CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Kol
MY EYES BURNED LIKE I’D BEEN STANDING IN THE MIDDLE of a forest fire all night.
Or like they’d been dunked in paint stripper.
I pinched the bridge of my nose as I stumbled down the stairs from the apartment and headed through the garage toward the kitchen.
I’d grabbed a nap for all of forty-five minutes around three in the morning, but that was it.
Today would be rough. But there was still so much to do.
Opening the door to the kitchen, I froze.
Oh hell.
I quickly checked my watch. It was only half past six. Skylar usually slept until after eight on the weekends. But here she was, in full princess-warrior glory, creating pure chaos in the middle of the kitchen.
She was in her princess nightgown with a camo hoodie over it and a Bigfoot apron on top. She was also mixing something in a bowl with a fervor I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen before. And whatever it was had exploded all over the place.
“Little Princess?” I asked cautiously.
She whirled, some of the contents of the bowl slopping over the side. “Oh shoot.” She grinned up at me. “Your surprise isn’t done yet, Daddy.”
I tried not to laugh. “And what surprise is that?”
“You were working lots and lots on Supernova’s new home, so I’m making you a magic breakfast.”
“Magic, huh?” I inquired.
Some of the magic was smeared across her face. “Yup. I’m not allowed to use the stove, oven, or microwave without supervision, so I was limited.”
This time, I couldn’t stop myself. I laughed. “Rules are a real buzzkill.”
“You’re telling me.” She set the bowl on the counter. “But I made you a unicorn surprise.”
My brow arched. “I really hope no unicorns were harmed in this process.”
Skylar giggled. “Never. But all their colors are here. Look. Strawberries and raspberries. Blueberries and blackberries. Yogurt. Whipped cream. Rainbow sprinkles. Chocolate chips.”
“You really went for it.” I studied what looked like a stomachache in a bowl.
“Go big or go home. That’s what Uncle Mav always says.”
I leveled my eight-year-old with a hard stare. “In this house, we do not follow Uncle Mav’s example.”
That sent Sky into another fit of giggles. “He’s naughty, but he’s so much fun.”
I let out a long sigh. “Should I be warning Roger that he’s gonna have to lock you up before long?”
She beamed at me, making her hazel eyes—much lighter than mine—sparkle. “Oh, I’m never gonna get caught. I’m too good for that.”
I barked out a laugh. “Good to know.”
Skylar held out her mixing spoon to me. “Taste-test?”
I braced, knowing I’d have to fake the biggest smile for my girl. But I’d do it. Even if it tasted like liverwurst and sprinkles. “Let’s see what we’ve got here.”
Dipping the massive spoon into the concoction, I took a small taste. My brows rose, surprise lighting through me. “Little Princess, that is freaking fantastic.”
It was like a berry sundae. And the sprinkles weren’t half bad.
“I told you, Daddy. I know my stuff.” She flounced over to the silverware drawer and pulled out two regular spoons. She handed me one and then dipped the second into the bowl. “Halfsies?”
“I don’t know,” I began. “I’m like four times your size, so four-fifths me, one-fifth you?”
My little girl leveled a glare at me that would make a biker cower. “Don’t even think about it.”
I grinned and scooped up another bite. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”
“Duh, only like all the time.”
My grin only widened. “Okay, good.” I studied Sky for a moment. “You have any more questions about Nova moving in?” We’d talked about it before bed last night, and she’d been stoked. But it sometimes took kids a little time to process change.
Skylar swallowed another huge bite. “You think she’ll play dress-up and Nerf wars with me?”
Amusement swept through me—only the important things. “If you ask nicely, I bet she will.”
“Good.” Sky stared down at her breakfast creation for a moment. “How come she’s moving out of Owen’s house?”
Kids, man. Of course, she’d think of the cabin as Owen’s.
I leaned back in my chair. “You know how when people grow up, they usually move out? Sometimes, they go to college and live in a dorm. Other times, they have roommates and then they live on their own.”
Her face screwed up. “I never want to move out. Twisted Oak is the best. There’s Tink and Pepper and the alpacas and all the Bigfoot.”
God, I loved her. “Can’t leave out the Bigfoot.”
“Nope.”
“Well, I’m glad you never want to leave. But I think Nova was ready to live a little more on her own but not totally alone yet.”
Skylar was quiet again, mulling that over. Then her face brightened. “We’re like her night-light!”
A foreign feeling invaded my chest—a unique blend of love, pride, and awe. “That is the perfect way to think of it.”
Her little chest puffed up. “I can be a really good night-light. I know what it’s like to be a little scared sometimes but wanna do it anyway. Like the rope swing at the lake. Sometimes, you just gotta know someone’s at the bottom to catch you.”
My throat constricted. “That’s exactly right. And we’re gonna be her safety net night-light.”
Sky beamed. “I got it.” She tapped her spoon against the bowl. “Think I can help you finish the apartment today? I want her to know I helped.”
“I need my best helper if it’s gonna get done.” I held out a hand for a high five.
Skylar slapped my palm hard. “We’re gonna make it the bestest ever!”
My chest tightened. There were times, like this one, when I knew this little girl had saved me. Stopped me from becoming a bitter recluse who couldn’t see all the light out there in the world. She’d been my night-light. And now, we could give that to someone else.