Chapter 50
I wait patiently as Violette finishes getting ready, we’re heading to Shifty’s late because Violette is hungry and her shower took way longer than expected because I had to have her one more time. It’s not my fault her naked body dripping wet is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve managed to keep my hands to myself, barely, while she dries her long hair into waves. We’re already an hour late to meet the guys, and if she doesn’t put something on besides her panties and a tank top soon we’re going to be even later.
“Stop looking at me like that, Kingsley, I am not having another shower before I eat,” she tells me, setting her straightening iron down.
I take the opportunity to wrap my arms around her and slide my hands down to palm her heart shaped ass as I kiss her lips. “Maybe I don’t want you clean, hmm?” I ask, nuzzling into her. “Maybe I want my cum dripping from you, waiting for me when I tear your clothes off later.”
She wraps her arms around my neck and I’m about to devour her when her phone rings on the bathroom counter.
I groan into her mouth, and she laughs, patting the side of my face before looking down at it, then showing me. It’s Mae FaceTiming, which means it’s Hollie calling to say goodnight. I back out of the bathroom and make my way to the living room as Violette follows behind me tying her fleece robe around her while she answers the call.
“Hi, Mommy,” I hear Hollie say as Violette sits at the other end of the couch. They talk for a few minutes about Mae and Jack letting Hollie swim with Bentley and Bailey. They bought her new goggles, and they’re going to have a campfire now.
“Is he there?” Hollie whispers. Vi smiles and nods.
“Mm-hmm, he’s here, we’re going to go out for dinner,” Vi says.
I chuckle, wondering if talking about fire reminded her of me.
“Will you have chicken nuggets?”
Violette laughs. “Maybe, but I bet you Rowan will.” She moves over beside me so I can see Hollie’s cute little face on the screen.
“Should I have nuggets, Hols?” I ask her.
She’s all cuddled up on the couch beside Mae and she nods. “And French fries.” She giggles.
“Deal,” I tell her. “I’ll eat extra nuggets just for you.”
Hollie smiles wide and a pang of warmth moves through my chest as part of me wishes it was just a ‘stay at Violette’s and eat snacks’ kind of night. As much as I love having Violette to myself, I think I miss Hollie.
“Mommy, can he have it now?” Hollie asks Vi.
I look at Vi and she smirks then looks back at Hollie. “I thought you wanted to wait until it was his turn to fight a fire?”
“No, now, please,” Hollie says, clapping her hands, sure of her choice and seeming way older than just shy of four.
Violette stands and hands me the phone. “I’ll be right back,” she says.
I look at Hollie through the screen. “What are you having for your snack?” I ask her.
“Popcorn,” she says, showing me her bowl. “Papa put butter on like you do.”
“Yes, Hollie wouldn’t stop talking about your perfect popcorn,” Jack says from somewhere in the room.
“Will you have some when you watch SuperPets tonight?” Hollie asks, and I chuckle at the way her little mind just assumes I’ll be doing that even when she’s not here. Maybe I will, just for her.
“Sure, Hols, if I have room after all my chicken nuggets.” She giggles into the phone as Violette comes back into the room carrying a brand new stuffed SuperPet and hands it to me. “This is from Hollie.” She smiles sitting beside me. “Tell him, Hols.”
I look down at the little stuffed Power Piggy, still with the tag in my hands. I have no idea why, but just knowing she wanted me to have it settles with me right in the back of my throat. I swallow down my emotions as I smile for her.
“Mommy said you have to fight a fire soon.”
I smile at her, knowing Vi was going to have this talk with Hollie to prepare her for me not beingaround a lot this summer.
“Yes, I will have to very soon,” I tell Hollie.
“You can’t take my Piggy, because he’s mine, but you can take that Piggy to your fire,” she says before leaning in and whispering, “He will help you fly to the safe spot.”
Vi’s hand squeezes my thigh, and a feeling I can only describe as love settles in my chest.
“Thank you, Hols, this is, uh…the best present I’ve ever gotten,” I manage through the lump in my throat. “I’ll bring him over and he can play with your piggy as soon as I get home, how’s that?” I ask her.
“Okay,” she says happily.
I flank my mouth with my hand and lean into the camera. “I bet he will help me fly,” I whisper.
She just smiles and nods and then Violette turns the phone back on her face to say goodnight.
But me? I just sit here and stare down at this stuffed pig in my hands. Because I’ve faced death countless times… I’ve watched people get hurt, I’ve said goodbye to friends, and I’ve been afraid—really afraid—but the funny thing is, all it took was a little stuffed pig to bring me to my goddamn knees.
As Violette hangs up and finishes getting ready for us to go out, I realize that this is what it feels like to have something to come home to. A family.