Hendrix - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,34
wonders if Saige was keeping this from Brenna to be selfish. When I brought up the idea of telling her, she snapped and didn't want to hear anything on the subject. And then to top it off, she made me go four days without seeing her.
I hug Brenna close to me. “Why don't you come spend the night at my house? Would that make you feel better?”
She nods, and I help her up off my lap.
“Can you pack a bag while I go tell your mom?”
Rubbing her nose with the back of her hand, she looks up at me as I stand. “Can I bring a friend for Puddles?”
I can't help but smile. “Sure, B.”
As soon as I get downstairs, Saige rushes over to me. “Did she talk to you? Is she okay?”
I shrug, having no sympathy for her. “She's hurt. She feels like you lied to her.”
A fresh set of tears build in her eyes. “That's not what I was trying to do.”
“Well, she's going to sleep at my place tonight,” I tell her. “I'll bring her back at some point tomorrow.”
“Like hell she is,” Topher's voice booms. “You're not taking that kid anywhere.”
I'm really not in the mood for his shit. “And who's going to stop me? You?”
He steps up into my face, and it takes everything in me to resist punching him in the jaw. Saige pushes herself in between us and focuses all her attention on Topher. She places her hands on his chest and forces him to take a step back.
“Topher, stop,” she pleads. “Just let him take her. She wants to go.”
Scoffing, he rolls his eyes. “Great. That's just great, Saige,” he growls. “Let her go right back with the guy who let her get hurt on his watch. Mother of the fucking year.”
Before she can say anything, he turns around and storms away. She runs her fingers through her hair but ultimately seems relieved he's not in the room anymore. A couple minutes later, Brenna comes down the stairs with her overnight bag. I meet her at the bottom and take it from her.
“Ready to go?”
She nods, and Saige bends down to give her a hug. “I'm so sorry, Bren,” she whispers. “Have fun, and I'll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Brenna gives her a half smile but says nothing as she takes my hand and leaves without so much as a goodbye.
AFTER WATCHING FROZEN TWO, I get Brenna in her pajamas and tuck her into bed. She's been quiet since we left Saige's place, but what she found out tonight is a lot to process for a little girl. I figure I'll just wait patiently until she's ready to talk about it. Until then, I'm going to continue to be there for her.
I kiss her forehead and turn on the nightlight. “Sweet dreams, B.”
“Wait,” she says. “I don't know what I call you now.”
My brows furrow as I go back over and sit on the side of her bed. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you're my dad, right?”
I nod. “Right.”
She looks unsure. “Does that mean I call you Dad, or do I still call you Colby?”
The idea of her calling me Dad makes my heart swell, but unlike Saige, I'm not about to make any choices for her.
“You can call me whatever you want, even if it's something silly like Butthead or Stinky-Pants.”
For the first time all night, she giggles, and it's like music to my ears. “I like Stinky-Pants.”
A dimpled grin stretches across my face. “Stinky-Pants it is then.” I stand up and tuck the blanket around her body again. “Now, it's time to get some sleep. There will be plenty of time for questions in the morning, when you're rested.”
She yawns and sinks into her bed. “Okay.”
“Goodnight, Brenna.”
“Goodnight, Stinky-Pants.”
I walk out of her room and close the door behind me, wondering if she's going to be okay. And a little less important but still on my mind, will Saige?
I STAND ON THE side of the room with Asher and watch from a distance as Tessa puts French braids in Brenna's hair—as if she's not heartbreakingly adorable as it is. Since she woke up this morning, she's seemed in much better spirits. However, she did get a little upset when she asked if she could spend the night again, and I told her that she had to go back to her mom's. It's not that I wanted to turn her down, but I have practice and need to leave the house by four in