Page 124 of Already Callin’ You Mine

“Adding patience to the list of things we need to work on.” Presley huffs, resting her head on my shoulder.

“Mama!” Otis calls, waving over to us. “I drive the am-boo-wince!”

I wave back, not ready to let go of Presley quite yet. Otis is safe and that’s what matters. So I’m going to steal an extra couple of seconds with my girl. My forever.

“Just remember, Mama, I got you,” I tell her. “Him too. We’re gonna tackle that list together. And who knows, maybe the next one will be easier.”

Presley snorts. “Ha. Pretty sure that’s not how it works.”

She winks, then steps back, letting the cool morning air slip between us. As much as I want to yank her right back into me, that can wait. We have other things to attend to.

“Little Man…” I walk over to where he and Maisey are sitting on the edge of the ambulance. I’m so full of relief that it’s hard to conjure the seriousness needed for the moment, but I do it. “What happened to staying with me at all times?”

Otis looks away, his eyes turned down like he knows he was wrong.

“That man was mad. And he wasn’t a safe grown-up,” he answers, still not looking at me. “He hurt you. I get help.”

Oh, hell. In the blink of an eye, I’m a puddle. Nothing but liquidy goo, melting and spreading all over the place.

“He ran right over here, yelled a word I’m pretty sure he’s not supposed to use, and then told me a stranger was yelling at you,” Maisey interjects. “So I thought it would be best if we just hung out here and looked at all the cool things we have in the back of the ambulance.”

“Thank you,” Presley replies.

“I texted Ewan. I probably should have included y’all in on that, but he said he was on his way to find you.”

I pull my phone from my pocket, immediately flipping to the group text. Sure enough, right there in all the responses I ignored, is one from my younger brother. Plus another one.

Ewan: Hey, Maisey’s got Otis with her. Said something about some yelling? Everything good?

Ewan: Did you not see my text? Maisey says she’s with him at the first aid tent. He’s safe.

Fuck, I should have read those. That would have saved me from almost needing that defibrillator.

Presley rushes over to Otis, scooping him up in a hug. I give them a minute, every inch of me aching to go join them. But they need a second. One that is just Mama and Otis.

Or so I assume.

At least until I see those little blue eyes—the ones that match his mama’s—look over expectantly at me. That’s all I need.

Closing that gap in a single step, I wrap both of them in my arms, holding on as tight as I think I can get away with. I’m never, ever letting go. These two are too important. They’re my everything.

“I found a safe grown-up,” Otis says, still squished in between us.

“Yes, you did, Little Man. You did good. Doesn’t mean Mama and I weren’t worried though.”

“Sorry, Dad…”

The world stops.

I can’t breathe, my lungs constricting and burning as my brain screams that we need oxygen. There isn’t any, though. Those two words have sucked it straight out of the atmosphere.

Dad…

Presley looks over at me, the tears in her eyes matching mine. Dad. He called me Dad.

I’ve never felt so…I don’t even know the word. Full? Complete? Shit…I’m not sure there is one. All I know is that I couldn’t love him any more. He is mine.

They are mine.

“It’s okay, Little Man. Just promise you’re going to stay with me for the rest of the day, okay? No matter what else happens.”

“O’tay, Dad.”

And here I thought it didn’t get better, then he said it again.

“Wanna go get a cinnamon roll with Dad?” Presley asks, upping the ante.

I thought it was something when he said it. Presley echoing it is almost too much. So much for not needing that defibrillator. These two keep this up then Maisey is about to have to show off her EMT skills.

“Yeah!”

Presley shifts, passing Otis to me. He slides over easily, wrapping his arms around my neck the same way he did that first day at the farmers’ market. I knew we were destined to be buddies back then, but had no idea it could be like this.

“Lead the way, Dad.”

Taking her hand, I quickly steal a kiss, my heart ready to burst.

“Gladly, Mama.”