26. Winnie
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
winnie
There are moments in life when you stop and ask yourself how you got here. And this moment includes me and Danger’s… manhood making way too much eye contact. I don’t know which of us should feel more uncomfortable, but I’m confident it’s me.
“Reckless,” I say, tracing the letters of the tattoo on his dick with my finger. “Reckless? Really?”
He shrugs, laying next to me casually with his hands behind his head like it’s no big deal. “Yeah. First tattoo. Figured it was fitting back then.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You mean, like, a warning to anyone who gets close?”
He smirks, voice low and teasing. “Most women ignore the warning.”
Don’t I know it.
I continue to examine, like I’m discovering a whole new world. How did they get the letters to look so nice? Who on earth did this?
"Should I give you two a minute?"
His smirk is wicked, knowing I’m still gawking.
Intimidating doesn’t even begin to cover it—thick, veined, and inked? It has obviously survived more things than I have.
“Maybe I should just excuse myself,” I say nervously, but he’s already moving, his hand grabs my wrist, pulling me into him.
“Come here.”
He kisses the top of my head, slow and almost sweet.
I want to tell him I know this is probably a one-time thing, that come sunrise I know he’ll be back to his regular, emotionally unavailable self.
Instead, I let myself believe this is real. Just for tonight.
I fall asleep listening to the wind hit the window outside and the steady beat of his heart under my ear.
I dream he’s a storm. And I’m the only thing he doesn’t want to destroy.
Until actual thunder cracks overhead.
We both wake up.
“Dad?” Fisher calls from his room, voice thin.
“Shit.”
Danger is already moving.
“I got you, bud,” he says, steady and sure.
I follow without thinking.
Fisher’s sitting up in bed when we get there, hair sticking up, eyes shiny with sleep and fear.
“Storm woke me up,” he says.
“I know,” Danger murmurs. “It’s just noise. You’re safe.”
Fisher’s gaze flicks to me. Then—quiet, hopeful—“She stayed the night?”
I crouch beside him. “I got sleepy after we made cookies. I hope that’s okay.”
Fisher’s face lights up. “Of course. Me too. Must’ve been something we put in them.”
“I’ll tuck you in,” Danger laughs.
Fisher shakes his head immediately. “Can Winnie do it?”
The room goes still. Danger looks at his son. Then at me. Something in his eyes gives.
Not permission. Trust.
“Sure,” he says quietly. “If that’s what you want.”
I sit on the edge of the bed and pull the blanket up, smoothing it the way I’ve seen my mother do a thousand times. It’s instinctive even though I’ve never done this before.
“Story?” Fisher asks.
I grab a book on the nightstand, and I read. About bedtime. About love. About the baby you’ll be and the grown-up you’ll become.
Fisher’s fingers curl into the blanket.
Halfway through, he whispers, “Do you think everyone needs a mama?”
My throat closes.
I glance at Danger. He’s frozen, arms crossed leaning against the doorway.
I turn back to Fisher. “I think mamas are everywhere. Sometimes they’re the ones who show up when you need them.
Sometimes they’re people who love you, even if you don’t call them mama.
I don’t know if everyone needs a mama, but what I do know is that you have a daddy and a nana and uncles who love you, and that makes you the luckiest kid there is. ”
He thinks about that. Then, very quietly: “I wish you were my mama.”
Something inside me breaks open. I blink hard but smile anyway.
“I’ll always be here for you,” I say. “As long as your daddy says it’s okay.”
I look up.
Danger’s jaw is tight. His eyes shine like he’s holding back a flood. He nods once.
Fisher yawns, already fading. “Night, Winnie.”
“Night, buddy.”
When we step back into the hall, Danger doesn’t speak. He just pulls me into his chest, slow and careful, like he’s afraid if he moves too fast I’ll disappear.
I rest my head against him.
He holds me, not possessive, not claiming.
Protective.
And I realize something terrifying: This isn’t pretend anymore.
Not to Fisher. Not to me. And judging by the way Danger’s holding back tears, not to him either.