“The dad in the house I used to live in before I was here liked hockey too. He said he would teach me to skate, but then he got a new job, and they had to move away, so he never did. Could you teach me how to skate?”
I fucking wish I could teach you to skate.
I can’t, so I offer her what I can.
“Learning to skate is so much fun, Little Red. I have a hockey camp at my work. There’s a beginner class on Tuesdays after school and if you join, you can learn to skate with the rest of the kids.”
Maddy’s face explodes in a smile so huge every other thought leaves my brain. I want to give this little girl the whole entire world.
“Can I?” she asks Emma, voice laced with hope.
“Of course you can.” Emma’s voice shakes just a little, and I press my knee against hers, offering her whatever comfort I can. “I think it’s a great idea. I love to skate.”
“You do?” Maddy and I say it at the same time.
Emma scoffs. “Of course I do. Who doesn’t?”
“Um, a lot of people,” I say, my mind conjuring up an image of Emma, cheeks and nose red from the cold, whizzing around a skating rink, red ponytail flying behind her. There is nothing sexual about the image, but my dick doesn’t seem to care, andblood pools in my groin. I shift in my chair and try to think about literally anything else. This is a really inconvenient time for a hard-on.
“Well, I’m not people.” She turns her attention to Maddy. “In a couple months, when it’s wintertime, I’ll take you to the outdoor skating rink not far from here. It’s one of my favorite places. We can skate together.”
Maddy gives Emma another one of her bright smiles
“I’d like that.”
Emma reaches across and gives Maddy’s hand a squeeze. “Me too. Now, what do you think about shower time?”
Maddy nods her head and gets up from the table. She reaches for one of her bowls—we each used at least three—but I stop her. “I’ll take care of that, Little Red. This cereal competition was my idea, so I’ll clean up while you take your shower.”
“Okay, thanks Jeremy.”
“Do you need help with your shower?” Emma asks.
Maddy hesitates, then shakes her head slowly in a way that makes me think she wants to say yes. I’m not surprised Emma picks up on it too.
“Maybe I could come sit on your bed, so I’ll be close by in case you need me?”
Maddy shrugs casually. “That would be okay.”
“It’s a plan. After your shower, I’ll stay with you while you read.”
“I don’t want to read to myself tonight. Can he read to me?” Maddy points at me and I freeze, not sure what to say. I’ve never read to a kid before. But then I see Emma’s expression and I read it clearly.
If you say no to her, I will end you.
Smothering both a laugh and a shot of arousal at the daggers in Emma’s eyes, I do exactly what she says.
“I would love that. I’ll clean up while you take your shower and then meet you in your room when you’re ready. Sound good?”
She nods and heads upstairs with Emma while I clean the kitchen and wonder how to read to a seven-year-old.
It turns out, it’s pretty easy, and might be my new favorite thing.
Sitting next to Maddy on her bed, my back against the headboard, she hands me the firstHarry Potterbook.
“Where should we start, Little Red?”
She looks down at her hands and talks in a low voice tinged with embarrassment. “I tried starting it myself, but I had trouble with a lot of the words.”
