Page 96 of Daddy's Bodyguard
“I’m …” I try to find the right words, then ignore it. “It’s different. Dad and I have had lunch a few times, and he’s actually trying. It’s good, but it’s not easy to forget so many years of hating him. We’re figuring it out.”
“And you. Actually you?” She asks.
“I have nightmares where I wake up and see the floor covered with blood,” I admit, something I haven’t even told Jasper. “I wake up afraid that people are in the house. Loud noises are hard. I keep seeing bullets and hearing gunshots and screaming. I’m glad I survived, and I’m happy to have Jasper, but … it was a lot.”
“Well, I won’t ask another thing about it,” Carissa replies. “And we need to dance.”
I take her hand and join her on the dance floor. I snap a video of us dancing and send it to Jasper, then have another round of drinks. We get tacos and laugh like old times, just making memories. Carissa gets hit on several times and when someone does approach me, my bitch face sends them away.
Carissa pulls her phone and take a photo of my face. I reach for it. “What are you doing?”
“Showing Jasper that his girlfriend’s cold as ice.”
When I get home, Jasper is still lounging on the couch. He motions me forward with a finger. “Your sexy ass needs to get over here.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I love your bitch face.” He groans when I sit across his thighs. He pushes my dress over my hips and slips his hand between my legs, teasing my clit. “And you, dancing.”
“You’re all kinds of horny for my mean side.” I kiss him, wrapping an arm around his good shoulder. “My underwear is in the way.”
“Are they?”
“Move them and touch me.” I order as my nose brushes his.
He groans, and we get each other off on the couch before going to bed. I pull his arm around me and kiss his chest. Jasper rubs my side. “What is it, love?”
“I’m glad you’re here.” I meet his eyes. “I’m glad you’re mine.”
He blinks at me, then kisses me hard, licking into my mouth until I’m half convinced that he’s going to try to fuck me. When he draws back, he studies my face. “Iloveyou.”
“I love you too. Everything we went through … it was worth it.”
“Sofia.” His brow furrows.
I shake my head. “It is. I mean, I wish you hadn’t been shot. I wish I didn’t have nightmares, but we’re here, together … and I’m a better person than I was.”
He kisses my forehead. “I’m seeing my dad tomorrow. Will you go with me? I don’t think I can do it alone.”
“You want me there? You always said …”
“You’re giving your dad another chance, and you’re … you’re doing a lot of things differently. I want to try being better too.” He kisses my forehead again. “Which means showing you shit.”
“Like what?”
“Pictures from overseas. Telling you about shit I went through … asking if you know any good therapists...”
I kiss him once, twice, a third time. “Give and take.”
“Give and take,” I agree.
***
I slip my hands through the jacket sleeves and adjust the front over my dress. Glancing in the mirror, I give my reflection a satisfied smile. The outfit says innocent, cute. It’s the kind a girl wears when a guy decides to take her home to meet his mom, or dad, in this instance. I’m a little nervous after what Jasper told me about his dad, but there’s no way I’m not going. I need to be by Jasper’s side.
He grins at me, and I straighten his collar before kissing him. “Do you want the cane?” I ask.
“No.”