Chapter 13 #2
“Caden and Jerico gave us the next two days off training to take care of our girls. We’ll make up some hours in morning runs over the weekend and next week,” Max told her. “I’m looking forward to hanging out with you on the couch and being a vegetable.”
She gave him a skeptical look that told him she didn’t believe he led a sedentary lifestyle.
“I have homework to do for my class. The teacher is totally hot, but she expects perfection,” Max said, teasing her. When she slid off the stool to come help, he pointed back at the seat. “Sit and keep me company, or I’ll carry you back to the couch. Which would you prefer?”
She flounced adorably back onto the stool.
To hide his grin, Max grabbed a couple of coloring books he kept for the Littles when they came to visit him and the colored pencils from a drawer in the island.
“My refrigerator is always bare. The other Littles give their daddies their artwork. Would you make me a picture?”
She beamed and flipped through the pages to find the one she wanted to color.
He filled a cup with milk and snapped on a lid with a straw.
Setting it at her elbow first, Max watched her dive into her artwork as he warmed up the meal for them.
He was concerned that she was wearing herself out but hated to stop her.
Max quickened his pace. He’d get some food into her tummy and tuck her back in bed.
Every few minutes, he’d remind her to take a drink.
Without looking, she’d reach for her glass and take a sip.
He’d just taken steaming bowls of soup out of the microwave when he watched her set the cup on the edge of the island.
He set everything down quickly and reached for the cup as it teetered for a second and then crashed to the floor.
The lid popped off and milk flew everywhere.
Saylor looked at him in horror. As he watched, a fat tear rolled from the corner of her eye and streamed down her face. “Sorry!” Immediately, her cough returned. Hunched over, she steadied herself on the countertop while simultaneously sliding off the stool.
“Nope,” Max told her as he lifted her into his arms. “Daddy will get this cleaned up in a jiffy. You knew that soup needed to cool for a minute, didn’t you?” he asked as he set her on one of the wooden kitchen chairs.
“But I…” Harsh coughing erupted from her mouth. Saylor dropped her forehead down to her hands stacked on the table as she hacked.
“Try to calm down, baby. The tears will make you cough harder. It’s okay. I spill things in the kitchen all the time. Now you know why Daddy has the cups with the lids.”
She peeked up at him and shook her head.
He could tell she didn’t believe him, but she scrubbed the tears from her face. Max launched into a funny story about Caden getting treed by a skunk they’d run into on a training trail in the woods as he cleaned up the mess. He tried to hurry, but it had splattered everywhere.
The next time he checked on her, Saylor had rested her cheek on the tabletop. He lowered his voice and finished cleaning as he quickly wrapped up the story. Her breathing was soft and even when he finished. Max paused, trying to figure out what to do. She needed nourishment.
Pulling out his phone, he texted Zale. “Daddy fail. I let her do too much, and she’d exhausted herself before I got some food into her. Which is more important? Rest or eating?”
Almost immediately, Zale answered, “Liquids. Let her sleep for five minutes. Caden is bringing a couple of bottles over for you. He’ll text when he drops them off. Pour a cold protein drink into the bottle and feed Saylor. Real food tomorrow.”
Caden and Brooklyn lived closest to Max.
Max hated to have Caden leave his little girl alone even for a short time to make a delivery, but he knew Caden wouldn’t hesitate to help.
Max quietly checked the interior of the fridge.
Two protein drinks sat on a shelf. He grabbed a couple more from the pantry and added those to chill.
His phone buzzed. Max headed for the door and retrieved a small bag. Caden was already gone. Max texted his thanks, grabbed the bag, and returned to the kitchen. Quickly, he fixed a bottle and set it on a side table by the couch.
Returning to his little girl, Max picked her up in his arms. She fussed restlessly. “No, Daddy. Sleeping.”
“I know, baby.” He sat on the couch and grabbed the bottle. “Drink this for Daddy. It will soothe your throat, and then Daddy will let you sleep.”
She wrinkled her nose at the feel of the nipple against her lips. When she opened her mouth to protest, Max slipped the tip into her mouth. A few drops landed on her tongue and Saylor sucked automatically. Her mumbled “Mmm” of enjoyment thrilled him as she drank.
Saylor almost finished the bottle before drifting off to sleep again. He didn’t wake her. She needed sleep as well. He could tuck her back in bed, but she looked so comfortable. Forcing himself to be honest, he had to admit he loved holding her close.
Max shifted slightly and pulled out his phone.
He wanted to take a picture of her, but resisted the urge.
They hadn’t discussed any photos. He would never show anything intimate, whether sexy or little to anyone—not even his teammates.
Committing the view to memory, Max opened a book app and read between daydreams about their future.