Page 31 of Inked in Bloom
“I’ll see what she says, but I think that’s a great idea. They could use your expertise.” And after what happened with Monroe, training recruits would just remind me how much I fucked up. Any extra time outside of teaching should be spent with my girls. I was away from them for far too long.
“Thanks, brother. See you tomorrow.” Dani slips out the door, and I head down the hallway, peeking into the girls’ room. Three out of the four bunks are full with Taylor and Lilliana in one and Millie in the other top bunk. The bunk beneath hers is empty.
I sigh as I stare at it a moment, then I brush a kiss on each of my daughters’ foreheads, fix their blankets to keep them snuggled up, and head upstairs. Juni smilesas I enter the room. She’s seated at the center of the bed with my copy ofAlice in Wonderlandopen in her lap.
“What are you still doing up?”
“Reading.” She flips a page, beaming at the white rabbit zipping down his hole, copper pocket watch trailing behind him. “I had a nightmare.”
I arch a brow at her. “I heard you hadn’t even gone to bed yet.”
“If I did, then I would have a nightmare. Besides, Millie’s snoring makes it impossible to fall asleep.” She sits up on her knees and holds her arms out for me to pick her up. I do and she giggles, nuzzling her nose against my beard. “Can I stay here with you? Pretty please?”
She stares up at me with those emerald eyes, and if it isn’t just a kick to the chest.
“Sure, Juni B.” I give her a quick squeeze and kiss her cheek, setting her back onto the comforter. “But tomorrow, you have to promise to go to bed on time.”
“I promise.”
“Uh-huh.” I’m not counting on it. She’s been coming in here most nights since I got back from the mortal world. “Give me a few minutes to get ready for bed, but I’m going to go ahead and tuck you in.”
“Okay.”
I brush my teeth and change into my pajamas, a pair of long gray-and-white-striped pants. Juni is already nestled under the comforter, eyes fluttering, on the cusp of sleep. Always fighting it.
“Sweet dreams.”
“Sweet dreams, Daddy.” She keeps her eyes closed, each word she exhales is slow and labored. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Juni B.” I retuck the comforter around her small form. “Now get some rest.”
Grabbing the water glass on my night table, I empty it in two long swigs, then turn off the light.
In the dark, another pair of emerald eyes fills my mind, drilling into me with an intensity that barrels straight through my ribs.
“Just stay out of my way… Outside of class, you don’t exist to me.”
She wants me to stay as far away from her as possible. Giving her that is the least I can do. After all, haven’t I already done enough?
14
MONROE
Iburst through the cottage door with hot tears streaking my face. They started about halfway on the trek home, but at least I was far, far away from Briar and the bystanding Blooms.
Just as I was starting to have some fun with the girls tonight, Briar had to show up and ruin it. He followed me and tried to apologize, like it would make a difference. Hadn’t he done enough already?
I want to scream into the void. Pound my fists against something.Someone. My emotions feel too big to fit inside my body—it’s exhausting holding them in.
And I shouldn’t. The therapist in me knows that, but the human in me can’t stop myself. This is why a good therapist has a therapist. You’d think they’d have them in spades in the afterlife, but as far as I can tell, there’s nothing. I’m supposed to get over my mortality and embrace my immortal existence. View it as a gift.
Bit rude to expect all that, if you ask me.
Grateful for the silence with no one else here, I throw on the kettle and sift through the tea in the cupboard, settling on some lavender chamomile to help me relax.
Like that’ll do anything.
While the water heats, my blood boils, stirred up by theweeks I spent withSir Thumps-A-Lot. Enjoying bok choy while I savored my Thai takeout, watching trashy reality television, painting together before he ran off and I was run into. Killed.
