Page 78 of Daddy Defender
I hop off near shore, grinning like a fool, adrenaline pumping.
“Hell yeah!” I shout, fist-pumping, the board bobbing beside me.
Bodie’s running through the shallows, his arms wide, and I catch him, spinning him in the waves, his laugh pure joy.
My heart’s full, bursting, and the words spill out, raw and true.
“I love you, Bodie,” I say, my voice rough, my eyes locked on his. “I love you, my darling Forever boy.”
Bodie’s breath catches, his blue eyes wide, shimmering with tears and happiness.
“I love you too, Daddy,” Bodie whispers, his voice small but fierce. “I love you my Forever Daddy.”
We kiss, right there in the waves, his lips soft and salty, his arms around my neck.
It’s not just a kiss—it’s a vow, a seal on everything we’ve built.
The ocean swirls around us, the world shrinking to just him, my Little One, my love.
I pull back, resting my forehead against his, his giggle bubbling up, and I know—this is my home now.
We wade to shore, hand in hand, his board and mine dragging behind.
Poot and Billy wait on the blanket, their eyes proud, and I pull Bodie close, my Daddy side complete.
Hicks’ ghost might always linger in my mind, but with Bodie, I can live with it, keep trying to do right.
Bodie is my reason to keep fighting and living my life in good times and bad. He’s my Forever Little, and as we sit watching the waves, I know we’ll face whatever comes—Guard life, surf lessons, all of it—together.
Chapter 27
Bodie
Two Months Later
“Okay… juice boxes are… good to go,” I giggle. “And now for the candy stash!”
I take a look around and drink in my new surroundings.
My new home. Or, mine and Henry’s new home to put it more accurately…
The beach house smells like coconut sunscreen and fresh paint, a cozy mix that wraps around me like a hug from my Little side.
It’s been two months since it all went down on the pier, since Vince’s arrest, since Henry and I carved out this new life down the coast from the safehouse.
Our little slice of paradise is a weathered bungalow with big windows that drink in the ocean’s blue, the waves a constant lullaby outside.
It’s definitely a doer-upper, but I’m more than up for the challenge…
I’ve gone full Little decorating—pastel throw pillows shaped like starfish, a shelf crammed with stuffies—pride of place for Poot, Billy when they’re not with me— and I’ve got a special new stuffy too, a seahorse named Bubbles.
Henry even lets me bring the stuffy family down off the shelf and set them up on the living area rug whenever I want. The one rule is that I have to put them back on the shelf before bedtime, or else I go over his lap for a spanking.
I’ll let you in on a secret, sometimes I leave them out overnight on purpose!
Anyhoo…
Back to the decorations. Fairy lights twinkle over the couch, and my sketchpads are scattered in the special craft area, dolphins and waves spilling across the pages.
