“Hey there, gorgeous. Wake up for me.”
I reached down and softly shook her, watching as her eyes fluttered open.
“Hmm? Max?”
I chuckled. “Morning, Daddy’s girl. Time to get up.”
She frown
ed up at me. “Don’t call me that.”
I paused. “Call you what?”
“Daddy’s girl. Or Bambi. I have a name. Use it, please.”
I nodded slowly. “Oh… kay. Morning, Dani.”
She smiled up at me. “Morning, Max. It’s nice to see you up on your feet.”
“You need to get back to campus for class.”
She stood up. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
“You’ll be late for class.”
“Well, then it’s a good thing I’m not going to school today.”
I blinked. “And why not?”
John poked his head around the corner. “Breakfast is up.”
Dani pointed. “See? Breakfast. Can’t leave until I eat, can I?”
I nodded. “Then you’ll after you’re done eating.”
“No, I won’t.”
She said the words so coolly. So plainly. And when John started chuckling to himself, I wanted to chip his tooth to match my own.
“Getting bolder, I see, Daddy’s girl.”
Her eyes flashed. “Don’t you call me that anymore. I’m not some weak-willed little porcelain doll who bats her eyes only for her father. I’m more than that.”
I paused. “Is that why you think I call you that?”
She snickered. “Is there any other reason?”
John poked his head back around. “Hate to break up this little lovefest, but breakfast is going to get cold if you guys don’t come eat. Now.”
I threw my hands up. “Why the fuck won’t people just listen to me?”
Dani made her way into the kitchen. “Because you're talking nonsense right now. That’s why.”
John let out a roar of a laughter that made me clench my fists. Where the hell was my sweet, innocent little college girl?
You’re killing her. She’s almost in the ground. That’s where she is. Because of you.
I started for the kitchen. “Dani, you need to get back to campus.”