“You’re such a badass, babe.” He grins and places a tender kiss to my forehead.
“Only for you guys. I’m just protecting what’s mine,” I mumble into his shirt and he squeezes me to him more.
“Exactly, I’m yours.” He kisses me again, and I feel his breath in my hair. He’s always smelling it and sighing. I’ve kept the same shampoo just for that reason. “Now, we ready for this late birthday party? There’s a three year old who deserves to get spoiled by his family.”
“Definitely, I can’t wait to see him surprised.”
“As long as he likes a motorcycle cake, then we’re good.”
“He will absolutely love it; he’s just like his dad.” I smile and kiss his cheek.
If I could go back in time, would I do things different? I’d like to say no, but that’d be a lie. Nightmare deserved to be a father from the very beginning, and I took that away from him.
I plan to spend the rest of my life showing him just how much I love him and give him the chance to be a father. Who knows, maybe down the road we’ll have another. Right now, though, I’m being selfish and only sharing him with Maverick.
Time’s so easily lost; we need to learn to spend it with the ones we love, doing the things we love. In the end, the small things will be the big things. I’m just grateful to have learned that now before it was too late and more time was wasted.
I’ll never get those years back, but I’ll love Nightmare every single day for the rest of my life. He is, after all, the one who made me see stars.
There are two gifts we should
give our children; one is roots,
and the other is wings.
- Unknown
13 years later…
“Ummm…what do you mean I can’t have a motorcycle? I’m sixteen, Mom, and it’s my birthday.”
“Not happening, Mav. You have to wait until you’re eighteen, you know this. We’ve already talked about it.” She shakes her head and my dad’s gaze hits his boots. He’s in a huge pile of shit with her and he knows it. She doesn’t though, not yet.
“Uh, Daydream?” he mutters, clearing his throat. It’s pretty entertaining, we both dwarf my mom, but she’s the boss in the end. She can bring a grown man to his knees. My dad with a simple kiss, anyone else and her switchblade will do the trick. “I, uh, sorta got the kid a bike.” He coughs and I snort. He gives me so much shit when I choke up fessing something to my mom.
“You didn’t.”
“I did.” He sighs and I grin at mom.
Interrupting, I pull my leather jacket on. “Yeah, so you two sort this out. I’m taking off.”
“And where in the hell do you think you’re going exactly?” Her attention snaps to me, pinning me down with steel in her gaze.
My Aunt Princess has the same look when she’s serious, too. Thankfully, she thinks I can do no wrong, so it’s never turned on me. Mom. though, she’ll shoot it at me every time I’m two minutes late coming in the door.
“I need to pick up Jessie.”
“Jessie, as in Jessica? Cain and London’s daughter?” Her eyes widen.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, Jesus Christ.” She stares down my dad next, “I’m so blaming you for this shit.” She shakes her head, exasperated and walks off.
She’s too concerned with Jessie’s father getting pissed that she’s not even thinking of the bike anymore. I’ve learned how to distract her like Dad does.
He turns to me with a devilish grin. “Go get her, son.” We fist bump and I’m out the door.
It’s on like Donkey Kong. Hope Jessie knows she’s mine, cause if not, she’s about to figure it out.