“You have me.” My hand finds hers. The familiarity of her scars gives me comfort. “You’re the only one who matters to me. Fuck everyone else.”
Shifting to me, she crawls onto my lap, resting her head against my shoulder. Her small feet lock around my waist, taking her cute and sparkly gelled toes out of my view. “I know you too well. I know it hurts you.”
“I’ll get over it.”
She nods against me, silent for a moment before she asks, “Have you eaten?”
“Not really. Some snacks on the job. I did spot a half-done, very appetizing-looking cake in the kitchen. Is it for me?”
“Don’t touch it. You have twenty-four more hours.”
“I promise I won’t, if you take a bite of pizza.”
“I can’t.”
“Sorry, Dollie. I’m not above bribery. So, I guess, I’ll go get some of that cake once you’re asleep.”
“Don’t do that to me.” Her fingers find comfort on my skin, dancing over each unique imperfection.
“My blanket is probably softer.”
“No, your skin is better for me. It’s just right.”
“Okay then.” I guess the moisturizer worked well enough.
“Does it bother you?”
“You can’t imagine how much I crave touch.”
“That doesn’t sound like you.”
“Only yours. Only your touch.” I relish how her fingers move on me, soft and slow on each silver line. “Why are you so stressed? Is it the dream?”
“You say the dream like it didn’t really happen, and that’s all it was.” Her fingers move faster, my skin warming under her touch. “Mom told me I deserve to be punished.”
“No, baby,” I coo, my head shifting from left to right over and over as I pull her closer, my hand weaving through her hair.
Frosting greets me, and another set of fingers weaves to avoid hurting her as I detangle from her.
My lips lift. “You’re more of a mucky pup than Bubbles, you know that?”
“Where is she?”
“Downstairs with her sock. Apparently, it’s still hers.”
Dollie laughs, the small puff of air that leaves her tickles my neck, and I lean into it. Into her. “Did she growl?”
“Fuck, yeah. I saw teeth. Little fucker. All I wanted to do was wash it.”
“We’ll have to let her keep it.”
“No, I want our friendly girl back.”
“Yeah, but at least it’s just a sock. She doesn’t seem to like the cake stuff that I haven’t cleared away, which is good. I don’t want her eating something and getting ill.”
“I wiped up the flour and frosting before coming up here.”
“You did? Because the mess was stressing you?”
