"Yes!"She answers, clapping her hands.
She's in a good mood, and when she's in a good mood, so is everyone around her.For such a little girl she rules the roost."I'm glad."I chatter to her as I change her diaper.We're working on potty training, but nighttime is still rough for us.When I have her diaper changed, and her clothes on, along with a simple ponytail, which I can fucking do.I tap her little thighs."Hey Nic, I have something to talk to you about."
She gives me her attention.Eyes that look so much like mine stare back at me.They're trusting.Way more than they probably should be.The fact that she trusts me so easily with every part of her life is scary.Partly because the people who should have taken care of me, and I gave my trust to, failed me.If it hadn't been for Nick Kepler and Kels Harrison, I wouldn't be the man I am today, and they took a fucking chance on me that could've backfired.Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve the trust my daughter gives me, but I vow every single day I'll make her proud, and not make her regret giving me that trust.
"Okay," she nods.
"There's someone here.It's someone you haven't met yet.She's a friend of mine, and she had a rough night last night."I don't know why I'm going to such depths to explain this to her.It's not like she's really going to understand what's happening in the grand scheme of things, but I can remember as a kid never being included in decisions or informed about circumstances.I hated it.I never want her to feel like that."We might need to be a little quieter than we normally are.She's very nice, and I think you're going to like her.Is that okay?"
She nods, before reaching out and throwing her arms around my neck.One thing about my girl?She loves hugs, and she's going to get them any way she can.
"Alright, let's get you into the kitchen and get some breakfast started.Sound good?"
"Frosted Flakes?"They're her favorite cereal, and while I normally say no.Today is an exception.
"Yeah, you can have Frosted Flakes.C'mon," I tap her thigh."Let's get moving."When I have her situated in her high chair with a handful of Frosted Flakes, and I've made sure I can see her on the monitor I keep in here, too.Hell who am I kidding?This entire house is wired.I can see anything and everything whenever I need to."Be right back, okay?"
Hurrying to the bedroom with the monitor attached to my pocket, I make a noise in the back of my throat when I see that Macie is sitting up in bed.Her feet are thrown over the side, and she's grimacing."I told you to wait for me."
"I really have to use the bathroom," she hisses."But I put my feet on the ground, and my entire body protested.So this is where I am."
"Alright, we've got this," I say on a rushed out breath.
But when I see her legs in the short pair of shorts she put on last night, and the shirt that doesn't meet the waistband of those shorts, I have to wonder if I do.It's been a long time, and there's zero way my body isn't going to respond.Not when I've wanted her since the fucking moment I saw her.
Chapter7
Macie
I'm not expecting for it to hurt as much as it does when I put weight on my body.I'm used to standing for hours at a time, and it taking a toll, but I'm able to recover pretty quickly.This is something else entirely.Which I guess makes sense, since I've never had the shit beat out of me before.
"One second," I hiss, stopping for a second to catch my breath.I definitely have some bruised ribs, if not something more.
"Let me help you."His voice is full of worry and concern.
"I have to walk on my own, what am I going to do in a couple of days when I need to go to work?"
Looking up, I can see the way he's working his jaw, grinding his molars."You're not rushing this recovery, Mace.A man much bigger than you, abused you.It's going to take time to be okay, and that itself is okay."
Again I want to cry.I know part of that is because my emotions are so close to the surface.The fact that someone did this to me, to me.The girl who carries pepper spray, has a stun gun, begs others to be careful when they're out at night, and swears if a man ever raised a hand to me, we'd be over.Yet here I am, beaten and bruised by a man whose name I don't even know.I'm struggling.Emotionally, physically, mentally, and it all fucking hurts.
"Goddamn that guy," Darren mumbles, before reaching down to grab under my knees."Put your arms around my neck, and hang on."
I don't think I've ever been carried in my life.Not to bed, not over a threshold, none of that.So him picking me up, is unexpected.Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hang on as he brings me to the bathroom, and puts me down carefully."I can get my shorts off to use the restroom," I assure him."Then I can get in the shower."
His lips are in a firm line as he looks at me."I don't want to leave you in here by yourself, but I need to go check on Nic.I'll bring you something to drink and some pain relievers, okay?"
"Yeah."I nod, because if I say anything else, I might completely lose it.
"Just yell if you need something."
Again I nod, and when he leaves the room, I sag in relief.Thankful that I don't have to pretend like I'm not hurting as much as I am.Some of those tears?I let go of, and don't bother wiping them off my face.I let them fall, not bothering to lick them away when they pass over my lips.For a few moments, I allow myself those tears.Then I firm up my chin, stand up, and take care of my business.
Within a few minutes, I've limped over to the shower, and been able to turn it on.I take off all my clothes and wait until steam starts billowing in the room.Then, I hop in, and groan as the warm water works wonders on my sore muscles.
I'm just turning the water off when there's a knock at the door."You doing okay, Mace?"
"Yeah, I just didn't grab a towel.I wasn't sure where they are."
