Page 10 of May's Bad Boy: Kody

"Go, I'll wash the dishes and then be in to put her to bed," I say.

I watch from the hallway for a moment. Sadie curls into Paige’s side like she's always belonged there. Paige reads in a soft voice, calm and steady.

I've never seen Sadie this peaceful at bedtime.

,After we tucked Sadie in, we get ready for bed in silence. Paige wears leggings and an oversized tee. I'm in sweats and shirtless. It’s how I have been sleeping since getting out of prison.

We lie on opposite sides of the bed, a pillow line between us. It's silent, with only the night animals outside the windows making sounds, but I can still tell her wheels are turning in her head.

"Why do you think they'll take her?" she asks in the dark. I could ask who she means, but I already know, and I owe her more than playing games with her.

"Because they have money. And I have a record."

I tell her the short version of how I was wrongfully convicted and set up to take the fall for my boss, though I wasn't able to prove it. Even though I got out early on good behavior, it's a mark that will always stay with me.

She's silent for a few minutes and I wonder if she’s fallen asleep until she says, "If I had money, I'd bet on you."

Silence stretches between us because I don't know what to say other than a very awkward, "Thank you."

Then, in the dark, her voice fills the room, "You don't snore, do you?"

I huff a laugh, grateful for the break in the tension. "Only when I've had tequila."

"Good," she murmurs, already half-asleep. "I hate tequila."

I lie there, listening to her breathing even out, just like I did last night. In that quiet moment, with her on one side of the bed and my daughter sleeping just down the hall, I realize this might be the first night in a long time where I don't feel completely alone.

And that thought? It's scarier than prison and sweeter than hope all at once.

CHAPTER 4

KODY

The moon casts long shadows across the porch when I finally shut the front door and lock it behind me. It's been a few days since the wedding, and things have settled into a rhythm. Not easy, not exactly comfortable, but a rhythm all the same. Paige keeps to herself mostly, but she's good with Sadie. Really good. Better than I expected anyone could be after knowing us for less than a week.

She's been organizing things around the kitchen, quietly wiping down cabinets and labeling containers while cataloging everything. She even rearranged the spice rack, which Sadie found hilarious because she tried to spell out silly words with the labels. Most days, Paige is calm, steady, and focused.

She does more pre-K lessons with Sadie than I'd know what to do with. Colors with her on the rug. Sings those soft little songs under her breath while folding laundry. They go on nature walks and visit the horses every day, and she has Sadie help her bake in the kitchen, saying the measurements are teaching her math.

I watch them sometimes when they don't notice, and there's this pull in my chest. Like something I didn't know I was missing is slowly clicking into place. It’s as if a home I never thought I'd have might actually be real. But I don't let myself think too long on it. That kind of thinking gets dangerous since this is all temporary.

Still, tonight... something's off.

Paige barely touched her dinner. She pushed her food around on the plate. Her eyes are a little glassy, and her skin even paler than usual. When she stands to take her plate to the sink, she moves slowly, like every step takes effort, and wobbles just enough to make my gut clench with dread.

"Why don't you lie down? I can do dishes and if you are hungry later, I can warm you up some leftovers." I say, trying to sound casual. Trying not to show the panic rising in my chest.

She smiles weakly and shakes her head. "I'm fine. Just tired."

But the way she leaned against the counter for a second longer than necessary told me something different. I'm thankful she did go to bed and let me take on the dishes and nighttime routine with Sadie.

"Is Paige okay?" Sadie asks me while I put her to bed that night.

"Yeah, she is just tired. She didn't sleep well last night, so she went to bed a bit early today. I bet she is back to normal tomorrow," I tell Sadie as I tuck her in. She smiles at me, and that seems to ease her fears. I might worry about Paige, but there is no reason for Sadie to.

"Okay. And can we get some chickens?" Sadie asks, making me chuckle.

"You will have to ask Shane and Caitlin about that one,” I say, and that seems to appease her for now. But I will give Shane a heads-up in the morning that the question will be coming.

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