Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

MADDEN

It's unusual, waking up with someone in my bed with me. It's been a few years since I had a woman either stay the night, or I've been there when the sun comes up right next to her. But I want more of it. Last night was one of the best nights I've ever had, and I want more of it. I want us to be together every night, to wake up together in the morning.

She stretches, snuggling in next to me. "Good morning," she whispers.

"Good morning to you, too."

Her eyes open, and she smiles up at me. "I love your sleep-rough voice. I could listen to it all the time."

"I love having you right here next to me," I admit. "I'd love to have you here all the time."

"Madden," she sighs. "I wish we could work it out..."

This is all a risk. She's liable to run like her ass is on fire, but I need her to know. "I'll work it out if you let me."

"I'm scared to give someone that much power over me." She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. "I want to trust you, I want to imagine that you're going to never hurt me, but you have to understand what I've been dealing with."

"I know." Reaching out, I hug her to me. "I'll give you all the time you need to trust me. I'm not pressuring you, I promise. Are you hungry?"

She nods, those eyes of hers wide. She's scared and I have to assuage her fear. If I don't, she's going to leave and I'm never going to show her the type of life we can have together.

"Okay, I'm going to make some breakfast. You like bacon and eggs?"

"Yes, over medium please, and crispy bacon."

I lean over, kissing her quickly. "Your wish is my command."

Getting out of the bed, I put sweatpants and a t-shirt over my body, and give her a wink before heading out into the kitchen. Once there, I see Donut and Mick. "Hey, are you hungry?" I ask him.

"Yeah, we've been waiting for you two to wake up. I was about to come get you, but my mom never wanted me to interrupt her if she had a man in her room."

I hate that he's been exposed to all of this. That he's had to live with so much in his young life. "What do you want for breakfast? I'm making Bec eggs and bacon. I have cereal, pancakes, whatever you want, Micky man."

Out of nowhere, he scrunches up his face. It turns red, and he sobs. He sobs like I've never seen anyone cry before.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" I rush over and kneel before him.

Donut clocks what's happening and immediately makes his way over to us. He reaches down and puts his snoot near Mick, encouraging him to stick his hand out and pet him. Mick does, slipping down onto the ground, much like he did at the school. He sniffles as he rubs at his nose with the back of his hand. "My dad always said he would make me food, but he never did."

This mother fucker. "Did you do that type of stuff for yourself?" I sit down next to him and put my arm around his tiny shoulders.

He nods. "When I was with my mom, I'd have to make her food too. She'd get mad because it wasn't what she wanted, and then she'd yell at me. I never knew what to do."

I bring him over to me, holding him close. "You're a kid, Mick. There's absolutely nothing for you to know to do. You don't take care of adults. They should've taken care of you. I am so sorry that you've had to deal with this. I promise, as long as I'm in your life, you're never going to worry about any of that. What do you want for breakfast?"

He buries his face in Donut's fur. "Bacon and eggs?"

"Coming right up." I stand and walk over to the fridge. Before I open it, I take a few minutes to compose myself. The people who failed this kid piss me off, they remind me so much of the people who failed me. My chin wobbles, and I'm doing my best to hold myself together. I can't let him see me lose it. "I think Donut needs to go out. Would you take him for me?"

"Sure. C'mon, Donut."

They run outside as if there's nothing wrong with what just went down between us. From the hallway, I hear Bec walking this way.

"You handled that well," she whispers, wiping away tears.

"I want to be the shit out of his father. I can't believe he doesn't want you to take responsibility for him. If I were with you, we'd adopt him tomorrow," I say the words with a conviction I haven't felt in years.

"That's what I want." She cries. "That's why I went to talk to Trey, but he doesn't agree, and I don't know what else to do."

I pull her over to my side. "He's ours, Bec, and I'm going to make sure of it."

"I believe you." She buries her head in my chest, swaying with me as I hold her. If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to make sure this kid has better than what he's been given.