Maverick
Hey, man! Heard you got stuck in the great feather disaster.
He has no idea. Only, I wouldn’t characterize this as a disaster. Far from it.
Lifting my other arm, I quickly tap a reply.
Owen
We didn’t get feathered, but we did sleep at the Bates motel.
Maverick
Good thing you showered at the arena. What’s your ETA? Something arrived for you.
Gina stirs at my movements, rolling off my chest with a soft sigh. My chest squeezes, and I don’t want to leave this room, even if it does resemble the set of one of the greatest horror films of all time.
She sits up, and my eyes slide down the elegant column of her back. Her ponytail is gone, and her hair hangs in a strawberry-blonde curtain over her ivory skin.
She lifts the sheet in front of her to cover her perfect breasts, and I reach out to put my hand on her waist.
“Sleep well?” My voice is low, a little husky.
Turning her face, she looks over her shoulder to nod. Her eyes are still closed, but a grin curls her lips. It tightens my stomach, and I want to push my phone away. I want to wrap my arms around her and pull her under me again.I want another night…
“I guess we’d better head back,” she says, standing and walking to the bathroom.
The door closes, and I lift the device to reply to my friend.
Owen
Getting on the road soon.
Maverick
Drive safe.
“Daddy!”The little voice breaks from the door of Maverick and Gina’s home as soon as I step out of my truck.
It’s followed closely by the loudRooo!of Ladybird, loping right behind my flying seven-year-old.
“Maddie!” I drop my duffel bag and scoop her up as soon as she reaches me.
Her little arms are around my neck, and I hug her tiny body tight against my chest. My throat clogs, and damn, my eyes heat. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed this little nugget until right this minute. This is the longest we’ve ever been apart since the day she was born.
“Aunt Heather said you missed me, so we came right away!” She lifts up a stuffed toy zebra, jumping him on my shoulder. “We had to be on an airplane for a long, long time, but Zander played with me the whole way. And they hadSharkboy and Lavagirl, and I ate pretzels that tasted like honey, but I didn’t like riding in the airplane. It was really bumpy and kept doing this.”
She moves her little hand up and down in a wavy motion, and laughter ripples through my chest. I kiss the side of her head, giving her another squeeze before putting her down.
“I’m sorry you had a rough flight,” I say. “I sure have missed you, Shortcake.”
She bounces over to my dog, giving her a hug. “Ladybird has grown!”
“Has she?” I squint an eye, trying to see it.
“Yes! And I met her friend Spanky, and they like to jump up and put their legs on each other like this…” She bats me with her arms, seeming more like a seal than a dog.
“I’ve noticed that.” I pick up my duffel, following her into the house.
