Rosie
Iwant to play with my chain and remember how Niki’s fingers grazed my neck. The burning in his eyes as he stared at me leaves me with questions I can’t ask.
He widens his thighs as he drives, and I’m drawn to watching. Is it really as big as he says?
“How are you feeling?” I ask as we travel along the country roads.
His knuckles are white as he grips the wheel. I don’t want to believe it’s anxiety or regret making him like this, but the panic creeps in. He used to have any woman he wanted, and I’m just me, someone who can’t even stop her daughter from having problems at preschool.
“Better,” he says eventually.
Tabi’s singing Disney songs from the backseat.
“Prince Charming?” Tabi says, making me giggle.
“Yes, Tabi.” Niki’s smile hits my heart.
“You don’t have to answer to that,” I whisper before saying louder, “His name is Niki, Tabi.”
“I like it. It’s nice to be a hero rather than a…” Niki trails off, and I’m conflicted. I want to hold him close but also whisper sir as I grind against him. Whatever word he was going to say, I want to tell him that’s not who he is.
“Who’s your favourite princess?” Tabi asks, oblivious to our conversation.
“That’s a good question.” His eyes flick back and forth between the road and his rearview mirror. “I don’t know many princesses, but I’m fond of Belle. She was lovely and beautiful.”
I rub my chain, and Niki catches my eye. His lips quirk to one side. There’s so much to unpack from that one stare.
“Who’s your favourite, Tabi?” he asks.
“I like Moana. She kicks bum and has the best songs.”
“Don’t say bum,” I say quickly. “It’s a naughty word.”
Bum, Niki mouths at me, and my body fires.
“I also like Ariel because she’s like me, but she didn’t have a mummy, and I don’t have a daddy,” Tabi says before singing a song fromThe Little Mermaid.
Niki glances at me. I should fill in the gaps, but I can’t with Tabi in the car. My legs tremble. I don’t want his judgement on my past, and I don’t want him to laugh at my lack of experience. I grit my teeth.
His hand brushes mine. He winks at me and mouths,Bum. My giggle slips free.
“What’s funny, Mummy?”
“Prince Charming is naughty. He’s saying rude words.”
“He’s very naughty,” Tabi says, and I turn around and catch her furrowed brow and pout.
“I’ll try to behave,” Niki replies before whispering in my ear, “for now.”
I shiver. I fucking want this man. I want to learn how naughty he can be.
Tabi sleeps softly in her car seat as we drive home from the dog shelter.
“She loved Graham, didn’t she?” Niki asks. His shoulders are relaxed compared with when he picked us up, and there’s a lightness to his words.
“She did. She needed that today. Thank you.”
“What’s happening at her preschool? You said something about other kids.”
