Page 136 of Committed to You

“No, it’s not okay. What she did or what I felt like I needed to do is never going to be okay.”

“You saved her from killing me. There is no reason for you to feel any guilt.”

“I think we will have to agree to disagree on this matter.”

“Okay.”

He yawns.

“You need to rest.”

He cups my ass and kisses my head again. “I’ll rest if you stay with me.”

“Okay. I’ll stay.” I snuggle into him.

“I like this. Do you like this?” he murmurs in my ear.

“Yes. I really like this.”

Several hours pass. Chase and I both fall asleep. I’m still curled into him when my father comes in and strokes my cheek. “Vivian,” he whispers.

I open my eyes and smile at him. “Hey, Páppa.”

“I’m glad you’re getting some rest, but you need to eat something.”

“I’m okay. I’m not leaving Chase.”

“Go get some food,” Chase says.

I look up at him as he’s opening his eyes.

“I’m okay.”

“No. Go eat. You haven’t had anything but eggs today. Go.”

“Jeez. I don’t know who is bossier, you or Páppa.”

My father and Chase both chuckle.

Páppa looks at me. “Your mama and the others are all waiting for you. I’ll stay here. You go.”

“Others?” Chase asks.

“Everyone is here, except Jamison. He should be here any minute,” Páppa tells us.

“I’ll be okay here,” I tell them both again.

“Vivian, go eat. If you don’t, I’m going to try and remove you from me and hurt myself,” Chase threatens.

My páppa laughs. “Well, you heard the man. Get your Greek booty off the bed and go eat.”

“My Greek booty? Since when do you say booty?”

My father winks. Then he waves me away.

It occurs to me that he wants to talk to Chase alone. “You aren’t going to yell at Chase, are you?”

My father speaks sternly. “No. Now go. Your mama is waiting and hungry.”

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