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“Rae?” I knock gently on the bathroom door. “You okay in there?”
The door opens and Raven’s stood in front of me in a towel. She looks a little better with her cheeks flushed from the heat of the water. I hope I didn’t run the bath too hot though.
“I just spoke to Phoenix. Do you want some food? I can order and tell you about her day while we wait.”
“No food please,” she says, pulling a dressing gown on over her towel. A second towel is wrapped around her long dark hair, piled up on her head, and even with the extra inches she’s still tiny. I’m not even the biggest of guys, and I tower over her.
“Wanna sit on the sofa or the bed?” I ask.
“Sofa,” she doesn’t hesitate. I briefly wonder how I’m going to get her to sleep in the bed, but dismiss the thought. If there’s no point being scared of things that might happen, there’s no point worrying about things that haven’t happened yet either. Smart girl.
We sit on the sofa and Raven looks at me while I tell her about the phone call with Phoenix. When I tell her what Phoenix said about her mum she even manages a smile.
“I never said that to her,” she says. “That’s all her thinking.”
“She’s astute,” I reply.
“Scarily so sometimes.” She smiles.
“She kinda reminds me of Jax,” I say, with some hesitation.
“Frequently,” she replies with a rueful look.
“Do you find yourself doing that often? Looking for their traits in her?”
“Always. Jax’s brains, Rebel’s temper and sass, Thorn’s playfulness, Ace’s heart…she’s amazing.”
“Rae, what are you going to do? It’s her birthday soon and the guys seem like they’re still going to be around…” I trail off, letting the suggestion lie.
“I’ll keep it quiet. Celebrate just the three of us, like always.”
“Don’t you think-” I begin.
“No, absolutely not,” she cuts me off. “I’m actually really tired. Can we go to bed?”
“Okay. Sure. How do you want to do this?”
She bites her lip.
“I’m happy to stay, or go. There’s a second bedroom through there or I can sleep on the sofa. Or you can. Tell me what you want.”
“I don’t want to be alone,” she says. “But I don’t want to sleep in the bed either.”
“Shall I set up the sofa bed?”
“Please,” she nods.
“Okay, go brush your teeth and I’ll sort it.”
“Yes, Dad.” She smiles.
“Hush you, everything seems better after you’ve brushed your teeth, don’t you know?” I gently tease. She said that line to Phoenix one time when she was sick and lo and behold it turned out to be true. I tried it the next time I was hungover, but I didn’t tell her that though.
“Shut up.” She smirks, but does as I suggested. I quickly make up the bed, grabbing the nicer pillows and duvet off the bed, turning out the big lights in favour of the lamps, and putting a few snacks from the minibar on the side table. I’m painfully aware that she hasn’t eaten anything in a while, so I’m hoping some popcorn might tempt her.
She comes back into the room minus the towels, hair brushed out and wearing my clothes. There’s no denying the funny little leap my heart does at seeing that. Like she’s mine.
“What?” she demands and I realise I’ve been staring, smirking.
