Sunny bounced in excitement as Duke’s phone buzzed. He texted something and put his phone away. “Ink’s on his way here. That okay?”
“Yep!” she said cheerfully. “He can watch me ride on my own for the first time.”
He looked skeptical. “We haven’t practiced enough.”
They’d practiced heaps. “Daddy. I got this. I promise.”
“Yo!”
They both looked over at the greeting, and she smiled as she saw Ink walking towards them.
“Yo, Ink,” she called back in a gruff voice. “How’s it hanging, man?”
“Is that meant to be an impression of me?” Duke asked, raising an eyebrow.
She grinned up at him. “Totally nailed it, right?”
He just shook his head indulgently.
A wide smile crossed Ink’s face as he grew closer. He looked from her to the bike. “Could that bike be any cuter?”
She glanced down at the bike fondly. It was bright pink with a white seat and a white basket with pink flowers and rhinestones along the front of it. Moody sat in the basket. She loved it.
“Nope.”
“Do you think you put enough protective gear on her?” Ink asked Duke. “Maybe you should just wrap her up in bubble wrap.”
“Don’t give him ideas.” She put her hands on her hips, tapping her foot. “This is our fourth time practicing, the first day he wouldn’t even let me get on my bike!”
Ink burst into laughter.
“You could hurt yourself.” Duke gave her a firm look.
“I’ll be fine. I have to try doing it on my own sometime.”
“Here. I’ll stand down here. If she goes too far, I’ll grab her, okay?” Ink asked, moving twenty feet down the path.
“Maybe you should try on the grass,” Duke muttered. “Less chance of hurting yourself if you fall off.”
She reached up and cupped his face with her hands. “I got this, Daddy. Trust me.”
He blew out a breath. “Fine. But don’t go past Ink.”
She climbed on the bike. She was so ready for this. She put her feet on the pedals, her tongue sticking out in concentration. Duke pushed her off, running with her for a few feet before letting her go. She wobbled. Oh no, she couldn’t do this!
She tried to regain her balance, but she slid off the path onto the grass and landed on her side with a thump.
Tears immediately filled her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. Not because of the pain but due to the shock of falling off. Also, she was kind of embarrassed she’d done that in front of Ink.
Duke had been right. She wasn’t ready.
She sniffled.
“Baby girl, you okay? You hurt?” Duke raced over and knelt down behind her.
“Sunny-girl, did you hurt yourself?” Ink rushed over, picking up the bike and carefully moving it away from her.
“Where are you in pain?” Duke asked urgently, moving around to face her so he could run his hands all over her.