She shakes her head. Her mess of curls flies around her shoulders. She’s fucking precious. “No. I didn’t want to wake you. I was pretending to read out loud.”
“Could I read to you for a while, Little one?”
She hesitates before finally nodding.
If I die tonight, I will be a happy man. My world is a hundred times richer than it was twenty hours ago. There’s a light on now where before was mostly darkness.
I climb into the corner, prop myself against the pillows, and extend my legs before reaching out a hand. “Come, Little one. What are we reading?”
She picks up the book that was in her hands before and extends it to me as she drops down to crawl toward me. “It’s babyish. Are you sure you want to read it?”
“There’s nothing wrong with babyish books. I will enjoy reading anything you want me to read to you. I don’t care whether it’s Moby Dick or one of these babysitting books.”
“Do you have Moby Dick?” she asks, positioning herself next to my extended legs.
“Sure. High school reading. I thought it was intriguing, so I kept it. Am I a dork?”
She doesn’t answer my question or laugh at my silly joke. She meets my gaze and says, “Can I read it sometime?”
My eyes widen. “You want to read Moby Dick?”
“I was supposed to read it in high school, but I never got the chance to finish it. I only read the first chapter.”
Why? What the hell happened after that? Did she not finish high school?
I pat the mattress next to my hip. When she turns to sit against the wall with me, I wrap an arm around her and pull her flush against my side. This all feels so perfect. Everything is right in my world.
I kiss the top of her head. “You may read anything you want, Little one. I have an entire bookshelf in my office filled with odd books I never wanted to part with. You can peruse them and pick out whatever interests you. If I don’t have it, we can get a copy. Have you ever used an e-reader?”
She shakes her head against my chest. “I’ve never had one.”
“I’ll get you one first thing in the morning. What about a phone? I haven’t seen your cell phone.”
“I’ve never had a phone either.”
It’s so hard not to react. I remain still, though, hugging her close and lowering my face to the top of her head. “We’ll get you a phone tomorrow, too.”
“You can’t do that, silly. Those are expensive. I wouldn’t be able to take your phone when I leave.”
So, don’t leave. Don’t ever leave.
“No need to worry about it tonight.” I pull the comforter over our legs.
I’m surprised Eloise isn’t more self-conscious about her sheer nightgown and its length. She’s sexy as fuck, and she doesn’t seem to know or care. Plus, the nightie is so short that I’ve been staring at her legs.
It’s better for me to cover them, or I’ll be too distracted to read the book. “Do you mind if I start from the beginning so I won’t be lost?”
She giggles. “Of course.”
I take a chance and reach over to grab the doll I suspect was in her lap when I walked in. I settle it on her thighs.
Eloise glances at me and then wraps an arm around the doll, securing her.
I reach over and adjust the doll slightly. “She can’t see the book if you don’t face her in this direction,” I point out.
Eloise’s breath hitches, and then she snuggles into me again, harder this time. “Thank you,” she whispers.
I hold the book down as if both Eloise and the doll need to be able to follow. It’s not a picture book, but it’s still youthful. Apparently, my girl is a huge reader and a fan of books for all ages. She was clearly enjoying all these books more appropriate for elementary school, and yet, she also lit up at the prospect of finishing Moby Dick.
