Page 37 of Bred By the Minotaur
“Thank you,” he murmurs. “Thank you, Phoebe.”
Hank
Finally, I realize I ought to release Phoebe, even though she still hasn’t spoken. When I free her from my arms, her cheeks are pink and her eyes are glossy. She looks up at me, and for once, she’s unguarded.
“Well,” she says in a high-pitched voice as she pulls away from me, tripping over her feet. “I should go.”
Then she’s gone, trotting off down the street back to her sister’s house. I watch her, my arms still warm where I held her, my chest aching.
I don’t know if that was the right thing to do, but right then, I couldn’t help myself. The way she felt protective of Milo made my heart swell and my stomach do somersaults. She knew what needed to be done, and she did it.
My bull’s vision homes in on her as she jogs down the street, and I let out a powerful huff before heading inside. The way I need this woman is soul-crushing.
But her agreeing to help me with Milo for the next few days... that gives me hope, too. Maybe I can have what I want if I continue the course.
My poor little calf continues to sweat through the night, tossing and turning and occasionally calling out for me. I end up taking Milo to my room so he can sleep in my bed and I can keep a better eye on him.
By morning, I’m exhausted, but he’s got enough energy to shake me awake.
“Daddy,” he says. “Phoebe came over last night. She took me to the hospital.”
“I know, squirt,” I tell him, yawning. “She told me.” I try to rub the sleep out of my face. “Seems you like her.”
Milo’s bright blue eyes are simply glowing. “Yeah! She’s quiet, but she feels really big things.”
It takes me a second to understand, but I think I agree with him. “She does, doesn’t she?”
Phoebe has a tough exterior, but I know she’s soft on the inside. It’s just one of the many traits I’ve come to admire about her.
I have to go to work again that afternoon, so I call Phoebe to give her my schedule. She shows up at the front door two hours later with a backpack on, ready to take over. I show her what I had planned for dinner, and she assures me she can cook some pasta without too much direction. The confidence with which she takes control, pouring a cup of water and carrying it while she goes to find Milo in his bedroom, gives me a tingly feeling. He’s awake, playing his handheld game in bed, but he tosses it aside when Phoebe walks into the room with me right behind her.
“Remember how I said Phoebe was going to look after you today?” I ask. Milo nods furiously. “Okay. You’re sick, so try to take it easy.” I kiss his forehead and rub the rounded stubs of his horns for good luck before backing away.
Phoebe waves me off. “No need to hover. You can go to work now. Milo and I will be fine. Right?” She ruffles his hair and he giggles.
They look so natural together that my heart goes wild in my ribcage.
“All right. I’ll be back around three in the morning.” I nod at Phoebe. “Feel free to use the guest room.”
She nods and waves me off, so I see myself out, a great weight off my chest.
Whatever happens, I know Milo’s safe with her.
Fourteen
Phoebe
Milo gets tired again quickly and falls asleep with his game on his face, so I make sure to save it before setting it on his bedside table.
Then I get to work in complete silence and peace. I accomplish as much as I can before Milo wakes up, and the time flies by. Something about Hank’s kitchen is so comforting, with its yellow walls and big front window, the cupboards all painted white. It’s easy to see myself working at this table all day.
I’m lost in doodling when I hear a little voice ask, “What are ya doing?”
Milo comes into the kitchen, dressed in his pajamas. He crawls up onto the chair next to mine and peers at my tablet screen. “Whoa. You’re drawing on a computer?”
I laugh. “Yep. Cool, huh?” I save my project and open a new, blank document. Then I start doodling something, and his eyes grow into saucers.
“That’s amazing.” He reaches for the pen, so I slide the tablet closer to him and hand him the stylus.
