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JAMESON
I wake to a faint knock on the door adjoining mine and Hanna's rooms. So soft, I honestly don't even know how it woke me up. I drag myself out of bed and open the door to Ellie. Her hair is pulled back into a ponytail with a big yellow bow and matching lion king shirt. I smile. My favorite movie as a kid. I'm actually kind of excited to go to Animal Kingdom today for that exact reason.
"Daddy! Are you ready to go?" She asks, bopping through the door.
I glance down at my attire. My gym shorts and no shirt, "Yeah, let me jump through the shower real quick. Where's your mama?"
She sets her mouse ears on the table, "She's next door. She said I could see if you were awake. She's putting her makeup on."
"Your mommy doesn't need makeup."
Ellie's mouth tilts into a wicked grin, "You think my mommy is pretty?"
"Of course I do. I think you're pretty, and you look just like her. So I think she's pretty special."
She smiles, standing up and bouncing back to the door, "Hurry up. I'm excited!"
I follow her through the door to Hanna's room, making sure she knows where Ellie is before I get into the shower. She sets a makeup brush down on the counter, "Hi, did Ellie wake you up?"
"Yeah, but it's okay. I needed to get up."
"Sorry," she cringes, "she's excited."
"It's alright. I'm gonna jump through the shower real quick. I wanted to make sure she was with you first. You know, being under adult supervision and all."
Her nude painted lips tilt into a smirk, "Thanks, dad."
Hearing that tiny three-letter word fall from her lips send a jolt of electricity through my veins, like a moment of clarity I didn't know that I needed.
"Welcome, mom." I grin, turning to walk back through the door.
"Oh, Jameson!" Hanna calls, "meet us at the restaurant for breakfast. That's where everyone is going."
"Alright," I agree, stepping out of the room, pulling the door closed on the two girls that I wish were in my room.
After my shower, I pull on my t-shirt and dry-fit shorts and leave my hair an unruly mess, I will probably need to cut it before we go on TDY, so I'm reveling in the fact that it's longer than it usually is. I've always liked it like that. A little floppy and enough to tug on.
I can't keep my mind from going straight to Hanna, and how I wish she was tugging on it.
Shit, I have to stop this, I remind myself.
She has a boyfriend, and all I can think about is how I want to lose myself inside her. I shake the thought from my mind, strolling into the restaurant. Ellie waves me over to the seat next to her, showing me her mickey waffle. JC is going on and on about some ride. He seems really excited as he explains it to Ellie, telling everyone we need to go there first.
Blakely is eyeing him intently, but her smile doesn't reach her eyes. I can tell she's exhausted.
"You okay?" I ask as JC's conversation turns to Ellie.
Blakely sighs, leaning her head onto her fist, "Yeah, I'm just so tired. I wasn't like this when I was pregnant with JC."
Judson's smile fades. He doesn't like to talk about missing that part of her life.
At least he didn't miss that and the first five years.
I can't lie and say I'm not still a little bitter about it.
Judson's voice breaks the silence, "Why don't you spend the day at the pool and rest. Hanna can stay with you, and you guys have a girl's day."
Hanna doesn't speak, Ellie's eyes shooting over to him, "Uncle Judson, I'm not staying here. I'm going to Animal Kingdom."
