Page 25 of Endless
"Knew this was gonna happen," I groaned, getting up from the table and heading their way to assess the damage.
Rori sobbed on Reaper's shoulder and clung to his neck, her face bright red as he rocked and shushed her. He rubbed her back and glared at me over her shoulder, a look that Trombone put on his face often. Reaper hated that rooster, and I knew he'd tear into me once the kids were in bed.
"Heymijita, let's see." I went to look at the red mark on her leg, which thankfully wasn't bleeding, and was promptly swatted away by a tiny hand.
"No!" Rori had twisted in Reaper's arms, mean-mugging me as hard as a five-year-old could, still crying and sniffling.
"Mami," I gentled my voice. "I'm trying to make sure you're okay."
"No!" she repeated. "Youlaughedat me!"
It felt like someone had rammed a Rori-sized fist through my chest. Fuck, she'd heard that? Seen it?
"Rori, I..." There was no excuse, and I wasn't about to lie, so my words trailed off, speechless.
She turned back around to cling tighter to Reaper, crying into his shoulder while he kept looking at me with that heavy stare.
"Shhh, you're okay, sugar cube." He finally broke his glare to kiss her and soothe her. "Let's get you inside and clean your owies. That rooster's not gonna hurt you again." He shot another pointed look at me before turning to enter the house.
I just stood looking after them, feeling stunned, defeated, and guilty. A pat on my shoulder roused me from my stupor, and it was Noelle at my side, giving me a sympathetic look.
"Don't feel so bad, papa." She patted my shoulder again. "She'll forgive you."
"Will she, though?" I scratched a hand over my head. "Fuck, I didn't even mean to laugh, I just..."
"Honestly, it was funny." Noelle lowered her voice to a conspiratory whisper. "Just, better to laugh in hindsight than right when it's happening. Evenshewill think it's funny one day."
"I doubt that," I groaned, pinching my nose bridge.
"Sure she will. Larkie tells people all the time about how he missed the potty a couple years ago. He thinks it's hilarious."
"That's 'cause yourboysare foul." I grinned down at her. "Rori is a lady."
Noelle shoved playfully at my shoulder. "Go apologize to your daughter."
Yeah, that was the least of what I needed to do. Trombone would probably need to find a new home after this too.
I went inside to find Rori sitting on the kitchen counter, sniffling quietly as Reaper cleaned the welts on her legs with rubbing alcohol.
"How bad is it?" I asked.
He gave me a short glance over his shoulder. "Not bad. She just got pecked a couple times." He gathered up the cotton pads and dumped them in the trash with more force than necessary. "But I want that rooster gone. Tonight."
"Yeah. Yeah, of course. I'll go around to the neighbors in a sec and see if they want him. If not, I'll take care of it." With a hard swallow I looked past him to Rori, who was calmer but still sniffling and red-faced. "Are you feeling better,mijita?"
She gave a small nod. "A little."
"Good, I'm glad. I never want to see you scared or hurt." I edged closer to her, still giving her plenty of space. "I'm sorry I laughed, that was wrong. Sometimes even dads mess up and do the wrong thing."
She sniffed again. "I'm still mad at you."
"That's okay. I'm mad at me too. I wish I didn't do that." My hands flexed at my sides, wishing to give my daughter a hug, but it was more important right then to respect her space. "And it's not gonna happen again."
Just as my luck would have it, the rumble of bikes coming up the driveway announced Mari and the others coming home. Great, now I'd have to explain all this toShadow, who Rori had thoroughly wrapped around her finger.
Predictably, she started sniffling louder once the door opened and her other parents spilled into the house. Mari and Gunner had their arms and fingers linked, laughing about something together. Shadow took one look at Rori and slid past them, his face hardening.
Aw, hell.
