“Did you think I’d miss it, Pixie?”
She keeps one arm wrapped around Sabre’s neck and then puts her other hand on her sweet little chin, tapping a finger on her lip. “Did you bring me a birthday present?”
I laugh. “That depends.”
“On what?” she huffs, clearly not liking that answer.
“On if I get a hug or if you are going to let stinky Sabre get all your love.”
“That’s Papaw! He’s not stinky.”
Sabre squeezes her but lets her down. She immediately runs to me, and I scoop her up. Holding Cammie is about the only time I feel even half alive. It’s a feeling that is addicting to a man like me. “There’s my girl,” I murmur, feeling as if I’m choking on the emotion that she always brings out of me.
“Did you miss me, Pez?” she asks innocently.
“Every second of every minute, Pixie.”
“Where’s my present?”
I laugh, opening my back passenger door and getting out the two bags I have on the floorboard.
“I get two?” she asks, her beautiful green eyes sparkling in surprise.
“One from me and one from your Papaw Sabre.”
I notice the way Sabre’s body jerks. I knew he wouldn’t remember to get Cammie anything. I’m actually surprised he climbed his way out of a bottle enough to be here today. The bastard better make sure he doesn’t hurt Daphne. She’s going through enough bullshit.
“Dad?”
I look at the front door and see Daphne standing there, staring at Sabre with so much pain in her eyes that it nearly guts me. Daphne should never have that much pain inside her. I’d take it all away if she’d let me—but she won’t. Daphne’s not mine. To her, I’m her brother’s best friend. To me? To me, she is everything I’ve ever wanted … and will never have.
“Hello, Daphne. You look good,” Sabre says, his voice gruff sounding, as if he can’t catch his breath. Daphne walks toward him slowly. She’s wringing her hands together. I wish I could calm her and give her comfort. I shake my head. I’m an idiot.
“I’m glad you came, Daddy,” she whispers, stepping into him. Her arms go around him. For a minute Sabre stands completely still, his arms at his sides. I close my eyes, wanting to scream at him to hug his daughter. I hear Daphne gasp and give out a small cry. I open my eyes immediately. Sabre has his arms around her. His body is trembling as he holds her. Then, I hear him crying. I look down at Cammie. “What do you say we go inside and let Papaw and Mommy talk? I’ll play dolls with you.”
“Are they okay?” Cammie asks, worrying as only a five-year-old can.
“Yeah, they just miss each other.”
“Like how I sometimes miss you when you take forever to come back and see me,” she says, full of innocence.
I kiss her forehead and then we walk to the house. Leaving Sabre and Daphne to hug and hopefully heal some of the wounds that are slowly killing them both.
Cammie and I are almost in the house when the sound of another vehicle makes me stop. I turn to watch that fucking asshole Dane pull up in his BMW with his whore in the passenger seat. How the fuck could someone leave Daphne, with her curves for days, gorgeous green eyes, and rich, copper hair that falls in waves around her gorgeous face? That bitch in the BMW is like fake Barbie. Hell, she probably has just as much plastic in her as the doll does.
He gets out of the car as his whore does the same and struggles to keep her tits in her tight dress as she shuffles her feet to stand beside Dane. “Sabre, good to see you,” Dane says, eyeing Daphne and Sabre closely.
“I wish I could say the same,” Sabre responds, looking at the worthless piece of shit in front of him.
“Do you want to say hello to your daddy before we go play, Pixie?”
“No. Daddy makes Mommy cry,” she whispers softly. Her entire body tense.
“Then let’s go play.”
Sabre looks at me and nods, but it’s Daphne’s eyes that gut me. They’re eyes that no longer sparkle. Her eyes just look dead. She mouths the words, thank you. I give her a grim smile and turn to go into the house with my second favorite girl in the world.
At least one of my girls loves me …
