“What? Just ask for one?” She leaned back to look up at him skeptically.
He nodded.
“Isn’t that weird?”
He grinned at her. “No weirder than anything else.”
She smiled back at him. “Guess that’s true.”
Cupping the side of her face, he ran his thumb over her cheek. “You’re so beautiful.”
She made a scoffing noise. “With my red eyes and my messy hair and my too-thin body.”
“Yes, you are. And that sounded like you were putting yourself down. Is that allowed?”
“No, Daddy.”
He grunted with satisfaction. She peeked up at him. “Thanks for letting Xavier stay for dinner.”
“Baby, you don’t have to thank me for that. He’s your friend. We might have had a rocky start, but I’d never demand you stay away from him.”
She let out a small sigh of relief. Then she chewed her lip, looking off in the distance.
“What’s worrying you?”
“What isn’t?” she countered. “Reuben going silent. Xavier acting kind of strange. Zombies attacking and eating my brains.”
Okay.
“Well, zombie attacks are frightening.”
She nodded.
“But I think we can push that worry aside for now.”
She sighed. “Okay, Daddy.”
He wasn’t sure where that fear came from. “I don’t know Xavier, but it seems he’s a bit . . . lost?” Fuck, he wished he was better at this.
“It feels like he’s kind of been sad for ages. He doesn’t have the best relationship with his parents. They always want him to be better than what he is.”
Brick frowned. He had great parents who had always supported him. They were currently doing a world trip, but they talked every month.
“Better than a respected doctor?”
“Yeah, crazy, huh? They pushed him to be good at sports, at his studies, a B was never an acceptable grade. They forced him to apply to Ivy League colleges because they were the best. He and Reuben went to Harvard together. I think his parents were pretty horrified when he chose to move back here. But if he hadn’t . . . I think they would have pushed him over the edge. I wish he could see that he’s perfect the way he is.” She started to go red. “I mean that as his friend.”
He hushed her. He wasn’t going to take offense over that.
“They don’t live here?”
“No, they moved when he graduated high school. His dad was the head of the hospital here for years before he got a better offer. They now live in New York. I just wish he was happy,” she said. “He hides it well, but I see his sadness.”
He nodded, but didn’t know what to say. Because he had this inkling suspicion he knew what would make Xavier happy. And it wasn’t his parents’ acceptance that he wasn’t perfect. The thing is, he didn’t much care about Xavier’s happiness.
But he did care about hers. What if she would be happier with both of them?
Shit. Damn Elias.
“I get it, baby girl.”
She rubbed at her eyes with closed fists, looking so adorable that it nearly killed him.
“You’re exhausted,” he told her quietly. “Time for bed.”
“I am. But I don’t know if I’ll sleep. I don’t sleep well.”
“I was thinking I might sleep on the sofa tonight. In case you need me.”
Her hands dropped and she gave him a surprised look. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Feel better if I did.”
She chewed at her lip. “I’d feel bad about you sleeping on the couch, though.” Then she snapped her fingers. “Oh, I know. You could sleep in my bed. I’ll take the couch.”
“First off, you aren’t sleeping on a couch. Not happening,” he said firmly as she opened her mouth. “Secondly, your bed might be Juliet-sized, but it’s not Daddy-sized. I’ll get a crink in my neck.”
“Neither is the couch.”
Well, she had him there.
“It’s not really a Daddy bed,” he told her gently.
Her mouth opened. Closed. She nodded. Then her hand wrapped around his shirt. “We could sleep in your bed. Together.”
Surprise filled him. He didn’t think she would make an offer like that. “You’d be able to sleep?”
“Maybe. I don’t sleep well anyway. I could try. Only if you wanted. I understand if you don’t. I mean, I might snore, or kick in my sleep or punch you.”
“Why would you punch me?”
“I dunno. I might be dreaming that I was a ninja fighting off a dragon.”
“Would a ninja punch a dragon? I mean, I assume a dragon wouldn’t even feel a ninja punch.”
“All right, so maybe I’d be dreaming I was a bounty hunter, bringing in a bail skipper.”
“Don’t know if you’d be allowed to just punch someone who skipped bail.”
“Maybe I would be dreaming I was a kangaroo.”
“Really?”
She huffed out a breath. “It’s just a dream, Mr. Logical.”
“Okay, baby. How about we just start off with me sleeping on the couch then, huh? Ease into sleeping together in a bed.”
“Probably best, since I might have been going to dream about punching someone in the balls.”
Yeah, he didn’t really want to be sleeping with her when she had that dream.
Cries woke him up in the middle of the night.
Brick was instantly awake. Racing into her bedroom, he found her tangled up in her bedding, crying out.
“Duchess. It’s okay. You’re okay.” He leaned over the railing but she cried out, shying back. Shit. Was she still dreaming? More asleep than awake?
“Duchess, it’s me. It’s Daddy.”
More cries.
“Baby girl, you’re all right. I’m here.” The noises were heart-breaking. He wanted to wrap her up in safety, hold her tight, but he was scared of terrifying her more. Her tears kept coming, shudders wracking her body. She was gasping for breath. She sounded like she was going to hyperventilate.
Shit. Fuck.
Okay, calm. Think.
Would she be better off if he left? If this happened to her every night and she coped . . .
But fuck, she shouldn’t have to cope on her own. Not when he was here to take care of her. This was his job. He was damn good at whatever job he took on. He wouldn’t fail his girl.
Not when she was the most important thing in his life.
“Baby girl, it’s Daddy.”
“Go away. Leave me alone. Leave me alone.”
Those words were a kick to the stomach.
She’s upset. She doesn’t know what she’s saying. She’s still stuck in a nightmare.
“Baby—” He reached out to touch her, but she smacked his hand away with a pained cry as though she’d physically hurt herself.
“Juliet, listen to my voice. It’s Daddy. I’m not going to hurt you.” He tried again. This time she shied back so hard that she thunked her head against the rungs of the cot.
Fuck. Fuck.
“Okay, baby girl. I’m backing off. I’m just going to sit here. I’m not leaving, but I won’t touch you.” He sat in the beanbag chair he’d sat in earlier when reading her book before bed. She’d sucked on his fingers while he’d read. Maybe she wanted his fingers? Would that help?
“Do you want to suck my fingers?”
Another whimper.
Fuck. Fuck.
Small cries filled the room. He couldn’t take it. He wasn’t a man who sat around and waited for something to happen. He was a fixer.
Doing nothing when someone he loved was hurting was killing him.
And he did love her. He didn’t know when it happened. He didn’t care how quickly it had happened.
All that mattered was that the girl he loved was sobbing and afraid and he couldn’t do anything.
He had to let out a deep breath.
Think.
What could he do other than sit here, twiddlin
g his fucking thumbs?
The thought came to him suddenly. Could he do it, though?
Then she cried out again.
“Baby girl?”
“Please don’t hurt me,” she whispered.
Like he ever fucking would. Even knowing she wasn’t in her right mind; the pain was real. Very real.
“It’s all right. I’d never hurt you. I’m going to try and get some help.”
He climbed off the beanbag, hating that she cried out again. He grabbed her phone from the holder, those things were actually fucking handy, then he moved into the playroom, thinking this call might upset her further.
He hit his name. It only rang three times.
“Twink? What’s wrong?” The alarm in Xavier’s voice was unmistakable.
“It’s me. Brick,” he said lamely.
“What’s the matter?” The worry in his voice grew. “Is Juliet ill? Injured?”
“No, man. No. Let me speak, huh?” His irritation stemmed more from worry than anything else. “I need your help. I don’t think she’s been sleeping, so I decided to stay on the sofa in the playroom. Woke up just now to her screams.”
“She’s having a nightmare?”
“Yeah, only thing is, she’s not waking up. I mean, I tried to talk to her, but she keeps telling me not to hurt her and when I reach for her, she shies away. Maybe I should leave her alone, but I just can’t. And I’m scared she’s going to hurt herself.”
“Night terrors. She gets them sometimes. When she’s really anxious about something.”
“Reuben,” he muttered.
“Has she heard from him lately? Has something changed?”
“He’s gone silent. We’re not sure what’s going on.”
“Okay. Did you turn on the light?”
Turn on the light. He was a fucking idiot.
“No. Christ. I’ll do that now.”
“No, wait,” Xavier said quickly. “That can actually make things worse. She’s got her nightlight, but turn the light on in the bathroom. You want to do it gradually, or she could get a real fright and hurt herself by accident.”
“Fuck. Fuck. She doesn’t know I’m here. She keeps telling me not to hurt her.”
“She’s out of it right now. Doesn’t know where she is. Nothing she says is at you,” Xavier reassured him.
He sucked in a breath. He knew that . . . but it was also reassuring to hear it as well.
“You’ve seen her like this before?” he asked.
“Sometimes, if she’s not doing too well, I’ll stay over. Hasn’t happened for a long time.”
“What would you normally do for her?” Brick asked.
“Like I said. Turn the bathroom light on. Don’t try to talk to her straight away or touch her.”
“Fucked that up.”
“You didn’t know,” Xavier reassured him.
Fuck. He really was a nice guy, huh? Their first meeting might have been a shitty one, but Xavier hadn’t been entirely to blame for that. Brick didn’t like to lie, even to himself, and he was definitely not a perfect person. He wasn’t as nice as Xavier. That was for sure.
“There’s a scented candle on the bedside table. The scent can help cut through the nightmare. Also, there’s a song she likes by this singer called Arianna. It’s on her phone.”
He rattled off the name of the song.
“Right. Fuck. I’ll put it on my phone.” He grabbed his phone and downloaded the song. There were still small whimpers coming from her that broke his fucking heart.
“Is there anything else?” he asked desperately as he played the song.
“You can only wait until she comes back to you. When she does . . .” Xavier hesitated.
“What?”
“I . . . this might sound weird.”
“Tell me.”
“Touch helps. Skin-to-skin touch. I know it sounds strange since she doesn’t always like to touch people. It has to be someone she trusts, but it’s clear she trusts you.”
“That’s what you do for her?” he asked.
Don’t get jealous. He’s trying to help.
“Yeah.”
“She likes to suck on my fingers.”
“She’s got a pacifier too.”
“I know. She likes my fingers better.” He didn’t say it to be a prick. Well, he didn’t think he did.
“All right, then it might be best to do that.”
“Sorry to wake you,” Brick said awkwardly, considering this guy was basically a stranger.
“You don’t have to apologize. I’d do anything for her. She’s my best friend.”
He noticed that the whimpering had stopped. “Baby girl?”
There was a sob.
“Duchess?” he queried softly, stepping closer but not too close. The last thing he wanted was to frighten her again and have her hurt herself. “It’s Daddy.”
“Daddy?” she asked in a lost voice.
“Um, Xavier,” he said awkwardly.
“I heard,” Xavier replied swiftly, and he was sure he heard a sad note in the other man’s voice. “I’ll let you go take care of her.”
“Thanks, man. Appreciate it.”
“Anytime.”
After hanging up, he put her phone back in the holder then moved carefully over to the side of her cot-bed.
He couldn’t see her clearly as his phone crooned something soft and low.
“Can I switch on the lamp?” he asked in a low voice.
“Y-yes,” she replied.
When the light went on, his heart nearly stopped beating. His poor girl was a mess. Her hair had gone wild. She was taking shuddering breaths; her eyes were almost swollen shut.
“Oh baby,” he said, close to broken by the sight of her.
“I’m okay,” she told him.
“No lying,” he scolded lightly. She was far from okay. He wasn’t either, truth be told. He was nearly shaking. Big bad marine brought down by some night terrors.
“Night terrors,” she told him. “I get them sometimes when I’m anxious.”
He nodded. “Xavier told me.”
“Xavier? He’s here?”
“No, baby girl. I called him on your phone when I didn’t know what to do for you.”
“I’m sorry I scared you,” she told him in a small voice.
“I’m sorry I terrified you so much you hit your head. Is it okay?” he asked, noticing her rubbing it. She froze.
“Just stings a bit,” she admitted. She rubbed at her eyes, her hands trembling.
“Can I hug you?” he asked.
She stared up at him then nodded shakily.
“Thank fuck.” He bent over towards her slowly. “I’m going to lift you up.”
After waiting for her nod, he lifted her up into his arms. She wrapped her arms and legs around him.
“Baby girl, you should have told me you were feeling so anxious.”
“S-sorry.” He sat in the rocking chair and rubbed her back until the trembles eased.
“What do you need?” He thought about asking her if she wanted him to pull off his T-shirt, give her his skin like Xavier said.
But that felt like their thing. Was that weird? He didn’t know. It wasn’t a typical best friend thing, that was for sure. But then who gave a fuck about normal?
“To pee.”
“Okay, I can manage that.” He carried her into the bathroom, set her down by the toilet and then went to turn away.
“Don’t leave,” she begged.
He turned back to her. “I’ll be in the other room.”
“Please. I know it’s weird. Just don’t leave my eyesight. Please?”
“I’ll do anything you ask.”
“That could be dangerous.” She gave him a wobbly grin. “Cause I’m in the mood for a coffee ice cream sundae.”
He snorted. “Nice try.”
“I thought so,” she muttered as he turned away to give her privacy. She peed then flushed, and he spun back as she washed her hands. She squealed a
s she looked in the mirror, trying to finger comb her hair.
“Hush, you’re perfect.” He wet a washcloth then lifted her onto the counter to wipe her face. Grabbing her toothbrush, he put toothpaste on it.
“Open.”
“My breath stinks?” she wailed, huffing out a breath into her cupped hand then trying to sniff. “Oh no. I probably smell.” She sniffed at her armpit.
“Juliet.” He had to fight hard to hold in a grin, not wanting her to think that he was laughing at her. When he kind of was. But not in a mean way.
“I don’t care if your breath stinks or you do—”
“So, I do stink then,” she cried.
“Hush, no, you don’t. But I thought brushing your teeth might reset your brain. It’s probably silly—”
“No, it’s not.” She opened her mouth. “Ahh.”
God, she was adorable. “I’m brushing your teeth. I don’t need to see your tonsils.”
She grinned sheepishly. “Sorry. Too used to Xavier telling me to open my mouth. I mean, when he checks me over. Happens rarely. I hate the doctor. Not Xavier. Just visiting the doctor. Oh, just brush my teeth, please.”
He complied, brushing her teeth for her before picking her up.
Once more, she wrapped herself around him.
“What do you need now?” He hated that he didn’t just know. But there was only one way to find out.
“I don’t wanna be on my own.”
“Then you won’t be. I can sleep on the beanbag in your room.”
She shook her head, a shudder worked its way through her, and she gulped in a breath.
“All right, shh. I can climb into bed with you.”
It would be a tight fit, but he’d make it work.
“The sheets are wet,” she whispered, then she stiffened. “I didn’t pee them, though. I just . . . the sweating.”
“It’s okay, baby girl. We’ll get them sorted tomorrow morning. You can sleep in my bed, I’ll sleep on the floor. Anything you want?”
“Blankie,” she told him.
Walking to the bed, he grabbed the blankie with her pacifier attached. Not easy when he was holding her, but he managed.
Then he shifted her weight onto his hip so he had one hand free. She sucked on her pacifier, rubbing her blankie under her nose as he carried her down to this bedroom. He set her down on the bed, but she let out a tiny distressed noise. Then she reached for him.
He crouched down, placing his hands on her thighs. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
Her Daddies’ Saving Grace Page 26