiting. Thankfully she just turns her head and continues to sleep.
“You dick,” Christian whispers against my hair. “You almost made me wake her up.”
“I was just using your own phrase! I cannot be blamed!”
The two of us continue whispering into the night until we can barely keep our eyes open anymore. It’s the most wonderful night I’ve had in a really, really long time.
Chapter Ten
Christian
“Okay, Maribel,” I whisper into my daughter’s hair as I walk across the street to Miles’ house. “We’re gonna go on a nice long walk with your uncle and cousin. Then we’re gonna go see your daddy.”
Maribel makes the most adorable noise that almost sounds like a giggle or a coo. My heart feels like it might literally burst out of my chest. I’ve only known her for a month but I’m already so deeply in love with her. I didn’t even know I was capable of feelings like this, but here I am, being the best dad I know how to be.
I might have had the most rotten examples of parents but thankfully, I’m surrounded by amazing parents now that I can lean on and learn from. One of those parents happens to be leaving his house right now.
“Come on, Druim. Do you wanna walk or should I carry you?”
Druim holds up his hands. “Shoulders.”
Miles grins as he grabs Druim under his arms and hauls him up onto his shoulders. Then Miles turns towards me. “Ready to go?”
“Timalah’s not coming?”
“He’s already there. I think he was planning on going for a long walk with Ghenie to talk everything through before the town meeting.”
I nod my head. “That makes sense. Glad he can talk to someone since you know, I’m just a filthy human.”
“Shut up,” Miles says, hip checking me.
“Shut up!”
I look up at Druim, unable to keep myself from chuckling. “Oh, you’re a sponge aren’t you. It would be terrible if I taught you some curse words, wouldn’t it?”
“Don’t you dare,” Miles grits out through clenched teeth, doing his best not to laugh. “I swear, Timalah will be so upset if we accidentally teach him the F word.”
“But Miles,” I say with a fake whine. “Think about how funny it would be.”
“Itisfunny when kids say stuff like that but alas, we’ll have to wait for it to happen naturally.”
“You used to be fun.”
Miles looks over at me, shaking his head. “You used to be a raging asshole.”
“Dada? Dada? Dada?”
Miles’ grin drops as he looks up as best as he can at his son. “Yes, Druim?”
