Page 90 of But For You

I called his name over and over, and the kiss, as my head was wrenched sideways, was hot and wet.

“Sam,” I managed to get out in a croaking whisper.

“Mine,” was the only reply.

I hadn’t realized I was so tired, but when you were the only parent, you sort of slept lighter than usual, knowing that if an intruder broke in, you were the only line of defense.

An hour later, when there was a knock at the door, Sam slid me tenderly from where I had been dozing on his chest and eased me down onto the pillow. I heard him pulling on clothes and then the squeal of delight after the click of the lock.

“Daddy!”

“Hi, buddy,” he said softly to Kola, quieting him before the door closed and everything was muffled.

A while later, there was a hand in my hair, gently petting, curling long pieces around my ear, tracing over my eyebrows.

My eyes fluttered open, and I saw my girl looking expectantly at me, chin on one hand as she touched my cheek with the other.

“Hi, B,” I whispered.

“Daddy came home.”

“Mmhmm.” I smiled at her.

“Kola told him about his finger.”

I didn’t even want to deal with that. I was too sleepy.

“I told Daddy that the man pushed you.”

He had poked me, not pushed me, but to my daughter, it was probably the same thing.

“Daddy’s taking us to school now, but not to go, just to visit. He said we have to go talk to everybody.”

Oh dear God.

“His friends are here,” she said brightly.

Which meant that Chaz and Pat were out in the living room, ready to go kick some ass with Sam.

“That’s super.”

“I told Daddy to call Uncle Dane, and he is.”

She was good, my girl. Thorough.

“That’s good, B.”

“Love?”

Hannah turned her head with the call.

“Come out here.”

“But, Daddy, Pa⁠—”

“It’s okay. Pa’s sleepy.”

She leaned up and kissed me and then scrambled down off the bed. Seconds later, I had lips pressed between my shoulder blades.