Chapter 13 Creed
Creed
“YOU WERE THE ONE THING I NEEDED.”
Idon’t think she’s pieced together that the man in the taxi who helped her two years ago is also my father.
I think it’s the recognition of the man who saved her life that has tears springing to Collins’ eyes.
She’s out of bed faster than I can warn her to not hurt herself.
I’m quick to grab her IV pole and follow close behind as she leaps arms first into my dad.
He catches her with ease when she stumbles on her own feet, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her.
I watch him press his cheek to the top of her head as he pulls her in tighter, sinking into that role of a loving father for my girl without thought.
Something clicks right then, like another piece of the puzzle that eternally connects me to Collins snaps into place. I know right here and now that I’ve fallen even more for her as she sinks deeper into my father’s embrace.
They met years ago, a brief, serendipitous encounter, and yet neither one of them had forgotten the other.
“How is this possible?” she rasps, pulling back to look at his face, her pretty green eyes wide as saucers, and her dainty hands grip his biceps like she’s afraid he’ll disappear.
She turns, meeting my gaze, her pert nose a rosy pink from crying that only enhances her freckles.
Her septum ring had been removed by the staff, and I make a mental note to have Blair bring her a new one today.
“He is your dad? Did…did you know that he…”
“Yeah, baby, I do,” I finish when her words trail off, already knowing her question. What she doesn’t know is how he not only saved her once, but twice now. “It’s a crazy small world, but I couldn’t be more thankful.”
I meet my dad’s eyes, meaning every single word, hoping he knows just how much I appreciate him and what he’s done for me and especially for my girl.
He stands perfectly still as she hugs him once more before stepping back and wrapping herself around me instead, the sweetest contented sigh passing her lips as she finds her home in my arms.
I lead her to the bed and have her sit before I climb in behind her.
She settles against me, then grabs her whiteboard to communicate some more with my father.
It's not that I intentionally tune them out, but having her right here with me, running my fingers through her damp, faded pastel strands has put me into this contented sort of trance.
They chat on and on, telling old stories and talking about whatever comes to their minds.
I can only guess what they’re conversing about because, at times, her shoulders shake with silent laughter and occasionally shakes her head at something he says back to her.
It wouldn’t surprise me if my dad is tearing down my bad boy persona by telling humbling stories from my childhood.
I’m too blissed out to pay attention or care.
I want Collins to know all there is to know about me.
Collins’ hair has been detangled since we left the bathroom, but I can’t stop running my fingers through it. I have no idea how to style hair. I’ll have to have her teach me the ways of the fancy braids she pulls off, so I can help her while she heals. I can’t have Blair one-upping me.
Some time later, Dad stands from his seat at the foot of the bed and stretches his limbs. “I’m going to get out of your hair for a little while. Jett had contacted me, wanting to talk about something, so I’ll be with him if either of you need anything.”
I’m still mindlessly playing with Collins’ hair when her head snaps up at that, and I internally groan. An elbow meets my chest, so maybe it wasn’t such an internal reaction. Oops.
“Did you say Jett?” she asks before turning to look at me, one eyebrow raised in question. “Like, my Jett?”
“Okay, well first of all, he’s not your anything, Stardust,” I huff, and she has the audacity to roll her eyes.
If she wasn’t hurt and I wasn’t so fucking out of my mind with her being back in my arms, I’d bend her over my knee and spank her til that perfect ass of hers was reddened with my handprints. Show her exactly who belongs to her.
I tip her head back by her chin until she’s looking at me upside down so I can kiss her forehead before meeting her eyes.
“But yes, that Jett. He was worried about you.” As much as I would like to leave his annoying ass out of the narrative, I have to give credit where it’s due, even if he’s not here.
“He was part of the team that helped to get you and Riley out of there.” I release her chin and look at my dad, his dark eyes watching me. “We did it together.”
Collins is quiet for a long moment, but when I lean around to see her expression, I’m on instant alert because her features are twisted in anguish with pools of tears gathering in her bright, jade eyes.
Her hand lifts to absently rub at the center of her chest, though careful to avoid the scabs forming beneath her shirt.
I wrap my arms around her and press my weight into her back at the same time Dad kneels at her bedside before the first tear has a chance to fall. “Collins,” I say, concern coating her name on my lips, “what’s wrong baby?”
“Are you in pain, Sunshine?” Dad’s question comes out at the same time as mine.
She hiccups and sobs, the sound like that of a mourning dove; it breaks my heart in two to feel the sadness rolling off of her in heavy waves. “It hurts,” she says absentmindedly, her eyes a little distant as they slowly drag to meet mine. Her brows draw in concern. “Is this what it feels like?”
“What do you mean?” I ask as softly as I can, swiping a tear away and ignoring the panic rising in me at her sudden mood shift.
She sucks in a choppy breath and shifts her gaze until it meets my dad’s. “To have a family.”
Rip my heart from my goddamned chest right now.
I bury my face in her hair as Dad rests his hand atop her knee, his thumb circling softly as an offer of comfort.
My girl.
Sweet Collins Adaire.
My Stardust.
Her entire life has been one battle after another. In mine and Asher’s absence, she was forced to look after herself with no one in her corner, never having a constant in her life. Time and time again people around her have failed her.
Especially me.
But I will fight for her.
Every fucking day, I will fight for Collins. I would readily lay down my life for her, and would do so a million times over if it meant erasing all those years of pain and suffering she spent alone.
We all would.
The fact that my girl is finding out now just how loved she is has my heart threatening to burst from my chest and fall at her feet in an offering.
“Fuck, baby, come here,” I shush and coo gently, holding her tighter. Collins cries quietly as she turns to wrap her arms around my neck and buries her face in the space in between.
She’ll be okay? Dad mouths, and I nod while stroking a gentle path along the life of her spine. He nods, and stands.
“Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be back soon.” He says quietly, and Collins turns back to him, holding out her hand. He doesn’t hesitate to take it, giving it a soft squeeze.
“I can’t believe you’re his dad. It feels like luck, in a way.” She smiles as she releases his hand.
Dad shakes his head, “I hope you know that we are the lucky ones, Sunshine. I’ll see you soon, yeah?”
“Please,” Collins says, and my heart trips over itself.
With one last nod, he slips from the room with a soft smile and a knowing look on his face. When it’s just the two of us, I lean back just enough to cup her face and duck down until we’re at eye level.
“Dad’s right, you know. We are the lucky ones, and you are family, baby.
My family. Always have been.” I give her a lopsided grin, hoping to lighten her somber mood.
“It’s just a little different now. And little bigger too,” I murmur against her hair, thinking about Bear, Ayla, Riley, my dad, even Blair.
I guess we can even count the fucking barbarian that is Jett, too, since she’s so fond of him.
Shit, even Lachlan and his brothers seem to have taken a protective stance over her as well. I remember when Callan had told me that she was considered family, as Asher had become family to them.
Leaning back to look at her, I swipe at the stray tears that have fallen down her cheeks. It guts me to my core to see her in such pain, such disbelief that she’s so much more important to us—to me—than she ever could’ve imagined.
“You know,” I hedge, feeling the reckless impulse to confess my thoughts and feelings. It’s hypocritical, given how I told her to wait until we were home, but I can’t adhere to that. Collins more than deserves some clarity. She deserves to know what she means to me.
“I’ve always cared about you. Cared for you.
I hated myself for so long for being that young idiot who ultimately fucked everything up when it came to you.
But two years ago, something changed,“ I say, tapping my temple, “up here. With that last Polaroid you sent with your letter, something shifted here, too, ” I murmur, tapping over my heart.
Collins’ eyes are glued to me, her brilliant mind latching onto every word as she listens with rapt attention while I spill my secrets to her.
Reaching for my wallet, I pull out the picture, the same one I’ve carried with me everywhere for over two years now.
It’s a little worn, and creasing mars some of the edges of the image, but it does nothing to hinder the beauty of the photo.