Page 22 of So Much More
“It did. She’s good at helping me talk things out. But she doesn’t understand what it’s like to have a father who doesn’t love her, and she can’t hold me like you can.” I run my hands up and down his arms, thrilled by the fact I can do so now. “I’m addicted to these arms. Whenever I get upset or sad or lonely or stressed, I need them around me, making me feel safe.”
One of his eyebrows quirks up. “You still only want me for my cuddles, huh?”
I bob my head back and forth and stifle my smile. “Maybe.” I finally grin at him. “But you do often manage to know just what to say to help me feel better, too. How do you do that?”
He shrugs. “I have no idea. Are you feeling better now?”
“So much better.” I’m glad I have him to help me through this.
“Good. By the way, I like your pjs.”
I giggle. “I wondered when you’d comment on them.”
My tank top and shorts combo is soft, comfy, bright pink, and covered with armadillos wearing purple cowboy hats.
“I’ve been dying to say something ever since I walked in here, but I didn’t want to mention it when you were upset.”
“I got them when I was in Texas last summer.”
His lips twitch. “I mean, I thought I was into lacy lingerie, but this little outfit is incredibly sexy.”
“That’s exactly what I thought when I saw it hanging on the rack in the gas station.”
He bursts out laughing. “You bought these pajamas at a gas station?”
“It was a big gas station. Everything’s bigger in Texas, you know.”
He tugs on the hem of my shirt. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been.”
“You’ve never been to Texas?”
“Nope.”
“Then we’ll have to go sometime.” I hold my breath when I realize that’s a significant offer for me to make.
“I’d love that.”
“Yeah?” I breathe out.
“Yeah.”
While we’re smiling at each other, I yawn.
“You tired, my little armadillo cowgirl?”
I nod and cover my mouth when I yawn again. “It’s getting late, and it’s been a long day.”
“It has been. I’ll head out soon, but first, when you called me earlier, you mentioned we didn’t discuss how often we’d see each other. Can we talk about that now?”
“We can.” I think about it for a minute before suggesting, “How about three times a week—including weekends?”
“That sounds reasonable. What about talking on the phone?”
“Once a week? Like toreallytalk? But if we need a quick chat about something, I don’t think we should limit that.”
“I like that. And how about in two weeks, we debrief and discuss how it’s working?”
“Yes, counselor.” I giggle.
